Stories of the Lotus Sutra - Chapter 12: Ananda and Rahula

[Bion]

I really enjoyed Reeves’ line: “Real learning, transformative learning, only takes place when the teaching is integrated into one’s very life and everyday actions.” This has immediate value to our practice, and I saw a connection with John Daido Loori's take on liturgy: “Zen isn’t a practice one does in the world; it is the practice of life itself.”

I do wonder if Reeves is holding back a little when he says, “our very salvation, our awakening, is a matter of helping others.” This is certainly righteous and helpful to point out, but for me it illuminates a recurring trend in his analysis of the Lotus Sutra, and perhaps the Lotus Sutra itself, which is to make a “thing” out of enlightenment. Ananda was unable to reach that “highly sought stage” and then had a breakthrough the night before he spoke before the council. Innumerable shravakas sought reassurance from the Buddha of their future enlightenment, and the Buddha himself told Ananda that they had mutually sought Buddhahood in a previous life.

We help others because we see (or hope to see) that any separation between us is a mental construct we tend to believe wholeheartedly (and one that our societies promote, and our habits reinforce). The thousands of shravakas seeking reassurance feels like someone standing in the center of London, trying to determine if they are, in fact, in London. There’s no other version of London to get to, just look around! Perhaps the Lotus Sutra is doing us a service by showing us the trouble that arises from objectifying enlightenment, but I do wish Reeves would explore that a bit more.

Gassho,
Chiko
st/lah

Maybe, for the purpose of this particular discussion, we want not to mix enlightenment with Buddhahood, especially in the context of the Lotus Sutra and many other Mahayana and non-Mahayana schools. Attaining arhatship is also enlightenment, but it is not Buddhahood in the way it is promised in the Lotus. The promise in the Dharma Flower Sutra is precisely emphasized as superior than just Nirvana, since one will become a full Buddha, "a blessed one, fully accomplished in true knowledge and conduct, fortunate, knower of the world, unsurpassed leader of persons to be tamed, teacher of devas and humans, an enlightened one". As a full Buddha, one would discover the dharma in a world deprived of it, bring others to arhatship and have their own bodhisattvas. As an enlightened arhat, one simply extinguishes ignorance and ends the cycle of samsaric rebirth. What the Dharma Flower implies, is that actually, despite previous teachings, the arhats would in fact continue to be reborn and grow into full Buddhas eventually.

This particular sutra precedes even the creation of concepts such as Buddha nature or inherent enlightenment, so to look at it through just the lens of a Zen interpretation of things might not be the best choice.

gassho
sat lah

[Chiko]

This particular sutra precedes even the creation of concepts such as Buddha nature or inherent enlightenment, so to look at it through just the lens of a Zen interpretation of things might not be the best choice.

That’s very helpful context, thank you Bion! Good to put this, but also my own understanding, in a historical context.

Gassho,
Chiko

[Bion]

Hey friends. This is your reminder that tomorrow we meet again for our book club discussion. I hope you can make it, cause it's always fun!

gassho
sat lah

[Shinkon]

Thanks Myojo and Chikyou, for getting the discussion started.

Personal relationships are indeed challenging because of their emotional dynamics. As I was saying to Menmoku the other day, it’s often easier to empathize with a stranger whose present reality is all we know. With a family member, however, we’ve seen them at their best and worst, we’re familiar with their virtues and flaws, and we know the choices they’ve made. In that sense, it becomes much harder to be less judgmental, I feel.

There’s also the saying, from the Bible, that no prophet is accepted in his hometown. I find that oddly true. No matter how significant the changes in my personality have been, they seem to go largely unacknowledged by some family members. At the same time, I seem to be more sensitive to the triggers that have built up over a lifetime and now permeate our family relationships. As a result, it becomes difficult for them to learn anything from me, for me to teach them, and sometimes even for me to learn from them.

