Reflection on Lay Buddhist Communities (2)

Q1: Is my religion better than yours?

Last month a friend who shared that he met a group of Korean ladies who confronted him in a food stall to 'preach' to him. He said he didn't want to make them felt bad thus he listened to their 'preaching' for a while and gently dissuaded them to leave his table.  I thought he was nice to do that, in my honest opinion, youth are energetic and simpler in critical thinking. In my younger days, i might be even more naive than this group in my enthusiasm in learning some basic teachings of world religions.  Somehow, i have greater affinity with Buddhist teachings, but appreciate universal truths expounded in world religions and sound philosophical thoughts and good cultures.

Q2: Is my teacher (master/guru) better than yours?

Last month, one young Lama travelled with Kunde Rinpoche to this region. This Lama follows Gelukpa school.  We served him, contributed to his basic needs etc. like any other Lamas happened to come here with Tulku or Khenpo.  I happened to receive them at the airport, later we by-passed a Buddhist Centre and we stopped to pay homage to the Three Jewels. One of the young men came out and greeted us when we entered the Centre. It happened a small group of lay Buddhists of the Centre's members  were having a practice program going on.  We paid homage to the Buddha and Bodhisattvas. We looked around, there is a Zopa Rinpoche's photo in significant size displaying on a portable display stand at the side of the main shrine.  i had a short chat with one lady (who happened to study in the same univ. of different program) and then gave a small token for their up-coming puja in a designated box, and later we left - admiring the well-established learning place.  Kunde Rinpoche praised to us that Zopa Rinpoche is a very good and generous Master. In my curiosity, i asked a question, Kunde Rinpoche explained to me that in Vajrayana tradition, the Guru is very significant.
I got to know that one of my good friends whom i know affiliated to this Centre is now the president of this centre.  In retrospection, many years ago, she had kindly invited me to the other branch centre at another side of this city.  Somehow, my affinity was not strong to make a connection. We are good friends, had been learning traditional Buddhist teachings together for many years.  Though our spiritual path have taken a different approach within a same tradition, I have high regards and respect in her practise of compassion and socially engaged activities based on Universal principles of kindness and compassion.

Later in self contemplation, I appreciated Acho Rinpoche's and his students open-heartedness in receiving all guests of different Buddhist schools and traditions.  He has shown kindness and dignity in upholding the Sangha Spirit even though he was recognized as the third incarnation of Horthang Tashi Monastery Retreat Centre Abbot, by Kunde Rinpoche, and confirmed by H.H. Dzogchen Rinpoche and H.H. Sakya Trizin.

Contemplating thus, i thought as a lay buddhist person, i need to remind myself not to forget to fold palms as a symbol of greetings to other fellow practitioners.  Otherwise, the practice of prostration to the Buddhist shrine does not train me a little of less 'self' and no less than ritual symbolic interaction in sociological lens.

Tashi delek 吉祥如意