The Art of Being Human: Grow Inside Before You Grow Outside
By Shlomi Selim “Sally” Benbasat
Salvator Mundi Café No. 9, Sunday 18 October 2026
Around the table: The Most Venerable Phra Rajavisuddhivides, Mario Diel, Björn Söderberg, Prof. Mirsad Hadžikadić, Ferda Kert, Monika Mikac, Muhamet Catic, Helen Hannick, Marie, Robert Beber, and friends joining from Bangkok.
What does it mean to be human? It may be the simplest question we have ever put on the table at the Salvator Mundi Café. It turned out to be the deepest.
Our guest was The Most Venerable Phra Rajavisuddhivides of Wat Thai Dhammaram in Waterloo, Belgium. He entered a Buddhist monastery at the age of twelve, and at sixty seven he has spent more than half a century in practice. He came to our community through Rabbi David Rosen, and Mario Diel, our President and Founder, opened by saying this might be the most interesting topic the Café has ever hosted. Muhamet Catic, never far from history, reminded us before we began that Waterloo is better known for the battle that stopped Napoleon. This Sunday, Waterloo gave us something much quieter.
A Rare Opportunity
His Eminence began with a prepared reflection from the Theravada tradition, the school of the elders, which rests directly on the Pali Canon. In this tradition, the art of being human is not abstract philosophy. It is realism, personal responsibility and daily mental training.
He started with one of the Buddha’s best known images. Imagine a wooden yoke floating on a vast ocean, blown about by the wind, and a blind turtle that rises to the surface once every hundred years. The chance that the turtle puts its head through that yoke is greater than the chance of being born human. Human life, in other words, is rare. It is also the realm with the right balance of pain and pleasure: enough suffering to make us search, not so much that we cannot.
From there he walked us through what a human being actually is. Not a permanent soul, but a constantly changing process of body, feeling, perception, mental formations and consciousness. Once we learn to observe these without taking them personally, the grip loosens.
“When we stop identifying as ‘I am this anger’, attachment falls away.”
He described the four sublime states as the highest emotional expressions of a human being: loving kindness, compassion, joy in the success of others, and equanimity. He reminded us that mindfulness is not a relaxation technique but a tool for freedom, practiced in how we sit, walk, feel and think. And he closed with the line from the Dhammapada that places the whole responsibility on each of us: no one can purify another.
Calm Is Not Indifference
Mirsad, who works on artificial intelligence and thinks every day about the humanity in us, asked the question many of us were holding. How do you stay calm when the unexpected happens? Do you ever get angry at what is happening in the world?
The answer was disarmingly honest. His Eminence reads the same news we do: the wars, the violence, the disasters, the injustice. His first response is not a teaching but a habit.
“First of all, just pause.”
Pause, see that everything arises from causes and conditions, hold every living being as family, and then be honest about the limits of what one person can carry. After that, do your duty here and now. At the temple, he told us, people arrive with heavy burdens, and the first answer is a smile, a cup of tea, a plate of Thai food and someone who listens. Do your best, he said, but without expectation.
Mirsad pushed back, as he should. A monk has the time to contemplate the world as it should be. But some people do not listen, they act, and history shows where that leads. Can we really stay neutral? Do we not have an obligation to protect our communities?
His Eminence did not argue for passivity. Raise your voice, take action, try again. And when you have truly done what you can, keep your balance, and join hands with the good people, hand in hand and heart to heart. It was the most honest moment of the afternoon, and I do not think we fully settled it. Where acceptance should end and action must begin is a question each of us took home.
Ambition Without Losing Peace
Björn Söderberg asked how we can be ambitious and still keep our inner peace. The answer started with an uncomfortable truth: wanting never finishes. One million is not enough, so we want ten, then a hundred. A bigger car, a bigger house, more recognition.
Peace begins, he said, when we see the value of what we already have and stop comparing ourselves with others, whose conditions and backgrounds are different from ours. I am still alive. My eyes, my ears, my body and my mind still work. I have food, clothing, shelter and medicine. I have parents who gave me life, and family and friends who guide me. If we want more, we work for it, honestly, within our capability and within the law.
Five Minutes Before the World Begins
I asked what practice he would give a young person who grows up surrounded by screens and very little silence. He began generously: this generation is lucky, expert, advanced in science and technology. They can reach the moon. But they are often very far from themselves.
His advice was simple enough to start tomorrow. Every morning, before anything else, five minutes alone with yourself. Not in the past, not in the future, but here. Remember how lucky you are to be born human, to be someone’s son or daughter. Remember that life is short, that we will all grow old, fall ill and be parted from those we love. Then care for yourself, for your nearest and dearest, and for others, even the people who challenge you. Where your hands cannot reach, your heart can: may I be happy, may I be safe, may I be healthy, may I be free from suffering, and may they be too.
“Whenever we have the opportunity to love, we should love deeply.”