Even the Buddha at times told his śramaṇas not to return to their hometowns, because the people there would “call them by their old names.” I interpret this to mean that they would only know and judge you as the old you, and therefore treat you as they always did.

gassho
sat lah

I know that quote. It's true for many people that are prophets, key spiritual leaders, etc. In the theological academic world, these people are known as parrhesiastes - truth tellers. These people would speak truth to power and, usually, were summarily executed. Also, it's one of my favorite terms from those days. One of the most famous truth-tellers was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Gassho,
Shinkon

[Shinkon]

Does Reeves do too much in this chapter? I think so. Where Bion and others have commented, the highlight of relationships in this chapter is worth mentioning.
Biblically, most prophets paid for their challenges to power.
One I previously mentioned that is more recent is the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King jr. I highly recommend his texts to include his letters - a very rich corpus of work.

How has choosing Zen Buddhism affected my relationships? Mostly, the impacts were due to misunderstanding that Shakyamuni Buddha was a real person and that his path was not deist oriented. As well as my brothers, my parents eventually came around to some understanding after a few years and reading a little about it. However, my sister beiieves I am "damned." Yes, her word for my actions, although she welcomes me to visit. Each time she will ask me if I am coming back to the Catholic faith.

I've lived in various places where people just couldn't accept my chosen spiritual path as valid. Two years ago, I sat down for dinner at the local tavern called Jerry's. it was busy. Plus, I like to talk with people. Eventually I got the question, "Where do you go to Church?" A few people knew of buddhism but not Zen buddhism. Others decide it was time to not talk to me for the rest of the evening. It didn't bother me. The few people that I continued talking with are still friends.

Happy Friday!
Gassho,
Shinkon

[Bion]

Does Reeves do too much in this chapter? I think so. Where Bion and others have commented, the highlight of relationships in this chapter is worth mentioning.
Biblically, most prophets paid for their challenges to power.
One I previously mentioned that is more recent is the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King jr. I highly recommend his texts to include his letters - a very rich corpus of work.

How has choosing Zen Buddhism affected my relationships? Mostly, the impacts were due to misunderstanding that Shakyamuni Buddha was a real person and that his path was not deist oriented. As well as my brothers, my parents eventually came around to some understanding after a few years and reading a little about it. However, my sister beiieves I am "damned." Yes, her word for my actions, although she welcomes me to visit. Each time she will ask me if I am coming back to the Catholic faith.

I've lived in various places where people just couldn't accept my chosen spiritual path as valid. Two years ago, I sat down for dinner at the local tavern called Jerry's. it was busy. Plus, I like to talk with people. Eventually I got the question, "Where do you go to Church?" A few people knew of buddhism but not Zen buddhism. Others decide it was time to not talk to me for the rest of the evening. It didn't bother me. The few people that I continued talking with are still friends.

Happy Friday!
Gassho,
Shinkon

The thing I notice most often is that because I don't get too dramatic about anything, I am deemed as insensitive or distant, and ironically, because I express empathy for pretty much everyone and everything, I am told I support and condone certain things. So, there's no winning

gassho
sat lah

[Tenryu]

My friends, it looks like I’ll have to bail on you once more — let’s not make it a habit.
I wish you all a wonderful discussion.
See some of you on Sunday morning!

Gasshō,
Tenryū
sat&lah

[Bion]

My friends, it looks like I’ll have to bail on you once more — let’s not make it a habit.
I wish you all a wonderful discussion.
See some of you on Sunday morning!

Gasshō,
Tenryū
sat&lah

Oh, bummer! We'll miss you

gassho
sat lah

[Chiko]

I woke up today thinking about Rahula, particularly where the Buddha considered him an impediment to his pursuit of awakening. I could not empathize with him more on this one. No one quite knows how to get me to believe my deluded thinking like my teenage child, and I say that with infinite living kindness. We instinctually prioritize their well being over others, even while they poke at or diminish our genuine efforts. Parenthood can feel, at times, like a karmic hole I need to dig myself out of, but it has also shown me my capacity for love that goes vastly beyond other kinds of relationships.

If all roads lead to Bodhisattvahood, no doubt this beautiful “obstruction” is ultimately for the greater benefit of all, even though I don’t always see it as such.

Gassho,
Chiko
st/lah