Texts of the leaves simsapa .

One day Bhagavan who are in a wooded area full Kosambi simsapa tree. He picked up a handful of leaves simsapa and asked the practitioners spoke as follows:

 - "Hey monk, leaves in my hand more or less leaves in the forest?  The monk replied: - "Leaves in hand Bhagavan is little fruit, leaves in the forest more. Buddha spoke:  - "This, monks, is similar to that, what we directly perceive more than doubled what we preached. But why do not we just preach these things? Is it because these things have nothing to aim [seek], nor anything necessary for life of holiness, no one benefits, not brings disenchantment (turning away / disenchantment / a disillusioned) serenity (dispassion / off infatuation), detachment (cessation / suspension), peace, understanding intuitively recognize (direct knowledge / understanding intuition), enlightenment ( self-awakening) and Emancipation (Unbiding). That's why we do not preach these things.  "So what we preached? 'This is suffering ..., this is cause to bring suffering ..., this is the end of suffering ..., this is the way leading to the cessation of suffering. " That's what we preached. And why we preach these things? Because these things related purposes [seek], necessary for the life of holiness, brought disenchantment, serenity, detachment, peace, understanding intuitively recognize, the senses enlightenment and liberation. That's why we preached these things. "So the duty of our monks are always thinking: 'This is suffering ..., this is cause to bring suffering ..., this is the end of suffering ..., this is the path to the cessation of suffering ". The text really short, not raised or explain a concept belonging to the doctrine, which only prompts or rather is wary of his followers - and for all of us today - was not deviate beyond what most basic and practical in his teaching. Texts indicate very clear words of the Buddha's counsel to look into his teachings through what really practical, but through countless generations we do not look at the leaves in his hand which kept want to hug all the leaves of trees. So the Buddha's teaching is becoming more diverse and extremely complex, so that after the period of groping, stability, development has become weakened. The motive has boosted spending Coordination and control of the human activities lead to extremely complex situation of today's society, we often assimilate them with the complexity of human evolution? The most important motive was survival instinct leads to competing for pieces of food, wealth; The second engine propagation instinct leads to love, art; The third engine instinctive fear of death leads to philosophy, religion ...  Consequences of the things that was extremely diverse: from competing forms of conflict, the living "art" under enough any way, to finding a way out after his death. Nevertheless, all of the consequences that are also directly or indirectly lead to conflict and war: economic warfare, war, racial and religious wars. More than two thousand five hundred years ago, the Buddha go barefoot hug alms bowls, eating one meal a day, yet need the luxury goods, porcelain dishes, where sophisticated food, that's how he made ​​the survival motor. While he looked at the full body and mental sickness complete our crazy with all mercy and compassion to help her resolve root propagation instinct, we again see that the physical body through makeup, clothes, and her mind is what emotions through ignorance of it.  While the Buddha sat quietly under a tree to get back to yourself, find out the cause of their existence , man, that finding a solution to neutralize the causes of existence was tied, on the one hand, we try desperately to cling to this world, and a face looking for a longevity where a different world. "This is suffering ..., this is the cause of suffering ..., this is the end of suffering, this is the path to the cessation of suffering." When we realize that the truth may also mean that we have discovered a torch in the darkest corners of his mind. That is the meaning of the instructions given by the Buddha words.  Let it light up torches to illuminate his abode, his island and the path you must follow. The road was inside his mind, was his, it can be very long or very short, all that depends on location alone. Or maybe you're walked the final steps on the road and was about to throw away the torch, which they did not know? Anyway, then return it to yourself, see Dharma is the teacher, is the Way help every one to walk, was the final and greatest of the Buddha. Each person had to light the torch on to self enlighten yourself, help her find refuge for themselves, without having mediated by any person on behalf of or representing his teacher all. But we can also wonder then the lineage, sects, schools of thought, the great masters of the past is what? Under the impulse of instinct, man is becoming more more complex, more demanding and relentless questions. The road inside the mind and the external social life became more complicated, but we often see it as progress, and of course the torch light must also adapt themselves according to the "progress" did. That is why the school has given rise sect and sect, the philosophy as well as various trainings, and most require the teachers as furs, Asanga, Vasubandhu, Tran na, Bodhi Dalai Lama, Hui energy, Dao Nguyen ... and today is the Dalai Lama to help us light up the torch in my mind that's all. Nevertheless he will not have a great show dares associate themselves as smarter than the Buddha to which criticize and modify his teachings at all. Indeed, although some of the great masters have a deeper interpretation of the original teachings pragmatic nature of the Buddha way, even invented more practice allowed by the Buddha did not mention, but not whereby today because many people get enlightened than the times of Buddha.  