Brothers

"Are you a Buddist??"
Yes. You ?

"I am learning how to be one... I mean, i am trying..."
Joyous !

"How does a Kelt becomes a Buddist??"
What is a Kelt ?
"Celtic..."
a kelt may become a buddhist simply by choosing to
"yap... ok..."

how does the river become the ocean ?
"by flowing and growing, I think"
Yes, that is a good point

how does the stream become a river ?
"that i don´t know... perhaps by adapting itself..."
hmm... yes I think you're right on that as well

how does the trickle become the stream ?
"you know, sometimes i think it´s so difficult for us, western people to follow the teachings of the Master...."
yes, we do have it more difficult than those who grew up in the east

"The only way is to be so disciplined... but sometimes it is quite complicated... so methodical, perhaps???"

the ocean is complicated,

and is filled
with all the water
from all the rivers.
but the trickle
that becomes the stream
is very simple

"yes, you are wise..."
i thank you for saying so, but I am just a man.

how does the drop become the trickle ?
"don't thank me, thank yourself... how can we gather the drops in ourselves??"
the same way,
the trickle becomes the stream

"and the stream becomes the river"
yes exactly !

from where does the drop fall ?
"mainly from above, but also from sides and everywhere..."
hmm... yes that is true.

how does the ocean become the drop ?
"because everything is impermanent...????"
hmm... yes,
that is an interesting way
of translating
the metaphor
back
to your mind...
excellent work !

"because the ocean itself may be an illusion???"
"because everything turns on the wheel of life???"

those who believe in buddha
taste the universal purity of oneness
in everything,

and in that mind
they feel compassion for all
and have
a humble attitude to serve
everyone.
therefore,

they should cleanse their minds of all pride
and cherish humility,
courtesy and service.

their minds should be like the fruitful earth
that nourishes everything without partiality,
that serves without complaint,
that endures patiently,
that is always zealous,
that finds its highest joy in serving all poor people
by planting in their minds
the seeds of the buddha's teaching.

thus, the mind that has compassion for poor people,
becomes a mother to all people,
honors all people,
looks upon all as personal friends,
and respects them as parents.

therefore, though thousands of people may have hard feelings
and cherish ill-will toward buddhist lay followers,

they can do no harm,

for such harm is like

a drop of poison
in the waters
of a great ocean.