Turning the manure (sheep pellets) into fertilizer thereby creating good conditions, harmonious relationships, and inner fortune.

English Sub-Chapter Saturday Service - 1 November 2008

14 people joined the service including 2 new participants. One of the new participants had previously visited the Tea House and seen the flyer about the service and decided to come along. She had enjoyed the experience and would like to take part in the future.

The guiding Reverend, Venerable Maioyu, led the discussion about our ability to create our own good conditions, prepare and take action and in doing so create good karma.

The activity planned for the afternoon of this day was for members of the English Sub-Chapter to join other members of the Temple, in the spirit of team work and Dharma joy, to spread manure over the gardens of the Temple. The purpose of this activity was discussed in the context of Humanistic Buddhism to enable participants to understand, feel and think about the task as something more than a laborious task. The task was to spread sheep pellets. Sheep pellets smell unpleasant but they are food for the plants to grow and flourish. The plants contribute to the magnificence of the Temple which is enjoyed by many, many people. Such a task can appear insurmountable but if approached with determination, compassion, and loving kindness it becomes smaller and more manageable.

This metaphor can be related to practice in our everyday lives in that we face many obstacles but if we face these obstacles, don’t complain, address the problem and each day work toward removing the obstacle, even if people try to add to the situation, it will go away. In this way we open our hearts to the views and perceptions of others, turning the manure (sheep pellets) into fertilizer thereby creating good conditions, harmonious relationships, and inner fortune.