Effective Giving
The other day a good friend of mine, Rabbi Jonathan F. posted the following on his Twitter feed:
[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/rabbijonathan/status/190965768651939842″]
My apologies to Rabbi Jonathan if this misrepresents the intention of his Tweet
How do we approach the idea of giving a gift that considers the other’s actual needs?
Within the Lotus Sutra there are five practices that are given to us; keep, read, recite, copy, and expound.
Let us consider the practice of expounding, and do so from the perspective that “comes from the insight into another’s actual needs.”
“To those who were seeking Sravakahood, he expounded the teaching of the four truths, a teaching suitable for them, saved them from birth, old age, disease, and death, and caused them to attain Nirvana. To those who were seeking Pratyekabuddhahood, he expounded the teaching of the twelve causes, a teaching suitable for them. To Bodhisattvas, he expounded the teaching of the six paramitas, a teaching suitable for them, and caused them to attain Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, that is, to obtain the knowledge of the equality and differences of all things.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter I)
Previous to the Lotus Sutra the Buddha expounded the teachings that were suitable to various types of people. If we look at this in a superficial way it may seem that he was teaching to the needs of each individual. We might be able to justify this thinking if it were not for the later teachings contained in the Lotus Sutra.
As we learn in Chapter II and beyond, prior to the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha was not in fact teaching according to the actual needs of those individuals. He was only teaching according to each person’s desires, or what they wanted to hear.
“As a rule, the World-Honored Ones expound the true teaching only after a long period of expounding expedient teachings.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter II)
We know that the teaching contained in the Lotus Sutra is not simply a replacement for previous teachings, it is actually a further extension of those teachings. Where those previous teaching left off is where the Lotus Sutra begins.
So how does this apply to our practice of ‘expounding’ the Lotus Sutra?
“When you see anyone who does not receive this sutra by faith, you should show him some other profound teachings of mine, teach him, benefit him, and cause him to rejoice. When you do all this, you will be able to repay the favors given to you by the Buddhas.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter XXII)
Sharing and teaching others about Buddhism, I believe, must first come from the desire to benefit the other person, not a personal desire to have ‘accomplished’ some conversion act. If we think about the parable of the Burning House, the father does not carry out, ‘force conversion’, the children from the sufferings in the house. Instead he encourages them, he shows them the alternatives available. If he had carried them out one by one he would not have been able to save them all. But by presenting them with a choice of carts, by showing them the joy of Buddhism they all came running out and all were saved.
We may be able to cleverly bend someone’s will, or coerce, or cajole someone into practicing Buddhism. Our clever words may move some, but it is our actions to benefit others that will most effectively show others the truth of Buddhism.
If a person is not interested in Buddhism, then we need not worry. We can cause them to praise the Buddha and create the causes for future lifetimes if we can cause them to have great joy! If they praise your behavior and your life, then they are offering praise to the Buddha.
