Why do people have to pay homage? Ignorant!
Why do people have to pay homage? Ignorant!
A master’s student asked Luang Pu without understanding, “I see people paying homage to you, Luang Por, and you are a human being. So why is it called “Being ignorant”? I have never been paying homage to others. I respect myself.”
“Have you ever played badminton or table tennis?” Luang Pu asked.
He said, “Yes, I have. Is it concerned with my question?”.
“Why do you play badminton? Will the shuttle cock be sad if people hit it? Do people hit it because they want it to work?” Luang Pu asked.
“No, we play badminton for exercising and having fun.”, he answered.
“If we didn’t use the shuttle cock, could we use another thing to hit?” Luang Pu continued asking.
“How do we call it ‘Badminton’? If others saw, they would say that we were mad.”
“Good answer. The shuttle cock is only a tool leading to healthiness and recreation. The human body needs practice, and so does the mind. Is it correct?” Luang Pu asked.
“Yes, it is sensible. But how can we train our mind?”
“When people believe and respect anything, they will bow it whole-heartedly. It shows their submissiveness, acceptance, repentance, gratefulness, and asking for help. While their mind is submissive, their action indicates so. It decreases their ego, which is how to train their mind. So, people bow to me because I am the representative of the Buddha. I am like a tool, like a shuttle cock. Only if I am not the real shuttle cock, I am the shuttle cock of mind.
“Sir,” he said after Luang Pu looked at him for a while.
“People have to bow to their ancestors because of practising their gratefulness. Their mind will lead them to appreciate their ancestors’ kindness. People respect the Mother of Rice, the Mother of Earth, and angles in the holy house because they realize the angles’ kindness that they protect and keep us safe and have plenty of food to survive. People bow to the Mother of the Ganges River as they realize the kindness and accept their mistake to the angle that supplies water for lives. The human body consists of about 70% of water. The wisdom of the ancients was very ingenious. Everything has a hidden philosophy.” Luang Pu said.
“When an individual bows respectfully, they and the receiver are in the same rank – not you were humble, nor I was noble. However, someone didn’t understand this philosophy but blamed them mad. You are indeed mad if you don’t understand but defame it badly.” Luang Pu said.
“Oh! Luang Por. You are wise. Please receive my three bows.” Then, he kneed and bowed Luang Pu faithfully.
“Now, do you understand about mind training?” Luang Pu asked.
“I see”, the man said.
“People call me the teaching monk because I teach and clear the questions about mind and action.”
The wise people with high egos are like the whole ears of rice. They are conceited like they are full of rice seeds, so they raise their ears of rice towards the sky. However, the wise people with seasonableness are like ripe rice seeds. They realize they can thrive because the environment and the supporters support them, so they bend their ears of rice and bow their heads to show respect. People can’t get knowledge without teachers! If you learn from nature, nature is your teacher. If you search google, google is your teacher. Everyone has teachers. So, the students have to pay respect to the teachers.
From the article above, we are so lucky that we have the Great Masters who guide us the way to Nirvana and the Ultimate of Dharma by meditating at the 7th Base of Mind. If we do so, we will eliminate some defilements and be peaceful.
In this Buddhist Lent 2022, I invite you to still your mind at the centre of the body to pay practical worship to the Great Masters.
Translated by Chadawee Chaipooripat
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