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The Energy of Love and Virtue
Transforming the “garbage” within into spiritual “flowers”
The Sangha is like a garden, where “garbage is the ordinary elements,” but when we know how to use it as compost, “flowers will be nourished.” The issue is not that negativity exists, but whether we know how to “use and transform” it so that “the ordinary becomes the holy.” Joy is always created from suffering: “the joy of reunion is made from the sorrow of separation,” and when we flow as a drop of water in the great river called Lăng Nghiêm Kiện Hành, “the joy of the Sangha is my joy, the future of the Sangha is my future.”
The example of letting go and living truthfully from Sister Giac Nghiem
Upon ordaining, the Sister “let go of all material possessions,” keeping only the alms bowl – a symbol of serenity. Her lawyer tried to keep a house for her, but in the end received only an empty bowl, understanding the lesson of “living in mindfulness” and relying completely on the Sangha. Though entrusted with many responsibilities, the Sister always:
- wholeheartedly cared for those who were ill, but never acted on her own, always “consulting the community”
- lived harmoniously with neighbors, “protecting the tree one eats from”
- remained humble and eager to learn, even after having lived in France and studied the teachings of Elder Sister Chan Can
- constantly reflected on herself, from “putting away a teacup” to her daily way of living
The art of practice, revolutionizing the teachings and regulations
The Dharma is “living Dharma,” flexible, developing from “a few conditions” to “the twelve links of interdependent origination.” For 2,600 years, the ancestral teachers have carried out “revolutions in the teachings” and “revolutions in the regulations,” renewing the organization of practice, precepts, and methods of cultivation. To maintain peace and transform sexual energy – a natural part of being human – we need to practice mindfulness and support each other in the Sangha:
- recognize and smile at sexual energy instead of feeling ashamed
- return to the breath and seek guidance from elder brothers and sisters when needed
- do not live alone; keep three people together in a room to avoid exposure to stimulating sounds and images
- practice walking meditation to transform from the realm of desire to the realm of form In the monastery environment, “the seed of sexuality is not watered”; instead, insight, love, and joy arising from “gentleness” and “liberation” are nourished every day.