Taking it for Granted
November 20, 2009 We take it so for granted.
If we want books, we can request them from a Pure Land society or now even buy them on Amazon. If we want nianju (malas or chanting beads) we can request those too or even buy them online.
So easy.
Too easy perhaps. Easy to become spoiled and not appreciate what we have.
I correspond with a prisoner in the correctional system in the US. When David was moved from one facility to another, all his Buddhist books, which had taken a few years to attain, were taken away. At the new facility, it is much harder to receive books. The Amitabha Buddhist Library in Chicago has helped me in the past by mailing books to David. But although we always follow the specified procedure, there is no guarantee the books, etc. would be accepted.
Just last month, the library sent David a package of books with the official approval letter included, but the package was rejected. We sent it again. Frankly, when you know you're doing everything as instructed that's all you can do—keep sending. And David and his small sangha keep hoping, hoping that soon the books will arrive and be accepted. Unlike the procedure in the first paragraph, this procedure is anything but easy.
For a year, David has been trying to have nianju approved for the members of his small sangha. One whole year to get what you and I would have gotten in a matter of days. In October, David was told chanting beads would be accepted by the chaplain for the sangha. But David knew this approval could be revoked at any time. David wrote to me and I contacted the library. Coincidentally, the rejected package of books had just been sent back to the library.
The next day, one package of books and one containing five long nianju were sent. The books had been repackaged and the same approval form, which was about to expire and had been included last time, was again included. The nianju were placed in a separate package since they had not been listed on the approval form for the books. Hopefully, at least one of the packages would be accepted and given to David. Hopefully, something would get through to him for his sangha this time.
This morning I checked the correctional facility's email system and found an email from David. It had been sent a few days ago. On the 17th, the day he had read was the day to pay special appreciation to Amitabha Buddha, the day he would commemorate by chanting and fasting, the day he would honor the Buddha's teachings in a facility where even one "Amituofo" is difficult to manage, on that day the books arrived.
And so did the nianju.
… they are the most Beautiful Malas I have ever seen. I loaned out two of the books and I started on the other two…it was no accident that we recieved them today, I have never seen the guys so happy… Since I knew that today was Lord Buddha Amitoufo's special, yesterday I started chanting and fasting, and at the end of the day I completed 4444 Chants and I really did not get hungry either. I could feel Amitoufo very near…Yours in the Dharma, David
So difficult.
And yet—largely because of that difficulty—David and his sangha members will truly appreciate and value their nianju and books, as well as their opportunity to practice.
Reader Comments (2)
http://www.myriadthings.blogspot.com
One of the basic motivators for Buddhist practice is the understanding of the first noble truth: Life entails suffering. Those in correctional facilities I have corresponded with personally know that concept. Some have been strongly motivated to end that suffering. David is one of those. Plus, in both his current and former facilities, he has lead small sanghas trying to help others change their lives as well. It's a pleasure to know him.