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Phap Van Monastery - The Buddha of Our Century
Ten years the old garden flourished green, twenty years sunlight shone on the thatched hut, the image of the mustard garden with yellow flowers, the hand asking how it can help today, the evening breeze like a breath dreaming of a distant future—all remind us of the miraculous presence, of the freshness of being, like a radiant flower blooming in the homeland as beautiful as childhood. The singing by the river, the golden bundle of straw, the moon gathering before the gate—all affirm that the beautiful reality is not a dream. People have held hands for countless lifetimes, suffering because they do not realize they are leaves, are flowers. Now, let us stop being a source of suffering for each other and instead sing together, breathe in and out together, so we may smile happily with the Teacher and the Sangha.
The Buddha of our century—Bodhisattva Maitreya—will not be born as an individual, but as a community of fourfold assembly: monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen. To prepare for his arrival, we practice the four elements of true love:
- Maitri—loving-kindness, the ability to offer happiness through our fresh, pleasant presence
- Karuna—compassion, the ability to bear and transform suffering through deep listening
- Mudita—joy, true happiness when we rejoice in the success and happiness of others
- Upeksha—equanimity, unconditional love, without discrimination, without prejudice
Four simple yet extraordinary mantras remind us always to be present and to deeply understand one another:
- “Dear one, I am here for you with my fresh presence.”
- “Dear one, I know you are there, and I am so happy.”
- “Dear one, I know you are suffering, that is why I am here for you.”
- “Dear one, I am suffering, please help me.”
Practice breathing, smiling, and relaxing to restore the “fresh flower” nature in our hearts, use deep listening and loving speech to heal all misunderstandings and to build a wise Sangha—this is the mission of Maitreya Buddha and also the responsibility of every cell in the practicing community.