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The Practice of Letting Go
The first day of the Lunar New Year is considered the birthday of the future Buddha Maitreya, a symbol of the Buddha’s rebirth within each of us at the dawn of every new year. When everyone aspires to a peaceful year, to practice steadfastly, and to bring happiness to themselves and others, the future Buddha is born in our hearts. The future is present in this very moment when we are determined to begin anew, to live at ease, and to practice loving.
The practice of loving in the Buddhist tradition is based on four elements:
- loving-kindness (maitri)
- compassion (karuna)
- joy (mudita)
- equanimity (upekkha: non-discrimination, non-attachment)
Equanimity is the love that is free, equal, and impartial; when combined with non-abandonment (not leaving anyone behind), it creates perfect love. True love helps both the one who loves and the one who is loved to maintain their freedom and happiness, avoiding the “prison of attachment.”
To renew the tradition and continue the spirit of learning to love, the Plum Village Sangha hangs two parallel verses for the New Year:
- New year, new century, new millennium, the Sangha aspires to begin anew
- Ancestors love, Bodhisattvas love, Buddhas love, the whole community learns to love together
Asking ourselves, “Am I walking on the path of the Buddha’s love?” helps to transform suffering, allowing Maitreya Buddha to be born right in our hearts amidst hatred and afflictions.
