Milky Way over Half-Dome

(Niwano – 4}

last of this series

It is in these pages I read words that forever changed my way of thinking and view life: Nichiren’s, life at each moment permeates the universe and is revealed in all phenomena, while traveling on a bus to a temp job in downtown L.A. in 1976;  Niwano’s cause to live, sitting on the terrace surrounded by geraniums in a friend’s apartment in San Francisco in 1982.

Mind – Desire to Live

Buddhism for Today, A Modern Interpretation of the Threefold Lotus Sutra, Nikkyo Niwano; John Weatherhill, Inc., New York and Tokyo; and Kosei Publishing Company, Tokyo. Copyright 1961, 1976 by Kosei Publishing Company.  [Kojiro Miyasaka’s English translation very slightly amended] – from Chapter 16, The Life of the Tathagata:

  Shakyamuni Buddha expounded the doctrine of dependent origination, meaning that all phenomena are produced by causation – a thing arises from or is produced through a cause. A thing does not take form unless there is an appropriate condition. This truth applies to all existence and phenomena in the universe. The Buddha perceived this so profoundly that even modern science cannot probe further.

  Thinking this, our lives may seem to be capricious. . . to  indicate that all things are  products of mere chance. But this is not so. When we look carefully at things around us, we find that water, stone, and human beings are produced each according to a certain pattern with its own individual character.

  Through what power or direction are the conditions that  produce various things in perfect order from such an amorphous energy? When we consider this regularity and order, we cannot help admitting that some rule exists. It is the rule that causes all things to exist. This is indeed the Law taught by the Buddha.

  We do not exist accidentally, but exist and live by means of this Law. As soon as we realize this fact, we become aware of our firm foundation and can set our minds at ease. Far from being capricious, this foundation rests on the Law with which nothing can compare. This assurance is the source of the great peace of mind that is not agitated by anything. It is the Law that imparts life to us all. The Law is not something cold but is full of  vigor and vivid with life.

  Just consider that billions of years ago, the earth had no life . . . when the earth cooled about two billion years ago, microscopic one-celled living creatures were produced through the working of the Law. They were born when the energy forming the foundation of lava, gas, and vapor came into contact with appropriate conditions—the Law providing the conditions for the generation of life. From this we realize the Law is  not cold, a mere abstract rule, but full of vivid power causing everything to exist and live.

  Conversely everything has the power of desiring to exist and live. Two billion years ago, even lava, gas, and vapor possessed the urge to live. That’s why one-celled creatures were generated from them when conditions became right. These infinitesimal creatures endured all kinds of trials . . . extreme heat and cold, tremendous floods, terrestrial rains, for about two billion years, and continued to live, gradually evolving into more  sophisticated forms, culminating in human beings.

  This evolution was caused by the will to live. . . Life had mind through which it desired to live even before it existed on earth. Such a will still exists in everything in the universe. This will exists in humans today.

  From the scientific point of view, humans are formed by a combination of elementary particles; and if we analyze this still more deeply, we see that humans are an accumulation of energy.

  Therefore the  mind desiring to live must surely exist in humans.

  However, this is a mind so deep that we cannot grasp, isolate, or control it. It is the mind existing in the origin of life, even deeper than the subconscious mind. What is the  mind that desires to live? We cannot isolate it by means of science or explain it by some theory. . . Philosophers have  attempted to explain it as “the blind will toward life.” We can call it, “the universal will” or “universal life.” We can also describe it as “the power that makes everything live” or “the rule that makes everything exist.”

  Shakyamuni Buddha  taught this point in the following way: all things in the universe are emptiness—void, and they are produced and annihilated by a cause. Nothing exists in a fixed eternal form.

  Only the Law permeating them—Mind, “Buddha,” the power that makes everything live is eternal. When we realize the truth and power that makes all of us live, we “see the Buddha.”  ////

  “Life at each moment encompasses both body and spirit and both self and environment of all sentient beings in every condition of life, as well as insentient beings—plants, sky and earth, on down to the most minute particles of dust. Life at each moment permeates the universe and is revealed in all phenomena. Those awakened to this truth, themselves embody this relationship.” – Nichiren in a letter to Toki Jonin, 1255.

  for the transitory and eternal can only be seen in each other.

Milky Way Over Half-Dome

(Niwano – 4}

last of this series

It is in these pages I read words that forever changed my way of thinking and view life: Nichiren’s, life at each moment permeates the universe and is revealed in all phenomena, while traveling on a bus to a temp job in downtown L.A. in 1976;  Niwano’s cause to live, sitting on the terrace surrounded by geraniums in a friend’s apartment in San Francisco in 1982.

Es en estas páginas que leí las palabras que cambiaron para siempre mi forma de pensar y visión de la vida: de Nichiren, la vida en cada momento impregna el universo y se revela en todos los fenómenos, mientras viajaba en un autobús a un trabajo temporal en el centro de Los Ángeles en 1976; La causa de Niwano para vivir, sentado en la terraza rodeada de geranios en el apartamento de un amigo en San Francisco en 1982.

Mind – Desire to Live

Mente – deseo de vivir

Buddhism for Today, A Modern Interpretation of the Threefold Lotus Sutra, Nikkyo Niwano; John Weatherhill, Inc., New York and Tokyo; and Kosei Publishing Company, Tokyo. Copyright 1961, 1976 by Kosei Publishing Company.  [Kojiro Miyasaka’s English translation very slightly amended] – from Chapter 16, The Life of the Tathagata:

Shakyamuni Buddha expounded the doctrine of dependent origination, meaning that all phenomena are produced by causation – a thing arises from or is produced through a cause. A thing does not take form unless there is an appropriate condition. This truth applies to all existence and phenomena in the universe. The Buddha perceived this so profoundly that even modern science cannot probe further.

Buda Shakyamuni expuso la doctrina del origen dependiente, lo que significa que todos los fenómenos son producidos por causalidad - una cosa surge o se produce a través de una causa. Una cosa no toma forma a menos que haya una condición adecuada. Esta verdad se aplica a toda la existencia y fenómenos en el universo. El Buda percibe esta tan profundamente que incluso la ciencia moderna no puede investigar más.

Thinking this, our lives may seem to be capricious. . . to  indicate that all things are  products of mere chance. But this is not so. When we look carefully at things around us, we find that water, stone, and human beings are produced each according to a certain pattern with its own individual character.

Pensando en esto, nuestras vidas pueden parecer caprichosa. . . para indicar que todas las cosas son producto de la casualidad. Pero esto no es así. Cuando miramos con atención las cosas que nos rodean, nos encontramos con que el agua, piedra, y los seres humanos se producen cada de acuerdo con un cierto patrón con su propio carácter individual

Through what power or direction are the conditions that  produce various things in perfect order from such an amorphous energy? When we consider this regularity and order, we cannot help admitting that some rule exists. It is the rule that causes all things to exist. This is indeed the Law taught by the Buddha.

