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Continuing the Buddha's Work
Vietnamese people in France often celebrate two New Years – the Western New Year and the Vietnamese New Year – while in Thailand, there are up to three: the Thai New Year, the Western New Year, and the Vietnamese New Year. In Indonesia, disciples will celebrate three New Years: the Western New Year, our own Lunar New Year, and Ramadan, and perhaps even the Jewish New Year for the sake of harmony. I will write a letter announcing my participation in part of the ceremony, fasting together on the day of Ramadan, and if invited, I will attend the festive meal. The New Year, the day of honoring longevity, is not merely for fleeting enjoyment but is an opportunity to offer our deep gratitude to our ancestors, to cultivate mindfulness in every breath, every step, and to recognize happiness right in the present moment.
Practicing taking refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha is a profound process of practice, helping us no longer feel adrift, fearful, or unstable – relying on each other like birds with the sky and clouds, deer with the open fields. The Sangha is a powerful source of transformation, maintaining mindfulness twenty-four hours a day through every step, every word, and every action. After his enlightenment, the Buddha established the Sangha with five fellow practitioners, and within a few years, there were more than a thousand monastics, thanks to:
- the dignified precepts
- concentration and insight transmitted
- the strength of unity in the Sangha
On this path, our mission is to guide and share the way of practice with young people all over the world, offering them faith, methods, and community to help save the planet – continuing the dream of the Buddha and the ancestral teachers.