COMPASSION – WISDOM – COURAGE

“Asura, you should know

 So is in the past, so is now,

 Sitting still, being criticized by others,

 People criticize someone for talking too much,

 Moderate saying is criticized

 Being human is not criticized,

 It's hard to find in life."

 

 (Dhammapada Sutra - Verse 227)

 

 

Today, the Master confided to the crowd, "Practitioners must have the courage to speak the truth", also known as "correct dharma". Even if people who are dissatisfied and don't like to listen to the Dharma scold and slander us with vulgar words, they must boldly speak the truth. Hearing this, how could he be so brave? Are these true disciples of the Thus-gone (Tathagata)? Suddenly he remembered the phrase "Compassion - Wisdom - Courage" in the Buddhist teachings that he often heard.

 

"Compassion" means to bring joy and uproot the sadness of others.

"Wisdom" is the understanding of impermanent life.

"Courage" is diligence and bravery to realize the spirit of compassion based on wisdom.

 People often say, "Practitioners must have Bodhisattva mind and heroic courage." It seems so reasonable! Practitioners have the Bodhisattva mind of loving all creatures, all things,... and heroic courage is daring to do what is right, overcoming all obstacles and difficulties, sometimes even having to sacrifice their own lives. He nodded in agreement with both hands, because he found it so difficult and courageous to do it nowadays!

 

 

Everyone and every family says that practicing like this is "true dharma", "authenticity", "like the Buddha". But let me ask how many of you can define what is the Dharma, what is the truth, and what is Buddha-likeness.  People who are not Buddhists, even those who claim to be Buddhists have not yet clearly understood whether the exhortations to practice like Buddha, attaining the fruit, and being really true or not. He feels that his throat has been choked ever since.

 

 In the age of technology 5.0 and smartphones with tons of information, how can we measure and filter it? Fortunately, the Master taught him to take the "Sutras, Laws and Treatises" and the Buddha's "Precepts and Laws" as a fulcrum, a place of refuge, and one of illumination. We should cultivate our own knowledge by practicing ourselves according to the Eightfold Path, and Right View is the most important. Because when we see correctly, we will have correct thinking, from correct thinking leads to correct speech and ultimately leads to wisdom.  Wisdom is the essence of a practitioner. That's why in pagodas, wisdom is always emphasized as a career.

  

I am grateful to Him for a thousand times! Venerable Thich Chan Tinh - a respected Master, dared to speak the truth, dared to go against the majority to say things that were true to the Dharma. When he sometimes refused to follow the majority, he was criticized and scolded with vulgar words. He still did not falter. Because of love for all sentient beings, he wants to help everyone see and understand correctly without creating bad karma so as not to suffer the consequences of retribution.

 

 

His virtues have spread everywhere not only domestically but also abroad. He - is a shining example in the golden light for our future generations to rely on and practice according to the Buddha's Dharma. Just like the Buddha's sutra taught:

 

 "The scent of fragrant flowers

Doesn’t fly against the wind,

 But the scent of virtuous people

 Flies against the wind,

 There are only true people

 Radiating in all directions.”

 (Dhammapada Sutra - Verse 54)

 

 Best regards

 

 

 Phước Huệ

Translated into English by Huynh Thi Khanh Phung