Читать книгу Dharma Delight - Rodney Alan Greenblat - Страница 10

The GOLDEN MOMENT (ordinary.)

Happening over and over again.

A Buddha for everyone,

awake to the world,

as it is wonderful.

ENLIGHTENMENT EVE

Finally Shakyamuni sat on a little hill under a tree and vowed not to get up until clairity came.

Soon his thoughts were filled with doubt as demons of desire and delusion taunted him.

He forged on through the night, resisting the demons, who eventually left in disgust. He then became calm and alright with himself.

Looking up in the dawn sky he saw the morning star shining and, suddenly, the clarity that had eluded him naturally appeared. He touched the ground in gratitude.

Every December 8th we commemorate Shakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment by sitting in meditation all night. In Japanese-style Zen temples this night is called Rohatsu.

STUDY YOUR SELF

The great teacher Dogen Zenji lived in Japan 814 years ago.

To study the self is to look at something that is changing all the time. When the idea of a solid self is forgotten, the circumstance and need create who you are. Dogen says the myriad things are actualizing you at every moment.

To study the self can be a difficult task, but it is well worth doing. Looking carefully at the self can reveal the causes and conditions of so much of our collective suffering as well as our collective joy.

The best way to study the self is in meditation.

Lunch

So it was said in the old sutra, yet vegetarianism is not required to practice the Buddha way. In our temple in New York City only a small percentage of our group has decided on vegetarianism.

Being a vegetarian or a vegan is not easy to do. It pushes against the cultural current, and mindfulness compromise are constantly required. Even so, it is well worth the effort. The vegan sandwich is waiting, and it is delicious.

When I finally made the break to Vegetarianism I felt a great freedom. Relief from the moral ambiguity, and release from the troubling cycle of industrial farming. I felt healthier and lighter.

BE A LAMP

This was great advice. The way I read it is that there is no need to follow the opinions or beliefs of others. Inside each one of us are all the needed abilities to make our lives vibrant and valuable. All we have to do is to be open to all the teachings around us and be sensitive to our communities. If we can shine the lamp on our own quality of being, we can solve problems and live in peace.

May you be a lamp to yourself and all beings!

HOW MARVELOUS

The Great Marvelous Bodhisattva Moment Protector→ Little fluffy white cloud→ pile of gold and more gold→ Silver bathtub filled with restless ocean water→ Ancient tortoise Symbolize Longevity Orbit Wanderer→ Constantly burning candle that not only lights the way.

The Great Marvelous Bodhisattva Moment Protector has eight arms:

1 and 2 are folded into the cosmic mudra of meditation.

3 holds the Very Loud Wake-up Bell, which keeps ringing and ringing as an aid to beings who are groggy or unenthusiastic.

4 holds the Real Mirror that symbolizes the empty nature of reality, and at the same time is a real mirror that can be used for reflection.

5 holds the powerful Blow–dryer of Delusion that blows away obstructive clouds.

6 holds the powerful Anti–Demon Flashlight that exposes and embarrasses the demons of deception.