Introduction by Dennis Sheppard, President, Buddhist Society of Western Australia (22 min). Dennis gives a personal account of the circumstances of a formal meeting of Ajahn Brahm as Abbot of Bodhinyana monastery, accompanied by himself as President of the BSWA, with senior monks at Wat Pah Pong monastery in Thailand last Sunday 1st November 2009. The outcome was that Bodhinyana is no longer a branch monastery of Wat Pah Pong, as a direct result of Ajahn Brahm’s recent ordination of four Bhikkhunis (fully ordained nuns). Ajahn Brahm gives a spirited talk on how to deal with the difficulties of life, with his ‘excommunication’ as he light-heartedly calls it as an example. This has no effect on ‘business as usual’ for the BSWA. Keeping things in perspective. Zen master Hakuin story ‘Ah so’ on being treated unfairly. Never allow anyone to control your happiness. How big is my hand? Why sacrifice a friendship of years over a disagreement? Simile of the two bad bricks. Love the imperfections of life. Love your own imperfections. They are all features to make life more interesting, more enjoyable. Being kind, being compassionate, being forgiving, this is the teaching of Buddhism. ‘Ajahn excommunication’. Real Buddhists learn from difficulties, embrace them and accept them as great teachers. Buddha didn’t create a hierarchy. Buddha was asked “Who will be your successor?” His answer was “No one. After I pass away your leader is the Dhamma (teaching) and the Vinaya (rules of discipline)”. These take precedence over monastery rules. For the listener: Skiter, skiting: Australian for a boastful person, boasting. WAM: Western Abbots Meeting. An annual meeting of Western abbots in Ajahn Chah’s family within the Theravadin Buddhist tradition. Wat Pah Pong: The monastery of Venerable Ajahn Chah, under whom Ajahn Brahm trained in Thailand.

MP3: Ajahn Brahm – The Excommunication Tape

Quelle: BSWA