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Ten-Day New Year Practice: Welcoming Maitreya through Non-Self Reflection
On New Year’s Day, we practice linking with our ancestors and future generations, seeing that we are only a continuation of them. We also practice linking with the people around us and celebrate the coming of the new Buddha, Maitreya, the Buddha of love. This requires ten days of purification in order to prepare for the Buddha Maitreya to settle in our hearts.
The practice for these ten days is based on the principle of non-self, vô ngã, recognizing that what we are has its roots all around us in time and space. The suggestion is to work on two aspects of ourselves, using a pencil and paper to help your meditation:
- Find ten positive points or qualities in you and write them down. If you cannot see all ten, ask a Dharma brother or sister to tell you what they see in you.
- Find about five things that symbolize your weakness. A very sincere person can help you see these and offer their insight.
A perceived weakness, like being stubborn, cứng đầu, or too sensitive, can be good sometimes. Your brother or sister can use their wisdom to shine on these points. Remember that these values and weaknesses are not your own production; they are due to your ancestors, parents, and society. If you have qualities, don’t be too proud. If you have some weakness, don’t feel guilty. This is the practice of non-self. The focus is on the ten positive points because of the power of flower watering, as the complex of inferiority is also an affliction.
