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The Dharma Seal of Plum Village
After the Buddha entered nirvana, the Sangha remained unified like a single river for 140 years before dividing into the Sthavira and Mahāsāṃghika schools. Over several hundred years, more than twenty Buddhist schools emerged, each remaining faithful to the original teachings (impermanence, non-self, nirvana) while adding new Dharma doors to meet the diverse needs of the people. Thanks to this, Buddhism quickly spread throughout India under King Ashoka and later throughout the world. Similar to Western psychotherapy, practitioners can openly select the most suitable methods, caring for the teachings according to each person’s capacity. At Plum Village, the formal tea meditation (16 people, 1 tea host, 2 tea attendants) is a precious Dharma door that needs to be seriously restored, maintained with dignity, and practiced deeply.
The spirit of “I have arrived, I am home, moving like a river,” and the principle of interbeing of the three times (past-present-future interwoven) are the foundation for living fully in the present moment and recognizing both relative and ultimate truth (conventional truth – ultimate truth). The Pure Land is not only a future Western realm but can be manifested right here and now in our mind (the Pure Land in the present moment); at the same time, we need to be inclusive toward those who cannot yet see the Pure Land in the present, offering them the future Pure Land as a support. Living in the Sangha as a river is a solid path to preserve the true Dharma and develop teachings appropriate to our times.