A través de lo que el poder o la dirección son las condiciones que producen varias cosas en perfecto orden de una energía tan amorfo? Cuando consideramos esta regularidad y el orden, no podemos dejar de admitir que existe alguna regla. Es la regla que hace que todas las cosas existen. Este es de hecho la Ley enseñada por el Buda.

We do not exist accidentally, but exist and live by means of this Law. As soon as we realize this fact, we become aware of our firm foundation and can set our minds at ease. Far from being capricious, this foundation rests on the Law with which nothing can compare. This assurance is the source of the great peace of mind that is not agitated by anything. It is the Law that imparts life to us all. The Law is not something cold but is full of  vigor and vivid with life.

No existimos por casualidad, pero existimos y vivimos por medio de la presente Ley. Tan pronto como nos damos cuenta de este hecho, nos damos cuenta de nuestra fundación firme y podemos poner nuestras mentes en la facilidad. Lejos de ser caprichosa, esta fundación se basa en la Ley con la que nada se puede comparar. Esta seguridad es la fuente de la gran paz de la mente que no está agitado por nada. Es la Ley que imparte vida para todos nosotros. La Ley no es algo frío, pero está llena de vigor y vivo con la vida.

Just consider that billions of years ago, the earth had no life . . . when the earth cooled about two billion years ago, microscopic one-celled living creatures were produced through the working of the Law. They were born when the energy forming the foundation of lava, gas, and vapor came into contact with appropriate conditions—the Law providing the conditions for the generation of life. From this we realize the Law is  not cold, a mere abstract rule, but full of vivid power causing everything to exist and live.

Sólo considere que, hace miles de millones de años, la tierra no tenía vida. . . cuando la tierra se enfrió hace unos dos millones de años, los seres vivos microscópicos unicelulares fueron producidos por el funcionamiento de la Ley. Nacieron cuando la energía que forma la base de la lava, gases y vapor entró en contacto con las condiciones adecuadas, la Ley proporciona las condiciones para la generación de la vida. De esto podemos darnos cuenta de la Ley no es frío, una mera regla abstracta, pero lleno de fuerza viva que causa todo lo que existe y vive.

Conversely everything has the power of desiring to exist and live. Two billion years ago, even lava, gas, and vapor possessed the urge to live. That’s why one-celled creatures were generated from them when conditions became right. These infinitesimal creatures endured all kinds of trials . . . extreme heat and cold, tremendous floods, terrestrial rains, for about two billion years, and continued to live, gradually evolving into more  sophisticated forms, culminating in human beings.

Por el contrario todo tiene el poder de desear a existir y vivir. Hace dos millones de años, incluso de lava, gases y vapor poseían las ganas de vivir. Es por eso que las criaturas unicelulares fueron generados a partir de ellos cuando las condiciones se hicieron bien. Estas criaturas infinitesimales soportaron todo tipo de ensayos. . . calor y frío extremos, tremendas inundaciones, las lluvias terrestres, por cerca de dos millones de años, y continuaron viviendo, evolucionando gradualmente hacia formas más sofisticadas, que culminó en los seres humanos.

This evolution was caused by the will to live. . . Life had mind through which it desired to live even before it existed on earth. Such a will still exists in everything in the universe. This will exists in humans today.

Esta evolución se debe a la voluntad de vivir. . . La vida tenía la mente a través del cual desea vivir incluso antes de que existiera en la tierra. Tal voluntad todavía existe en todo el universo. Esta voluntad existe en los seres humanos en la actualidad.

From the scientific point of view, humans are formed by a combination of elementary particles; and if we analyze this still more deeply, we see that humans are an accumulation of energy.

Desde el punto de vista científico, los seres humanos están formados por una combinación de partículas elementales; y si analizamos esto aún más profundamente, vemos que los seres humanos son una acumulación de energía.

Therefore the  mind desiring to live must surely exist in humans.

Por lo tanto la mente el deseo de vivir debe existir duda en los seres humanos.

However, this is a mind so deep that we cannot grasp, isolate, or control it. It is the mind existing in the origin of life, even deeper than the subconscious mind. What is the  mind that desires to live? We cannot isolate it by means of science or explain it by some theory. . . Philosophers have  attempted to explain it as “the blind will toward life.” We can call it, “the universal will” or “universal life.” We can also describe it as “the power that makes everything live” or “the rule that makes everything exit.”

Sin embargo, esta es una mente tan profunda que no podemos comprender, aislar, o controlarlo. Es la mente la que existe en el origen de la vida, incluso más allá de la mente subconsciente. ¿Qué es la mente la que desea vivir? No podemos aislarlo por medio de la ciencia o explicarlo por alguna teoría. . . Los filósofos han tratado de explicarlo como "la voluntad ciega hacia la vida." Podemos llamarlo, "la voluntad universal" o "la vida universal." También podemos describirlo como "el poder que hace que todo sea en vivo" o "la regla de que hace que todo salga ".

Shakyamuni Buddha  taught this point in the following way: all things in the universe are emptiness—void, and they are produced and annihilated by a cause. Nothing exists in a fixed eternal form.

Shakyamuni Buda enseñó este punto de la siguiente manera: todas las cosas en el universo son el vacío nulo, y que se producen y aniquilados por una causa. Nada existe en una forma eterna fijo.

Only the Law permeating them—Mind, “Buddha,” the power that makes everything live is eternal. When we realize the truth and power that makes all of us live, we “see the Buddha.”  ////

Sólo la Ley impregnarlas a-Mente, "Buda", el poder que hace que todo lo vivo es eterna. Cuando nos damos cuenta de la verdad y el poder que hace que todos nosotros vivimos, "vemos que el Buda." ////

“Life at each moment encompasses both body and spirit and both self and environment of all sentient beings in every condition of life, as well as insentient beings—plants, sky and earth, on down to the most minute particles of dust. Life at each moment permeates the universe and is revealed in all phenomena. Those awakened to this truth, themselves embody this relationship.” – Nichiren in a letter to Toki Jonin, 1255.

"La vida a cada momento abarca el cuerpo y el espíritu y tanto uno mismo y el medio ambiente de todos los seres sensibles en todas las condiciones de la vida, así como los seres insensibles-plantas, el cielo y la tierra, hacia abajo a las partículas más diminutas de polvo. La vida a cada momento impregna el universo y se revela en todos los fenómenos. Aquellos despertado a esta verdad, ellos encarnan esta relación. "- Nichiren en una carta a Toki Jonin, 1255.

for the transitory and eternal can only be seen in each other – de lo transitorio y eterno sólo puede ser visto en el otro.

Aurora Borealis

(Niwano – 3)

All things are equal

produced from the same energy or force.

