Let us travel in our minds to a peaceful forest of long ago, where deer gathered naturally. Once, in a lush forest of ancient India, there was a sanctuary where these gentle creatures assembled in quiet harmony. One day, beneath the shade of a sacred tree, a young seeker awakened to the ultimate truth of this world after deep and profound meditation. He began to speak of this truth to the deer surrounding him, as if whispering to dear companions. Generations later, people came to remember this beautiful event as “the First Sermon” in the Deer Park.

Why were deer present at the very dawn of the Buddha’s teachings? In ancient India, the deer was regarded as a sacred and unique being. Unlike the mighty elephant, which often symbolized worldly power and physical strength, the deer represented stillness, grace, and the pure, untouched essence of nature. Perhaps the people of that age recognized in the deer a natural harmony with the universe and a state of complete inner peace.

The awakened young man described the nature of our reality in this profound way:・”No phenomenon exists independently; everything exists only in relation to everything else.”・”All things are in a state of constant transition; nothing remains identical.”The world we perceive is like the continuous flow of a river, forever changing its shape, where every single element is deeply interconnected, constantly embracing and shaping one another.

The true essence of the one who embodies this truth—called the “Tathagata”—is this very nature of change and interconnectedness. The ocean waves, the blowing wind, the forest deer, and we humans are all precious, transient expressions arising and dissolving within this great, boundless flow of life.

What, then, does it truly mean to “listen to the Dharma”? It is far more than merely decoding words with our intellect. It means opening our hearts to the reality of the universe—understanding that all things change, that we are all profoundly connected, and that nothing lasts—feeling this truth deeply, and carrying it into our daily lives. The deer and other wild creatures, living in their natural state, are in a way already living in perfect harmony with this truth. We humans, however, often cling to our selfish desires and blind attachments, separating ourselves from this great connection. Thus, even though we possess a human form, our hearts can easily become restless, wandering without a home.

The young teacher who awakened to this reality was a human being just like us. He felt hunger and ate, felt weariness and rested, and experienced natural human feelings. Yet, he lived with a complete and beautiful acceptance of his humanity, cherishing the “Middle Way” that avoids all extremes. There is profound truth in simply living as we are, naturally and truthfully, just as the deer live their lives in perfect alignment with the rhythms of the earth.

The truth this young man shared, and the compassionate way of life that blossomed from it, eventually came to be called the “Dharma.” This youth was Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. The Dharma is a compassionate teaching open to all living beings, transcending a narrow, human-centered view of the world to express the shared resonance of all nature. May this simple story bring a fresh, gentle breeze into your hearts today, and may that ancient sermon in the Deer Park echo across time and space, whispering to your soul as a warm call to seek the truth. Namandabu.