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“There is a beautiful story told of a disciple of Lord Buddha who wanted to publish a book of the teachings of Buddhism. He spent several years compiling the great wisdom of Lord Buddha and placing it in book form. After that, it was time for the task of raising enough money to publish the book. He went door-to-door to his friends and neighbors requesting help in bringing this project to fruition.
After he had collected enough funds, he was about to publish the book when a large cyclone hit a poor area of the country. Immediately, he sent all the funds to the disaster-struck region to help the victims. Again he had to undertake the task of collecting money to publish this important book. Again, his friends, relatives and colleagues helped him reach the goal. But then an earthquake struck another area of the country, killing thousands, and once again the disciple sent all of his hard-earned funds to the region. Several years passed during which he tried, with difficulty, to raise the funds a third time. However, people were not ready to keep giving for the same book. Thus, it took him quite some time to raise enough money, but eventually no catastrophe struck and the book was published. On the inside cover of the book, beneath the title ‘Teachings of Lord Buddha,’ was written ‘Third Edition.’ So many times in life we read spiritual teachings, we listen to lectures and katha, and we say our prayers, but do we actually implement these teachings in our life? The book was a ‘Third Edition’ because the teachings of Buddhism include compassion, non-attachment and service to the poor. Thus, by donating the funds for the book to disaster-struck victims, the disciple was actually teaching and illustrating the words of the Buddha. He knew that the word of the Buddha was to help those in need. Thus, it is even more illustrative of Buddhism to help the poor than to publish books. In our lives, too, we must remember not only the words of the teachings, but also the true message of the teachings. We read the books, we listen to the lectures, but do we absorb the message? Sometimes we get so caught up in reading, hearing and reciting these teachings that we forget to live them! Service to others is the true message, the true teaching, and the true wisdom of spirituality.” – H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji |