2 years ago, I took my vows as a Buddhist, by
vows I mean take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and the Sangha. It has changed my life forever. Before I took my vows I had a crazy
monkey mind, reaction to everything was impulsive. I lived in constant anger and I got angry one night and I
hurt someone. I lost control and I
had no compassion. I allowed my
anger to dictate my life. I played
a lot of sports in my youth and had a good time. It was an escape to an abusive situation I found myself IN.
So what is my current understanding of
Buddhism. As luck would have it, I
already had a wide understanding in Buddhism, without knowing it. I know thus far that Buddhism is more
than a religion, my understanding of Buddhism was that it was just different I
really had no formal idea of what it was.
I was drawn to it because of the quiet aspect of meditation. It seem as those who practiced Buddhism
had a certain calm in them. I for
one love the quiet, loud noise is
a distraction for me.
Unfortunately, I learn about Buddhism in prison, some how it was not so
unfortunate.
Since I took my vows 2 years ago, I found it to
be so much more. My personality is
such that I had already detached myself from the “world” by default, by my
incarceration. What I’ve come to
find out is that “prison” is a defacto Monastery. Within the last two years I’ve been a real fan, the logic,
the nonlinear dynamic of Buddhism, The Dept. My understanding is like a vast ocean
and I could only hope to grasp it like a true Bodhisattva.
Thanks to IBS, Shirley
Tam, Danny Tam, Ven Hueiguang and Ven Xian Zhong. I am a better person.
With
Metta
Micah Harris
President Gems of the Valley Sangha
