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Answering remaining questions from previous Q & A
Perceptions of the Sangha can vary wildly; one practitioner may feel the new Buddha is already born within the community, while another feels dislike and sees no transformation. This discrepancy arises because different seeds and fruits require different periods of time to mature. Like the rain described in the Lotus Sutra, the teaching is offered to everyone, but the capacity to receive and profit from it differs per person. Buddhism is not an intellectual adventure but a practice based on the insight that the Dharma is effective right away. Through mindful walking, one can experience peace, stability, and concentration in a single step, touching the wonders of life in the present moment. The Dharma is Sanditthika, for the sake of the present moment, and ehipassika, inviting one to come and see for themselves.
Patience is a mark of true love. A teacher, father, or mother must possess the patience to wait for transformation, never excluding the other. Even when Devadatta split the Sangha, plotted against the King, and attempted to replace the Buddha, the Buddha remained patient, eventually accepting Devadatta’s refuge just before he died. When members of the community are angry, they may say cruel things or threaten to leave to justify their suffering, but a true teacher understands this as a temporary state and keeps the door open. Leaving the Sangha often stems from a lack of practice and an inability to embrace one’s own weaknesses and those of others.
The capacity to be happy requires appreciating positive conditions available in the here and now, such as having strong feet or seeing the stars, rather than waiting for illness to realize the value of life. The seed of the hungry ghost—the vagabond who wants to run away and wander alone—exists in everyone. To counter this temptation, it is essential to get rooted in the Sangha and take refuge in stable brothers and sisters. In the Vietnamese tradition, if a father chases a child out the front door, the child should come back through the back door, understanding that the anger is not the whole truth. Happiness is à la portée de la main, at hand; we need only remove the obstacles we set up for ourselves to touch it.
