Tribute to Thich Nhat Hanh - Br.Ranga Nath Mastar

After plumvillageindia news of vesak 2022, the community practicing mindfulness near Mysore, is back to life. On the traditions of Thich Nhat Hanh with basics of nonviolance, compassion, (ahimsa and karuna) retreats have begun. This WordPress site is a practicing center, a true home away from home. A monastery as well as a short stay place. 

 Dear Most beloved Thay,.

There is no measure of the invaluables you have offered to us. We are grateful to you.

You showed us that it is very much alright to suffer, to have a limited body.

You represented the Buddha way so perfectly that the man Thich Nhat Hanh and the way were merged.

It is not quite easy to take Buddha spirits to those western lands, where it is totally unknown, and you did it. Now there are umpteen number of monasteries and practice centers. You changed the lives of thousands of persons, transformed them to find the deep true peaceful nature.

So also the story goes with many Asian countries. They were lucky to have your presence and teaching. Buddhism already had a presence there.

But we Indians are neither here nor there. The Buddhism is not visibly present in this land. And you were not available to us. 

There is a mythological story of Ekalavya a forest tribal boy desiring to learn archery and a well known teacher of the palace school.

The boy could not get into the royal school. But he went back to the forest and began his studies. These are strange teachings. Here the student teaches himself. 

So, we in this land without your presence, we kept your photo and started building schools and teach ourselves. 

Its a hard way really, with nobody to guide and show light. Darkness around. We made more mistakes, erred a lot, tumbled, fell down and got up again. 

A lot of time was consumed in the process. 

I was too late with an age of four squares. (A donkey has 20 years of life and 20 years is called one square)

I had a dream to build a school akin to yours, produce a pack of students, establish a zen center in this land and request for your blessings. If possible, visit the place and grace us. 

I was late and you were early to go.

I have learnt this much from you; that it is alright to suffer. It is alright to have a limited body with all its suffering.

Even if the sun rises in the west, our faith in teaching is firm, single minded, practice un disturbed.

A lotus for the Buddha.

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