Reflecting upon the multiple bombs which targeted the Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi Tree, it is clear the root cause of this issue is ignorance. Dharma are the true teachings which lead to awakening. This path is equally compassionate and wise. People in power have been preying on the ignorance of youth and the masses for far too long, teaching unskillful means as a substitute for Dharma, while the True Dharma remains obscured for most. As such, it is time to make several things clear: Dharma and nationalism cannot coexist. Nationalism means my country before any other country. This type of thinking manifests hatred, intolerance, jealousy, greed, and a lack of empathy. Dharma and violence cannot coexist. Violence is much deeper than something physical or even verbal. It is any kind of thought that creates division or separation. When we see ourselves as separate or different from others, it is a violent thought and it leads to violence in many forms. True Dharma is compassion, love, awareness, forgiveness, forbearance, endurance, acceptance, and wisdom. All actions (whether physical, verbal, or mental) which lead to the arising of these qualities are skillful. All actions which lead to the declining of these qualities are unskillful. Therefor, any retaliation for this attack, whether that retaliation is physical, verbal, or mental, is against the teachings of all the Buddhas. In order to truly be Buddhists, we must live our lives and guide our thoughts the same way our teachers have before us, the same way we want future generations to live and guide their thoughts after us. With this in mind, let us all reflect upon the teachings in the Dhammapada: "He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me." Those who harbor such thoughts do not still their hatred. "He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me." Those who do not harbor such thoughts still their hatred. Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal. Peace and happiness.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Jul 2013 09:14:02 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015