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The Teacher Waters the Flowers of His Disciples
The aspiration to go forth does not arise from personal suffering, but from a deep vow to seek great happiness for oneself and others. This is the Bodhi heart (Bodhicitta), which includes
- great understanding (Bodhicitta)
-
great love (Maitrīcitta)
These two elements rely on each other, generating immense energy to help liberate many beings.
The initial heart, or beginner’s mind, is the seed of Bodhi that needs to be watered by the teacher, the Sangha, and the appropriate Dharma door. Preserving the beginner’s mind intact is a fundamental practice, bringing lifelong happiness and the strength to continue on the Bodhisattva path; otherwise, that heart will gradually wear down, making practice difficult and lacking vitality.
Many stories illustrate the power of wholesome aspiration and beginner’s mind:
- Sister Phuc Nghiem, after nearly six years, was able to transform her father’s mind and clearly improve his health after just seven days of massage and chanting the Buddha’s name.
- Sister Uy Nghiem, after three years as a novice nun, found that two weeks returning home were the happiest of her life, living fully with a whole heart.
- Practicing “arriving and departing freely” is to live each step with ease and peace, helping both teacher and student maintain the energy of great love and freedom in every moment.