How to Change the World?

Before we change the world, we need to know the world first. We need to understand what the world is. That’s why Buddha chose to be the Enlightened One, not a wheel-turning emperor. He wanted to understand the world first and it is a lot more efficient than being a ruler.

If monks and nuns from different traditions cannot live together in peace and harmony, it will be very embarrassing. We are hypocrites if we ask other people to live in peace and harmony, but cannot do it among Sangha.

Unless we understand each other, we can’t have harmony and we can’t move forward. We can’t change the anything, unless we understand each other first of all.

So in Buddhism, it is to understand each other and build up the technique for knowing. And that technique for knowing and understanding is not just thinking or discussion. This is so superficial. Instead of actually discussion what the differences between Tibetan Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism, and what the differences between a monk and a nun, we spent time with each other. And it is what’s not said, and what’s behind the word, what’s unspoken. That is what we look for, that is what we understand, and that is what we get the harmony and the progress from.

That is why we have the concept of total listening. Total listening is where you are silent inside. You are not thinking, you are not talking to yourself. But you are silent, mindful, gathering information. If someone else is speaking, not only your mouth is stil. Your mind is not creating any thoughts or counter arguments. Paying attention, still and mindful. This is actually we train ourselves to do in meditation in Buddhism. It is a training of the mind to be able to understand.

Buddhism is not just sitting on a cushion.

What is Buddhism doing with Global Warming? We teach and practice SIMPLICITY. Buy only what you need. This counter-consumptionism itself greatly help reducing global warming.