From Principal Vipassana Teacher Sayagyi U Goenka's discourse to Dhamma workers, assistant teachers, trustees in Dhamma Mahi, France, August, 1988.
A bullock cart owner used to transport goods from one place to the other. This man had a small dog. When he travelled from one village to another, he trained the dog to walk under the bullock cart to avoid the sun’s heat. Wherever they travelled, the farmer sat on the bullock cart but the dog walked below in the shade of the cart.
In time, the small dog came to feel that he was carrying the entire burden of the cart, and he wondered why the farmer gave so much attention to the bullocks. He thought, "I am carrying the burden of this cart! Wherever we travel, it is over my back. More importance should be given to me!"
Actually, nobody is carrying the cart; the Dhamma is carrying the cart. Nobody should feel, "I am the most important person, it is only because of me that the Dhamma centre functions properly. It is only because of me that the teaching is given, that Dhamma spreads." Come out of this madness!
Dhamma is bound to spread now; the clock of Vipassana has struck.
You have been given the opportunity to serve in one way or another, and this should not become a cause of inflating your ego.
Understand that you are simply a vehicle, a tool, and Dhamma is doing its job.
If you had not been given this responsibility, somebody else would have taken it and the Dhamma work would go on.
A bullock cart owner used to transport goods from one place to the other. This man had a small dog. When he travelled from one village to another, he trained the dog to walk under the bullock cart to avoid the sun’s heat. Wherever they travelled, the farmer sat on the bullock cart but the dog walked below in the shade of the cart.
In time, the small dog came to feel that he was carrying the entire burden of the cart, and he wondered why the farmer gave so much attention to the bullocks. He thought, "I am carrying the burden of this cart! Wherever we travel, it is over my back. More importance should be given to me!"
Actually, nobody is carrying the cart; the Dhamma is carrying the cart. Nobody should feel, "I am the most important person, it is only because of me that the Dhamma centre functions properly. It is only because of me that the teaching is given, that Dhamma spreads." Come out of this madness!
Dhamma is bound to spread now; the clock of Vipassana has struck.
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Over 5,000 Vipassana students meditating together in the main dome of the Global Vipassana Pagoda. This unique Dhamma Hall facilitates the largest non-sectarian, silent, spiritual gatherings in the planet. Here, people from various walks of life, religions, social backgrounds work with the timeless, universal path of Vipassana to purify the mind - and earn true happiness.
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You have been given the opportunity to serve in one way or another, and this should not become a cause of inflating your ego.
Understand that you are simply a vehicle, a tool, and Dhamma is doing its job.
If you had not been given this responsibility, somebody else would have taken it and the Dhamma work would go on.
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- If somebody is breaking discipline, there must be immense compassion and infinite love towards this person. You have to be firm, but with deep metta.
- First correct yourself before you try to correct anybody else.
- There are four kinds of verbal impurity: telling lies, backbiting, slanderous talk, and indulging in idle chatter. Although you don’t have to be silent, be careful that this fourth impurity is avoided along with the others.
- Everyone has to help each other, to help the students who have come here (to the Vipassana centre). No one should feel that they are superior or inferior. You are here simply to serve people.
- The best way to serve people is to generate as much love and compassion as possible, and dissolve your ego as much as possible. This is not only in the interest of students, it is also in your interest.
- If you build your ego as you serve people, you have started to harm yourself in the name of Dhamma, in the name of serving others. One who cannot help oneself can never help others.
- Towards solving any problem, only cordiality and goodwill should prevail among all those involved in Dhamma service.
May countless people benefit on the Dhamma land and come out of their misery.
Bhavatu sabba maṅgalaṃ (May all be happy)
