Lotus Heart Zen
  • Home
  • Membership
    • Membership >
      • Library (Members Only)
      • Resources (Members Only)
    • Retreats >
      • Winter Gyeolje 2022-23
    • Officers
  • Meditation
    • Meditation Teachings
    • Chanting Meditation
    • Bowing Practice
    • Guided Meditations
    • Meditation Podcasts (For Members)
    • Guided Meditations (For Members)
    • Meditation FAQ
  • Resources
    • Buddha-dharma >
      • Four Noble Truths >
        • The Higher Wisdom Trainings
        • The Higher Ethical Trainings
        • The Higher Concentration Trainings
      • Ahimsa >
        • Ahimsa Study Group (Members Only)
      • Special Events
    • Zen >
      • Zen Teachings
      • Women & Zen
    • Pure Land >
      • Pure Land Teachings >
        • The Medicine Buddha
    • Huayan
    • Sanghas
  • Sangha Sharing
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ
  • Home
  • Membership
    • Membership >
      • Library (Members Only)
      • Resources (Members Only)
    • Retreats >
      • Winter Gyeolje 2022-23
    • Officers
  • Meditation
    • Meditation Teachings
    • Chanting Meditation
    • Bowing Practice
    • Guided Meditations
    • Meditation Podcasts (For Members)
    • Guided Meditations (For Members)
    • Meditation FAQ
  • Resources
    • Buddha-dharma >
      • Four Noble Truths >
        • The Higher Wisdom Trainings
        • The Higher Ethical Trainings
        • The Higher Concentration Trainings
      • Ahimsa >
        • Ahimsa Study Group (Members Only)
      • Special Events
    • Zen >
      • Zen Teachings
      • Women & Zen
    • Pure Land >
      • Pure Land Teachings >
        • The Medicine Buddha
    • Huayan
    • Sanghas
  • Sangha Sharing
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ

From the Abbot

4/15/2021

0 Comments

 
In keeping with the topic of making assumptions of others that we have discussed during our Nonviolent Communication workshop on Sunday, here is a story is taken from a collection of 108 by Ajahn Brahm:

"My first year as a Monk in northeast Thailand coincided with the last year of the Vietnam War. Close to Ajahn Chah's monastery, near the regional city of Ubon, was an American air-force base, Ajahn Chah enjoyed telling us the following true story on how to deal with abuse.

An American G.I. was traveling from the base into town on a rickshaw. On the outskirts of town, they passed a roadside bar where some friends of the rickshaw driver were already quite drunk. 'Hey! they shouted in Thai, 'Where are you taking that dirty dog to?' Then they laughed, pointing at the American soldier. For a moment, the driver was alarmed. The soldier was a very big  man and in Thailand calling someone a 'dirty dog' meant an inevitable fight. However, the soldier was quietly looking around, and enjoying the beautiful scenery. Obviously, he did not understand the Thai language.

The driver, deciding to have some fun at the American's expense, shouted back, 'I'm taking this filthy dog and throwing him in the Moon River to give the smelly mongrel a wash.' As the driver and his friends laughed the soldier remained unmoved.
 
When they reached their destination and the driver put out his hand for the journey's fare, the American soldier quietly walked away. The rickshaw driver excitedly shouted after him in broken but clear English, 'Hey! Sir! You pay me dollars!' To which the big American soldier calmly turned around and said in perfect accented Thai, 'Dogs don't have pockets.'"


Rev. Anwol
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    A blog by the Lotus Heart Zen Meditation and Study Group members

    Practice Schedules

    Become a member of Lotus Heart Zen Meditation and Study Group

    Archives

    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

    RSS Feed

Location

Temple: By Appointment Only, Oneida, NY

Lotus Heart Zen Location

Contact Us

Phone
email
Instagram