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The Brightness of Dhamma

Companions on the path of Dhamma:

Once again we have gathered together to understand how more suffering people can come in contact with Dhamma. As the work grows, more assistant teachers are appointed, more centres are established and more servers give their service for the spread of Dhamma. This growth is bound to continue and so it is essential that the work be properly organized, avoiding the tendencies that can weaken Dhamma. At such a time in the growth of Dhamma we are at a crossroads because there is every danger of its turning into an organized religion, and then it will harm rather than help humanity. Once it becomes a sect the essence of Dhamma is gone. This is a delicate situation. On one hand some discipline has to be maintained; on the other hand, if it merely turns into a hierarchy with everyone working within regimented rules, a sect will be established.

Sects arise when egos are predominant, when one’s position within the organization is of primary importance. If one sacrifices one’s home comforts, business and time with family for Dhamma work and expects some appreciation for one’s service, this is madness. This is where the personality cult and sectarianism starts. Selfless service for the benefit of more people is important. Dhamma is important, nothing else. One should be happy with whatever one is asked, or not asked, to do. One may say that one is working selflessly but only the individual can judge this. Two of the brahmavihāras—muditā (sympathetic joy) and karuṇā (compassion)—are for this purpose. They are yardsticks by which to measure whether one is really developing in Dhamma. If one feels jealousy or enmity towards a fellow server because his service is greatly appreciated, then one has not understood Dhamma. If there is sympathetic joy, one is progressing in Dhamma.

Conversely a fellow server may make a mistake, or what one perceives to be a mistake. If one generates hatred or aversion towards this person then one is far away from Dhamma, but if one’s motivation is to help this companion who has slipped, then karunā is developing. One may even say that one has no hatred towards this person, but if there is a pleasant feeling at another’s downfall then one is far away from Dhamma. Keep on examining yourself carefully because nobody else can do this for you.

First establish yourself in Dhamma and then you can serve others properly. If Dhamma is important rather than this mad "I" then certainly the ego is getting dissolved. However, if one is projecting one’s ego in the name of serving Dhamma, no-one can benefit from such service. If one keeps on examining how much the ego is getting dissolved, one is fit to serve the organization.

Over the next few days important work will be carried out to formulate the code of discipline for all those involved in the spread of Dhamma. In such work the individual has no importance because persons may come and persons may go. It is Dhamma that should remain most important in all your decision-making to serve people properly.

The only aim is bahujana-hitāya, bahujana-sukhāya. May more and more people benefit from Dhamma, come out of their misery and enjoy real peace and harmony. I see a very bright future. May all of you shine in this brightness with Dhamma so that people get attracted through you, to the Dhamma. May you all be successful working in Dhamma for suffering people everywhere.

Bhavatu sabba maṅgalaṃ

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