Mario took the thread further. In much of the world, education is becoming elite and driven by competition, success, success, success. If these values are to matter, he argued, they must reach people young, and voices like His Eminence’s belong in our schools and universities. The reply was that the first school is the family. Children learn from parents who give enough love, enough care and enough time, and who keep things simple. Money and property, he said, are not the answer to a happy life.
“Before we grow outside, we have to grow inside.”
Presence, Not a Lecture
He shared, with great care, the story of a man who once came to the temple determined to end his life. Arguments did not reach him. What reached him was a moment of surprise that broke through his despair, followed by simple questions. Who are you? Who do you love? He had a daughter, two years old. Who would guide her, care for her, give her love? “Right now, she needs you.” He listened, and he understood.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to someone you trust or to a local support line.
“Did You Eat?”
Marie asked whether he sees a shift of consciousness in the world, a hunger for truth, beauty and love. He does. More people come to the temple now: some make an appointment, some send a message, some simply ring the bell. Families come with their children. Young people come. Troubled by what they hear and see, they start asking who they are and what life is for. Every evening, Europeans join the monks for chanting and meditation.
Christians, Catholics, Protestants and Muslims all come to the centre, and they are received as sisters and brothers. Nobody is asked where they are from or why they came. The first question is far simpler: did you eat? I cannot think of a better definition of being human.
Being the Light
Björn returned with a practical question: what can the older generation do differently, starting tomorrow, for a fairer and more peaceful world? Keep the good values we inherited, His Eminence answered. The generations born in times of war understood discipline, the value of time, of being together and of sharing. Keep that, but open your mind to the young. Do not try to become like them, and do not ask them to become like you. Support them, love them, and be there. When they go too far and get stuck, they will come back to the nearest and dearest, who must be ready to be the light for them.
An Invitation to Waterloo
Mario thanked His Eminence for a Café unlike any other, one that was not about business, politics or success, but about who we are. He proposed that a group from Salvator Mundi Global visit the temple in person. The invitation came straight back: lunch, Thai food, whenever we come. And if we travel to Thailand, a welcome there too, at the centre for harmony and unity he founded for everyone who loves peace, not only Buddhists, not only Thais.
I closed with three things I believe we all took home:
Pause before the world begins. Love deeply, while we still can. Be a light for those who come after us.
Watch the Conversation
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Read the Full Transcript
For the first time, at the request of our members, we are publishing the complete transcript of a Salvator Mundi Café. It has been lightly edited for readability: filler words and crosstalk were removed, and every statement was kept. Passages marked [unclear audio] could not be heard reliably. Timestamps are as recorded by Zoom.
Full transcript: Salvator Mundi Café No. 9, The Art of Being Human
01 Before the Session Starts
Wat Thai Dhammaram (Zoom account) [16:02:18 to 16:02:28] You see someone without any face and any name. It's me as technical support, because maybe they feel uncomfortable.
Muhamet Catic [16:02:24 to 16:02:44] I'm really looking forward to this session, especially coming from Waterloo. Waterloo is the place where Rothschild stopped interest-free banking to spread. And now we will see [unclear audio]. Because Rothschild financed all armies to stop Napoleon.
Mario Diel [16:02:50 to 16:02:54] Good afternoon also, Robert. Robert is our guest.
Robert Beber [16:02:52 to 16:02:55] Hello!
Mario Diel [16:02:55] And Robert, you're also from Croatia, no?
Robert Beber [16:02:57] Yes, I'm also from Croatia, like Monika.
Monika Mikac [16:03:01] Robert is my friend.
Mario Diel [16:03:05] Ah, he's your friend! You have friends everywhere, Monika.
Robert Beber [16:03:07] Worldwide, Monika.
Mario Diel [16:03:10] Exactly.
Wat Thai Dhammaram (Zoom account) [16:03:00 to 16:03:04] Hello, good afternoon from Waterloo, Belgium.
[16:03:17 to 16:04:44] [unclear audio] Exchange between the temple and a participant in Thailand.
SR [16:04:45 to 16:05:00] [unclear audio] Good evening from Bangkok, Thailand. It's 9 o'clock in the evening in Thailand.
Wat Thai Dhammaram (Zoom account) [16:04:56 to 16:05:01] Good afternoon from Waterloo, Belgium.
Sally [16:05:01] Good evening, Sawasdee Krap.
Ferda Kert [16:05:07] Good evening.
Sally [16:05:20 to 16:05:58] So we have more and more people joining in. We'll give it a couple of minutes more and then we will start. In the beginning, I'll just share some of the house rules and a welcome note. We will then take it to Mario, and then Mario will introduce His Excellency, His Eminence.
Mario Diel [16:06:33] I think it's already a good start of the session, because everybody's quiet, so we come already into the mood.
Sally [16:06:42] Give it another minute, and then we will start.
Mario Diel [16:07:34] I think we should start. If others join in, they can join in.
Sally [16:07:37 to 16:08:04] Let me just end the recording. Just one moment. And let's restart it again. So if everyone can mute. Just one moment. [unclear audio]
Wat Thai Dhammaram (Zoom account) [16:07:49] I think so.