Buddhism for Today, A Modern Interpretation of the Threefold Lotus Sutra, Nikkyo Niwano; John Weatherhill, Inc., New York and Tokyo; and Kosei Publishing Company, Tokyo. Copyright 1961, 1976 by Kosei Publishing Company.  [Kojiro Miyasaka’s English translation very slightly amended] – from Chapter 16, The Life of the Tathagata:

  [Most people today] are apt to doubt such concepts as the Law and “that which causes everything to live” as mere ideas produced by religious leaders. But they should think of the composition of  all physical substances as elucidated by nuclear physics: all substances in this universe are composed of electrons, protons, neutrons, and other subatomic particles, and the differences between various substances are caused by different combinations of these basic particles.

  Granted that subatomic particles are regarded as the minimum units of matter, so long as such particles exist as matter, as things, they should be still further divisible. However, modern science cannot do this, so scientists say that these elemental particles are produced by “energy.”

  Energy is generally considered as “the force through which matter functions.” But before matter can function there must already exist the energy that produces matter. . . .

  We cannot see energy with our naked eyes or otherwise discern it as a physical entity. Energy seems at first to be “nothingness,” but it does exist and it is a kind of matter. The accumulation of this “kind of matter” produces such particles as electrons, protons, and neutrons. The accumulation of these particles produces various kinds of atoms. The accumulation of these atoms produces such elements as hydrogen, oxygen and carbon. The accumulation of these elements produces air, water, minerals, plants, and the human body. Thus, matter is originally produced from a kind of energy, or force.

. . . [paragraph about time . . .]

  Shakyamuni Buddha however taught about matter correctly more than two thousand years ago. He proclaimed it as “emptiness” or “void.” This does not mean “nothingness” but “equality”- [even as] “phenomenon”  indicating the idea that all things, including matter, the human mind, and events, originate from the same foundation. Though these things seem to be different from one another in the eyes of humans, their real state is equal.

  When analyzed to the utmost possible limit, all things are equal because they are energy (force) of some kind. . . In short all  phenomena are produced from an equal kind of energy or force.

Next – Evolution caused by the urge to live – life had mind through which it desired to live.

Aurora Borealis -Norway

(Niwano – 3)

All things are equal

produced from the same energy or force.

Todas las cosas son iguales

producido a partir de la misma energía o fuerza.

Buddhism for Today, A Modern Interpretation of the Threefold Lotus Sutra, Nikkyo Niwano; John Weatherhill, Inc., New York and Tokyo; and Kosei Publishing Company, Tokyo. Copyright 1961, 1976 by Kosei Publishing Company.  [Kojiro Miyasaka’s English translation very slightly amended] – from Chapter 16, The Life of the Tathagata:

  [Most people today] are apt to doubt such concepts as the Law and “that which causes everything to live” as mere ideas produced by religious leaders. But they should think of the composition of  all physical substances as elucidated by nuclear physics: all substances in this universe are composed of electrons, protons, neutrons, and other subatomic particles, and the differences between various substances are caused by different combinations of these basic particles.

  [La mayoría de las personas hoy en día] tienden a dudar de conceptos tales como la Ley y "lo que hace que todo lo que vivir" como meras ideas producidas por los líderes religiosos. Pero deben pensar en la composición de todas las sustancias físicas como dilucidado por la física nuclear: todas las sustancias de este universo están compuestos de electrones, protones, neutrones y otras partículas subatómicas, y las diferencias entre diversas sustancias son causados por diferentes combinaciones de éstos básica partículas.

  Granted that subatomic particles are regarded as the minimum units of matter, so long as such particles exist as matter, as things, they should be still further divisible. However, modern science cannot do this, so scientists say that these elemental particles are produced by “energy.” Energy is generally considered as “the force through which matter functions.” But before matter can function there must already exist the energy that produces matter. . .

  Concedido que las partículas subatómicas son considerados como las unidades mínimas de la materia, siempre y cuando existan tales partículas como materia, como las cosas, deben ser aún más divisible. Sin embargo, la ciencia moderna no puede hacer esto, por lo que los científicos dicen que estas partículas elementales son producidos por "energía." La energía es generalmente considerado como "la fuerza a través del cual importa funciones." Pero antes de que la materia puede funcionar no debe existir la energía que produce la materia . . .

  We cannot see energy with our naked eyes or otherwise discern it as a physical entity. Energy seems at first to be “nothingness,” but it does exist and it is a kind of matter. The accumulation of this “kind of matter” produces such particles as electrons, protons, and neutrons. The accumulation of these particles produces various kinds of atoms. The accumulation of these atoms produces such elements as hydrogen, oxygen and carbon. The accumulation of these elements produces air, water, minerals, plants, and the human body. Thus, matter is originally produced from a kind of energy, or force. [paragraph about time . . .]

  No podemos ver la energía con nuestros ojos desnudos o de otra manera discernirlo como una entidad física. Energía parece al principio ser "nada", pero existe y es un tipo de materia. La acumulación de este "tipo de materia" produce partículas tales como electrones, protones y neutrones. La acumulación de estas partículas produce varios tipos de átomos. La acumulación de estos átomos produce elementos tales como hidrógeno, oxígeno y carbono. La acumulación de estos elementos produce aire, agua, minerales, plantas, y el cuerpo humano. Por lo tanto, la materia se produce originalmente de un tipo de energía o fuerza. [párrafo sobre el tiempo. . .]

  Shakyamuni Buddha however taught about matter correctly more than two thousand years ago. He proclaimed it as “emptiness” or “void.” This does not mean “nothingness” but “equality”- [even as] “phenomenon”  indicating the idea that all things, including matter, the human mind, and events, originate from the same foundation. Though these things seem to be different from one another in the eyes of humans, their real state is equal.

  Buda Shakyamuni embargo enseñó acerca de la materia correctamente hace más de dos mil años. Él proclamó como "vacío" o Esto no significa "nada," pero "la igualdad" "vacío” - [Incluso] "fenómeno" que indica la idea de que todas las cosas, incluyendo la materia, la mente humana, y los acontecimientos, se originan de la misma fundación. Aunque estas cosas parecen ser diferentes uno de otro en los ojos de los seres humanos, su estado real es igual.

  When analyzed to the utmost possible limit, all things are equal because they are energy (force) of some kind. . . In short all  phenomena are produced from an equal kind of energy or force.

  Cuando se analizó el límite máximo posible, todas las cosas son iguales, ya que son la energía (fuerza) de algún tipo. . . En resumen todos los fenómenos son producidos a partir de un tipo igual de energía o fuerza.

Next – Evolution caused by the urge to live – life had mind through which it desired to live.

Siguiente - Evolución causada por las ganas de vivir - la vida tenía la mente a través del cual desea vivir.

