Stories of the Lotus Sutra - Chapter 13: Dharma Teachers

[Bion]

image-22.jpg Hello, friends.

It’s Monday again (or it was, for us Europeans… excuse the delay in posting this. I’m still very much struggling with my terrible pinched nerve).

We’re turning to a new chapter, which Reeves introduces with a warning that it doesn’t offer any great story, so there shouldn’t be much to say—yet he then proceeds to write the longest chapter we’ve seen so far. So, without further ado:

---

Reading Assignment: Chapter 13 – Dharma Teachers

---

I’m curious to see what you all make of this. I’m sure it will raise a few eyebrows, but also, hopefully, offer some encouragement. I’m excited to see what each of you takes away from this reading. We do get a little story in this chapter, too, by the way.

Last Saturday we had our Zoom meeting, and it was great. If you missed it and want to catch up, the recording is available on the Study Page. We had a lot of fun!

Okay, enough chit-chat. Please enjoy this chapter, and come back whenever you’re ready to share your reflections.


With metta and in gassho
sat lah

[Chikyou]

I really enjoyed this chapter. I feel like Reeves redeemed himself a little bit with this one; I found a lot here to chew on, that I didn’t necessarily get when reading the Sutra itself.

One thing that stood out to me was Reeves’ assertion that we are all teachers of the Dharma and bodhisattvas. I admit I often find myself falling into the trap of believing that a bodhisattva is a goal to attain, something that I can hope to become, not something that I am or am capable of being by my actions now. That bodhisattva is a rank, not an action. A noun, not a verb.

Reeves makes it clear here that this is only partially the case (as there are apparently two meanings of the word ‘bodhisattva’). That we are all empowered to teach the Dharma and to act as the Buddhas disciples., and that we are therefore entitled to the blessings promised to those who teach the Dharma.

To me, this is a powerful lesson. And while I read it in the Sutra, I didn’t really understand it until I read it in Reeves’ words.

Gassho,
SatLah,
Chikyō