Stories of the Lotus Sutra: Chapter 19 - Bodhisattvas of the Earth

[Bion]

for me, it is also the fact that much of the work we do is hidden. We do not do it for show, we do not do it for display… in fact, the bodhisattvas of the earth weren’t even noticed by the non human bodhisattvas until pointed out by the Buddha. We save all sentient beings quietly… without fanfare or ostentation. We do it with no expectations of reward, recognition, or repayment… in fact we hold no expectation at all, but accept all situations, and do our best to uphold our vows,

That's a great reflection right there! Thanks for that, Cho!

gassho
sat lah

[carolynz]

Hey everyone!
I love the insights and posts so far… Tai and Hokuu, the ant imagery is amazing! Love it! It brought me back to “Honey, I shrunk the kids!” movie from years ago… I think they ride an ant across their lawn in that if I remember correctly…

This chapter for me was along the lines of not only countless Bodhisattvas emerging from earth, those that are awakening and walking the Buddha’s path, taking the Bodhisattva vows (represented by the four leading Bodhisattvas in the story: “Firm Practice: However innumerable living beings are, I vow to save them all; Pure Practice: However innumerable hindrances are, I vow to overcome them all; Unlimited Practice: However innumerable the Buddha’s teachings are, I vow to master them all; Superior Practice: However supreme the Buddha Way is, I vow to reach it”) but for me, it is also the fact that much of the work we do is hidden. We do not do it for show, we do not do it for display… in fact, the bodhisattvas of the earth weren’t even noticed by the non human bodhisattvas until pointed out by the Buddha. We save all sentient beings quietly… without fanfare or ostentation. We do it with no expectations of reward, recognition, or repayment… in fact we hold no expectation at all, but accept all situations, and do our best to uphold our vows, to save all sentient beings, to transform all delusions, to truly perceive reality and attain the unattainable; the enlightened way. Sometimes even through example, by embodying the Dharma in all we do, by being a beacon of light in the darkness, we light the way for others, helping them to see the way and then they too emerge from the earth as a bodhisattva, forever transformed and doing the Buddha’s work. Sometimes the Dharma must be spoken or written, and we do this when we need, but also, sometimes inspiration is silent and wordless. (The Buddha held up a flower, and mahakasyapa smiled… In fact the deeper my practice gets, the less I feel needs to be said sometimes, if that makes sense?)

Also, for me, regarding the non-linear part … I think sometimes that we hold the idea that Shakyamuni IS Buddha, which he is, but so is all of the universe, all beings, all time and space… so essentially, yes, Shakyamuni is doing the work through all space and time, but manifested in ALL forms, all life, all time and space, emptiness… this is why all those other non-human Buddhas from all the other worlds represent Shakyamuni. In fact, YOU are Shakyamuni YOU-ing! The separation of people, time, space… all an illusion. It’s all one thing!

What a wonderful chapter! Thank you all for your wonderful thoughts and insights!

Gassho,
Choujou

sat/lah today

[carolynz]

Hi Choujou,

I really like what you have to say, esp when you talk of doing this work quietly without fanfare, and also silent inspiration.

I think that things happen beneath the surface... I am attending church with some friends. I have told them that I have joined Treeleaf, but I don't talk about it, unless they ask, which is rare! I do try to see the Buddha in them, especially when I am feeling uncomfortable or critical. As a result, I am feeling different, myself. And maybe not surprisingly, we are becoming better friends.

I do have another question, (my questions seem to be off the beaten track!): In several places in contemporary books about Buddhism, I see the admonition not to join social groups - to Lead a life of contemplation and simplicity. If I was still working I might not wonder about this, since I basically did not have much time then, anyway. But Now I find that I like staying at home most of the time, talking to my daughter or daydreaming or doing art. I wonder what is meant by this teaching of not joining groups? I am finding that interaction with my friends is actually helping me to get outside myself. I must add that I really don't think about them becoming Buddhists, but rather, see their good hearts and their suffering.

Gassho,
Carolyn
sat lah

[Bion]

Hi Choujou,

I really like what you have to say, esp when you talk of doing this work quietly without fanfare, and also silent inspiration.

I think that things happen beneath the surface... I am attending church with some friends. I have told them that I have joined Treeleaf, but I don't talk about it, unless they ask, which is rare! I do try to see the Buddha in them, especially when I am feeling uncomfortable or critical. As a result, I am feeling different, myself. And maybe not surprisingly, we are becoming better friends.

