“Let your life be the teaching luminous, ordinary, and free.”
To let your life be the teaching is to recognize that every action, word, and moment of being expresses your deepest understanding of the Dharma. When the Buddha’s wisdom is not just discussed but actually embodied in the ordinary fabric of daily life, the path becomes vivid and accessible. In this sense, one’s life itself becomes a living sutra—demonstrating compassion, clarity, and unselfishness for the benefit of others without separation or pretense.
Describing the teaching as “luminous, ordinary, and free” emphasizes the transformative power of awakening that is both radiant and humble. Luminous points to the inner light of awareness and kindness that shines naturally when we are present and open-hearted. To be ordinary is to appreciate the sacredness within the everyday, seeing that each encounter and task offers the possibility for mindfulness and gratitude. Freedom arises not from escaping life’s conditions, but from living deeply within them—liberated from self-absorption, guided by wisdom and trust in boundless compassion.
When we live in this way, spiritual practice becomes fully integrated with our humanity, inviting all beings into the circle of belonging. The Dharma is no longer a distant goal or hidden truth, but the very movement of our lives—expressing joy in connection, acceptance in diversity, and resilience in adversity. Such a life, luminous in its simplicity and free in its responsiveness, gently calls others home to their own innate goodness and purpose.
By Rev. G.R. Lewis