Buddhism in Europe
Collapse
X
-
When Jundo replaced the Buddha statue with a vacuum cleaner during one of our zazenkais this was more "authentic zen" to me than the most formal ceremony with robes.
(Which does not mean that I don't enjoy ceremonies.)
I will never forget that moment.
Gassho,
Daitetsu
#sat2dayno thing needs to be addedComment
-
When Jundo replaced the Buddha statue with a vacuum cleaner during one of our zazenkais this was more "authentic zen" to me than the most formal ceremony with robes.
(Which does not mean that I don't enjoy ceremonies.)
I will never forget that moment.
Gassho,
Daitetsu
#sat2day
I don't think that I ever used a vacuum cleaner. You may be confusing it with the Dharma Talk I gave after my colon camera test (which, as you may remember, actually was part of saving me from cancer last year. Everybody, get tested!). The colonoscopy is a little more dreaded here in Japan, where no anesthesia is used and the patient is wide awake the whole time, unlike in the "put me to sleep" USA where I come from. Talk about an "Inner Enlightenment!"
A little known fact is that the Buddha himself had a "personal physician" (Dr. Jivaka), and the odd middle-aged tummy troubles . ..
The turning point in Jivaka's life came when Ananda came to fetch him to treat the Buddha who suffered from "blocked intestines" (constipation?).When Jivaka saw the condition of the patient, it occurred to him he might not survive a strong purgative. He then had fat rubbed into the Buddha's body and gave him a handful of lotuses to inhale the essence emanating from the flowers. Jīvaka was away when the mild purgative was later administered to the patient, and he suddenly remembered that he had omitted to ask him to bathe in warm water to complete the cure process. The Buddha, it is said, read his thoughts and bathed as required.( Vin.i.279f; DhA. ii.164f).
(Later Buddhists often tried to discount the fact that the Buddha sometimes got sick in the old stories, by saying that he only was pretending as a way to teach or convert others to the Dharma; and it was in fact impossible for him to experience pain. But I don't know about that ... I rather like the image of a very human "Buddha" who would sometimes moan and groan with a bad stomach or backache.)
The only time I really ran into protest from folks was once, after 911, when I put up images of Bin Laden and George Bush, side by side, on the Altar with Mother Theresa (if I recall). That was harder for people to see as Buddha despite my explanation of how sometimes Buddha is harder to see. But, you know, what isn't the Buddha? And for me, if you think I degradate or insult the Buddha by replacing him(her) with a trash can, or that I raise up the trash can in praise, you miss the point I think. All of life is sacred, all the "Buddha" when seen as such. I take a Buddha statue as primarily a reMINDer, a symbol, like a Crucifix or Star of David, which reminds us of a "greater reality". At heart, it is just wood or stone. However, all wood and stones are sacred.
This Zazenkai, we had an Enso, a Mercedes Benz ornament and a Peace Sign ...
Of course, it takes a very Wise heart to see through ugly images in this world to the underlying Peace of Buddhism. Even a beautiful stone Buddha, on the other hand, could be used as a weapon in the hands of a person with an angry heart. All depends on the heart which sees.
Gassho, J
SatToday LAHALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLEComment
-
Last edited by Daitetsu; 10-12-2018, 02:54 PM.no thing needs to be addedComment
-
Only about 10 minutes or so. I remembered this was at a zazenkai shortly after I joined Treeleaf, so I only had to browse through the zazenkai posts for one or two months (i.e. max. 8 posts).
So it's not as freaky/geeky as it appears to be (at least I hope so).
Gassho,
Daitetsu
#sat2dayno thing needs to be addedComment
-
Okay, we broke the rules on clothing today in our discussion of formal robes (I called "casual Friday" for our Zazenkai, clothing optional ... fortunately, nobody took me up on that last part ... ) ...
... and we opened our minds widely to the real meaning of what is a "Buddha Statue" on our Altar ...
Our October 12th-13th Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai - welcoming Trump Buddha
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...g-Trump-Buddha
Please join us and sit along!
Gassho, Jundo
STLahALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLEComment
Comment