Angulimala murdered 999 people before he met the Buddha. This is the story of how he came to be a murderer and how his encounter with the Buddha led to his transformation. This telling of the story emphasizes the value of sila (ethical conduct) in our own lives, and the effect our ethical conduct can have on those around us.
This meditation is offered as a support to the situation in the Ukraine and the 1-year commemoration of the Atlanta shootings. Incorporating phrases from Soto Zen's Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo chant resonate in our meditation. It's a chant used to ask for support from the Bodhisattva of Compassion Kannon/Kanzeon.
We can train the mind to recognize and rejoice in the happiness of others, experiencing happiness ourselves. But to be able to do this, we need to confront human tendencies to compare ourselves to others, and sometimes strong resistance. This talk discusses the beautiful quality of Mudita (Empathetic Joy), and how we can develop it.