02 Welcome and Introduction
Sally [16:08:06 to 16:08:38] Hello, everyone, and welcome to SMG Café #9: The Art of Being Human. For those joining us for the first time, Salvator Mundi Global is a community for leadership, ethics, and shared human progress. Our café is where we meet, share, and connect, and today we are delighted to welcome a distinguished guest. I'll now hand over to Mario, our president and founder, to introduce our guest and lead the session. Mario, the floor is yours.
Mario Diel [16:08:38 to 16:09:20] Thank you very much, Sally. It's really a pleasure to see you all again at the Café, and especially today, because I believe that we have maybe not only the most distinguished guest speaker so far in our Café, but I think it's also the most interesting topic we are talking about today, because what can be more exciting than talking about the art of humanity, especially in the times we are living in today, where humanity, it seems, gets more and more less focused, and the world gets a little bit crazy? So I'm very delighted that the Most Venerable Father, Phra Rajavisuddhivides, has accepted.
03 The Talk: The Art of Being Human in Theravada Buddhism
Phra Rajavisuddhivides [16:09:44] Excellency, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, this is a great opportunity for me to be [unclear audio] Salvator Mundi [unclear audio] family, and to learn from all of you, and at the same time to share my knowledge and experience with you too. First of all, I would like to give sincere thanks to the founder, [unclear audio], for giving me the opportunity to be here, and also [unclear audio] Rabbi David Rosen, who introduced me to our family, and also to China [unclear audio]. And the lady who organized the conference in Brussels. For me, I'm not so good in English, and also my memory is not so good, so I ask permission from you to read. Is this okay for you, sir? To read the text. [unclear audio]
[16:11:22] For the art of being human, because I'm a representative from Theravada Buddhism. In Buddhism, we have three schools: Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. But for me, I'm from Theravada. In Theravada Buddhism, the school of the elders, which relies directly on the Pali Canon, the art of being human is grounded in clear [unclear audio] realism, strict personal responsibility, and practical mental training, rather than viewing the human condition as an abstract [unclear audio]. Our own historical journey [unclear audio]. Theravada sees human life through a very specific, practical lens, as a unique, temporary opportunity to break free from the cycle of suffering, samsara. [unclear audio] Mastering the art of being human, from the [unclear audio] perspective, looks like this.
[16:12:48] One, recognizing the rare opportunity of human birth. [unclear audio] In Theravada texts, the Buddha frequently emphasizes how difficult it is to be born as a human being. A famous simile from the Samyutta Nikaya illustrates this. Imagine a wooden pole floating on the vast ocean, blown about by [unclear audio]. Once every hundred years, a blind turtle surfaces from the depths. The chance of that turtle accidentally thrusting his head through that floating hoop is greater than the chance of a foolish person [unclear audio] a human birth.
[16:14:05] Theravada highlights why. [unclear audio] In the lowest realms, [unclear audio], animals, [unclear audio], angry ghosts, suffering is too [unclear audio] for mental development. In the highest realms, the Brahma realms, [unclear audio] is too distracting. [unclear audio] The human realm has the ideal ratio of pain and pleasure, and is the only realm where a person can become a fully enlightened Buddha or an arahant.
[16:15:04] Number two, understanding the [unclear audio] aggregates. To master human existence, [unclear audio] we must understand what a human actually is. A human is not a permanent soul, [unclear audio] but a constantly changing process made of five aggregates, [unclear audio]: rupa, vedana, which is feeling, sanna, perception, sankhara, mental formation, and vinnana, consciousness. [unclear audio] being human in Theravada is learning to observe these components clearly, without taking them personally. When you start, when we start identifying as "I am this body," or "I am this anger," attachment falls away.
[16:16:28] Number three, radiating the [unclear audio] divine abodes, Brahmavihara. Theravada is deeply analytical. [unclear audio] The heart of human interaction is [unclear audio] the four sublime states. These four qualities represent the highest emotional expressions of a human being. Loving-kindness, metta: wishing unconditional goodwill and well-being to all living beings without exception. Compassion, karuna: [unclear audio] empathy for the suffering of others, and wishing to relieve that pain. Sympathetic joy: celebrating the success and happiness of others without [unclear audio]. Equanimity, upekkha: maintaining a balanced, peaceful mind through life's ups and downs, rooted in understanding of [unclear audio].
[16:18:10] Number four, cultivating mindfulness in everyday life, Satipatthana in Theravada. Mindfulness is not just a relaxation technique, but it is the ultimate tool for liberation. The Mahasatipatthana Sutta outlines the full foundations of mindfulness that every practitioner cultivates. Contemplation of the body, kayanupassana: staying aware of the [unclear audio], bodily posture, walking, standing, sitting, lying down, and physical reactions. Contemplation of feelings, vedananupassana: noticing sensations as pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral as soon as they arise, without reacting, without craving or aversion. Contemplation of the mind, chittanupassana: observing the current state of the mind, for example, mind with lust, mind without anger. Contemplation of the mental objects, dhammanupassana: observing phenomena in terms of core Buddhist truths, such as the five hindrances and the four noble truths.