(Niwano – 2)

The Highest Form of Religion

absolute devotion to the truth that imparts life to us

Buddhism for Today, A Modern Interpretation of the Threefold Lotus Sutra, Nikkyo Niwano; John Weatherhill, Inc., New York and Tokyo; and Kosei Publishing Company, Tokyo. Copyright 1961, 1976 by Kosei Publishing Company.  [Kojiro Miyasaka’s English translation very slightly amended] – from Chapter 16, The Life of the Tathagata:

  In what way can we gain such consciousness [the true mental peace that is not disturbed by anything?] Needless to say, the way is to study the teachings of the Buddha repeatedly and to root them deeply in our minds by meditating on them, keeping firmly in mind the realization that our lives should be unified with the universal life (the Buddha). This indeed is meditation from the religious point of view. Through this kind of meditation, we can purify even the mind of which we cannot be conscious ourselves, that is our subconscious mind, and we can make our thought and conduct harmonize spontaneously with our surroundings. If our thought and conduct are in harmony with our surroundings, sufferings and worries cannot trouble us. This mental state is true peace of mind, the stage of “Nirvana is quiescence,” the absolutely quiet stage in which we cling to nothing.

  This state of mind is not limited to a passive mental peace. Our consciousness of being enlivened by this great universal life gives us great hope and courage. Energy springs from this consciousness so that we advance to carry out our daily lives, our work, and our bodhisattva-way for the benefit of others in this world.

  Our awareness of being caused to live is our great salvation. Our absolute devotion to the truth that imparts  life to us . . .  to take refuge in the Law wholeheartedly with utter faith and trust. . . [Here Niwano extols the practice of all followers of the Lotus Sutra as originated by the 13^th Century Priest, Nichiren] . . . we do not worship a thing, a person, a spirit, or a god existing outside ourselves, but devote ourselves to the Law which causes us to live and unites us with it with our entire heart and mind—this is the purest and the supreme faith . . . No form of religion is purer than this . . .

Next -  Considering nuclear physics, energy and matter

“What then should we depend on?”
Notes from Nikkyo Niwano (1)

Buddhism for Today, A Modern Interpretation of the Threefold Lotus Sutra, Nikkyo Niwano; John Weatherhill, Inc., New York and Tokyo; and Kosei Publishing Company, Tokyo. Copyright 1961, 1976 by Kosei Publishing Company.  [Kojiro Miyasaka’s English translation very slightly amended] – from Chapter 16, The Life of the Tathagata:

  What then should we depend upon for our salvation? Here we must here remember the Buddha’s teaching, “Make yourself the light, make the Law your light,” the words Shakyamuni spoke to Ananda, one of his ten great disciples [also his cousin] before dying. Ananda felt anxious, reflecting, “When the World-honored One who is an unparalleled leader and teacher, dies, who on earth should we depend upon in our practice and life? In response to Ananda’s anxiety, the Buddha taught him as follows:

  “In the future you should make yourself your light and depend on your own self. You must not depend on other people. You should also make the Law your light and depend upon the Law. You must not depend upon others.”

  There is no better teaching than this to sum up the essence of a right religion in a few words. The Buddha first taught, “You can depend upon your own self.” When we depend upon other people, we do not know what to do if we are forsaken by them or if they disappear. Therefore the Buddha admonished us to depend upon ourselves and walk the Way through our own efforts.

  But what should we depend upon in living our lives? The Buddha taught that this is nothing other than the Law, namely, the truth, and that we must not depend absolutely upon others, Here the word “others” means “gods,” being who are considered to exist and to be our masters. The Buddha taught emphatically that we must not depend upon such gods, but only upon the Law, the truth.

  [Note from dfs, the guy above driving the car – When Pilate asks Jesus, “What is truth?” Jesus is silent and doesn’t answer, after which Pilate says, “I find no fault in this man.”]

  Indeed, his words carry great weight. A single word of the teaching “Make the self your light, make the Law your light” is more valuable than all the innumerable teachings concerning human life and religion that have been promulgated by the many great persons of past ages.

  Through this teaching we understand that what we depend on, the Law, exists both within and outside us. It is the truth that permeates the entire universe, not establishing a distinction between inside and outside. Our body is produced by this truth and is caused to live by it. Our mind is also produced by it and caused to work by it. All things, including society, the earth and sky, plants, birds and beasts, are produced by this truth and are caused to live by it.

  A person who feels the word “truth” to be somewhat cold and abstract can replace it with the term “the great life,” which makes everything in this world exist and live. When we are firmly aware in the depths of our mind that we are given life by the great life that permeates the universe, we can obtain the true mental peace that is not disturbed by anything.

Next – In what way can we gain such consciousness?

Ending all fear

  The Buddha had no religion, he did not teach “Buddhism.”  In the Lotus Sutra when the father gets all his children out of the burning house, he reveals he is like this father, desiring all people to become like him—fearless, ever seeking the good, benefiting all beings—knowing that “all the living” possess this capability, realized once they enter “the Buddha way.”

  “The Buddha said to Shariputra, "Good! Good! It is even as you say, Shariputra! The Tathagata is also like this, for he is father of all worlds who has forever entirely ended all fear, despondency, distress, ignorance, and umbrageous darkness and has perfected boundless knowledge, powers, and fearlessness; is possessed of great spiritual power and wisdom; has completely attained the virtues of tactfulness and wisdom; who is the greatly merciful and greatly compassionate, ever tireless, ever seeking the good, and benefiting all beings.

  "I am the father of all creatures and I must snatch them from suffering and give them the bliss of the infinite, boundless Buddha-wisdom for them to play with.

  "As long as these creatures have never escaped birth, old age, disease, death, grief, and suffering, but are being burned in the burning house of the triple world, how can they understand the Buddha-wisdom?

  "Know ye! all these three vehicles are praised by sages; in them you will be free and independent, without wanting to rely on anything else. Riding in these three vehicles [learning, self-awareness, world of compassion], by means of perfect faculties, powers, perceptions of the seven degrees of intelligence, ways, concentrations, emancipations, and contempla­tions, you will as a matter of course be happy and gain infinite peace and joy."

Exchange with Lunares – “We are like the universe like islands in the sea . . .”

  Lunares – these last posts are super interesting Dana, I like them so so so much. Reading texts like this, I always think how different is Christianism and Buddhism in this point of view about the universe. That's why many times I think I'm very next to Buddhism although I have been educated like Catholic but Catholic does not teach some feelings I can feel: I always feel we are in the universe like the islands in the sea, if you watch the sea, you can see islands and islands, they look like different islands among themselves but if you remove all the water of the sea, you can see that the islands are all the same thing because they all are the same Earth. I think that's what happens with us but, because of some reason, for many people is very difficult to feel it.

  Deep and heartfelt appreciation for this beautiful response, querido Lunares. I hope you will not object if I make this today's post at Ancestral Well. It is indeed wondrous for one to see and feel, and realize different views discovered in our spiritual journeys – not necessarily "opposing" – just different – and wonderful to discover how we feel about them and their meaning in our lives, today, here and now. Your metaphor of the "universe like the islands in the sea . . ." is truly profound. (If only we could add this to The Threefold Lotus Sutr – it would certainly enhance the teachings of the Buddha. You are a wonderful man! and I'm privileged to know you.

