Facing Face Book

  Monday morning meditation with the Lotus Sutra, reading the following verses from Chapter 1, Introductory, suddenly struck with the thought – this is what I search for when I go to Face Book news feed each day, and what I desire to discover there; also my own intent in posting. These verses display the wonders that accrue from following the Buddha-way. I wanted to share them with you, although they’re quite lengthy. I hope you’ll contemplate them and more hopefully, that you’ll “make the connection.”

  We all have the potential for casting light into the lives of others, “to participate in our day and age with renewed effect. In doing so, we might assist in reviving vigor and hope in a troubled world. This was the Buddha’s intention, this is our duty here and now.” (Zen Master Hui-neng)

The ray between his brows illuminates the eastern quarter
of the eighteen thousand lands, coloring them all with gold. . . .

I see them all from here,
I see also the buddhas,
the holy masters, fearless in teaching the Law, the lions,
expounding the sutra,
mystic and supreme;
their voices clear and pure
send forth softly, sounding tones,
teaching the bodhisattvas
in numberless countless myriads;
their sacred voices, deep and mystic,
cause living beings to rejoice in hearing;
each in their own world,
proclaiming the good Law
by various reasonings
and innumerable illustrations,
reveal the Buddha-law
and open the understanding of all creatures. . . .

Again I see bodhisattvas
profound in wisdom, firm in will,
able to question the enlightened ones
and receive and retain all they hear;
and I see buddha-sons and daughters
perfect in meditation and wisdom
with innumerable illustrations
proclaiming the Law for the multitude,
cheerfully and gladly preaching the Law
to transform the bodhisattvas . . .

I see also bodhisattvas calm in perfect meditation,
who, though honored by gods and dragons, count it not a joy.
Again I see bodhisattvas, who, dwelling in forests,
emit radiance that saves the sufferers
and causes them to enter the Buddha-way. . . .

I see also bodhisattvas who seek association with the wise,
and with all their mind get rid of distraction.

Moreover, there are bodhisattvas who preach the Law of tranquility,
teaching in various ways the numberless living beings.
Also I see bodhisattvas who observe that the nature of all laws
is not in opposing forms, but like space.

Again I see Buddha sons and daughters with minds free from attachments,
by this mystic wisdom seeking after the supreme Way.

Mañjushri!

All the Buddha sons and daughters

for worshiping the relics so splendidly adorn the stupas

that all the domains are thereby made extraordinarily wonderful and fine,

like the king of celestial trees in full bloom.
The Buddha sends forth but a single ray
and I with all the assembly see that these domains
are extraordinarily wonderful.
Rare are the divine powers and wisdom of the enlightened ones;
sending forth a single pure ray,
they illuminate innumerable domains.

We, beholding this, attain that which has never been before.

The Buddha shows us all the buddha-lands
ornate and pure with precious things,
and we see the buddhas there;
this is not for any trivial reason. . . .