I read the Lotus Sutra. I didn't understand it.

[Jundo]

The only way any story can be meaningful to us is if we see the story of our own lives reflected back at us. Our culture has a tendency to treat spiritual documents like legal documents. When we do that the poetry of the texts gets reduced to semantic arguments and IMHO whatever is true and real within the stories gets distorted and too often overlooked.

The Lotus Sutra begins with the Buddha telling all those who are bothered by this teaching to leave. And many do. From there we should open ourselves up to how these narratives reflect our own practice.

The description of Upaya (skillful means) in many Sutras (not just the lotus) as it travels through space and time along the Bodhisattva path is often quite beautiful and poetic. Breaking down the concepts with hard logic alone does a disservice to the concept. Somewhere in between intellectual understanding and feeling is probably more appropriate.

The Sutras and the Sutras contain events that are even more fantastical and hard to believe than the Bible. And yet Buddhism attracts so many hardline atheists and self proclaimed rationalists. The old texts are the voices of the Sangha going back a long long time. It is part of the dialogue we all engage in as Buddhists. Buddhism is for everyone. The rational and superstitious alike. We are all equal in the eyes of the Buddha.

If we truly take refuge in the triple gem we owe it ourselves to approach these texts with an open mind. Temporarily putting aside our bias, pride, and certainty. Soak in the information. Talk to our teachers about our doubts, concerns, and potential misunderstandings. From there let your heart decide.

Gassho

Sat Today

Lovely. Wise.

I don't take much of it "literally," but I take the wisdom and lessons of the stories of the Lotus and other wild sutras as "True wisdom" nonetheless. Like poetry, a life changing novel, a profound film ... it can be True and yet not quite "real" at once. One must suspend one's imagination at the door, and jump right in, much like in the case of a song, a tale or movie that carries one away.

By the way, I happen to be writing a chapter for my new book today, "Zen of the Future!" in which I imagine a possible future in which "reality" and "virtual reality" and full sensory experience of created realities become so intermixed that we will literally step into the Lotus Sutra and it will become as real and present as anything in life. Stay tuned.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Kyoshin]

Jundo,
Please tell me that the cover of your book will be a photo of you in full Zen priest finery getting out of a Delorean
Gassho
Nick
Satlah

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[Jundo]

Jundo,
Please tell me that the cover of your book will be a photo of you in full Zen priest finery getting out of a Delorean
Gassho
Nick
Satlah

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You mean, getting out of a Lotus ...



Gassho, J

STLah

[Kyoshin]

You mean, getting out of a Lotus ...



Gassho, J

STLah

Bravo, sir! That's why you earn the big bucks Zen Master salary.

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Gassho
Nick
Satlah