Page 18 - EH 73 May 2024

16 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE

Zen retreat by the teacher and students of Hoeh Beng Zen Temple Thai and Burmese monastics (monks and
sayalays) pindapata and dana

Cultivating the Bodhi heart, or differences in teachings perceived the trust of unsuspecting local
Bodhicitta, is ideally the same for by the individual often arise from Buddhist devotees.
all Buddhists, regardless of their ignorance and a limited, biased
sectarian affiliations. Guided by understanding. Similar to the Wouldn’t it be confusing for your
compassion and wisdom, our parable of the blind men and the devotees if they were to practice
aspiration should be to attain elephant, we may quarrel, insisting a particular form of meditation
enlightenment for the well- the teachings we follow are the only from a teacher of one tradition,
being of all beings by avoiding correct ones, yet truthfully, we are only to change it to another
unwholesomeness, performing only grasping a small part of the technique when a master from
wholesomeness and purifying the entire truth. a different tradition came along
mind. to teach his form of meditation
You have invited teachers from technique?

Just as there are many ways to different traditions to Bodhi
cook an egg with the ultimate aim Heart Sanctuary. How do you Let me clarify the concept of
of satisfying our hunger, so too are ensure they are authentic “non-sectarianism” at PBHS. We
there many methods and ways to Buddhist teachers and not cult are not attempting to create or
cultivate Bodhicitta and achieve leaders? endorse a new blended Buddhist
liberation from Dukkha for the sake practice (“rojak”) by combining
of all beings. Choose the mode of I am truly grateful for my practices from different traditions
practice that suits you, and refrain experience from my previous and lineages. Instead, we provide
from condemning or belittling career in the due diligence field. a safe space at PBHS for the
others’ practices. Using online and offline resources, Buddhist teachings and practice
I can assess reputational, criminal, from any tradition, lineage or sect.
I truly believe that the individual’s and legal risks of the teacher. We recognize and fully accept the
kamma will heavily influence This process helps me to make diversity of meditation techniques
their spiritual foundation within informed decisions including and practices within the Buddhist
a specific Buddhist tradition. rejecting invitations or applications community and consider all of them
Once, he has diligently settled into if necessary. Furthermore, I will equally valid and true as long as they
a specific Buddhist practice, he actively network and connect with align with the teachings of the Lord
should respect and acknowledge the local and international Buddhist Gautama Buddha.
teachings, practices, and meditation communities, Dhamma centers,
techniques from other Buddhist and leaders in relevant traditions Our aim of inviting different
traditions and lineages as part of to discern authentic teachers from Buddhist teachers with differing
the vast Dhamma teachings. Any those who may attempt to exploit meditation techniques is no different