Loving Wisely

We usually think of love in terms of a particular person. Such love is born of emotions, gives rise to expectations, and often results in disappointment. Wanting others to conform to our ideals, we often smother the recipient of our “love” and destroy the person we care for. If, however, love comes from wisdom, such love will be unconditional and nonjudgmental. We will accept the other as he or she is and will wish only for that person’s happiness. In this way, we will discover happiness for ourselves as well.

Peace and Unity

 

It is appropriate to cherish and protect this world,
For it is our home and the home of those who will come after us.
So immense, yet so fragile.
So secure, yet so easily destroyed by selfishness and by hatred.

May all beings savor the nectar of loving-kindness
to overcome thoughts of controlling others,
bring forth serenity and the insight
to find happiness and harmony.

It is right for us to respect and safeguard every living creature,
For they are one with us.
We are just different aspects of a single being.
Many of us feel that we are dissimilar,
but in essence we are the same with universal beliefs and values.

May the perfection of our true selves blossom within us
as we let go of hypocrisy and jealousy,
bring forth equanimity and the wisdom
to know tolerance and unity.

It is time to heal the wounds born of bitterness and violence,
For if left untended, they will only wreak irreparable damage.
We reap what we sow.
Only sincere thoughts and deeds of friendship
will create the joyful world we seek.

May all our hearts and minds bond together
to forge the unshakable promise
to bring our world lasting peace.

A Peaceful, Stable World

We perceive ourselves as individuals, as being independent of others. We think “I am an individual” and most of the time consider our own personal wishes and desires before we think of the wishes and desires of others. And when we do think of others, they are usually our family and those we know and care about, those who think the way we do and who share our beliefs.

But we all live in the same world, have the same problems. Many of us need help when we have problems. If someone is drowning, and we can swim, we do not ask who they are or what they believe in. We do everything we can to help them. If all of us gave help when it was needed, our world would be gentle, peaceful, and happy, and we would not have the problems that we do, the hatred, the wars.

We can either choose to create problems or to solve them. But if we do not help, we will never solve our problems. We can spend millions of dollars on a bomb or $25 to feed a hungry child in a third world country for a month. We can spend money to kill or to save lives. Which one solves the problem? War will not solve problems, giving unselfishly will. True giving is totally without expectation of reward. If we expect something then it does not solve the problem. When people of different beliefs and cultures respect and help each other, we will finally have a harmonious and prosperous society, and a peaceful and stable world.

This is what we hope for. This is our responsibility to create.

Our True Work

 

Your work is to discover your work

and then

with all your heart

to give yourself to it.

~ Buddha

True Nature

In the world today there are many beliefs, religions and cultures, many different viewpoints of how to explain our world and our relationship to it. But although we seem to have so many differences, we really have so many similarities. Do not kill, do not steal, do not lie. Do all that is good and nothing that is bad. Do unto others as you would have done unto you. Remember the kindness of others and repay the kindness with gratitude.

Whether we call it caring for and respecting others or loving-kindness or compassion, we believe in helping others, in giving of what we have or who we are, to those who need our help or our wisdom. Today, many people are searching for wisdom, for the understanding of why we are born, why we live, and why we die. We are compelled by conflicting emotions. We are compelled by logic. When we hear of other beliefs the feelings of many people range from fear to curiosity, from surprise to fascination, from suspicion to cooperation.

Everywhere we look, we see societies with greater diverse cultures, societies with more differences, societies that often emphasize these differences. Today many people look outside of themselves, to these differences, believing that they are the reason why so many are so unhappy. But the reason lies within us.

As human beings, we undergo the sufferings of birth, old age, sickness, death, hardships, unfulfilled wishes, separation from our loved ones, and association with those we dislike. The failure of people to understand the real cause of their unhappiness—their suffering—is increasing this very suffering.

To overcome this suffering we need to achieve ultimate wisdom. Accomplishing this is the main objective of our learning and cultivation. Everyone has the potential to realize this state of ultimate wisdom, because it is already an intrinsic part of our nature. It is not something we can obtain externally.

But most of us have become confused through general misconceptions and therefore, are unable to realize this potential. However, if we can break through this confusion, we will realize this intrinsic part of our nature. Thus, the Buddhadharma is an educational system aimed at uncovering our own innate true nature.