[16:20:00] Number five, taking radical personal responsibility. Theravada places the entire burden and privilege of spiritual freedom on the individual. There is no external [unclear audio]. In Theravada philosophy, as stated in the Dhammapada, by oneself is [unclear audio]. By oneself is evil left undone, by oneself is one purified. Purity and impurity depend on oneself. No one can purify another. To live skillfully as a human being in Theravada means taking full ownership of one's own karma, [unclear audio], practicing the five precepts as the basic ethical baseline: abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants. Using wisdom, panna, to act, [unclear audio] your own mind.
[16:21:46] Summary of the Theravada view: in Theravada Buddhism, the art of being human can be summarized as appreciating the incredible [unclear audio] of having a human mind and body, [unclear audio] our conduct through ethics, sila, to generate wholesome karma, observing the impermanent nature of our body and mind through Satipatthana meditation, cultivating goodwill, metta, and mental balance, upekkha, toward all beings, [unclear audio], treating human life as a rare, [unclear audio] temporary opportunity to clean the mind of [unclear audio] and realize the ultimate peace of Nirvana, or the Supreme [unclear audio].
[16:22:57] That is the art of being [unclear audio]. So that was a perspective to share with you. [unclear audio] Yes, sir. It's a great pleasure.
04 Questions and Answers
Prof. Mirsad Hadžikadić [16:23:34 to 16:25:22] Yes, thank you. I appreciate it. And thank you for the presentation. I'm personally interested in everything that has to do with human values and being human, especially today, in the age of artificial intelligence, which is something that I'm working on, and every day I think about the humanity in us. But as you speak about it, and you sense the calmness, then you understand devotion and understanding your position when it comes to the mind and the body with respect to our overall existence. What I am struggling with is, how do you keep the calm and understand the importance of your presence in everyday life when you are faced with unexpected events, when you have surprises? They have priorities. Then you basically say, well, I'm going to look at everything from the perspective of higher power and understand everything comes for a reason. And therefore, I'm in a calm way going to try to figure out how to pursue. Do you ever get confused or surprised or angry in reaction to what's happening in the world, in real life? How do you stay calm all the time? What drives you? What's the first thought that comes to your mind when you face an unexpected situation?
Phra Rajavisuddhivides [16:25:22] As I am a Buddhist monk, I joined a Buddhist monastery when I was small, 12 years old, until now. I'm 67. In our world, [unclear audio] in getting to a community, every day we do chanting, we do meditation, we read, and we put it into practice. That means we also, like you, read the news and listen to what is going on in the world. In the digital world, we learn a lot of knowledge and experience every day, but at the same time we share every day too. And also the news, information about the fighting, conflicts, wars, violence, natural disasters, injustice, it takes place around the world.
[16:26:29] So, first of all, we just pause. We pause for a moment and realize that everything happens because of cause and effect. We love the world. We love our sisters and brothers around the world too. We wish all of them to be happy, to be safe. All human beings, all living beings are our family, our friends. Then we have to realize our capability. [unclear audio] Responsibility is at a very limit. Therefore, we accept it, but we should be neutral in all, and if we cannot help them, we just share our loving-kindness and compassion with them, wish them to be happy, to be free from suffering, problems, difficulty, sickness, and the conflict between country and country, community, and also what is happening in France now, in Belgium, in many countries, and [unclear audio] in Ukraine, in the Middle East, in many parts of the world, and also recently in Nepal, about [unclear audio] disaster, and also the flood in Thailand. Really sad for them too. But we have to continue to maintain our line of duty, our responsibilities, here and now.
[16:28:20] My work, I'm concerned with many people with us. Some people, even in Belgium, it's a good society, a good community, a good system, good education and governance, but also so many people have problems and difficulties. If they reach us, if they come to us, if they inform us, we welcome them, we listen to their problems and difficulties, and share with them. First, please share our friendship. Smile to them, listen to them and sit with them, share tea, coffee, or Thai food with them. I say that in the Thai community and the Belgian community too. Sometimes they need guidance and advice, even if some people would like to commit suicide, people have life problems, people have addictions, people have a broken heart. We also try to provide them [unclear audio] that opened our heart, our mind, our ears to listen to them, and when they need advice, we advise them, and when they need some technique, some [unclear audio], we share with them what comes out from problems and difficulties. We are also ready with an answer. Let's try to do the best, but without expectation.
