Without the teaching of Shantideva’s Bodhisattva way of life, I wouldn’t have practised “sympathetic joy”. Without the humiliation, I wouldn’t have sought the truth. Without Venerable Chodron, I wouldn’t have known Nibbana.
Without the Pureland sutra, I wouldn’t have understood the qualities of the Chinese masters. Without the malicious speech, I wouldn’t have abandoned Sukhavati. Without Venerable Wuling, I wouldn’t have meditated well.
Without pursuing Jhana, I wouldn’t have gone to Jhana Grove. Without consistent criticism, I wouldn’t have abandoned seeking for a teacher. Without Ajahn Brahm, I wouldn’t have realised we are all the same!
Without the desire to be part of the monastic sangha, I wouldn’t have attended the Dhamma teachings online. Without blind comments, I wouldn’t have known that letting go is all the answers. Without Ayya Sobhana, I wouldn’t have known that I am able to “dwell with yourselves as an island, with yourselves as a refuge, with no other refuge…”.
With all these marks the end of my desire to follow a sangha. Sincerely wish all of them well. Thank you!
They were my best teachers. Without them, I wouldn’t have come this far. I have always had soft spot for the elderly. That was why I started volunteering myself in the elderly home after I left school. The same goes towards the elder sangha.
“…with the Dhamma as an island, with the Dhamma as a refuge, with no other refuge.”
Cats who teach me to fly... 