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rituals such as celebrating Buddhist holy days, merit Min Wei: Encouraging others to study and practice
making and purification practices, bowing to the the Dharma involves understanding their unique
Buddha, making offerings to the Three Jewels, reciting needs and interests. Living by example is powerful;
mantras or prayers, confessing and purifying our demonstrating peace, kindness, and wisdom in daily
misdeeds, rejoicing at our own and others’ virtues, life can inspire curiosity. Gentle encouragement
visualizing buddhas and bodhisattvas, filling statues or and showing practical applications of Dharma
making images of the Buddha—all such rituals can be principles in everyday challenges are effective. These
a doorway for encouraging or deepening practice and narratives make complex concepts more accessible
study in the Dharma. and memorable, fostering deeper understanding and
reflection. Additionally, using modern technology, such
What are some of your favorite skilful means you as apps for meditation or online discussion groups,
use to encourage others to study and practice the helps make the Dharma more accessible to a wider
Dharma? audience. Engaging in compassionate dialogue and
active listening also encourages others to explore
Aggacitta: Generally I would encourage people to do Buddhism. Ultimately, compassion, patience, and
something very simple and effective: ask themselves respect for individual paths foster a supportive
“Why?” whenever they suffer, e.g. become angry, upset, environment for exploring the Dharma.
disappointed, frustrated, sad, remorseful. Then they
can experientially verify the link between suffering Tsepal: The skilful means I’ve observed in my teachers
and attachment, desire, wanting. Eventually they will and try to emulate include living with as much
become wiser and more wary of desires, etc. and not integrity as possible, dropping any pretension, deceit
simply follow all of them but only essential ones. This or hypocrisy about my practice. I try to be very honest
will reduce their sufferings and increase contentment when sharing my past struggles with afflictions, using
and happiness. After all, isn’t this a goal of the Buddha’s gentle humor to laugh at my self-centered thinking and
teaching? This may not be the ultimate goal of the total afflictive behavior. Also I find asking relative questions
cessation of samsaric suffering, but at least it reduces it to get students to think for themselves and engage more
and makes the Dhamma relevant to people’s daily life. fully from their own life experience is very effective. EH

For those who have attended my retreats I encourage Venerable Āyasmā Aggacitta is
them to indulge in their pet attachments with the founder of the Sāsanārakkha
mindfulness and clear awareness, provided they are Buddhist Sanctuary (SBS) in
not harmful to themselves and others. Harmful in the Taiping, Perak, a Pāli scholar and a
sense of breaking the 5 precepts, causing ill health meditation teacher.

or disharmony in the family and among colleagues.
After attending my retreat they should have a clear
understanding of what mindfulness and clear Ven. Min Wei is a teacher of e-learning at the
awareness entail. International Buddhist College (IBC) and an
independent translator of Buddhism.
In a bereavement service I would talk about the
spectrum of merits the living could do to benefit the Venerable Tenzin Tsepal was
dead and point out that dāna is at the lowest end with ordained by HH The 14th Dalai
the practice of mettā and vipassanā at the high end. Lama in 2001 and received her
Then I would encourage them to not just be complacent higher ordination in Taiwan in
with the low end merit of dāna but also to do the high 2019. She is currently a nun
end ones to best benefit their departed loved ones. residing at Sravasti Abbey, USA,
supporting Ven Thubten Chodron in
I only encourage people to study the suttas when I know her teachings.
that they have the time and inclination or aptitude for it.