Stories of the Lotus Sutra - 1 - Foreword and Introduction

[guehla]

Hello,

Thank you for putting in the work to create this great opportunity! I was looking forward to the Zoom sessions, but realized they're in the middle of the night for me (I'm based in Japan). Will they be available to view afterward?

Chris

[Bion]

Hello,

Thank you for putting in the work to create this great opportunity! I was looking forward to the Zoom sessions, but realized they're in the middle of the night for me (I'm based in Japan). Will they be available to view afterward?

Chris

Sorry about that, Chris... It's rreally difficult to schedule things that work for all time zones, and Japan is in the "awkward spot" .
You gave me a nice idea, however, and I think maybe we can record the meeting, and add it to the Study Page ...

Seikan I tihk that "accessible" and "relatable" are appropriate words to use in the case of these commentaries!
Onsho That description was funny. Ancient psychological firmware update is something I wish I had come up with

Gassho
sat lah

[Tensei]

image.png
The Greater Vehicle!

Thank you, everyone, for the discussion today. It was excellent to hear your questions and perspectives.

Gassho,
Tensei
satlah

[Bion]

image.png
The Greater Vehicle!

Thank you, everyone, for the discussion today. It was excellent to hear your questions and perspectives.

Gassho,
Tensei
satlah

HAHA! That's exactly what I was thinking .
Also, here's a real life Great Vehicle ...

gassho
sat lah

[Tenryu]

Thank you all for today’s Book Club meeting — great discussion, and I loved how the “Great Vehicle” started to look bigger and bigger as we went on.

Afterwards, my mind wandered to a very different image: Dürer’s The Great Triumphal Car of Emperor Maximilian

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Triumphal_Carriage

Probably not a textbook comparison, but it is another impressively oversized vehicle carrying an entire worldview on board.

From a Zen point of view (and speaking very humbly), what amused me is the contrast: the Mahāyāna Great Vehicle only works if it’s something we don’t cling to. Dürer’s wagon, on the other hand, seems to collect everything — and proudly shows it off.

Anyway, just a slightly odd mental image sparked by today’s talk. Thanks again.

Gasshō,
Tenryū
sat and lah

[Taikyo]

I want to thank everyone who participated in today’s discussion. I was listening to many interesting points being made.

One thought came to me: the element of fantasy in the Lotus Sutra stories feels like part of the practice itself. For me, our whole existence is already like a fantasy—the world and the life we live are dreamlike. To sit Zazen and walk the Way is to accept this dream fully, without clinging or rejecting. In that sense, fantasy is not opposed to reality, but another facet of it.

Approaching the sutras only from an analytical or academic angle seems to me like trying to taste honey by licking the outside of the jar.
Personally, I’d rather dive in with a big spoon!

I wonder how others experience the sutra’s imagery in this way.

Gassho,
Taikyo
sat/lah

[Bion]

Approaching the sutras only from an analytical or academic angle seems to me like trying to taste honey by licking the outside of the jar.
Personally, I’d rather dive in with a big spoon!

Gassho,
Taikyo
sat/lah

Careful with diabetes

Gassho
sat lah

[Taikyo]

Careful with diabetes

Gassho
sat lah

Diabetes would be collateral damage, a small price for a Big deal.

[Chikyou]

I want to thank everyone who participated in today’s discussion. I was listening to many interesting points being made.

One thought came to me: the element of fantasy in the Lotus Sutra stories feels like part of the practice itself. For me, our whole existence is already like a fantasy—the world and the life we live are dreamlike. To sit Zazen and walk the Way is to accept this dream fully, without clinging or rejecting. In that sense, fantasy is not opposed to reality, but another facet of it.

Approaching the sutras only from an analytical or academic angle seems to me like trying to taste honey by licking the outside of the jar.
Personally, I’d rather dive in with a big spoon!

I wonder how others experience the sutra’s imagery in this way.

Gassho,
Taikyo
sat/lah

I’ve been thinking about this since our talk. I think one thing I might have “missed” or been craving from spirituality is the imagery. As much as I adore zen’s “down to earth” practicality, the fantasy of religion scratches some psychological itch. And one of the things I love most about zen is that while we do have these stories and images, we’re not expected to take them literally or as historical fact. We’re free to enjoy them, to dig in and find great meaning, inspiration, comfort, insight- and then walk away knowing that they are stories. I can’t wait to see what the Lotus Sutra holds. It feels like embarking on a journey of discovery.

Gassho,
SatLah,
Chikyō

[Bion]

I appreciate very much everyone's excitement! I feel ike we're off to a fantastic start

Gasho
sat lah

[Choujou]

Sorry about that, Chris... It's rreally difficult to schedule things that work for all time zones, and Japan is in the "awkward spot" .
You gave me a nice idea, however, and I think maybe we can record the meeting, and add it to the Study Page ...

Seikan I tihk that "accessible" and "relatable" are appropriate words to use in the case of these commentaries!
Onsho That description was funny. Ancient psychological firmware update is something I wish I had come up with

Gassho
sat lah

Excellent, thank you Bion! Sorry to miss you all today. Unfortunately I work I retail sales which means my weekend is Wednesday and Thursday. I look forward to catching up with you all through space and time!

Gassho,
Choujou

sat/lah today

[Maro]

Taikyo : In that sense, fantasy is not opposed to reality, but another facet of it.

How many times have I dismissed fantasy mistaking it for mere "wishful thinking"... The difference between the two can be vast. For me, Zen has been a great approach to become a bit clearer as to which is which.

Gassho
Maro
sat/lah

[Maro]

During yesterday's discussion I remembered two podcasts by Domyo (the zen studies podcast) about buddha-nature and after our discussion I listened to them again.
I think that Domyo is presenting the idea of buddha-nature (from its evolution as an idea, to what is it that it is referring to) in a very relatable way.
If anyone would like to listen to these podcasts this is the link for the first one 203 - Buddha-Nature: What the Heck is It and How Do We Realize It? Part 1 - The Zen Studies Podcast

Gassho
Maro
sat/lah

[guehla]

Sorry about that, Chris... It's rreally difficult to schedule things that work for all time zones, and Japan is in the "awkward spot" .
You gave me a nice idea, however, and I think maybe we can record the meeting, and add it to the Study Page ...

Seikan I tihk that "accessible" and "relatable" are appropriate words to use in the case of these commentaries!
Onsho That description was funny. Ancient psychological firmware update is something I wish I had come up with

Gassho
sat lah

Wonderful, thank you!

[Onsho]

Bion recording the biweekly talks. If you are willing to put in the extra effort, is definitely something I would take advantage of. Im not great at "half doing" things that are important to me and I suspect that ill be working every Saturday until my regular work season rolls out again.

Gassho
Onsho
satlah