Prof. Mirsad Hadžikadić [16:29:57 to 16:31:44] Okay, Mario, can I just ask a quick follow-up question? I'm sorry. I understand that, and I appreciate it, but it seems to me that it is still from the perspective of a monk, for example, where you have the time and perhaps the luxury to contemplate and think about the place as it should be, the world as it should be. And I wish, and I hope, that one day it is going to be like that. But we are facing, looking at our recent history, people who will not listen to techniques, or participate in committees, or deliberations, because they are convinced that they know everything, and there is some grievance, and therefore they act in the world. They don't talk, they act. From genocide on. I cannot be neutral in that respect. You have to react, you have to protect your world. Of course, they don't understand you, they don't see it the way you see it, and there's a disagreement. Rarely do people want to get to the same point and listen to the argument. They are convinced that what they know is the truth. So I understand you should try to understand and you reason. And when it doesn't happen, what do you do? Do you still remain neutral and hope that they will one day see the world differently and change? Or do you have an obligation to act, and honestly protect yourself and your community?
Phra Rajavisuddhivides [16:31:45 to 16:33:44] Yes, [unclear audio] loving-kindness, that wish for everyone to be happy, every living being to be happy, and we also try to participate, to share. If we were to raise our voice to [unclear audio], right, and to take the action. And also, they are in suffering. We wish them to be relieved from suffering, problems, and difficulty. Then when they are successful, we also congratulate them and are happy with them. But in the case they believe that they are the best, that they know everything, that the way they do is correct, you believe that. So if we try [unclear audio] ways, and it is not successful, we should accept it, according to the law of karma. Be balanced. Be balanced. Depend on himself. If you cannot stop, like the wars, the fighting, the conflicts, that happened because of [unclear audio]. Even though we cannot control, we cannot do, we continue to do. That is the spread of the scale of conflict, fighting, and misunderstanding more and more, like nowadays. So if you accept it, and let the law of karma take the action, they have to face the problem and difficulty by themselves. We share joy with the good people. [unclear audio] the world to be [unclear audio]. Make the world for all good people together, hand in hand and heart to heart. And it's always [unclear audio].
Sally [16:33:48] Yes, Björn, you're next. Thank you, Mirsad.
Björn Söderberg [16:33:53 to 16:34:07] Thank you very much. One thing that I have been thinking about, we have talked, of course, about happiness, but how can we, human beings, learn to be ambitious but keep our inner peace?
Phra Rajavisuddhivides [16:34:11] As human beings, sir, every living being, not only human beings but animals too, by instinct wants to be happy. Wants to be happy, wants to possess more. Wants to have a big car, a big house, a big amount of money in the bank. Wants to follow the fashion, or wants to be popular, wants to be respected, with all of that, the outside, the materials and the conditions and situation. It's the way of human beings, not only in Europe, in everywhere, it's the nature of human beings, but the wanting is never finished, because it comes from desire, greediness. "I want this for me, for my [unclear audio]." One million, not enough. Want to have some more millions, 10 million, 100 million or more. Have the [unclear audio] house, or have that beautiful woman, handsome man, that's because of desire. First thing.
[16:35:31] So in the way of us, learn how to see the value in everything. Be satisfied with what belongs to us, what we have, to see the value. [unclear audio] to yourself. No need to compare with others. Everyone wants to be happy, everyone wants to be peaceful, to be successful, to be number one. But the capability, the conditions, environment, circumstances, background are different. [unclear audio] opportunity too. Therefore, be happy with others.
[16:36:19] At the same time, also be happy with ourselves. No need to compare with others. I'm still alive. I'm still alive, my organs, my eyes, my ears, my nose, my body, my mind function well. I'm happy, thanks to myself, thanks to my mom, thanks to my dad, to [unclear audio] give life to me, to guide, advise me, thanks to my wife, my husband, my children, my family, my friends. I have basic needs, I have enough food to eat, I have enough clothes to wear, I have good clothes to wear, I have shelter, I have medicine. So basically we have already. If we want more, we have to work. We have to do according to our capability, according to the law, the rules, and the way of living. So try to see the value in yourself, [unclear audio], and the value of what belongs to us, the conditioned situation. That is the way.
Björn Söderberg [16:37:32] Thank you very much.
Phra Rajavisuddhivides [16:37:34] Thank you, sir.
Phra Rajavisuddhivides [16:37:41] Yes, sir.
Sally [16:37:52 to 16:38:17] So young people today grow up with constant stimulation. Many, many screens, there's a lot of stimulation going on, and very little silence, actually, which is a part of what we are preaching. What is the practice you would give a young person to begin the art of being human in this context?
Phra Rajavisuddhivides [16:38:19] So, first of all, right now we are happy with the new generation. They are very lucky. They can learn so many things. There are many sources of knowledge and experience, and they are very expert in many things, very advanced in technology, in science and all. But very far away from themselves. They can reach even the moon, the planets, but we should realize that each day, when we wake up, we should be with ourselves first. Even if it's only 5 minutes, to pause. Not thinking about the past, not thinking about the future. Be at the present, at the moment. I do think, oh, how lucky I am to be born as a human being, to be born a son or daughter of our parents, family members, and to be a member of a school, a society, and do the work. And thanks to [unclear audio] what we have. And realize that life is so short. Even though we can go very far from our family or friends, physically and mentally also, more, but one day we are subject to [unclear audio], we are subject to be sick, we are subject to [unclear audio], and also to separate, to be apart from our [unclear audio] and ideas.
