If you’re just joining us for this month’s theme, please read the earlier posts:
→ Introduction
→ Week 1 Instructions
All religious traditions recognize the specialness of being human, and even if you don’t have such a formal belief system, it’s easy to see that human beings are unique among the species living on our eco-system Earth. In Buddhism, being born as a person is considered to be rare and special — indeed, one of the most famous parables about this is found in the Chiggaḷa Sutta, where the Buddha explains that the probability of being born human is about as likely as a blind sea turtle surfacing into a rope yoke floating in the middle of the ocean.
Unfortunately, most of us don’t understand that our own very life is special, because we’re too busy worrying or complaining about our fears and dissatisfactions, and chasing after “better” circumstances, feelings, or personalities. Or we have so much suffering due to poverty, illness, or loss, that it’s not possible to experience the wonder that we actually exist at all.
In today’s meditation, we’ll take some time to acknowledge the very special conditions that have amazingly come together to create your life. You don’t have to believe in God or Buddha or anything at all to recognize that countless things had to happen in just the perfect way, for you to be born as you. Nor do you need to be a “better” you to see this. (And for just one example of these incredible conditions, all of your direct lineage (your parents, your parents’ parents, your parents’ parents’ parents) had to live long enough to reproduce, or you wouldn’t be here. None of them died in childhood and neither did you.)
We’ll take inspiration from the very first book that I was assigned to read and practice when I began studying Buddhism, called The Torch of Certainty. It was written by Jamgon Kongtrul the Great, a 19th century Tibetan teacher, and contains simple yet profound instructions to understand the truth of life, whether you're Buddhist or not. We’ll also use some metta phrases from contemporary teacher, Rebecca Bradshaw. Please commit to practicing everyday and check-in to give and receive encouragement with our community!
This week, simply read Thich Nhat Hanh’s contemplation below to yourself each morning and evening.
“You are what you want to become. Why search anymore? You are a wonderful manifestation. The whole universe has come together to make your existence possible. There is nothing that is not you. The kingdom of God, the Pure Land, nirvana, happiness and liberation are all you.”
Friends, I’m sharing these pith instructions from Pope Leo who gave them last week, because they’re really inspiring. I hope we can all follow this universal path of wisdom and compassion, whether we’re Catholic or not:
Looking without walking by, halting the frantic pace of our lives, allowing the lives of others, whoever they may be, with their needs and troubles, to touch our heart. That is what makes us neighbors to one another, what generates true fraternity and breaks down walls and barriers. In the end, love prevails, and proves more powerful than evil and death.
Read the full transcript here.
May we each recognize how wondrous we are in our being. Sabbe satta sukhi hontu. May it be so!
Metta+++,
Kim✨
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