Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Buddhists say: “The snap of a fingernail may vibrate through countless worlds.” (Một tiếng khảy móng tay có thể rung động đến vô lượng thế giới). That is to say every movement, regardless of how small it is, has the power to move through and affect the universe.

We really cannot say what is small and what is big in the immense conductor network of the universe. Something tiny gets to an amplifying space in the network and is amplified to become so big and powerful – the ebb and flow of energy going through limitless space.

This is also the foundation for the non-discriminating mind – everything is equal, everyone is equal, no small no big.

We can actually experience this equality view in our own life. Say, when you were in college, a female student walking in front of you dropped a book. You picked it up and gave it to her. That small encounter led you to become her husband 10 years later.

Or, when in college, you had a small argument with a friend and called him “stupid.” Now, 15 years later, you can’t find any IT job in this city, because your stupid friend has become the top boss of the most powerful IT company in this city, and he doesn’t want any IT company here to give you a job.

Or, you get promoted to a very high position in the government. The security people vet your background intensively for final clearance, and find out that you received quite a few envelopes under the table 10 years ago. So, you get kicked out of the government immediately.

You never can tell what is small, what is big, what is good, and what is bad in your life.

Things can change constantly over time. Everything has equal chances to change into something better and worse and better and worse… up and down, over the course time.

Upekkha (equanimity) is the last and highest, among the four sublime attitudes (tứ vô lượng tâm): 1. Loving-kindness or benevolence (metta, từ), 2. Compassion (karuna, bi), 3. Empathetic joy (mudita, hỉ), and 4. Equanimity (upekkha, xả).

Upekkha actually has more meanings than the one word “equanimity” – they are: equanimity (calmness, serenity, tĩnh lặng), non-attachment (vô chấp), even-mindedness (non-discrimination, tâm không phân biệt), or letting go (buông xả).

Non-attachment, even-mindedness, and non-discrimination treat and love everything and everyone in the same way.

So, every time you snap your fingernail, think about the effects that its tiny sound generates while travelling through the universe.

Or when you help an elderly cross the street.
Or when you hold and kiss a baby.
Or when you say “thank you” or “I’m sorry.”
Or when pick up a piece of trash.
…

Every action is bigger than the snap of a fingernail.

Think about all the positive energy we create for the universe, when we do some small positive act.

And we usually do hundreds of small acts in a day. Make all of them positive, and feel the torrent of your positive energy coursing through the never-ending space.

That is truly mind-blowing.

With compassion,

Hoanh

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