[16:40:42] So each day, we have to spend enough of our time to take good care of ourselves. Take good care of [unclear audio], the nearest and dearest family first, and then others. If we cannot reach them by doing, we can make a wish in our mind: may I be happy, may I be safe, may I be healthy, may I be free from suffering, problems, and difficulty, and also may the dear ones, my mother, my father, my wife, my husband, my children, be happy, be healthy, be safe. And also the classmates, the friends, the neighbors, colleagues, and also the same, even though [unclear audio] people [unclear audio]. Also make a wish for them, because they are also under the law of impermanence, suffering, and non-self, and they are facing sickness, aging, death. And that is the way. So whenever we have the opportunity to love, we should love deeply. We have the opportunity to be with a mother, father, [unclear audio], we also should use our time, energy, our experiences, our knowledge, and express that we love them, we care for them. And [unclear audio] utilize what belongs to us in a very useful way for ourselves and for others. And no need to worry about the future, about what's going on, what will happen tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, next week or a month. So be with the present moment before we start doing anything. That is the way, sir.
Mario Diel [16:42:54 to 16:45:06] Can I also comment on this? What you are representing, how you are living, how you look at life, how you look at humanity: my opinion is, if this would be possible in reality, that's the best of humanity it could be, how you describe it. And unfortunately, the world is not like that. I think that was also a little bit what Mirsad was saying. But my point, in addition to what Sally was talking about, is about young people in education. When I look at education today, there is on the one side the people who have no access to education, or very difficult access, but in the Western world there is much more a tendency that everything is more elite, and just the people who have the money get access to the university and knowledge. But everything is very driven, as you also said, by competition to get more and more and more. And what I believe would be very important, and I believe all what you are saying has to start [unclear audio], already at a very young age. At my age, I can come to you when I have a problem, and I'm sure you can help me, when I'm stressed you help me, because how you're talking, how you're thinking, this is all wonderful. But for me to change is very difficult, because I'm already at a certain age. So all of this, what you are saying, this focus on humanity and how you should normally think, should go already to the young people, and maybe education should think also about this, that maybe part of education should be also that you, as a young person, why not visit somebody like you. Why are you not a part of the education in a school or university, even you as a person, so that you are talking about how you see life, because I believe this will be very important for these young people, because I believe they are very much focused on just success, success, success. Thank you.
Phra Rajavisuddhivides [16:45:08] Yes, sir. Education is the most important. It starts first from the family, from the children. They learn from mother and father. They should give enough love, enough care for them. Be simple for them, how to be calm, be relaxed, be happy. And encourage and support them to grow in the right way, the correct way. To be kind to themselves, to be kind to family, to friends, and to the environment, to animals, to the world. And according to nowadays, they also progress a lot in the environment, the climate issue, and [unclear audio] is concerned. But first, before we grow outside, we have to grow inside, with loving-kindness, with compassion and wisdom together. Parents have enough love, enough care, enough time for children. The money, the property is not the best answer for a happy life. So when we have children, [unclear audio], and then school too. [unclear audio] the guardian should have [unclear audio] to guide, to advise, be simple for them in the way of thinking, speaking, and doing. Even though they are making a difference, they observe [unclear audio]. And if they see the value, they understand, they will put it in practice, they will follow. But it takes time, and be patient. Be patient, be confident.
[16:47:24] There will be many people who change. For example, as I have said already, some people want to commit suicide, they come to me. If they do not come to me, I cannot participate, I cannot help. They come to me, and one gentleman, an American man, he lives in Belgium. He's a very highly educated man. He wanted to do this because of family problems. So he tried two times, but was not successful. [unclear audio] and then he [unclear audio] and came to me. He said, "I want to die." I also explained to him, what is the meaning of that, what is the benefit of that. He also said, "I don't care. I want to die." And then, okay, I tried to explain to him, but he did not listen. "Okay, if you want to die, I can help you. We will be together, sit in front of the Buddha statue. Close your eyes." And then they threw mangoes on his head [unclear audio]. And then he opened his eyes. "Why? What?" He called me Long Po. "What happened, Long Po? Why? You beat me." "Because you want to die, I want to help you to die. And we work together." And then he [unclear audio] emotion from sadness to anger. And then when I explained to him and he calmed down, he listened. And then I asked him, one by one, questions. Who are you? What are you? You live alone or you have a family? He has one daughter. She's 2 years old. "You have a daughter? Do you love her?" "Yes." "Do you want her to be good in her life, in education, in society?" "Yes." "If you die, what is the meaning? Who will take care of her, who will guide her, support her in education, supporting [unclear audio] to give enough love and care for her? Right now, she needs you." And after that, he understood his [unclear audio]. That is, for example. Loving-kindness. [unclear audio] can help, sir.
Sally [16:49:54 to 16:50:04] Thank you, [unclear audio]. Marie, please go ahead.