  Agradecimiento profundo y sincero por esta hermosa respuesta, querido Lunares. Espero que no se opondrá si hago el post de hoy en esta Ancestral Bueno. De hecho, es maravillosa para que uno ve y siente, y se dan cuenta de los diferentes puntos de vista descubiertos en nuestros viajes espirituales – no necesariamente "oponerse" – simplemente diferente – y maravilloso para descubrir cómo nos sentimos acerca de ellos y su significado en nuestras vidas, hoy, aquí y ahora. Su metáfora del "universo como las islas en el mar..." es verdaderamente profunda. (Si sólo pudiéramos añadir esto a la Triple Sutra del Loto. Que sin duda mejorar las enseñanzas del Buda Usted es un hombre maravilloso y yo soy el privilegio de conocerte!

  Super super super interesting!!!! Yes Dana: finally, I can see how the new theories o physics known as “unified theories” are arriving at the same point of Buddhism: we ARE the universe, we are the same thing!!!

  Ah, mi querido Lunares, now you are with me in spiri – only it is really 1982 when I first began to discover these connections with the Buddha's teachings. At that time, had you been looking over my shoulder, I might have arrived where I find myself today much quicker!

  Ah, mi Lunares Querido, ahora están conmigo en espíritu – sólo es realmente 1982, cuando empecé a descubrir estas conexiones con las enseñanzas del Buda. En ese momento, había estado buscando por encima de mi hombro que podría haber llegado a donde me encuentro hoy mucho más rápido!

The Cosmos

Magically a Part of Us

  Here in Buddhism's atheism [or preferably, non-theism /dfs] is the key concept that separates the dualist faiths of man from this no-nonsense, unsupernatural belief-system. Mahayana Buddhism sees ALL existence as supremely sacred; it needs no other-worldly injunction to validate this sanctity, no God on High; and, most important of all, it sees the plain and mundane things of daily existence—when viewed from the right perspective—as sanctified as the loftiest ideals. In short, in this enlightened awareness, we can all see the marvelous wonder of our universe, blemishes and all, and find our home and comfort in a cosmos that is magically a part of us, and us a part of it. This interpenetration of the individual in the universe is what the teachings of the Buuddha are all about. This is their scope and majesty.

  You do not see the sky, you are the sky.  You do not touch the earth, you are the earth.  The wind does not blow on you, it blows within you.  In this simple one taste, you can drink the Pacific Ocean in a single gulp, and swallow the universe whole.  Supernova are born and die all within your own heart, and galaxies swirling endlessly, where you thought your head was, and it is all a simple as the sound of a robin singing on a crystal clear dawn.

Milky Way over Jackson Lake, Wyoming

For Robert Eichenberg, Jonny Joe – The Hadron Accelerator – a personal journey

Beyond Newton and Einstein

on the New Frontier of Physics

by Timothy Ferris

© The New York Times Magazine

September 26, 1982

  A seminal article linking the teachings of the Buddha profoundly, although not realized at the time—perhaps its value not even fully realized today. The article certainly enlivened progress along “the path to gaining Buddha-knowledge.” Today, 2015, returning once more to this eloquent resource for practice. [italics added, indicating links to “gaining mindfulness.”]

  we talk of “the universe” as if it were far away, but of course it is right here too. Its history concerns not only the remote stars and galaxies, but our world as well—down to the atoms that make up these words, this page, you and me.

  This insight has long been entertained by poets and philosophers. Now it is bearing fruit in science, as physicists probing the tiny nucleus of the atom are uncovering evidence of how the universe as a whole may have taken shape in the first moments of time.

  Responsible for the breakthrough are new theories o physics—known as “unified theories”—that seek to improve scientific understanding of how nature functions from the very smallest to the very largest scale. These theories which stand on the frontier of physics, are most precisely expressed not in words, but as mathematical equations. They imply that all the known forces in nature are manifestations of one basic interaction and that once, long ago, all were part of a single universal force or process.

  That view might sound farfetched were it not for the fact that cosmologists—scientists who study the nature of the universe as a whole—have found evidence that everything that now exists began in a “big bang.” (See chart) That explosion would have generated the tremendous amounts of energy and pressure that the unified theories say would have been needed to fuse the apparently separate forces into one.

  The consequences of their discoveries and the newest ideas in cosmology is pro­ducing a new physics, one that sees matter, energy and the laws according to which they behave not as immutable and eternal, but as evolving processes in an evolving universe. Like archeologists unearthing the ruins of an ancient city, theorists are uncovering the outlines of a new, more profound and in some way, simpler physics, a physics that could reveal and explain much of the history of the cosmos.

  The consequences of their discoveries promise to reverberate throughout science and beyond. Textbooks may have to be rewritten and philosophies revised. Just as Newton’s work served as the basis for much modern science and technology, and as Einstein’s discovery of the equivalence of matter and energy, E = m c², led to such advances as the harnessing of nuclear power, so too the new understanding provided by the unified theories may lead to unexpected leaps in our ability to manipulate nature.

  It is, of course, impossible to predict where, specifically, those leaps will land us. But a unified physics would promote a scientific vision of nature worthy of Zen masters and Old Testament prophets alike—a vision revealing that everything about us belongs to a chain of cosmic revolution that leads back to the birth of the universe and forward to a glimpse of the fate of the universe.

*  *  *

  Physicists have hit upon this new vision of a unity of large and small not through the mystical transports of a William Blake who saw the world in a grain of sand, but while trying to do little more than put their scientific house in order. Their goal is not to rewrite Genesis, but only to craft a theory that would explain the interactions of the myriad particles – from the now-familiar quarks to obscure muons – that inhabit the subatomic world.

Later in article – quote sent to AW (and Cody)

  Normally we think of virtual particles as restricted to the quantum world of the very small. But in the first moments of cosmic history, the universe was very small. Con­ceivably, the whole show could have begun as a speck of quantum foam in a vacuum. “Nothingness contains all of being,” writes the physicist Heinz Pagels in his “The Cosmic Code.”

  “All of physics – everything we hope to know – is waiting in the vacuum to be dis­covered.”

Article concludes:

  “The belief that the world is understandable justifies itself by its results,” John Wheeler said one day recently. We sat in his living room, surrounded by books and paintings, watching the river town of Austin turn gold in the slanting rays of the sunset. “We find the world strange,” Wheeler said quietly, “but what is strange is us. It seems to me that we don’t yet read the message properly, but in a time to come, we will se it in some single simple sentence. As we say that sentence to each other, we’ll say, ‘Oh, how beautiful! How could we have missed it, all that time?”

3/10/12 – Comment from DFS:

  Perhaps that one simple sentence is from the Buddha’s teaching: “We are caused to live by the great life-force of the universe.”

Celebrating Life

Stories from The Threefold Lotus Sutra

  human kind, born from earth and sea on a planet formed from an exploding star in a galaxy called the milky way, emerged late in the earth’s four-to-five billion year history as a result of the same conditions which in the beginning, created the universe. The Buddha’s teachings propose that this remarkable, even mystical chain of cause and effect, was inevitable and necessary.

