3 billion humans are either Christians or Muslims. Some became so through spiritual experiences. Of course, they remain in micchādiṭṭhis. However, it is wrong to say that it is based on fables. Personally, I believe that certain passages from the Bible or other religious books can come from elements of the Buddha Dhamma. The famous phrase “the truth will set you free” can lead Christians to ask themselves deeper questions. It is possible through these elements to lead them to explore the Buddha Dhamma and eventually to free themselves.
- The monks of the Jethavaranama monastery are extremely experienced and advanced. It would not be surprising to discover that many are ariyas. I have complete confidence in them and I am sure that their work will bring a large number of people to Nibbāna regardless of their path in life. With wisdom, kusalas and noble association one can attain Nibbāna no matter what religion one practiced in the past.
- They don’t need to do anything superficial to survive. When one practices the Dhamma seriously without arrogance one is naturally protected and supported by others. The anagarikas in the monastery are also extremely advanced in their practice and are naturally protected and supported as the monks. I don’t see anything that will worry them.
Dhammo have rakkhati Dhammacāriṁ
He who takes care of the dhamma, the dhamma takes care of him.
- This is why Jethavaranama lacks nothing not because of sugarcoating.
One thing a monk from the monastery told me. He says that it is easier to teach non-Buddhists than born Buddhists. He says this because most Buddhists are arrogant and think that they don’t need to listen to what they have to say “We already know all that.” The non-Buddhists who come to see them are more open and attentive to the sermon because is a new vision of the world.They don’t take it for granted. They also tell them the truth. They tell them that if they want to attain Nibbāna, they must leave all wrong beliefs, including their religion. THEY SAY THIS WITH COMPASSION without showing that they are superior. They tell them that their religion is right only up to a certain point. THEY TELL THEM THAT ONLY BUDDHA DHAMMA LEADS TO NIBBĀNA IN THE LONG RUN. I have confidence in the noble sangha of Lord Buddha. If they say that they can show elements useful for liberation in other religious books, I believe them completely. Venerable Arahant Culapanthaka became an arahant with the help of a cloth. This does not mean that the rag is the truth. It means that it can be a tool leading to the truth with the help of the noble association. Not everyone becomes an ariya in the same way. It doesn’t matter if you people on the forum see this as sugarcoating; what is certain is that it works, and people are becoming bhikkhus or anagarikas there. I know a forum member who lives there now. He said he is in heaven. With all this noble association, he doesn’t want to leave. He wants to stay there for the rest of his life.
See also the story of Bhikkhu Pothila who knew the teachings of Lord Buddha by heart but was so arrogant that he refused to listen to others. How many Buddhists are like him today? He became an arahant with the help of a child arahant. Let us not be like Bhikkhu Pothila. As long as we are not free from our defilements, we are fools.
Many people who practice Buddha Dhamma lack compassion and kindness. What makes Jethavaranama successful is not the sugarcoating but the KINDNESS AND COMPASSION they express to others. Their mission of preserving the Sasana of Lord Buddha is what makes them successful. Qualities that many lack. It is all well and good to teach the Dhamma, but if you do not have the 4 Brahmas viharas, your Dhamma is empty. Instead of insulting others and showing ourselves to be superior, maybe if we develop the 4 Brahmas viharas and progress in the path, they will be more likely to listen to us, right?
