Dharma

By Victor M Fontane

When practitioners engage in discussions and the promotion of the Dharma, they should maintain a mindset of equality and compassion.

Those who are referred to as Bodhisattvas, in the process of guiding, interacting, or debating the teachings of Buddhism, must indeed reflect on their inner intentions: whether their aim is to validate a self-centered, competitive dichotomy of right and wrong, or if it genuinely stems from a compassionate desire for others to be liberated from suffering and attain joy. If one succumbs to a mentality of discrimination and opposition, or even harbors aversion, one has, at that moment, distanced oneself from the true essence of the Bodhisattva path and the Dharma. The Buddha taught, “One should generate a mind without attachment.” Thus, accurately perceiving and confronting one's own motives is the most profound vigilance for practitioners.

The true meaning of the Dharma does not belong to language, text, or logical reasoning; it transcends all forms of discrimination, and language is merely a convenience. When sages encounter various forms of expression and controversy, if they can observe authentically, compassion will naturally manifest in a state of non-attachment. In this way, they neither cling to the positions of “I am right, you are wrong,” nor will they allow beings to become increasingly ignorant through disputes over the Dharma.

Those who are called Bodhisattvas reflect upon their own minds amidst various situations and dialogues, and all actions arise from the compassion that is free from attachment. This way, the aspiration to disseminate the teachings and benefit living beings can remain untainted and unobstructed, responding appropriately to circumstances without losing one's original intention. This contributes to a balanced practice that benefits all beings without attachment to form, embodying the spirit of the Bodhisattva path.