I do have another question, (my questions seem to be off the beaten track!): In several places in contemporary books about Buddhism, I see the admonition not to join social groups - to Lead a life of contemplation and simplicity. If I was still working I might not wonder about this, since I basically did not have much time then, anyway. But Now I find that I like staying at home most of the time, talking to my daughter or daydreaming or doing art. I wonder what is meant by this teaching of not joining groups? I am finding that interaction with my friends is actually helping me to get outside myself. I must add that I really don't think about them becoming Buddhists, but rather, see their good hearts and their suffering.

Gassho,
Carolyn
sat lah

I haven't seen that admonition myself, but it seems to discourage people from seeking bad associations and not devoting time to personal practice. I do think that sometimes there is too much insistence on lay practitioners behaving like the renunciants, and while there is, of course, a beneficial side to it, it's not actually a requirement. The Buddha offered great teachings for all kinds of people. One would do well, however, in using discernment when choosing friends.

gassho
sat lah

[carolynz]

Hi Bion,

I was reading through the books I had been reading several months ago - Opening the Hand of Thought by Kosho Uchiyama, and The Roots of Goodness, by Eihei Dogen Zenji, Commentary by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi and Tranlated by Daitsu Tom Wright. Two excellent books that taught me a lot, I might add, very down to earth and helpful. I can't find anything about this in either one, so I can only say that it was most likely just my misunderstanding. Thanks for the insight, and I will be more careful in future to check things out more carefully! Memory is a funny thing.

Gassho,
Carolyn
sat lah

[Bion]

Hi Bion,

I was reading through the books I had been reading several months ago - Opening the Hand of Thought by Kosho Uchiyama, and The Roots of Goodness, by Eihei Dogen Zenji, Commentary by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi and Tranlated by Daitsu Tom Wright. Two excellent books that taught me a lot, I might add, very down to earth and helpful. I can't find anything about this in either one, so I can only say that it was most likely just my misunderstanding. Thanks for the insight, and I will be more careful in future to check things out more carefully! Memory is a funny thing.

Gassho,
Carolyn
sat lah

Oh, if you're reading The Roots of Goodness, maybe you read something there. In that book, Uchiyama Roshi comments on the Eight Qualities of a Great Person, by master Dogen, and right at the beginning, there is number three, which is "enjoying quietude, living alone in a vacant space". Dogen Zenji quotes the Buddha, who emphasizes to the bhikkhus the importance of seclusion in maintaining their practice. The idea of seclusion is ever-present in early Buddhist texts. We can, of course, consider what seclusion means and whether it is always dependent upon external conditions, or if maybe we can find true seclusion in a quiet, settled, unified mind, right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of life. Of course, even master Dogen instructed that it is better to be in a quiet place for zazen.

So, the important thing is to realize that the admonition given in that text is from the Buddha to the renunciates. What a lay person can and should do is extract the principle, the essence of those words, and find how they apply to their lifestyle. The title of the fascicle itself, "Eight Awarenesses (or qualities) of an Enlightened Person", already points to the fact that one who is awakened has already grasped the importance of solitude, or seclusion, and that they do not depend upon groups or multitudes. They can stand alone with their practice, which doesn't necessarily mean that they avoid everyone like the plague

Gassho
sat lah

[carolynz]

So, the important thing is to realize that the admonition given in that text is from the Buddha to the renunciates. What a lay person can and should do is extract the principle, the essence of those words, and find how they apply to their lifestyle. The title of the fascicle itself, "Eight Awarenesses (or qualities) of an Enlightened Person", already points to the fact that one who is awakened has already grasped the importance of solitude, or seclusion, and that they do not depend upon groups or multitudes. They can stand alone with their practice, which doesn't necessarily mean that they avoid everyone like the plague

Gassho
sat lah

It is refreshing to me that we are responsible for extracting the essence of these ancient texts, according to our understanding - which must change over time. What is interesting to me as I am reading these Sutras for the first time, is that different aspects of any part of a Sutra may hit you at one time, and other things at another. After years of practice and study a person can understand much more, but there is plenty - for instance, the four vows and chants - for a beginner to get on with.

Gassho
sat lah

[Bion]

It is refreshing to me that we are responsible for extracting the essence of these ancient texts, according to our understanding - which must change over time. What is interesting to me as I am reading these Sutras for the first time, is that different aspects of any part of a Sutra may hit you at one time, and other things at another. After years of practice and study a person can understand much more, but there is plenty - for instance, the four vows and chants - for a beginner to get on with.

Gassho
sat lah

Oh, yes! One of the qualities of the dharma, as described by the Buddha, is that "it invites one to come and see for themselves", which means it is really one's own engagement with it that is important.

gassho
sat lah