33 Years
October 17, 2023

Someone reminded me the other day that today is going to be the 33rd anniversary of the founding of Wat Metta. It’s good to reflect on the fact that we have this opportunity to practice here because of the work of a lot of people over many years. Have some gratitude for all that, because without the work of other people, where would we be? Without the help of other people, we’d be living in little caves and wouldn’t know anything much. It’s because of people like the Buddha, people like the ajaans, and all the lay supporters that have kept Buddhism going,= that we have this opportunity to practice—to have a sense of what’s right and wrong in life, what’s skillful and what’s not skillful.

There’s a story about Anathapindika, who’s going to visit a friend in Rajagaha He arrives there, and the friend is very busy preparing for a meal—a big meal. So Anathapindika’s thinking, “Is this a wedding? What’s going on?” And the friend says, “No, we’re having a Buddha here to the house today.” Anathapindika is struck suddenly by the word “Buddha”: awakened one. He says, “It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that word, someone who’s awakened.” Just the word got him inspired.

And here we are now living in a world where the Buddha’s teachings have been around for a long time. We’ve had the opportunity to practice them. We don’t know how much longer that opportunity is going to last, so we have to make the most of it while we have it. That’s how we show our gratitude for the Buddha, and all the people who’ve kept the Dhamma alive over these many, many years. Here at Wat Metta, it depends on the generosity of the people who gave the land, people who built the buildings from the very beginning, and Ajaan Suwat’s vision of this place as a place where people from all nations could come and practice—and it’s becoming a reality. So we’re all part of that reality. Make sure that we do our best so that there will be more noble people in the world, people who care for the Buddha’s teachings, not only in words, but also in their actions and their minds. That way, the gifts that we’re depending on here—all the many gifts that we’re depending on—help us to make a gift to the rest of the world.