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Living Dharma
The space outside of space is freedom, liberation, ease, and sovereignty that the practitioner needs to bring into their heart in order to be happy themselves and to offer happiness to others. That space is not material, but it is the foundation of happiness; if the heart is cramped, full of calculation, without freedom, then happiness cannot be, and one cannot create happiness for others. Wisdom (prajna) and compassion (karuna) always go together, never separate; without wisdom there can be no compassion, and compassion cannot exist without wisdom. In Buddhism, love is expressed through the Four Immeasurable Minds:
- loving kindness (maitri/metta)
- compassion (karuna)
- joy (mudita)
- equanimity (upekṣā)
The practice does not have an endpoint, even after becoming a Buddha. After his enlightenment, the World-Honored One still sat in meditation, practiced walking meditation, mindful breathing, and ate his meals in mindfulness to nourish happiness and heal body and mind. Becoming a Buddha is only the beginning of the work of sharing the Dharma; building the Sangha is essential. In less than a year, the first Sangha of 1,250 people was formed, and in just ten days the World-Honored One gathered and trained the new bhikkhus. A true Sangha generates a powerful energy of mindfulness and concentration; each sound of the bell, each breath with the Sangha is a living Dharma, the protection of the Three Jewels, and the simple path that brings us back to peace in the present moment.