His disciples as well as many other naive and simple living in the Ganges valley date back more than twenty-five World century has also attained enlightenment within their lifetimes. Sutras recalled that many other teachers who follow the teachings of other undertakings, but after listening to the Buddha preached and achieved enlightenment after that. So suppose just a handful of leaves in his hands was enough to light up the torch in his mind. Although Buddhism later golden age become "poor", not a sect or sects school formed large, but in the second half of the twentieth century, Dharma unexpected seeds are sown in Western lands, an excellent plot and adaptation, and has attracted the elite Most societies in Europe.  Dhammapada was first translated into Western languages ​​in the nineteenth century, especially in German before 1862, so far in French also have at least a few dozen translations different. Buddhism began to spread and deeply rooted in the life and Western culture. Just look at the number of Buddhist books in French, published monthly by scholars, philosophers, scientists and the Western monk writings, is enough to imagine the development of Buddhism in the West rapid and steady like. Inquiries may be raised only as Western Buddhism is, honestly with the Teachings of the Buddha or not? People often imagine Buddhism through two aspects: Buddhism "mass" heavily how compassionate and Buddhist beliefs and "mind" toward understanding. But there are just two aspects of Buddhist extremists, the Enlightenment need to both this aspect, but at the same time, it also transcends that both aspects. Over the history of Buddhism in the whole Asia, after every France accident happened, Buddhists were revived thanks to the vitality deeply entrenched in the culture and national traditions of each country, but the form This revival of Buddhism is "Buddhist mass" only.  Please cite a typical example, after France's third victim of China under the Tang Dynasty, Buddhism revived, but it is only the Buddhist mass form, Zen and Vajrayana - Buddhism generally wisdom - almost disappeared, Taoism prevail switched into the role. This second example is when the Muslim armies entering Indian country by the end of the twelfth century, the Buddhist wisdom of the golden age is gone, only Hindus carry mass character and folk has resurrected . Western Buddhism is a special case, not only had never experienced an accident that France is also a fortune inherited culture, philosophy and modern science, it has become a Buddhist very pure and is very intellectual. Buddhism of some Asian countries need to learn from Western Buddhism to re-establish a certain balance for Buddhism to his public.  Actually, now that Westerners are practicing under cardboard stereotypes large denominations as Vajrayana, Zen and Theravada Buddhism, but their biggest challenge is how to build a Buddhist background for them. It's very obvious that they would have lit a torch of their own, for revelation to them, that adapt to the society and culture of their oldest. That way they will uphold the Dharma torch to open a new phase of development for the teaching of the Buddha in the West, and follow the signs that are certain stages that will very positively help Dharma longevity.   After all the questions that many people were able to put that through many challenges Dharma has retained honest or not? We today have also stepped right follow the path that the Buddha has outlined for us or not? Indeed, the inevitable result is a certain confusion when looking at the diversity of Buddhism today.  But the truth is that this diversity also reflects the efforts of the teachers in the past to express what truly sublime in the teachings of the Buddha, and on the other side even though the practice has allowed complex than the time of Buddha, then all is indicative of how dependent or the "skillful means" with purpose to adapt to the trend of talent and practitioners to help them come closer to the teachings of the Buddha alone. If returned to the typical pattern of scripture Mahaparinirvana Pa-li-language and Mahayana scriptures Mahaparinirvana by the Sanskrit and Chinese, then we will be able to more easily visualize above aspects. In other words, if you want to find out the core - extremely pragmatic and practical - of Dharma should return to classic Pa-li-language, and if you want to go further and admire the Vietnam trade aspects of Dharma, help yourself deeper integration with the Teachings of the Buddha should learn Sanskrit scriptures and follow the Mahayana monk in the past, they will help her embrace is simsapa more leafy forests of Dharma immense.  It's two very specific shades of Buddhism: a true treasure behind conservation backgrounds Teachings given by the Buddha, and one behind adapt what super Vietnam in her teaching background with the evolution of mankind in all fields, from philosophy and science to customs and social traditions of the people. In spite of these two aspects, or rather different shades Buddhism different but always the Buddhism, the Buddha Dharma has not been divided multi-gave rise to other religions. Buddhism is not a religion in the oldest and best preserved of humanity or what? No one belief - outside Buddhist place - could create for themselves both aspects of it. Does teachings of Buddha are kept intact thanks to his decision not to hand Dharma given to anyone, including his disciples, but only recommend each one of us feel free to light up tops torch for yourself.  The decision was not only super Vietnamese showed far vision of Buddha, but also speaks of love and the trust he has for each one of us today, not catching us to pray and depend on anyone. If you understand that, then we should not betray the love and trust Him to us, but please have the courage and confidence torch lit the way for me, because that's how we know loving yourself, loving beings and cherish the Buddha, and there will also be a help for Dharma is eternal.END=VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=THICH CHAN TANH.THE MIND OF ENLIGTHMENT.WORLD VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST ORDER=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN GOLDEN LOTUS MONASTERY=AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.8/9/2015.