Last night, I visited a patient suffering from tuberculosis. Counselled him and chanted Om Mani Padme Hum with him and his family members. It’s been awhile since I chanted Om. He is a long time chanter of it, so I explained in brief to him, the significance of this Mantra, and chanted Om Mani Padme Hum with him and his family members.
I had wanted to chant seven rounds of the small beads I was wearing, as I didn’t want to tire him out. In the end, we must have chanted for 30 minutes to 45 minutes or so, so we reached around 8 and left at 9. Ended with a recitation of the Heart Sutra.
In Buddhism, we give what is suitable and appropriate for the recipient and not simply shove what we prefer down people’s throat! 😉
This reminds me of the teaching in 《觀世音菩薩普門品》 “The Chapter on Universal Doors (Methods) of Guan Yin (Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva)”.
Below is an excerpt:
無盡意菩薩白佛言。世尊。觀世音菩薩。云何遊此娑婆世界。云何而為眾生說法。方便之力。其事云何。
Inexhaustible Aspiration* Bodhisattva addresses the Buddha: “World Honoured One, how does Guan Yin Bodhisattva traverse this Saha World, how does he speak (teach) the Dharma to the beings? Through what means is this possible?”
佛告無盡意菩薩。善男
子。若有國土眾生應以佛身得度者。 觀世音菩薩。即現佛身而為說法。
The Buddha tells Inexhaustible Aspiration Bodhisattva: “Good man, if there are such beings in the land that requires a Buddha to liberate, Guan Yin Bodhisattva, would manifest as a Buddha and teach the Dharma.”