Buddha- To Be of Service

Buddha- To Be Of service

Lord Buddha’s admonition to us was (to serve) by helping

Those who suffer physically to overcome physical suffering,

those who are in fear to overcome fear;

Those who suffer mentally to overcome mental suffering.

Be of service to all living beings.

A.T. Ariyarane

Brother Teasdale offers us this introduction to this man’s life and teaching in these words:

“A.T. Ariyaratne- venerable Buddhist layman, social and spiritual activist, founder of the Sarvodaya movement in Sri Lanka-succinctly expresses the Buddha’s teachings on practical compassion: removing the suffering of sentient beings.

Although non-Buddhists misidentify Buddhist practiced as solely concentrating impersonal enlightenment at the expense of service to others, this pioneer of socially engaged Buddhism identifies the true heart of Buddhist philosophy. Dr. Ariyaratne followed in the footsteps of Gandhi and King by creating a nonviolent movement of reform of the social, political, and economic conditions of his people. The name of the movement, Sarvodaya, is a Sanskrit term used by Gandhi that means “awakening all.” …

Early in my religious studies, I fell into the superficial assumption that following the Buddhist path was primarily a focus on oneself, and one’s own liberation, and that it was imbalanced because it seemed to disregard the needs of others. At first, I became a critic based on that incomplete understanding! Then through my introduction to teachers who embodied that social and humanitarian outlook, such as Thich Nhat Hanh, my attitude changed dramatically! 

As I continued to pursue my appreciation and deepen my understanding of Buddhism and for that matter, my discovery, and definition of what I would consider to be any genuine and timeless spiritual path, I came to realize that the principal task of any active spiritual understanding has to include a service or humanitarian component for it to be a true or complete path..