Saturday practice with Dave

Good morning everyone, welcome to Saturday morning practice. Namaste. So to start today, Philip has agreed to read a glimpse that he's chosen from the Bright Dawn Book of Dharma Glimpses. Thank you, Philip.

So this is called Shared Spirit by Jeff Wayward. As is often the case when my friends and I gather, the conversation turns from role-playing games, comic books, and other nerd-related stuff to heavier topics like politics, history, and of course religion. Being the only centrist liberal Irish/Native American Buddhist on the panel, I'm usually the one coming out of left field. But the other day, a very conservative Methodist buddy of mine stated, besides all the technical stuff, Buddhism and Christianity are teaching the same thing. Another buddy replied, the better Christian I become, the more Buddhist I feel. I thought, wow, here's an intriguing notion. I mean, obviously the two are not the same. Being raised a strict Southern Baptist I really am uncomfortable with the dogma as it was presented to me, but still there can be some unity. I think Buddha would have accepted turn the other cheek, and Christ would have accepted the idea of right livelihood. How fortunate The communication between East and West is so easy today. While not sacrificing our own beliefs, we should reach out on those ports— points of similarity, accept what we share, and work together to better improve the human condition. Instead of dividing the world into us and them, or more importantly, us versus them, we should just be people compassionately embracing one another. Yes, our faith is defined by the technical stuff, but the spirit of faith is our fuel, and that spirit is shared by many. Namo Amida Butsu.

So we now sit in silence for a period of time before going into chanting.

Namokwanshi in Bosak. Namokwanshi in Namokwanji in Bursat. Namokwanji in Bursat. Namokwanji in Bursat. Namoh Quan Chi in vos Satyas. Namoh Quan Chi in vos Satyas. Namoh Quan Chi in vos Satyas. Namo Guan Shi Yin Bosatsu! Namo Guan Shi Yin Bosatsu! Namu Quanshi Ying Bo Saat! Nammo Kwan Chi Imbo Sas— namo kuan chi im bo saaattt? Nammo Kuanchi Inbosa... Namokwanji Imbosa. Namokwanji Imbosa. Namokwanji Imbosa. Namokwanshi imbo Satya Robyn. Namokwanshi imbo Satya Robyn. Namokwanshi imbo Satya Robyn. Namoh Shiv Gosat. Namoh Shiv Gosat. Namoh Shiv Gosat. Namoh Shiv Gosat. Namo Guan Shi Yin Bosatsa! Namo Guan Shi Yin Bosatsa! Nammo Quanchi Ingo Sansat? Nammo Quanshi Imposas— namo guansi impossasssant... Namokwanji, O Satya Robyn. Namokwanji, O Satya Robyn. Namokwanji, O Satya Robyn.

Now repeat the refuges and precepts. For refuge, I go to the Buddha. For refuge I go to the Buddha, the one who is awake and full of love.

The one who is awake and full of love.

Namo Buddha.

Namo Buddha.

For refuge I go to the Dharma. For refuge I go to the Dharma. All that guides us to wisdom and compassion.

All that guides us to wisdom and compassion.

Namo Dhamma. For refuge I go to the Sangha. For refuge I go to the Sangha. Those who live in the Buddha's light. Those who live in the Buddha's light. Namo Sanghaya. Namo Sanghaya. With faith in the Three Jewels.

With faith in the Three Jewels.

And in light of my human tendencies.

And in light of my human tendencies.

I pray that I may become aware— —of when I take life. Of when I take life. I pray that I may become aware— —of when I take what is not freely given. When I take what is not freely given. I pray that I may become aware— —when I fall into sexual misconduct. Of when I fall into sexual misconduct. I pray that I may become aware— I pray that I may become aware of when I fall into wrong speech— or when I fall into wrong speech. I pray that I may become aware— I pray that I may become aware— when I become intoxicated—

but when I become intoxicated, no blame, no blame.

Be kind. Be kind. Love everything. Love everything.

Innumerable are sentient beings. We vow to save them. Exhaustible are deluded passions. We vow to transform them. Immeasurable are the Dharma teachings. We vow to master them all. Infinite is the Buddha's way. We vow to fulfill it completely.

