Being Peace – 2 – The Three Gems

(For Podcast, click here.  For ITunes version, click here.)  

Today we continue our discussion on book, Being Peace by Thich Nhat Hanh.  This morning we will talk about the Three Gems:  The Buddha, The Dharma and the Sangha.  The Buddha himself saw these three facets as the very core of the teachings, the legs on a three-legged stool.  Sometimes there is a tendency for us to lean on one aspect alone, like just imagining ourselves as the Buddha and focusing on our Buddha nature, or just reading the enlightened teachings—it seems that there is a new book on Buddhism that comes out every week—I myself often feel a craving for that next new book—Amazon makes it so easy to click it and get it.  Sometimes, I need to ask myself, “is it another book that I need, or some more practice?”  And some people just want to spend time with the sangha, hanging out with friends, but not really practicing or studying.  Thich Nhat Hanh is urging us to find the strength in the practice of all three gems, the power of practicing them in an integrated way. 

This morning, we will briefly go through the three gems individually, then reflect upon how we can integrate all three practice them in our daily lives. We'll start with taking refuge in, relying on, the Buddha.  There is a common misconception about Buddhism that we are worshiping this statue of the Buddha, there are even some Western translations that use the term, “Lord Buddha”.  According to the dictionary, Lord is a title for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power over others; a master, chief, or ruler.  Nowhere in the original Buddhist teachings was Buddha talking about himself being a Lord!  He continually emphasized that he was simply a person that was awake.  We can use these images of The Buddha as a reminder, even an aspiration, to what each of us has the potential to embody.  We already have innate Buddha Nature, Christ Consciousness, innate goodness, within us.   When you look at a statue of the Buddha, it can remind you of that innate goodness within you, a reminder that you have this incredible power within that you can focus with laser-like precision on showing up in life as a Buddha, an enlightened, awakened, loving, compassionate being.    The Buddha integrated understanding and love, wisdom and compassion into this radical path of being.  When we take refuge in the Buddha, we are committed to integrating understanding and love, compassion and wisdom, into our daily lives.

Sometimes, it can get overwhelming thinking about all the problems and suffering that we have in the world, but Mother Theresa said it well, “Yes, do good in the world.  And start with the person next to you.”

The second gem is the Dharma, all these wonderful enlightened teachings from those that came before us.  But, Thay makes an additional point that is equally valuable.  The Dharma, the Truth, is also all around us, We can read so many books from so many enlightened masters, and still miss the incredible teaching that is all in each moment of listening to a bird sing, or being fully present with a friend, or hearing a beautiful piece of music.  Waking up is about waking up!  Not just by studying books, but by studying life, being present to the learnings all around us all the time.

TNH also points out that Dharma teachings are just pointers.  Words are not enlightenment.    Awakening in its full capacity is indescribable.  We read to get an idea of, to look in the right direction towards, to create fertile ground for experiencing.  But, reading and learning is not the experience itself.  The experience of being awake is the ultimate teacher.   Thus, reading and studying is important, but only as part of the integrated path.

Lastly, we have the sangha.  I often mention that if I arrived here on Sunday morning and sat down to meditate, and no one was here, I’m sure it could still be a lovely experience, but for me to get this opportunity to meditate with each of you—that turbo-charges my practice.  We are here physically together but our presence is also creating a spiritual experience.  By merely showing up, you are supporting this spiritual community.  When I first started coming to Unity Temple in the early 90’s, there were mornings when the alarm would go off, and I would think, “I really don’t want to get out of bed this morning!”  But, over time, I felt a commitment as part of this spiritual community, so sometimes I came even when I didn’t feel like it.  And what I found was, that when I got here, I was usually  grateful I came.  Either there was a message I needed to hear, or someone that came to support me, or sometimes I realized that I was there to support someone else.  Being together in the same place, with a generous and supportive attitude, makes small miracles happen.  And sometimes, it makes great miracles happen.  You being here—you are making a difference with your presence.

How wonderful is that?!?  We get to show up for some peace and serenity for ourselves, and we end up providing beautiful encouragement and support for others.  Even on a day when we feel anxious or sad or angry or depressed, we can come together and find great solace in encouraging and supporting others, which in turn supports us. 

I’m also going to disagree with TNH on one point.  He describes the Sangha as a community that lives in harmony and awareness.  That is certainly our aspiration, but we cannot be discouraged when we find that by being with people, sometimes things are not very harmonious.  Coming together as a spiritual community is not about every day being a picnic.  It’s about committing to show up for each other even when the going gets tough, even when we don’t feel like it, even when someone irritates the crap out of us.  That is part of the practice.  Of course, we must set appropriate boundaries and some people are best loved from afar.  But, we are here to practice loving each other just as they are.  If we can’t find acceptance here, then why are we here?

The three Gems are the cornerstone of the Buddhist path, Each and every day, each and every moment, we have a gift, an opportunity to practice incorporating them, integrating them, living them, and finding the nirvanic peace that comes from this endeavor.