"Dhamma is for free,
Dhamma is for you and me,
And Everybody.
In Dhamma there's no secret,
For the gift of Dhamma is Price-less (i.e. Free)."
" (Dhamma ) The Buddha's Path was intended for all who cared and dared to take up the challenge."
- Venerable Ajahn Mun
"Dhamma belongs to everyone (and anyone) who truly desires it;
The Buddha did not limit the possession of Dhamma to a particular individual.
Everyone (and anyone) who practises in the RIGHT way enjoys the same right of ownership."
- Venerable Ajahn Mun
Dhamma - The Buddha's Teachings, The Truth - is free, is everywhere, is ever-present and is NOT just for the monastics.
Monastics do NOT hold ownership to it.
Also, there's no such thing as secret or special transmission/teaching to anyone or a particular group of individuals. ( Read "Yoga-Yana" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/02/yoga-yana.html )
As The Great Teacher, Buddha Himself said,
"I have taught The Dhamma without an inner or outer version. The Tathagata has NO closed fist with regards to Teachings." ( Digha Nikaya 16 )
In addition,
"Though gaily decked if he should live in peace,
(With passions) subdued, (and senses) controlled,
Certain (of the 4 Paths of Sainthood),
Perfectly pure,
Laying aside the rod (in his relations) towards all living beings,
A Brahmana indeed is he, an ascetic is he,
A Bhikkhu is he." - (Dhammapada verse 142)
.
In other words,
"It's not important what clothes one wears,
So long as one is pure and freed from ignorance."
Even The Great Teacher knows that there are monastics who are ordained in name only - externally :
"Not by a shaven head does an undisciplined man, who utters lies, become a monk.
How can one who is full of desire and greed be a monk?"
- (Dhammapada verse 264)
"Many men wearing the yellow robe up to their necks who have an evil disposition and are unrestrained in thought, word and deed,
Are reborn in a woeful state on account of their evil deeds."
(Dhammapada verse 307)
and
"He is not therefore an Ariya (Noble) if he harms living beings;
Through his harmlessness towards all living beings is he called an Ariya (Noble)."
- (Dhammapada verse 270)
So you see, it does NOT mean you shave your head and don on a yellow/saffron robe means you are 'pure' or Noble (Ariyan), and you have ownership to Dhamma
(read "Why can't they?" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-cant-they.html ..... and
"Taking Refuge" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/08/taking-refuge.html ) ;
Or, are better at Dhamma practice.
(read "The Guru and His Bowl" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/07/guru-and-his-bowl.html )
Anyone, and Everyone can have access to Dhamma, not just the monastics - so long as we observe and see 'It'.
(read "Mindfulness or Mindlessness" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/03/mindfulness-or-mindlessness.html)
To further explain what I'm trying to say,
I would like to use excerpts of Ajahn Boowa's teachings from his book, "Straight from the Heart" (page 93-96), which like all his teachings, is available free.
Cos Dhamma is free, and "Should NOT be sold like goods in the marketplace." - (Ajahn Boowa)
Anyone who sells the Dhamma is belittling The Dhamma (read/i.e. : wrong livelihood),
Monastic or not.
(read "The Future"... no. 11 - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/11/future.html)
"The Dhamma is a truth, and everyone's common property.
Whether we are men or women, lay or ordained,
We can all have mindfulness and discernment.
We can all cure our defilements.
When we are willing, any man or woman, any monk or layperson can use any of the methods (prescribed by The Buddha) to cure defilement,
And gain release."
"Women can have mindfulness and discernment just like men, because women and men both have defilements and defilements are cured with mindfulness and discernment - backed by persistent effort - both by men and by women."
"All that's asked is that we strive, because the Dhamma is common to us all.
Women and men, lay and ordained, we can all listen to it, understand it, practise it and cure defilements (with it).
The defilements don't favour men or women.
We All have defilements.
Even monks have defilements :What do you say to that?
( Read "Why can't they?" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-cant-they.html )
Monks thus have to cure their own defilements.
If they don't, they lie buried in defilement just like people in general who aren't interested in the Dhamma - or, even worse than people in general."
"The Dhamma thus doesn't stipulate that it's only for those who are ordained.
What is stipulated is that we cure defilement with persistent effort."
"All I ask is that you know this marvellous, extraordinary Dhamma.
Its excellence exists of its own accord,
Without our having to confer titles."
- Ajahn Maha Boowa, "Straight from the Heart, page 93-96. .
.
.
"Dhamma is ........
Sanditthiko (to be seen in the here and now)
Akaliko (timeless)
Ehipassiko (come and practise and see for yourself / inviting verification)
Opanayiko (capable of being entered upon)
Paccatam veditabbo vinnuhiti (to be attained and self-realised only by the wise, each for himself)."
- The Buddha
"The Buddha's Path is a path of Discovery.
- Discover Truth (i.e. The Dhamma);
- Discover Happiness;
- Discover Ourselves, the 'self' ;
- Discover our own Foolishness."
