Letter Sent To Congratulate His Holiness, Written By: Tịnh Ngọc, Tịnh Như, Nguyễn Văn Tiến
To His Holiness, The 14th Dalai Lama Of Tibet Your Holiness: When we read Anguttara Nikaya, there is a sutra within it named Sāriputta’s Lion’s Roar, which we have attached with this email, it has the following paragraphs: ..."Just as, Lord, people throw upon the earth things clean and unclean, dung, urine, spittle, pus and blood, yet for all that the earth has no revulsion, loathing or disgust towards it; even so, Lord, do I dwell with a heart that is like the earth, vast, exalted and measureless, without hostility, and without ill will."... ..."Just as, Lord, people use water to wash things clean and unclean, things soiled with dung, urine, spittle, pus and blood, yet for all that the water has no revulsion, loathing or disgust towards it; even so, Lord, do I dwell with a heart that is like water, vast, exalted and measureless, without hostility, and without ill will."... This sutra is about the finest characters of Sāriputta, and this sutra also reminds us about your own finest characters. Just as, Sāriputta has been one of the greatest disciples of the Buddha when he was alive; even so, Your Holiness, has been one of the greatest disciples of the Buddha in the present time. Just as, we have respected and have loved Sāriputta; even so, Your Holiness, we have respected and have loved you. We wish you a happy eightieth birthday, and we wish that we can continue to do so in many more of your future birthdays. |