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Author: Brett Miller

  • Wat Buddha Manodham – an oasis of Metta

    https://m.facebook.com/watbuddhamanodham

    Last Thursday I once again had the privilege of visiting Wat Buddha Manodham in Chickamauga, GA. Over the years I have known Bhante Prasasouk, there is always the glow on his face of genuine Metta and Contentment that can’t be hidden. Not only have I been allowed to practice and take refuge on the grounds of the Wat, but I have been welcomed in to give Dana and assist in any way possible. I have seen others who sought refuge at the Wat treated with the same warmth, acceptance, and generosity.

    This week the monks were preparing for an upcoming event (as well as the upcoming Laotion New Year) and I was allowed to assist in some of the construction inside the Wat, and found that Metta transcends language barriers as I was treated with kindness even though my excitement for the Dhamma can overwealm my speech at times. Bhante has always showed incredible Patience and a recognition that my Desire to practice Lord Buddha’s Dhamma and train the mind in the laylife is Sincere. He has always been extremely direct in correcting my delusion based misconceptions whenever he has caught me speaking them out loud, yet he has done so with a gentle grace and skill i have rarely encountered outside ordained Sangha.

    Every one of my handful of visits so far to the Wat has been an inspiration to the practice, and i will visit whenever it is within my means to do so and Bhante or Ajahn say that i am welcome.

    The fact that there are monks practicing the Buddha’s Noble 8-fold is undenyable in every encounter with Bhante Joseph Prasasouk. He has not only had time to accept Dana and listen to me pour out my emotions in times of grief when I was having difficulties. He responded with loving kindness and nurturing and was more than willing to listen without judgment, even when I was caught in restlessness and worry. This is generosity of the highest nature, and it stuck with me for years. What i continue to be grateful and amazed about, is the fact that Bhante can be so calm and strong, yet without the slightest shred of superiority in his tone, face or delivery. He never places himself in a position of power over, he is there to empower others, and there is no doubt. This is the kind of Good Friend that the Lord Buddha told Ananda was the Whole of the Holy life. A good friend supports you, not your Delusion.

    Whenever I do give Dana, Bhante allows me to hit the gong myself, and the experience of taking refuge and chanting the Vandana at the Wat is a source of Viriya and Saddha (energy and faith) for the practice here. It’s always worth visiting ordained Sangha who are pracing under the protection of dhamma vinaya. The reason why is because the Virtue they have developed is impossible to miss as it shows in everything they do, say, and in their very face. It’s impossible to hide the kindness that radiates from every direction. If you catch yourself wondering what the fruit of good practice looks like, just go hang out with those who have been living Dhamma Vinaya for years. It will be a benefit to your Practice in ways you can’t imagine. It was truly refreshing to hear Bhante say that in the Laos tradition, taking care of family and our elderly was part of the practice of virtue.

    On more than one occasion other laypeople have stopped by the Wat for advice while i was visiting, often on their first encounter with any Buddhist tradition. They were treated with warmth and acceptance by the monks.

    Wat Buddha Manodham, in my experience is an oasis of sanity, generosity and loving kindness in the deep south.

     

    Views: 45

  • Thank you Dhammarato and Friends.

    Finding True Friendship through the Generosity of Dhammarato and friends has been a repeated experience of joy and a rememberance of what Metta and True Generosity feels like in the Heart.

    It is worth waking up in spite of the big mess we see when we do.

    The practice here has changed more in the last year than in the previous 9. Not only experiencing for the first time in nearly half a century of life, a practice which can be based in taking an honest look at what’s happening right now, arriving at non-reactivity at the senses, then making a change. Not only has Ardency in personal practice and Devotion has intensified, but the entire experience of Life and Reality is normalized to joy as default. I don’t mean that to sound stuffy and intellectualized. What’s true is that everything has softened and the fictional sense of intractability has vanished, such that even family members and friends are more receptive to listening and working harder to love and contribute. Maybe getting off my own butt in some ways (I used to think weren’t possible for me) has helped, but it is seen to be profound how taking up the attitude of a lion (even on mornings where we feel more like a kitten) helps those around us.

    Every time I have come to a member of Dhammarato’s Sangha, with a question about the Dhamma, I am Satisfied and calmed by the words of these skillful practitioners. It is amazing how skillful the facilitation can be, in many cases coming from those who have practiced a relatively short amount of time. If Doubt arises, someone is available to talk briefly, or sometimes for a while, until we return to remembrance and appreciation – of this very breath. The only thing needed to recall the refreshment waiting for us when we live with the 4 Noble Truths and the Buddha’s 8-fold Path as a guide to our Intentions, Speech, and Actions.

    I am only just beginning on my Journey to appreciate and contribute to a Sangha and teacher who has made such a difference that leads directly to happiness.

    What I was seeking when I joined OSF was a place where I could meet friends who would not only serve as comfort and calmraderie along the way, but also hold me accountable for nonsense in my thinking and speech. This is something I never had from friends outside the Dhamma. It helps.

    Thank you.

    D.J. Over at Dischord has especially been patient, as it literally took me two years to understand how to log on and know what was going on, and regardless of my foibles and social network naivate, he was always patient and unwavering in representing the nurturing side of Dhammarato’s style/message while retaining a strong practice anchored in Samma Ditti (Right View) and Anapanasati (Mindfulness of breathing).

    Buddham Saranam Ghachami   (I go to The Buddha for Refuge)

    Dhammam Saranam Ghachami  (I go to The Dhamma for Refuge)

    Sangham Saranam Ghachami  (I go to The Sangha for Reguge)

    Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambudassa!  (Honor to him the Beloved Teacher, the Arahant, The fully Enlightened Buddha)

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  • Noble Conversation

    Noble Conversation

    Brett

    In pursuit of more skillful speech, especially with teachers and members of the Sangha, yesterday I downloaded the freely available book Noble Conversation, by Ajahn Thanissaro.

    https://www.dhammatalks.org/ebook_index.html

    It’s amazing to have these free books available and I am very thankful to have found them at this time.

    On a 10 day retreat in 2013, I wasn’t really supposed to read books but one book that went with me was Right Mindfulness, by Ajahn Thanissaro (Thanissaro Bhikkhu at the time). It was worth taking with me. These books are distributed free of charge.

     

     

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    Views: 45