  Progressing from the beginning of the universe to the formation of planet earth, to the dawn of human beings five to six million years ago, thus did the flow of time lead to the birth of us all, and in the 6^th Century before the Christian Era, the birth of Prince Siddhartha who became at the moment of his enlightenment, Shakyamuni Buddha, “the enlightened one of the Shakya clan,” the Buddha who sees beyond the universe, beyond space and time, perceiving that his birth as a human being emerges out of limitless, eternal incarnations, a continuity shared with all humanity.

  In the moment of his enlightenment, the Buddha is awakened to the profound interconnection of all living things. He perceives that an imperishable energy, a universal life-force, is the cause of all existence, imbedded in all laws. From emptiness, the profound Law of the Void, itself the Great Perfection, he realizes human beings and all living things, are equal in the fundamental value of their existence and are caused to live by the will to live, brought into being by virtue of karmic necessity, evolving creatively with planet earth.

  He has awakened to a profound truth that has existed from the infinite past, even before he appeared in this world. His fundamental desire in teaching this “final profound truth” is that all living beings will discover it for themselves.

Enlightenment

  Questioning “What is Enlightenment?” Enlightenment is something to accomplish in a moment of time,. an experience of absolute awareness—but awareness of what? perhaps that’s the question, or perhaps, How can I describe the experience? (Good luck!)

  The Buddha never specifically defines Perfect Enlightenment he attained under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya. Ultimately in the One Vehicle Sutra, the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law, Chapter 16, he will declare his “Perfect Enlightenment” has existed eternally, addressing the Bodhisattva in the great assembly,

  “Listen then all of you attentively to the secret, mysterious, and supernaturally pervading power of the Tathagata. All the worlds of gods, living beings and asuras consider: ‘Now has Shakyamuni Buddha come forth from the palace of the Shakya clan, and seated at the training place of enlightenment, not far from the city of Gaya, has attained Perfect Enlightenment.’ But, my good sons and daughters, since I veritably became Buddha, infinite, boundless hundreds of thousands of myriads of  hundreds of thousand kalpas have passed.”

  At the close of the chapter, enlightenment is defined as something accomplished, the Buddha asking himself how he shall cause all the living to accomplish it speedily.

  "I, ever knowing all beings,

  those who walk or walk not in the Way,

  according to the right principles of salvation

  expound their every law,

  ever making this my thought:

  How shall I cause all the living

  to enter the Way supreme

  and speedily accomplish their buddhahood?"  (enlightenment),

  As a member of Rissho Kosei-kai in Los Angeles in the early 1990s, I came across a back issue, July 1982, of their monthly publication, DHARMA WORLD, Volume 9, © 1982; Kosei Publishing Co., Tokyo. Hui-neng's Enlightenment—Here and Now by Pracy Pugh, committee member of the Buddhist Society of N.S.W., Australia.

  Here’s an eloquent answer to What is Enlightenment?

  The absence of all thoughts to cease discriminating indicates the mind adheres to no "object" but relaxed in self-expression, appreciates itself in pure mirror-activity and stilled perception.

  “Here lies the ultimate, subtle, and elusive truth of all Buddhism: enlightenment occurs in the realization of one's own inner primal nature, which, as the buddha-nature, is infused with all experience, is absolute and universal—purest being—the totality of all things, a spontaneous awakening occurring at the root of consciousness that comprehends the entire manifold world. Moreover, this primal vision encompasses the opposites of existence, including the darkness of non-being. So it is ineffable and mysterious. Here, says Hui-neng, rejoice in your primal nature where samsara is nirvana, and nirvana is samsara. . . becoming is being, being is becoming.

  “This remarkable doctrine of self-salvation centers on the identity of one's own nature with the Buddha. It is the Buddha (or the Tathagata) in the minds of the aspirants who save themselves. From this insight a charity and a morality arise, because the individual and the totality are one ecological organism, mutually dependent.”

The Appearing Buddha

and

Stories from The Threefold Lotus Sutra (1)

  Those who walk the Buddha-way (“Buddhists”) may forget at times the original source for their practice derives from the teachings of Shayamuni Buddha, enlightened one of the Shakya clan, born in India about 660 B.C., who became “extinct” around 480 B.C. at the age of 80, his teachings transmitted in “sutras,” most notably the “One Vehicle” – The Threefold Lotus Sutra. Awakening to his teachings in this sutra, reading, reciting, copying, memorizing, strengthens and affirms the presence of the Buddha, not as a detached “god” floating around in the cosmos, but as an existing presence within each one of us, in each moment of our lives—the vibrant, all-pervading universal life-force that causes everything to live, immanent in all phenomena of the material world.

  Those who uncompromisingly celebrate life will know.

  Those who do not define their spiritual journey as “walking the Buddha-way” or perhaps not even aware of the Buddha’s teachings, are not excluded from the presence of this vibrant, all-pervading universal life-force which causes everything to live. The Buddha declares in the Lotus Sutra, “I look upon everyone, everywhere with equal eyes, to those who are not in this assembly, do you proclaim my words, to those whose hearts are longing, I appear to preach the Law, the one and only Law of emancipation and nirvana.”

  Those who attain personal satisfaction through creating that which brings wellness, joy and happiness to others, who freely celebrate life with compassionate hearts, with unquestioning reverence for life, “releasing the personal ego,” who recognize that all the living equally possess the buddha-nature—the potential for enlightenment, “these too attain the Buddha-way.”

  Shakyamuni Buddha, in his final commission reveals that it is only because he himself has practiced this “rare Law of Perfect Enlightenment for incalculable hundreds of thousands of myriads of countless kalpas,” that he now may entrust it to the compassionate ones to “wholeheartedly promulgate this Law and make it increase and prosper far and wide . . . In other domains, wherever you may go, I shall be Buddha, though under different names.”

Stories from The Threefold Lotus Sutra (1)

Monday’s Celebration:

  Reading the Threefold’s opening for the first time sends my head spinning with its presentation of great assemblies composed of human and non-human beings, the deeds of the Great Enlightened One (the Buddha) “whose moral breeze and virtuous fragrance deeply per­meate all.”

  This is dramatized history, proclaiming the names of those great men and women who followed the Buddha. Also “present” are gods and dragons, “musicians of Indra, garudas—birds with golden wings,” and all sorts of entities, foretelling the Buddha’s desire to set no limits on those who might “receive” his teachings in their hearts and minds.

  “Of these bodhisattvas there is none who is not a great saint of the Law-body.  They have attained commands, meditation, wisdom, emancipation, and the knowl­edge of emancipation. With tranquil minds, and constantly in contem­­plation, they are peaceful, indifferent, nonactive, and free from desires. They are immune from any kind of delusion and distraction. Their minds are calm and clear, profound and infinite. They remain in this state for hundreds of thousand of countless kalpas, and all the innumerable teachings have been revealed to them. Having obtained the great wisdom, they penetrate all things, completely understand the reality of their nature and form, and clearly discriminate existing and nonexisting, long and short.”

