Let’s Make the New Year of 2020 An Even Greater and A More Promising Year
Author: Liberal HomoDeus
Date: 15th December 2019
Keywords: #New Year, #holiday, #happiness, #lonely
Length: 1225 words
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New Year holiday is around the corner!
What people actually experience during the New Year Seasons is this: the same ordinary versions of themselves together at the dining-room table, eating, drinking, singing, dancing, talking, laughing, etc.; the holiday is traditionally the time to celebrate with small gifts for children and the distribution of food to the needy. The only difference is being that at this time everyone is already another year older and more matured.
For people living in the Buddhist temple here, the New Year of 2020 marks another year to look forward. We can see that Buddhism in the coming year will find itself in a landscape rich with diverse voices, societal and individual challenges given more opportunities for the religion to work for the positive impact for humanity.
Looking back over the passing year, our Temple’s incredible people have been working selflessly to create positive change around the globe by bringing Dhammakaya meditation practice to teach to people to let them experience first-hand inner peace, increasing the visibility and recognition of Dhammakaya tradition which was previously a mere marginalized group of people. In the next coming year, A L o o S e Chit-Chat Blogg is peering into the future, bringing together some of this year’s finest Buddhist ideas, series, values to share though thought-provoking perspectives on the future of Buddhism and Dhammakaya tradition for our Blogg’s fandom.
Dhammakaya member network both inside and outside the nation will continue to work cohesively and supporting one another particularly when meeting the challenges in disseminating Buddhist teachings, in teaching Dhammakaya meditation, in living their own lives and in pursuing the path of accumulating more virtues and merit. It is the way of empowerment and assurance, the way of telling every Dhammakaya Buddhists: We are capable. Never give up. At the same time, we understand the limitations of the times and the extra burdens placed on each Dhammakaya household member, which affects the ability to practice Buddhist teachings. We encourage everyone not exclusive only those in our Blogg’s fandom but around the globe to not abandon or break with Dhammakaya tradition but finding ways to live Buddhist teachings within the existing social norms.
We also know that there are those who might be in a hard-turn position in life or feel abandoned during this time of the year. We would like to assure if they remain walking on the enlightened path, they will never be forgotten since there are always people walking along, so keep on walking, not before long life will take a soft turn.
New Year in Thailand, Thais, non-Thais, Buddhists, non-Buddhists will celebrate one of the most popular holidays in merriment and joy, joining in, particularly in the matter of festive holiday parties, and the attendant gift-giving. The New Year 1st January is on Wednesday, people will make it a pleasure to ease into the five-day secular holiday that will start on Saturday 28th December. Many Thais start celebrating since Christmas Eve even they are not Christian but merely in the festive purpose.
Thailand came to embrace religious celebrations outside of Buddhism when the country was an international crossroads. Openness and acceptance of others’ beliefs and holy observance is part of the nation’s DNA. It is a positive reinforcement of most Thais’ tolerance and respect for others. Over the centuries of religious tolerance from the monarchy to the village, there is no history of religious warfare in this country. New Year and Christmas spirit in Buddhist values can be enjoyed and shared by Thais and foreign guests alike and is a proof of the protection and true freedom of religion in this land that many are part of this holiday’s greetings.
Ultimately, only Buddhist teachings are held by majority of Thais even today as a code of conduct to guide their lives, build identity and help them make sense of the cruelties and beauties of the world, feeding all the drives that steered themselves toward a Buddhist vision of liberation from suffering and for all beings. Buddhism is a self-reliance religion. The Lord Buddha neither washes unwholesome deeds away with water nor remove beings’ sufferings with His hands, nor transfer their enlightements to others. Living beings are released through the teachings of the Truth, the final reality, the true happiness.
However, for people who are young and innocent, during the New Year Season’, they tend to have harbored the unrealistic expectation such that the holidays will magically correct every wonky relationship dynamic and though it has never happened before —or fancying it will be the year to boast immaculately perfect holiday cheer. As the holiday season is laden with idealized imagery and false expectations like this, often the holidays can be the unhappiest time of the year. Because, when people hold on to their expectations, they are always disappointed. But when they drop them, they can work with things as they really are.
Suppose people no longer expected the New Year holidays to be anything like it was before. They could rewrite the script for themselves and they can create new holiday celebrations of their own. That comes with the gift of letting go of ‘what was’, balanced against the excitement creating new celebrations that honor what they value, letting go of what ‘should have been’ and opening up to what is being given. And let’s not take everything so seriously during this holiday season, either, ‘In Make Me One With Everything’ exploring the value of lightening up and finding some holiday humor. They can all find gratitude, forgiveness, and laughter as they create new versions of holidays that are truly their own. Including looking for ways to share kindness, generosity, and fellowship right where they are. Remember that true happiness is not found in a holiday, but in them.
Sociologically, at this holiday time of the year, we are standing at the threshold between eras. In the new era ahead, it is possible to envision equality, justice and peace in the society we are living in—but that possibility relies, in large part, on the country’s leaders and religious teachers who live and teach today and upon those who support them. We all have a part to play in this coming New Year—male, female, nonbinary, transgender. We all must collaborate in articulating through our practices and through our living on Buddhist teachings.
For Buddhist women, some achieved victories in gender role equality within the religion so far have marked advanced mile stones but remained being bittersweet as an increasingly reactionary backlash attempts to chip away at hard-won gains. Mainly due to the absence of female Sangha in some Buddhist countries including Thailand, voices both for and against equal inclusivity in religion are presenting. But Buddhism have a complicated history of a profound philosophy that posits the innate equality of all people based on the Teachings such as the impermanence of self, the five Aggregates (Khandhas), and the Four Noble Truths, which it literally means the enlightened practice is inclusive to all not only for men or any particular group of people. And the good news is there is, in a larger scale, growing recognition that religion cannot thrive if half the followers who are devout female devotees are excluded from contribution or decision-making. So be optimistic and make the year of 2020 ahead an even greater and a more promising year. Happy New Year to all.