Marie [16:50:06 to 16:51:29] Thank you so much. Thank you for your wonderful introduction and speech and talk. It would be lovely to get a transcript of it, if it was possible, to read over. I just wanted to ask you, Your Eminence, your focus on family, for me, is the most important thing, because despite all the societal problems that we have, and all the wars and conflict in the world, I wanted to ask you if you feel like I do. There is currently, in the world, a shift of consciousness, that people are becoming hungry for truth and beauty and love, and that you feel, or not, that there is a desire to be enlightened and to focus on taming our animalistic instincts and our basic passions and have more selfdiscipline and become more divine, for want of a better word. Do you feel there's that shift happening at the moment, or not? Thank you.
Phra Rajavisuddhivides [16:51:30] Thank you very much, [unclear audio]. Yes, nowadays, after [unclear audio] there was the conflict, [unclear audio] in society happen, and I feel, or I experience, I see more people come to me. They come to visit the temple. They would like to talk with the monk. "I want to talk with Long Po." They make an appointment, send a message, and some people just come and ring the bell. The number of people is increasing too. Some people come with their kids, some people come as a couple, with family. Because of the situation that they hear, that they see, it makes them troubled in their feelings. They feel insecure, unhappy. [unclear audio] No protection. They feel empty, the life is empty, and what to do? They start to put the question to themselves. And luckily in Europe, especially in Belgium, it is very open, they can come freely. They can make decisions and they come, contact us by themselves, approach us, not hesitate. That is a very good thing, and also I observe in the church too. Sometimes I visit the church, and some people also come to us, not only old people, the young people, the new generation. That is the way, when the trouble, the problems, the conflict, difficulties take place, that makes them realize, come back to the basics: Who am I? What am I? What is the purpose of life? My future. [unclear audio] To take good care of myself, to take care of my family, to save myself, save my family.
[16:54:11] That's why nowadays every evening, some Europeans come to join us for chanting, meditation, and to listen to Dharma. Because here, we do not consider ourselves particular Buddhists, but we are members of society. We just are monks, it's a symbol of Buddhism, but in our mind, we are human beings. What can we do for each other? We have Christian people, Catholic people, Protestant, Muslim people come to our center too. But we treat them as our sisters and brothers, our members. We do not ask about the background, where are you from, why do you come here. No. What can we work on together? [unclear audio] Did you eat? If not, [unclear audio] we can taste Thai food. That's all. It's the way.
Marie [16:55:18] Thank you.
Sally [16:55:19 to 16:56:21] So before we move to our next question, Björn, just Marie, what I will do this week, as being the chief editor of Salvator Mundi Times as well: as you know, after we have these beautiful talks, our Salvator Mundi Cafés, we also have an article about this talk in our Salvator Mundi Times. We also display the video, as the video will be on our YouTube channel. And Marie, for you, what I will do also this week, I'll add also the transcript, not just because normally, you know, in the group we are sending the summary of all the cafés this week. It's profound, like [unclear audio]. It's profound what we're hearing here, and I think that we should put it also as a transcript, as Marie's advice. It should be in the article definitely, not to miss anything. So thank you so much, and we move to our next question, Björn, from Bangkok.
Björn Söderberg [16:56:21 to 16:56:39] Thank you very much, [unclear audio]. And to be very concrete, what could each of us, we, the older generation, do differently from what we are doing, starting tomorrow, to create a more fair and more peaceful world? What can we do?
Phra Rajavisuddhivides [16:56:42] In Buddhist society, the senior people, all people, we respect, and the new generation, we learn from the senior people. And we continue to keep our principle, the way of practice. That means focus on love, care, respect, support, and help, but at the same time, open our mind. [unclear audio] our new generation. If we accept them, we support them, help them to go, to learn, to search, to reach their goals, but not absolutely, not totally to be like them. But we be ourselves. Keep a good culture, a good way of living. I observe, I see the people who were born during the Second World War, First World War, they are so disciplined, so [unclear audio], utilize everything very usefully. And they understand the value of time, the value of [unclear audio] culture, the value of being together, the value of sharing. So our good culture and tradition we keep, but at the same time, we also accept them, be with them, support them. And when we give enough love and support to them, at the same time they will listen to us too. Whenever they go too far, they find a problem, difficulty, they get stuck, definitely they will come to the nearest and dearest, who will be the light for them, ready to listen to them, ready to participate with them, ready to sit with them. That's what I did. The parents, the grandparents, the senior people should be there, to be proud of yourself, to use a variety of knowledge, of experience, to keep continuing, so that we stand firm with them.
Björn Söderberg [16:59:21] Thank you very much.
Phra Rajavisuddhivides [16:59:23] Thank you, sir. Your Excellency.
Sally [16:59:27 to 16:59:47] Marie, did you have another question? Because I saw a raised hand before. No. Okay. So, any other questions? Okay, Mario, any closing remarks you want to say before we close this café?