  Is such attainment possible? A far-reach indeed! But this moment of meditation is worthy of celebration, accompanied by great personages who have attained meditation, wisdom, emancipation, knowledge of emancipation, tranquil minds, constantly in contemplation, peaceful, indifferent, free from desires, immune from any kind of delusion and distraction, mind clam and clear,  completely understanding the reality and nature and form of all things, able clearly to discriminate existing and nonexisting.”

  Beings numbering in the thousands attending these great assemblies? Believing or not believing such gatherings ever took place or how many attended, is of little consequence. Do we not suspend belief in our world today, thrilling to grand displays in fantasy worlds, in fiction and films, and stories of other-worldly epics, larger-than-life histories, rendering a sense of how wonderful it is to be alive. So it is with a sense of wonder and awe we approach epic stories in The Threefold Lotus Sutra.

  “Thus have I heard!” We’re in for a teaching told with grand eloquence, open to comprehension of the Buddha’s intent, and the intent of all enlightened ones who appear in the world encouraging us to enter the Buddha-way.

  “Entering the Buddha-way” has no parallel in other religions. It doesn’t require worshiping a god-like image outside ourselves—not even worshiping the Buddha himself, nor embracing some exotic religious doctrine. The Buddha’s mission in his lifetime was to cause all living beings to enter a path leading to self-awareness—to enlightenment in this life-time, a teaching of compassion and liberation, attaining a state of mind—“mindfulness”—free of delusions.

Rewriting Dane Rudhyar’s Astrological Mandala

Awakening to one’s true nature

(Sun in tropical Zodiac, April 20, 2015)

Taurus 1° –  a clear mountain stream 

keynote:  the pure, uncontaminated, spontaneous awakening to one’s own nature.

  Here we see life-force in its original, dynamic form as it emerges from emptiness, formless and without form. The mountain stream may be conditioned by the nature of the soil and by all the forces which in the past have formed the mountain’s rock strata—by its past history, but out of this past a new, pure, unadulterated release of potentiality has emerged, imbued with primordial energy, energy being matter at its source. It is flowing irresistibly toward its own destiny.

  Emphasis here resonates with awakening to one’s true nature, the buddha-nature, a return to the original source of one’s being where freed from conditioning factors, one’s original mind is revealed. As one awakens, the manipulations of the ego are no longer in control. The “self” is taken out of the equation.

Text revised from An Astrological Mandala, The Cycle of Transformations and Its 360 Symbolic Phases, by Dane Rudhyar, published by Random House, 1973. The book itself is a reformulation of the Sabian Symbols originally developed by astrologer Marc Edmund Jones in San Diego, California, 1925 with intermediator Elsie Wheeler.

  Aquí vemos la fuerza vital en su forma original, dinámico tal como surge del vacío, sin forma y sin forma. El arroyo de montaña puede ser condicionada a la naturaleza del suelo y por todas las fuerzas que en el pasado se han formado las montañas de roca por estratos su historia pasada, pero fuera de este pasado ha surgido una nueva versión pura, sin adulterar de potencialidad, imbuido de energía primordial, ser materia de energía en su origen. Está fluyendo irresistiblemente hacia su propio destino.

  El énfasis aquí resuena con despertar a nuestra verdadera naturaleza, la naturaleza de Buda, un retorno a la fuente original del ser de uno donde liberada de condicionantes, la mente original se reveló. Como uno despierta, las manipulaciones del ego ya no tienen el control. El "yo" se saca de la ecuación.

Galaxies -  6 billion years ago

half the life of the universe

Seal of the Three Laws

All things are impermanent – following natural direction of human life, advancing toward realization of buddhahood – one substance with Buddha – gestures of the great perfection.  The cause to live is unchangeable and permanent.

Nothing has an ego – without exception all things, existences, all individuals in this world are related to one another – nothing leads to an isolated existence. We are all part of one inseparable web of relationships, endowed with the same life-energy which causes everything to live. Everything is permeated by the same life-energy.

“This is the original vow of the Buddha, by the way which I walk I desire universally for all living beings to enter the same way along with me. The Enlightened Ones, the World-honored Ones, know that nothing has an independent existence, and that seeds of enlightenment spring from a cause, so they reveal the one vehicle.” (Lotus Sutra)

Giving up or releasing the personal ego, denying its right to control our thoughts and actions—doesn’t mean denying existence of individual self. It means mindfulness to see beyond discriminations, not allowing the “idea of who I am” to interfere with practicing universal compassion toward everyone.

Nirvana is quiescence – extinguishing all illusions.  The quiet stage in which we cling to nothing.

Who wrote this play?

Who wrote this play in which we have to laugh, cry, and exit according to the script? No god can write it, nor can Buddha. Only your own mind can write it.

– from “Buddhist Inspirations” Polishing the Diamond

A response to Blaine as to "dealing with past and future."

  Dealing with past and future??? No possible quick or easy answer to that one—if any—no "quote" or "set of words" to tell one how to deal with past and future. It's something be lived with—to be “inside” your own experience.

  "Mindfulness" (which is rooted in teachings of the Buddha) "says" that the past and the future do not exist – they are only "stories" we store in our minds as we remember the past or imagine the future, and one could say we are not the person we were in the past or will become in the future. Who we are now is all that matters.

  What I’m learning from Cody doesn’t come from his words or explanations of how or what he believes – he seldom says anything about that. Learning is from how I see him when he’s with his family or talking about them (very proud of his two daughters), his actions at the health center, or when we're riding around town listening to audio books (many ideas we share from them but seldom make any “comments” only – a “yes” or “just like me” now and then) When we lunch together, there’s little conversation.

  Especially at the supermarket where we have a chance of interchanges with so many people. He is TOTALLY ATTENTIVE to the moment. HE SEES EVERYTHING, is totally focused, his mind is right where he's at in the moment, and this results in many delightful exchanges – "quick takes" you might say, and kidding me about my love of butter—“hadn’t you better check out the butter sales today?” and checking the blueberries to see if they have any mold.

  When he's working at the center, he’s totally focused on the people his adjusting, giving them his complete attention.

  All this is a marvel, and so in tune with my own desire to "travel lost, arriving now, here” and celebrate life every minute of the day – even when “participating” in the lives of characters I love so much on DVDs, or books read, and most certainly here at FB.

  Once, some time ago when Cody was driving me home from a Thanksgiving dinner at his home, he told me about a seminar he'd attended and how impressed he was with the man who was giving it – I don't remember the specifics, but I do remember he said something that prompted me to respond with a "quote" whose meaning I had pondered many time as to its meaning while meditating with the Lotus Sutra, and suddenly I didn’t have to “ponder” it any more, and said simply, "Aspiring to the mind of non-existence . . ." He replied, "Yes." It was a wonderful moment—a spark of “knowing” between us, with only these few words spoken. Nothing further was said, or needed to be said.