So I've written a few things down again, and I'm going to talk about Sangha and what it means to different people. As far as I know, the word Sangha was in use before the time of Shakyamuni Buddha. The Buddha who lived around 2,600 years ago. It comes from an old Pāli word meaning association, assembly, company, or community. The original Buddhists used the word to describe the group of monks and nuns who traveled around India with Shakyamuni as he went on his way spreading the Dharma. And now it is best known as one of the Three Jewels which all Buddhists take refuge in, as we did just now. The Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, those who live in the Buddha's light. Some Buddhist traditions do not include lay people in their Sangha, and the term only refers to the practicing monks and nuns. But for most Mahayana Buddhists, the word Sangha encompasses everyone on the Buddhist path, or at least everyone following their particular tradition. Being a part of a community has always been important to me, But since becoming a trainee minister and more recently one of the stewards here, I'm growing to love and appreciate our Bright Earth Sangha more and more. Sitting here now, I'm being supported by Keima and Philip, and earlier by Satya Robyn and Casper in the garden and helping me with the laptop. I wouldn't be here at all if it wasn't for the support and love of all the ministers and trainee ministers who have helped me on my journey. But it's not just the ordained Buddhists who have guided me on my way, but everyone in this community, those people who live here at the temple, and also everyone who comes to practice here or online, and all the other events here such as film nights and kirtans. Knowing that we are surrounded by like-minded people is such a comfort. I'd like to think that in some way I have helped to support others as I know I've been supported myself. Occasionally we have little differences of opinion, but we usually find a way through in the knowledge that we are all following the same path with shared values. The sangha is a place we can all learn and grow together. The last book group I facilitated was Dharma Breeze by Nibuho Haneda. In Chapter 5, What is the Pure Land? Nibuho suggests that the Pure Land symbolizes the sangha. He writes, what then does the Pure Land symbolize? When I read the above description of the Pure Land in the Larger Sutra, the term that immediately comes to mind is the sangha, a place where a teacher and their students are wholeheartedly seeking the Dharma. I believe that the Pure Land is a symbol of the sangha. This is probably the most concrete way of defining the Pure Land. And then he goes on to quote the Reverend Rinjin Yesuda. From a lecture that he attended once. People say various things about birth in the pure land, but could there be any greater birth in the pure land than the fact that we are now sitting and learning the Dharma together? This place where we are listening to the Dharma together is the pure land. Our being allowed to be part of this place, of this sangha, is the birth in the pure land. Do you think that you can have anything greater than this in your life? The fact that you are listening to the Dharma as a member of the Sangha. Some people may speak about the wonderful things to be obtained in the pure land after death, but those things are nothing but projections of human greed. The fact that we are privileged to be a part of the Sangha is our liberation, our birth in the pure land. I think when I first read that, my understanding of what a sangha was shifted slightly and it took on a much more significant meaning. I really am grateful to be a part of our sangha, and the more I think about it, the more I see what a great privilege it is to be involved in this community. Not only is there practical support available, but also emotional and spiritual support. I'd like to think that we all have someone here that we can turn to when seeking advice or guidance. We are all absorbing the Dharma on different levels and at different paces, and we can all offer advice as well as seek it. To many people, Sangha can include a much wider group of people, including our ancestors. Before the Buddha died, someone asked him who would take over after he was gone. His answer was, 'No one will take over. The Sangha and the Dharma will take over.' We have his teachings, and the Sangha has passed these teachings on for generations. The Buddha himself is part of our Sangha, as are all those teachers who have taught the Dharma throughout the world and across the centuries since his passing. So this is an invitation to treasure your Sangha and offer your support and compassion to all fellow members, and not to be afraid to ask for help yourself when you feel you need it. Namomi debu.

Frustration. In gratitude, we make this offering to all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout space and time.

May it be as fragrant as Earth herself, reflecting our careful efforts, our wholehearted mindfulness, and the fruit of understanding slowly ripening.

May we and all beings be companions of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. May we wake in front of yetfulness and realize our true life. Now we bow to each other. Satya Robyn.

Take our seats and bow to our seats. Announcements: Bodhidharma next Saturday. Yep. And Kirtan tomorrow evening. And there's Golden Bowl in the hallway.

I think that's it. Okay, um, closing verse.

Blessed by Anzaba's light, may we care for all living things. No need to move.