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The Practice of Understanding and Loving
The weekly meeting on Monday is an opportunity to practice Karuna (compassion) and Metta (loving-kindness) towards the Sangha community. The purpose is to collectively recognize and soothe suffering and unease by:
- If a practitioner is seen to be weak, transfer them to another residence or find a new teacher to accompany them
- Encourage full participation in meditation sessions and Dharma discussions; send a reminder letter if absent for three consecutive sessions
- Decide on projects proposed by the council of Dharma teachers, but they must be agreed upon by the assembly of monks and nuns
The role of Dharma teachers, Bhikshus, and Bhikshunis is not to create power, but to live as an example, in harmony, and to share personal talents—such as making bonsai, writing chants, or pickling vegetables—to bring joy to the community. True happiness arises from:
• gratitude for each present moment and the ability to maintain a beginner’s mind to see everything as fresh and beautiful
• nurturing the seeds of love and understanding through the practice of mindfulness, not being swayed by praise or blame or by the desire for power
• cherishing the opportunity to learn and practice, using one’s talents to increase the happiness of the Sangha, as in the case of Phap Dung, who was invited to be abbot because of his harmonious qualities, not because he sought position