We often allow ourselves to become disturbed by those who fail to recognise our attempts to do the right thing. We become agitated by the hypocrites, closet cases, hatemongers and bigots, when they attempt to justify their horrid behaviour, by casting aspersions upon others.
One of the monks living in the Desert Skete, Abba Lucas gathered the Desert Brothers together, and taught:
“May you all be forgotten.”
“But why?” one of the monks asked. “Does that mean that our example can never serve to help someone in need?”
“In the days when everyone was just,” the abbot replied, “ no one paid any attention to people who behaved in an exemplary manner. Everyone did their best, never thinking that by behaving thus they were doing their duty by their brother.
“They loved their neighbour because they understood that this was part of life, and that they were merely obeying a law of nature.
“They shared their possessions in order not to accumulate more than they could carry, for their journeys lasted an entire lifetime.
“They lived together in freedom, giving and receiving, making no demands on others and blaming no one.
“That is why their deeds were never spoken of and that is why they left no stories. If only we could achieve the same thing now: to make goodness such an ordinary thing that there would be no need to praise those who practise it.”
Namasté
khenpo gurudas sunyatananda
Copyright ©2008, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.