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Speaking to Monastics
In the past, ideas about Buddhism entering life and society were often criticized as too idealistic and unrealistic. The School of Youth for Social Service, with the aim of rural reconstruction and ending the war within five years, was not supported by the Buddhist congregation right from the start, causing the country to lose an opportunity for ten years. Organizations such as Van Hanh University, La Boi Press, Phuong Boi Monastery, and Plum Village all started from dreams and projects in the mind before becoming reality. Ideals and dreams are a part of life, helping human beings have enough energy to live happily.
Building a harmonious monastic Sangha is the fundamental work and foundation for happiness in the present. Happiness is not a distant, abstract concept but can be realized right today through simple conditions like having a vegetarian meal or living together in a community with a shared aspiration. The path of practice here refuses abstract terms like Satori, Nirvana, or Suchness to focus on concrete practice, with “two feet touching the ground.” There are two ways to practice:
- Purely formalistic, which easily inspires admiration from the outside but may be corrupted on the inside.
- Focusing on substance, not getting caught in form, yet still maintaining precepts and intelligent fine manners.
The presence of sisters and brothers side by side brings freshness, helping the Sangha have more joy and humanity. When living in a Sangha without happiness and communication, a practitioner easily feels lonely and seeks relief through sexual desire, but physical union only makes the loneliness grow greater. To transform suffering, the practitioner needs to nourish a great Bodhicitta to become a rushing river instead of a stagnant pond. Within a human being, there are two important substances that need to be recognized:
- The substance of fire, which is anger.
- The substance of vinegar, which is jealousy.