ShareI am a Buddhist at heart but I am not a disciplined practitioner.  I come to the retreat every year to listen and see our dear Thay.  In 2005, when I first heard Thay speak he broke my heart and then put it back together with his words, compassion and wisdom.  Since then my practice has been to do what Thay asks of me.  I joined a Sangha, I use the skills he taught me to live in harmony with my significant other, I practice compassion with my co-workers and my patients and during the retreats, I try to move as one with the Sangha.  During this retreat, I worried about his health to the degree that I was almost unable to participate in the meditations or dharma talks without breaking down.  I realized at this retreat that everything I have done in my practice is to please my teacher and not to find my own way.  Thay's absence this retreat helped me realize this.  I love Thay dearly and want him to be at peace, not experience pain or disease and be pleased with the progress of the Sangha to the point that I missed his message.  Thay's teachings are present even in his absence.

read other articles from "One Buddha is Not Enough":

• The Miracle of Sangha
• We Take Refuge in the Sangha
• One Buddha Is Not Enough
• Thay’s Absence is His Dharma Talk
• Photos Album