Mosquitos
It’s that time of year again; actually, because of the mild winter it has been that time of year all year. Those little bloodsuckers are out in force. I was down in Florida a few months ago and the mosquitoes there don’t seem to bother me when they bite, unlike the variety we have here in North Carolina. The mosquitoes here when they bite cause my skin to swell up and the whole area around it gets red and inflamed; I suppose I am allergic to the bites.
“If you think you’re too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent a night with a mosquito.” (African Proverb)
If you have been reading these daily meditations for any length of time, or if you come to the temple or tune in to the live streams you have probably heard me talk about smiling and expressing gratitude to the people you interact with, especially store clerks. I have given lots of reasons why this is good for you and how it helps to produce a positive outlook inside yourself. But other than making the other person feel good, maybe for a moment what’s the real value of this small act?
“Even the smallest part, even the part as large as a poppy-seed of this world, this world being composed of one thousand million Sumeru worlds, is not outside the places where the Bodhisattva made efforts to save all living beings at the cost of his life. It was after doing all this that he attained Bodhi, that is, enlightenment.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter XII)
Here’s the deal, when someone responds to your efforts to share your joy, the joy of Buddhism even if unspoken, they are responding to your Buddha Dharma. Yes, they may be thanking you or smiling at you, but they are actually smiling and thanking the Buddha in you.
“Anyone who rejoices at hearing the Dharma and utters even a single word in praise of it should be considered to have already made offerings to the past, present, and future Buddhas.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter II)
When someone, because of your effort, no matter how small, praises or feels joy they are praising the Buddha Dharma. They are making a significant cause for their own future enlightenment. They are creating karmic bond with the Dharma, even if you don’t see it.
“I praised the Buddha with my hands joined together. I heard the Dharma from him with joy.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter XIV)
We often think that sharing the Dharma has to be about actually teaching someone about Buddhist theory or practice. While that is true, it is also true that the small act of our intention to share the Dharma through our actions also is making significant causes for others to attain enlightenment.
“…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)
