Words of Wisdom 8
November 2021
Rinpoche on Spreading the Joyful Dharma
According to Buddhism, diligence is Tsön gang ge la trowa’o (བརྩོན་གང་དགེ་ལ་སྤྲོ་བའོ། [“Diligence means joy in virtuous ways.”]—the joy of practicing the dharma, the joy of getting into the dharma. I think the patrons and teachers—our generation—we have the responsibility to make it joyful for the next generation.
The ascetic life or the simple life is for those who think that is their satisfaction. There are a lot of people who get satisfaction from a simple life. But there are also sutras where Buddha refused to ordain somebody who wanted to become a monk. He told them, “You should remain as a merchant.” So of course, Buddhism is not at all against happiness and satisfaction.
There is not a single way to approach and understand the dharma, and the joy of seeing the truth is just one aspect of what Buddhism has to offer, but we invite you to consider how we can truly help all people, especially future generations, encounter the wealth of Buddha’s wisdom.
Joyfulness is not only overlooked, it has been replaced by lamas establishing difficult and punishing situations.
The purpose is not to oppose the simple life of monks to the fun life of lay people
If we stop speaking of the liberation of suffering what is left of Dharma ?
Our challenge is rather to show that the freeing joyful, to make understand that thinking in a different way is joyful, that looking at others with care is joyful, that feeling responsible for one’s own actions is joyful, that seeing the truth is joyful.
Vimalakirti is joyful, he enjoys luxury and fun, BUT he also practices generosity and knows the illusory and ephemeral aspect of everything.
Addendum: Listen to Krishna Das if one is in need of the joyful or the heartfelt.
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I feel it begins with our own understanding and practice. And ultimately, actualizing a joyful mind. From this place of joy and ease we can unleash a creativity that is beyond expectation and result oriented. I’ve always appreciated that there isn’t a missionary type of attitude in Buddhism. Trying to convert others. But I agree that we could be more creative in presenting the Buddha dharma to a new generation. Cheers!
Maybe KF can produce a series of TikTok-Style videos with one (young) person asking a question/ telling about a real life situation and another one giving Buddha’s inspired answer on that. You can post the same video as a Reel on IG and a short on You Tube too… this way we can reach more people and make Dharma more attractive and “juicy”
As average Buddhist practioner, I find hope and contentment in my daily life because born in good healthy social environment, you learn how to be mindful of your actions and have empathy to all beings.
Unfortunately today many children or adults do not have such a healthy social environment, so we have to find out other ways like cartoons,books, films and other modern mediums to implant the seeds empathy that will open to Buddha’s teaching…
if people with new ideas and that want to help find closed doors than is going to be dificult
People please, take your joyfulness out onto the street. The streets are overflowing with brothers and sisters who are in need of a smile, a kind word, human connection.
That is Buddhism in action. That is Christ in action. That is us, our own intrinsic nature in action with other humans, very own intrinsic nature. That is the magic. That is Buddhism. That is Jesus Christ, Allah, Yaweh and every other divine form we have stuffed into the formless. Peace and have fun.