2 0 Sarvan writes: As an undergraduate at Peradeniya in the late 1950s, I occasionally accompanied a Buddhist friend to the Temple of the Tooth. My friend secured a small basket of flowers and brought it to me; I touched it and then the flowers were offered in worship. Symbolically, I had participated but should I have done that? Did I qualify for that inclusion? If not, wasn’t it falsity? It seemed a simple enough gesture, and I admit I didn’t pause to ponder the implications, the pros and cons of the matter. I confess I’d do it again. The explanation for this gesture by the young Sarvan has nothing to do with religion or beliefs but with the norms of friendship..The visit to the temple in the company of the Buddhist was an act of friendship , to begin with just as accepting the flower was! I too remember going to this temple with a Buddhist friend while at Peradeniya but don”t remember the flowers.But then my friend was only what I would call nominal Buddhist
Thank you Sarvan for sharing your experience. I think your participation is meaningful if your intention was out of goodwill. It seems like your friend did not mind and did not have ill-will because of your touching the flowers 🙂
Therefore your inclusion is valid.
Looking at it in another angle, your participation also helped your friend earn extra merits; because he managed to get more people to participate in a meritorious deed. It’s like a volunteer gathering more kind people to participate in an act of charity. In this case, it does not matter that the flowers were not brought by you. Just like the volunteers who worked at a charity may not be the one providing the resources.
Therefore your participation is also a meritorious deed that indirectly help to increase the overall merit at that point in time. Rejoice.
Beautiful Buddha quotes, speaking the TRUTH, thank you for sharing, Jamyang
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You are welcome Cornelia. Glad you like them.
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2 0 Sarvan writes: As an undergraduate at Peradeniya in the late 1950s, I occasionally accompanied a Buddhist friend to the Temple of the Tooth. My friend secured a small basket of flowers and brought it to me; I touched it and then the flowers were offered in worship. Symbolically, I had participated but should I have done that? Did I qualify for that inclusion? If not, wasn’t it falsity? It seemed a simple enough gesture, and I admit I didn’t pause to ponder the implications, the pros and cons of the matter. I confess I’d do it again. The explanation for this gesture by the young Sarvan has nothing to do with religion or beliefs but with the norms of friendship..The visit to the temple in the company of the Buddhist was an act of friendship , to begin with just as accepting the flower was! I too remember going to this temple with a Buddhist friend while at Peradeniya but don”t remember the flowers.But then my friend was only what I would call nominal Buddhist
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Thank you Sarvan for sharing your experience. I think your participation is meaningful if your intention was out of goodwill. It seems like your friend did not mind and did not have ill-will because of your touching the flowers 🙂
Therefore your inclusion is valid.
Looking at it in another angle, your participation also helped your friend earn extra merits; because he managed to get more people to participate in a meritorious deed. It’s like a volunteer gathering more kind people to participate in an act of charity. In this case, it does not matter that the flowers were not brought by you. Just like the volunteers who worked at a charity may not be the one providing the resources.
Therefore your participation is also a meritorious deed that indirectly help to increase the overall merit at that point in time. Rejoice.
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