Approaching the Lotus Sutra

[Jinyo]

You scare me



In which chapter is that ?
Gassho & Thank you Willow!
Myoku

It's towards the end - I will look it up tomorrow and post.

Willow

[Jinyo]

Hi Myoku - it is referenced in 94, Doshin (On the Mind's Search for Truth)

'Also, during your lifetime you should make a copy of The Lotus Scripture. You should reverently write it down and make a copy of it for you to retain.'

Gassho

Willow

[Myoku]

Thank you Willow,
will read Doshin, maybe it motivates me to pick up the Lotus Sutra again,
Gassho
Myoku

Hi Myoku - it is referenced in 94, Doshin (On the Mind's Search for Truth)

'Also, during your lifetime you should make a copy of The Lotus Scripture. You should reverently write it down and make a copy of it for you to retain.'

Gassho

Willow

[Hans]

Hello everyone,

first of all thank you for all your great feedback....even if one discovers that them ancient sutras is not one's cup of tea, I think it's good to have given it a try.

As for copying the whole sutra as a practise, well, there are different angles to this approach. The most traditional reason for this would be to create "merit", which in a sense is a bit like a mystical currency helping us/everyone to practise the dharma and get through life with fewer obstacles. Now here at Treeleaf we are usually not too much in favour of activities where one has to believe in supernatural agencies for something to make conceptual sense.

In the same way that sewing can be a deep expression of mindfulness and dedication, copying a Sutra can act in the same way. We have to remember that Sutras were/are seen as living entities in a sense and not just as pieces of paper. The sutras themselves are objects of worship in traditional Asian settings....and let's not forget that probably the first print-book ever was a copy of the Diamond sutra....I am just mentioning this to highlight the fact that for hundreds of years after the appearance of the major Mahayana sutras, copying by hand was one of the only readily available ways of making sure that the Sutras could be shared with others. Any way of "interfacing" with the sutras (learning them by heart, reciting them, copying them)seemed like a good way to boost one's practise.

This is a very big topic in its own right, and I can't really do it justice here, but maybe you can get an idea of why this practise continues to be of importance to many Mahayana practitioners.


Gassho,

Hans Chudo Mongen

[Jinyo]

Hi Hans - it occured to me that I was reading those lines from Shobogenzo with contemporary eyes. We take it for granted that one click on Amazon can bring to our door all of these wonderful texts. I guess the only way to own, share back in Dogen's time was to copy by hand.

I do feel that copying/writing down can be a reverential/contemplative practice and keep a journal for this practice. So - no doubt a few lines from the Lotus Sutra - whatever strikes in the heart.

Gassho

Willow

[Taigu]

Great job Mongen.

Gassho


Taigu

[Kaishin]

Thanks, Mongen. My first read through of the Lotus Sutra awhile back was indeed very painful! But you have inspired me to revisit it. Thank you for the pointers to additional commentaries as well.

Gassho, Kaishin

[Hans]

Hello everyone,

thank you once more for your inspiring feedback. By inspiring I mean that I will now try to produce single short talks with a focus on the most important stories in the weeks and months to come....so that even if you folks are too lazy to pick up the good book , you should gain an overview of some of the core matter expressed and revealed in the Sacred Lotus Sutra. Just always keep in mind that we are not a book club around here that happens to deal with Buddhist texts by chance.....if your practise and life do not work on and express the teachings as a living entity, it's all a waste of time.

All the best and gassho,

Hans Chudo Mongen

[Myozan Kodo]

Hans,
Bring on those Tutonic Tutorials!
Gassho
M

[Ed]

Looking forward to that.
will fllow along.
Thanks!

[RichardH]

Looking forward as well.

Gassho
Daizan