Giving

We classify giving into three kinds. We can give material resources such as food or money, as well as personal resources such as our time or energy. Secondly, we can give teachings to enable those who wish to learn to improve their lives on a daily basis or, on a more spiritual level, to find lasting happiness through understanding universal truths. And lastly, we can give courage: By giving our strength, stability, and understanding, we can relieve others’ worries and fears. And sometimes a smile is all they need.

Sacrifice?

As humans, we are very oriented towards the “self”: We view life from the perspective of “I,” “me,” and “mine.” Selfishness grows as we increasingly feel that our personal needs are more important than the needs of others. An excellent way to counter selfishness is through the practice of giving, which invariably puts the needs and wishes of others ahead of our own. Initially, we may well feel that we are making a sacrifice, but gradually as we let go or our selfishness, our giving will become spontaneous and joyful.

Tree of Humanity

 

"Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity.

Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face.

Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer of the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge.

Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech.

Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men.

Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts.

Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive.

Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring.

Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown in the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the host of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of thy generation, a fruit upon the tree of humanity."

~ Baha'u'llah

Hard for All Beings to Believe

In recent discussions in Canada these past few weeks, a line from the Amitabha Sutra kept surfacing in my mind: "so hard for all beings to believe." We read in the sutra, that Shakyamuni Buddha—and all Buddhas—say this about the Pure Land teachings.

There are several reasons for this, but one in particular kept occurring in my conversations with people. It concerns the reason we go to the Pure Land. The reason is addressed in the first great vow of Bodhisattvas: "Sentient beings are innumerable; I vow to aid them all."

In our practice we develop bodhicitta, or the Bodhi mind. This is the mind to seek enlightenment for us and for all beings. "Us" is first not because we are more important, but because until we save ourselves from drowning in the sea of suffering, we cannot help others who are drowning. Once we help ourselves, we immediately turn outward to help all others.

So we seek rebirth in the Pure Land first for “me.” But more importantly, we seek to help all beings. Simply put, there's only one of us, but an innumerable number of others to be liberated from suffering.

What does this have to do with my recent conversations?

People were saying they like one or another form or meditation because it made them feel calm and happy. So they do their Zen practice and also chant “Amituofo.” Then I come along and say that to reach our goal, we need to follow one path. All paths to enlightenment are equally good, but we need to follow just one. For example, if we’re traveling from Halifax to Vancouver, we need to follow one route.

The problem?

They like their practice. One woman said chanting “Amituofo” made her happy and Zen practice made her calm. Feeling a good affinity and that she sincerely wanted to understand, I replied that in both statements she was talking about benefiting just herself. She immediately understood. 

Another practitioner insightfully said that he had met many people who meditate for themselves but few who have that wish to help all beings.

So the problem is that for many people, bodhicitta, the foundation for Mahayana practice, is yet undeveloped. Bodhicitta is the force that enables bodhisattvas to overcome seemingly insurmountable difficulties in their practice. The awareness that we are practicing not just for “me,” but for all beings will help us realize that when in the Pure Land, we will have all the time we need for learning and practicing the other methods.

But for now, we need to gently put aside these other practices and focus on “Amituofo.”

No Attachment to Dust

 

Zengetsu, a Chinese master of the T’ang dynasty, wrote the following advice for his pupils:

Living in the world yet not forming attachments to the dust of the world is the way of a true Zen student.

When witnessing the good action of another encourage yourself to follow his example. Hearing of the mistaken action of another, advise yourself not to emulate it.

Even though alone in a dark room, be as if you were facing a noble guest. Express your feelings, but become no more expressive than your true nature.

Poverty is your treasure. Never exchange it for an easy life.

A person may appear a fool and yet not be one. He may only be guarding his wisdom carefully.

Virtues are the fruit of self-discipline and do not drop from heaven of themselves as does rain or snow.

Modesty is the foundation of all virtues. Let your neighbors discover you before you make yourself known to them.

A noble heart never forces itself forward. Its words are as rare gems, seldom displayed and of great value.

To a sincere student, every day is a fortunate day. Time passes but he never lags behind. Neither glory nor shame can move him.

Censure yourself, never another. Do not discuss right and wrong.

Some things, though right, were considered wrong for generations. Since the value of righteousness may be recognized after centuries, there is no need to crave immediate appreciation.

Live with cause and leave results to the great law of the universe. Pass each day in peaceful contemplation.