Practicing the Three Types of Diligence | The Six Paramitas

To summarize, the vocation of monastics is to practice these three types of diligence-the diligence like armor, the diligence that gathers all virtues, and the diligence that benefits others. The first type of diligence gives rise to vows that will be like armor to protect practitioners from obstructions on the path to buddhallood. The second type of diligence is realized through personal experience of the Dharma while engaging in virtuous deeds. The third type of diligence is to share with other sentient beings the benefits of personal practice. This is precisely the undertaking of a monk or a nun-to make full use of their rare opportunity for practice and cultivation. If they miss the opportunity in this lifetime, they may not get it again in future lives.

During my last visit with Master Thich Nhat Hanh at his Dharma center, I noticed that his disciples hugged each other. I asked them whether monks hug nuns. They replied, “No, monks hug monks and nuns hug nuns.” I further asked, “Why do you hug?” They explained that hugging is an expression of extending care to one another. It is a kind of closeness, of sharing and comforting between people. “That is what we practice.” After hearing this, I thought to myself, “It must be a very good feeling to hug people. After all, little kids like to be hugged. Adults also like to be hugged.” Therefore, I hugged the master when I bade him farewell.

In the Mahayana Code of Conduct for monastics, monks and nuns are strictly not allowed to hug anyone. The Buddha said that such a gesture is a sign of laxity, a loosening of one’s diligence in practice. For that reason, the rules for monastics are set out this way. However, upon reflection, I thought that Thich Nhat Hanh has sound reasons for allowing hugging between his monastics. When people hug each other, they have a sense of sharing and feel very good and comfortable. Besides, it is a natural part of Western culture to hug. Maybe that is the reason why he has so many western monks and nuns but I have so few.

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