Propagating the Dharma

When we talk of ‘propagating the dharma’, what does that mean?

It means to use whatever skills, knowledge, and resources we have to help others. This in turn means to do whatever we can to help others to become kinder and to act more positively in general. In brief, to spread the dharma is to try and help nurture in people’s minds the thought: ‘I should not harm any living being and must do my best to help them.’

Propagating the teachings is not telling people they should make offerings, prostrate and so on; as if the practice of Buddhism is solely based on blind faith. That will not necessarily help people to accept the previously mentioned thought. Nor is it true, since Buddhism is based on sound reasoning.

12th November 2023, Thrangu Sekhar Retreat Centre, Nepal