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Who Are We
Three foundational questions to begin the journey of practice
- Who am I?
- What am I doing here?
- Where am I going, in which direction am I heading?
In daily life, we easily fall into the illusion that we know who we are and the path we are walking. Practice is the art of looking deeply into our perceptions to see our mistakes, to correct them, and to awaken insight, thereby clearly recognizing our true destination.
The path of a monastic and of Siddhartha is propelled by two unchanging sources of energy:
- love: love for our ancestors, culture, homeland, family, and ourselves
- revolution: the determination to break down the old structures full of afflictions, to build a new order based on peace, happiness, and social justice
Unlike political revolutions, which are full of violence and conflict, the revolution of the Buddha’s way is a nonviolent revolution, beginning with the transformation of our own hearts—letting go of anger, craving, and ignorance. The mind of awakening, the mind of loving kindness, and the spirit of brotherhood—as manifested in the nonviolent, self-sacrificing act of Thich Quang Duc and the poem The Fire of Compassion—are powerful energies for transforming both the individual and society in a sincere and wholesome way.
This retreat invites each person to contemplate these three foundational questions, to kindle the energy of love and the will for nonviolent revolution, so that the youthfulness of our spirit does not fade, our hands remain unstained by blood, and each step we take brings our entire lineage, ancestors, Sangha, and future generations to the shore of peace and happiness.
