Something a friend sent to me...
The only article of faith to have before Buddhist practice is
possible. Is the belief "what you do really makes a
difference"
The simple reason for this is
If you do not believe what you do really makes a difference then
why do anything? Let alone practice for the emancipation of the
heart
In the human quest to stop violence it seems goodness holds the
odds least favored to win.
One of the skillful strategies against violence is to create acts
of goodness to ripple outward and bombard those unwholesome actions
done by others.
Buddhism in its younger prime encompassed almost 2/3rds of the
world. Archaeologist have dug up Buddhist art as far from India as
Greece. Historical writings from that region and others confirm
Buddhisms existence there at one time.
Un like the spreading of most faiths the wholesome skills expressed
by Buddha, and kept alive through the student teacher relationship
of his monks were never spread by the sword. They were never
maintained by fear or terror.
Also unlike most religions were the clergy makes the fiery sermons
and the laity charge into action. Buddhist monks them selves have
been targets of most ideological human blunders themselves.
The treasures of Tibet's wisdom plundered, and monks killed or
chased away. Cambodia used to be a Buddhist kingdom similar to
Thailand. Unlike Thailand Communist came to power under Pol Pot.
Who had 98% of the Countries monks murdered as enemies of his
ideology. Along with them most of the temple art work was destroyed
and looted.
With the rise and fall of dictators, countries, empires,
ideologies; the timeless, empowering teachings of renunciation, non
violent, loving friendliness, forgiveness have managed to survive
into the present day.
How ? is the real miracle as Buddhism is armed only with skill, and
wholesome qualities.
I found a group the Sera Mey Redevelopment Project to help in the
development and educational capacity of the exiled Tibetan learning
centers. http://serameyproject.org/buddhism-for-today.shtml
I was personally trained with in the Thai forest tradition, and
really know nothing of Tibetan wisdom. I have herd of the wonderful
teachings given by Pema Chodren, and those timeless skills kept
alive through the inspiration of the Dali Lama.
This project seeks to construct educational centers in India for
the transmission of these timeless skills to new generations of
personages. Those that stick with it in time will be the meditation
masters for the following generation to enjoy.
Generosity is the quality Buddha maid his monks/nuns dependant on.
In the Buddhist monastic code monks/nuns are not allowed to beg.
They walk down the street and the faithful wait for them as they
pass, never do they go door to door.
There rules also forbid them from accepting unintended gifts;
meaning that if a personal belonging is left behind at a retreat.
The monk/nun will never start using it for themselves.
During the Buddha's life his monks started retreating into
themselves, growing there own food, storing it, and maintaining
things among themselves.
They never shared there wisdom because they had no need, and
enjoyed the fruits of there practice with in the solitude of the
wilderness. The Buddha remedied this by setting a rule requiring
them to only except things from the hands of lay people. With
regards to food they received, he forbid them to store anything.
Requiring them to discard what they did not use, and trust the
laity would give them more the next day.
This was an instrument for there own training forcing them to go
against the grain of there natural human tendency to cling to
possessions for security, and as a check and balance keeping them
pure before the laity. If they depended on them for food, better
not to loose there confidence by inappropriate action.
Bringing me to my concluding point. The Buddha said generosity was
an essential quality to develop along the path to loosening, and
breaking craving and clinging. Cultivating and frequently
practicing this quality as a way to deepen the skills and insights
needed to develop that inner refuge from which to watch in safety
the rising and passing away of conditional things.
In whom to give the Buddha's answer was who you have confidence in.
The more my practice develops and those enlighten qualities become
a deep rooted position of personal power for me I gain confidence
to give back to those skillful people who yielded me this
gift.
I personal make a point to give the gifts I have(talents, money,
etc) to my own tradition. I have by chance found this redevelopment
project and figured to share it with you. If you were so motivated,
and looking for a chance to contribute to some of the constructive
projects going on, and share in the continued transmission of
Buddhist wisdom and inspiration. Those monks you give an
opportunity to be trained will share those skills with others,
touching countless lives in various ways.
*******Your gift there fore will inevitably come back to you***
