This is a story my friend shared with me some years ago. She has a master degree in Buddhist Philosophy.
There is this Monk who after completion of his “apprentice training”, pay respects to his Master and left the temple to propagate Buddha Dharma.
Though he was given alms like food, drink and shelter; none of the people he met in his travels pay attention to his Dharma speeches.
One day, he arrived in yet another new village.
After serving him food and drink, someone gave him a chair to sit and rest.
He started his Dharma Speech again.
Well, his style is to continue to speak for hours, enumerating various topics.
The initial crowd already dwindled down to one this round, and he failed to notice when the rest left!
He thanked the remaining attendee for hearing his whole speech.
The attendee: I am waiting for you to finish so I can pack up the chair and finish for the day and go home.
Dishearten, he went back to his master’s temple.
His master smilingly welcomed him and advice him to practice more diligently before embarking on more Dharma propagating trips again.
Monk started to spend his time at a clearing surrounded by trees and there are rocks he can sit on.
He started to notice ants busy with their livelihood and also the birds resting in the trees.
[Hahaha! He actually started to be aware of other sentient beings cohabiting with him!]
He started to keep food crumbs to feed the ants and the birds.
Then he started to pour out his feelings to them and gradually he shares Buddha Dharma with them as a form of practice.
Yes! By now, readers somehow can deduce what is next from the title “Building Affinity”!
The ants and birds that he shared Buddha Dharma with, mostly reincarnated to Human Forms and became his audiences when he embarks on his Dharma Propagating Trips again!
Guru teaches us to Start Cultivation by Resource Path. Accumulating resources and Neutralizing Karmic Negatives.
Accumulating resources – I shared this in details already. But in this story, the Monk does so by Building Affinity with other sentient beings!
From this story:
1. Observation – [He got too immersed when giving speeches without bothering about his audiences.]
2. Respect and Recognise the Existent of all forms of Sentient Beings
3. Building Affinity – living harmoniously & Sharing Resources – feeding ants and birds; sharing Buddha Dharma.
When Guru cracks a joke about ” I am not listening to your speech but just waiting to pack up after you finish”; it is a true story.
I gift these to those that are too Unaware of other Sentient Beings existence and their Rights to share the same piece of atmosphere with you.
Especially for a True Monk, Buddha Dharma teaches Humbleness and Prioritising others before Self.
Whatever Titles you may be conferred with, as Guru said in today’s (16-6-2012) speech in Seattle Temple, all are Illusory and But a Dream!
Happy Cultivating!
Amituofo
Pure Karma
Lama Lotuschef
True Buddha School
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