Mindfulness and the age

“Without distractions of the way to live

 Distraction is the way to death

 No distractions, no death,

 Relaxed like dead.

 Knowing clearly that difference,

 A wise person is unrestrained

 Be happy, not distracted

 Happiness and behavior of the Saints."

 (Dhammapada Sutra, verses 21, 22)

 

I am a person who is not very interested in the "trends" or hot things of the age. I just want to peacefully learn and practice the Buddha's teachings. Also, I want to purify my body and mind as well as contribute to a better life!

 

 But dirty Youtubers, TikTokers…. who sell themselves to the devil because of their own benefit have cut and assembled false clips, distorted Buddhism,... to create negative waves about Buddhism, especially monks, causing outrage and inciting the mass.

“It is a small flock that is not a black sheep.” 

 

We do not deny that there is a small portion of people who practice Buddhist teachings and have not perfected themselves or still have many mistakes. But if you are a true Buddhist, a moral person, you will act in a more positive and good way by giving feedback so that the wrong person has the opportunity to correct and also let himself become a better version every day. In the past, during the Dharma disaster, "Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc" used his body as an eternal fire to save Buddhism from destruction. We are Buddhists and Vietnamese people with good traditions. As a result, we will not let people with bad thoughts, words, and actions destroy "Buddha's truth", "the good traditions of our ancestors."

 

"The pagoda roof protects the nation's soul

 The ancestors' way of life for many generations".

 In order to contribute our strength to the work of protecting Buddhism against this evil wave, "mindfulness" is an extremely important and urgent factor.

 What is mindfulness?

 

 Mindfulness is awareness, not forgetting to remember, knowing all dharmas completely, knowing clearly what arises in every moment of the present, now and here. As one of the eight branches of the Noble Eightfold Path that the World-Honored One taught, when Buddha was still in the world, there were still "Six Thieves Bhikkhus". After more than 25 centuries, the imperfect members of the assembly of monks have shortcomings and mistakes that need everyone's comments and corrections instead of crude and toxic comments and clips.

 

 Personally, as someone who is in the process of remodeling, I feel more compassion and sympathy. It is because each living being has its own karma, just like "All living beings are victims of ignorance". In the end, the person who receives good or bad results is also the person who creates the cause. We should understand that we and everyone else are no different. The difference is each individual's choice such as "you reap what you sow”. Hopefully, we can be mindful in every word, action, and thought so that our "comments" and "likes" do not cause suffering to others or even ourselves.

 

 “Words are not knives.

 But it's heart-breaking and painful

 Words are not smoke

 But the corners of my eyes were stinging

 Words are not clouds

 But it takes us far away

 Why don't you sit down and think again?

 Speak softly to each other"

Best regards,

 

Phước Huệ 

Translated into English by Huynh Thi Khanh Phung