Mendocino

Being Totally Present

  A lesson I’ve been learning through the years (nine and counting) from living example of friend Cody – with many thanks for yesterday (Thursday, April 9) – believe it or not, this was the “Buddhist Inspiration” for April 9, recalling our exchange as you brought me home again with that humongous load of groceries – “time for some mindfulness.”

  Ayya Khema – Be and Island – The greatest support we can have is mindfulness, which means being totally present in each moment. If the mind remains centered, it cannot make up stories about the injustice of the world or one’s friends, or about one’s desires or sorrows All these stories could fill many volumes, but when we are mindful such verbalizations stop. Being mindful means being fully absorbed in the moment, leaving no room for anything else. We are filled with the momentary happening, whatever it is—standing, or sitting, or lying down, feeling pleasure or pain—and we maintain a non judgmental awareness, a “just knowing.”

  (Dfs) – “Knowing” the vibrant Law of the Void, the real aspect of things. “Knowing” in our mindfulness we are always in the arms of the all-pervading life-force which causes everything to live. Our perceptions are clear, pure, as we perceive the real aspect of things, resting in emptiness, embracing all forms.

Barcelona - El Penidés

Being Totally Present

Estar totalmente presente

A lesson I’ve been learning through the years (nine and counting) from living example of friend Cody – with many thanks for yesterday (Thursday, April 9) – believe it or not, this was the “Buddhist Inspiration” for April 9, recalling our exchange as you brought me home again with that humongous load of groceries – “time for some mindfulness.”

Una lección que he estado aprendiendo a través de los años (nueve y contando) de ejemplo de amigo Cody vivir - con muchas gracias por lo de ayer (jueves 9 de abril) - aunque no lo crean, esta fue la "inspiración budista" de 9 de abril, recordando nuestro intercambio como usted me trajo a casa otra vez con esa carga descomunal de comestibles - "tiempo para un poco la atención."

Ayya Khema – Be and Island – The greatest support we can have is mindfulness, which means being totally present in each moment. If the mind remains centered, it cannot make up stories about the injustice of the world or one’s friends, or about one’s desires or sorrows All these stories could fill many volumes, but when we are mindful such verbalizations stop. Being mindful means being fully absorbed in the moment, leaving no room for anything else. We are filled with the momentary happening, whatever it is—standing, or sitting, or lying down, feeling pleasure or pain—and we maintain a non judgmental awareness, a “just knowing.”

Ayya Khema - Ser y la Isla - El mayor apoyo que podemos tener es la atención plena, lo que significa estar totalmente presente en cada momento. Si la mente permanece centrada, no puede inventar historias acerca de la injusticia del mundo o los amigos de uno, o sobre los propios deseos o tristezas Todas estas historias podrían llenar muchos volúmenes, pero cuando somos conscientes de detener tales verbalizaciones. Ser consciente significa estar totalmente absorto en el momento, sin dejar espacio para nada más. Estamos llenos de la ocurrencia momentánea, lo que sea de pie o sentado, o acostado, sentir placer o dolor, y mantenemos una conciencia sin prejuicios, un "hecho de saber."

(Dfs) – “Knowing” the vibrant Law of the Void, the real aspect of things. “Knowing” in our mindfulness we are always in the arms of the all-pervading life-force which causes everything to live. Our perceptions are clear, pure, as we perceive the real aspect of things, resting in emptiness, embracing all forms.

(Dfs) - "Conocer" la vibrante Ley del Vacío, el aspecto real de las cosas. "Saber" en nuestro mindfulness estamos siempre en los brazos de la que todo lo impregna de fuerza vital que hace que todo lo que vive. Nuestras percepciones son claras, puro, tal como lo percibimos el aspecto real de las cosas, que descansa en el vacío, que abarca todas las formas.

Lilacs - from Kristine Etter

Defining The Threefold Lotus Sutra

Undaunted amidst the multitude
let them openly expound and preach it.
With great compassion for their abode,
gentleness and forbearance for their robe,
and the voidness of all laws for their throne,
abiding in these, let them preach the Law.

. . . think of the Buddha; let them be patient.
In thousands of myriads of countless lands,
I will appear to them with pure, imperishable bodies,
and in infinite countless kalpas, preach the Law for all the living.

 . . . wherever they may go, I shall still be Buddha,
though under different names . . .”

  The Threefold Lotus Sutra is a Buddhist scripture of pivotal importance and one of the world’s great religious classics, representing the Buddha’s ageless teaching of wisdom, compassion, and liberation.

  The English text at the heart of the Threefold, “The Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law” (the Lotus Sutra) is derived from a fifth century translation, Sanskrit to Chinese, by revered scholar Kumarajiva, based on earlier Sanskrit texts, some of which had been inscribed five hundred years earlier; his final translation also resulting at the time from counsels held with other Chinese scholars..

  All the Buddha’s teachings have been transmitted by the sutras. They do not contain the Buddha’s exact words since no sutra has been handed down in the language the Buddha himself spoke; they were trans­mitted in other Indic languages of later periods, so without doubt, conscious and unconscious changes in the Buddha’s exact words were made during several centuries of oral trans­mission. Nevertheless, both the primitive and Mahayana sutras are considered by scholars as authentic records of the Buddha’s original teachings. For a definitive history of the Buddhist sutras, see Kogen Mizuno’s Buddhist Sutras, Origin, Develop­ment, Transmission.

  At the first Buddhist council held after Shakyamuni’s death around 480 B.C., his teachings were recited by various disciples (chiefly by his cousin, Ananda); this is why many of the Great Vehicle Sutras (the Maha­yana) begin with “Thus have I heard.”

  The literal meaning of “sutra” is “warp or thread.” Seemingly limitless “threads” are woven into the fabric of the Buddha’s teachings and the The Threefold Lotus Sutra weaves them into “one vehicle” including formerly taught fundamental doctrine, such as “The Four Noble Truths,” “The Eightfold Path,” “The Six Virtues of the Bodhisattvas.” The Buddha’s forty years of preaching after his enlightenment now extend to embrace those whose hearts are longing to reach and “accomplish the Way supreme.”

  “Now is the very time” Shakyamuni declares early in the sutra, his desire arising from his universal compassion for all living beings. Celebrating the Buddha’s life and his teachings in the Lotus Sutra becomes a celebra­tion of life itself.

The Threefold Lotus Sutra, translated by Bunno Kato, Yoshiro Tamura, and Kojiro Miyasaka, with revisions by W.E. Soothill, Wilhelm Schiffer, and Pier P. del Campana; published, 1975, by John Weatherhill, Inc., New York and Tokyo; and Kosei Publishing Company, Tokyo.

Rissho Kosei-kai is a Buddhist lay organization head­quartered in Japan and is responsible for the beautifully rendered, scholarly English translation of The Threefold Lotus Sutra. (I was a member of Rissho Kosei-kai in Los Angeles for four years, from 1989 to 1993.)