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The Worthwhile Task
Sitting meditation is a simple yet profound miracle: just “truly being present in life,” not letting the mind run away. Meditation not only brings peace, but is also an opportunity to courageously face and uproot afflictions—from family and social conflicts to jealousy within the sangha. Like a rabbit in its burrow, finding temporary peace, but eventually having to go out and live; similarly, if we only “take refuge” in meditation to avoid difficulties, that is not true practice. In the sangha, it is precisely jealousy and anger, as in the case of the monk who developed a skin disease or Venerable Ananda being misunderstood, that are opportunities to practice mindfulness and to transform.
Building the sangha requires patience and a great bodhi mind, not only “enjoying” but also nurturing and raising the collective quality from 40% to higher. The Buddha trained nearly a thousand disciples in about two months, step by step from walking, standing, lying down, sitting, to speaking loving speech, overcoming clumsiness and the group of “the six troublesome monks”—the six who caused disturbances—so that eventually a strong sangha was formed. For more than twenty-five years, the path of “being master wherever you are”—remaining proactive in any circumstance, not playing the victim—and “being truly established wherever you are”—preserving the ontological ground, not wearing a mask—has been the compass for each member to contribute to making the sangha pure, beautiful, and effective in spreading the Dharma.
Practicing mindfulness is not only in sitting or walking meditation, but in every daily activity: washing vegetables, cooking rice, shopping, writing calligraphy, picking tomatoes… Peace in every action is the true reward of the practitioner. When we can maintain ease throughout the day, we become a “bell of mindfulness” for those around us, and our words and methods carry real power. Building true brotherhood through deep listening and loving speech, recognizing weaknesses, illuminating and supporting each other, is the concrete responsibility of every individual in the sangha.