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weeks, Kinh Tam labored with the two elder novices to build the thatched hut. During those days, a new aspirant arrived at the temple. The abbot accepted the request of Man, a seven-year-old boy, to live in the temple and become a student. Man was the son of Bac Hang, a fisherman of the next village. Man had been motherless since the age of three. Man was allowed to have his hair shaved off, except for a small patch on top, and to wear the nhat binh monastic robe. The little boy looked very quaint in that outfit. Man began to study and memorize the two daily chanting texts and to help the novices with the everyday tasks in the garden and the kitchen.
    The thatched hut built by the novices was completed at last. It was outside the gates, but still on temple land. Although Kinh Tam lived in the hut, the novice was allowed to come into the temple and participate with the teacher and elder brothers in all chanting and beginning anew practices as well as working around the temple. It was still Kinh Tam’s duty to ring the great bell every evening. The two elder brothers were very surprised when they neither saw any sadness on the novice’s face nor heard any words of reproach toward anyone, even though people continued to slander and revile Kinh Tam. In a discussion on the practice, Thanh Tam asked Kinh Tam how the young novice was able to maintain such carefree and tranquil composure.
    Kinh Tam answered, “It is because I have learned and am applying the practice of inclusiveness that I am able to avoid falling into suffering and reproach. Practicing magnanimity brings us away from the shore of sorrows and over to the shore of freedom and happiness. Paramita, as my elder brothers already know, means ‘crossing over to the other shore.’ According to The Collection on the Six Paramitas, the Buddha taught:
    Those who are caught in cravings
    are no longer clear-minded,
    which causes them to inflict pain and humiliation on us.
    If we are able to magnanimously persevere,
    then our hearts and minds will be at peace.
    Those who are self-indulgent
    do not abide by moral conduct,
    which causes them to slander and harm us.
    If we are able to magnanimously persevere,
    then our hearts and minds will be at peace.
    Those who are ungrateful tell lies about us.
    The gardens of their minds are full of the weeds of vengeance,
    which causes them to treat us unfairly and unjustly.
    If we are able to magnanimously persevere,
    then our hearts and minds will be at peace.”
    Kinh Tam then quoted a section from a sutra in which the Buddha talks about putting a handful of salt into a small bowl of water. That bowl of water will be too salty for a thirsty person to drink. If, however, one were to toss that same handful of salt into a river, the situation would be completely different. Although the amount of salt is the same, it cannot cause the river to become too salty, because the river is so immense and the water is in constant flux, day and night. Anyone taking a drink from the river would find freshwater and not be bothered by the addition of a handful of salt.
    The novice continued to share. “When we truly practice looking deeply, then we have a chance to understand better and to be more accepting. Our hearts naturally open up, becoming vast like the oceans and rivers. In understanding the sorrows and difficulties of others, we are able to accept and feel compassion for them, even if they have caused us difficulties, treated us unfairly, brought disaster upon us, or unjustly harassed us. Due to desire, vengeance, ignorance, and jealousy, people have made numerous mistakes and caused much suffering to themselves and others. If we can comprehend this, then we will no longer condemn or resent others. As we become more inclusive, our hearts and minds will be at peace.”
    In closing, novice Kinh Tam continued, “Being magnanimous does not mean suppressing suffering, nor does it mean gritting our teeth and bearing things