Mario Diel [16:59:47 to 17:00:37] Sure, of course. First of all, thank you very much, Your Excellency. This was really fantastic. I enjoyed it personally very, very much. It was a totally different kind of Salvator Mundi Café, not related to business and how you become more successful, what the world is talking about, politics and all this kind of stuff, which is all important, but it was a completely different kind of café for us. So thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to listen, to have a conversation with you, and I think we should also discuss with you that we pay a visit to you and your estate in Belgium, because I definitely want to meet you also in person, and maybe we organize a bigger group from Salvator Mundi, and we come all together to visit you in person. Thank you very much, sir. It was a big honor and pleasure.
Phra Rajavisuddhivides [17:00:36 to 17:01:42] It's a great opportunity for me, sir. Please, whenever you come to Belgium, let me know. I invite you for lunch. Thai food. We go to Thai restaurants.
Mario Diel [17:00:48] Okay, perfect.
Phra Rajavisuddhivides [17:00:49 to 17:01:42] And also, if you go to Bangkok or to Thailand, let me know. I also have family, friends, and the nearest and dearest who will share and be with you, because we are very happy, very safe in Belgium, welcomed by [unclear audio] people, sisters and brothers, and people in Europe. Everywhere we go, we feel very comfortable. That is very welcome. So thanks a lot for giving me the opportunity to be with you, to learn from you and to share a little bit of knowledge with you. But it's my way. My way, we put into practice in daily life like this. That's why, even a small thing, but hopefully it still exists in the world, and can fight, can see, can prove.
Mario Diel [17:01:42] Thank you very much, sir.
Phra Rajavisuddhivides [17:01:43] Thank you, sir. Take good care.
Helen Hannick [17:01:45] Thank you.
Sally [17:01:45 to 17:02:01] So we don't have any other questions. Okay. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for sharing that.
Phra Rajavisuddhivides [17:01:56 to 17:02:07] Congratulations, [unclear audio]. Welcome, whenever you come to Belgium, let me know, or you go to Thailand, let me know.
Sally [17:02:05 to 17:02:11] We will. We will arrange it. I think some Salvator Mundi members will come all together, and I want to thank you.
Phra Rajavisuddhivides [17:02:10] Yes, please.
Sally [17:02:13 to 17:03:45] I want to thank you for sharing not only the teaching but also yourself. After more than 50 years as a monk, you still read the same news we do and feel the same sadness. Honestly, that made this conversation truly human. I would like to summarize some of the notes I took during your talk, in which you reminded us that human life is rare, like the blind turtle finding the yoke in the ocean. That peace begins when you see the value of what we already have. That before we grow outside, we must grow inside. And you gave us a practice for tomorrow morning, basically five minutes alone with ourselves, here and now. The story of the man who came to you ready to give up and left thinking of his little daughter showed us what this means in real life. And your temple, open to people of every faith, where the first question is simply, "Have you eaten?", maybe the most beautiful definition of being human we have heard in this café. And, as Mario said, this was a very different café, and we gladly accept your invitation. With the Salvator Mundi family, we will come to Waterloo. We'll be the ones asking, "Is lunch ready?" So, thank you.
Phra Rajavisuddhivides [17:03:45 to 17:04:36] [unclear audio], thank you very much, and always welcome, not only by words, to come directly, whenever you have opportunities, Your Excellency and everyone, our family members, or even our friends from different parts of the world. Yes, in Thailand, I made a center for harmony, unity, for everyone, not only for Buddhists, not only for Thais, but for all who love peace, [unclear audio] human beings, the nature, the world. So we can work together, and I can learn from you more and more in the future.
Sally [17:04:34 to 17:05:24] So I'll do the closing remarks. Thank you, [unclear audio]. And to all of you, three simple things we take home: pause before the world begins, love deeply while we still can, and be a light for those who come after us. That's my take. So this week you will find the article, as I said, in Salvator Mundi Times, with the video and the full transcript. Thank you all. First of all, thanks to our distinguished guest, for all of us, for being here today, and thank you, Mario, for leading this conversation, and all for joining us. If you enjoy this café, please like the video and subscribe to our channel, because your support helps us keep these conversations going and reach more people. So see you all next Sunday at the next café.
Phra Rajavisuddhivides [17:05:25 to 17:05:31] See you, sir. Take good care. Be happy, be healthy, and be safe.
Sally [17:05:28] [unclear audio]
Björn Söderberg [17:05:28] Thank you very much.
Participant (Thailand) [17:05:30 to 17:05:38] That's awesome, that's awesome.
Phra Rajavisuddhivides [17:05:41] That's awesome, that's awesome. Congratulations, [unclear audio].
Sally [17:05:50 to 17:05:54] The recording stopped, so thank you very much again.
Salvator Mundi Café meets every Sunday at 15:00 CET. Meet. Share. Connect.
About the Author
Shlomi Selim “Sally” Benbasat
Editor in Chief, Salvator Mundi Times
Serial entrepreneur and investor in B2B e-commerce, carbon markets and emissions reduction, chemicals and raw materials trading, EPC, technology, telecommunications, digital media and real estate, with ventures built and exited across Europe, LATAM, the Middle East and Asia.
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