I developed a habit on another forum of posting "Memo's from the Pure Land", often a bit tongue in cheek. Some, not quite catching my sense of humour would possible think "who does he think he is, speaking from the Pure Land." They just didn't know the Pure Land as I do, full of foolish beings ( bombu's in Shin Buddhist parlance) whose reliance upon Other Power (
tariki) is almost legendary.
Well, here's a memo, wherever its from. Not really off-topic as we have spoken of the coming of the Dharma to the West on this thread. I write my memo's in Costa's where I enjoy a large cappuccino (extra hot, to make it last, being a skinflint at heart) this after a walk into town taking in the sights (empty cans and crisp packets strewn across the pavements etc etc) While appreciating the ardent advice of some that "when walking just walk" I tend to muse and on arrival at Costa's have a few random thoughts to expound upon, for better or for worse. I find sitting in Costa's genuinely therapeutic and now that the wearing of masks is no longer mandatory I enjoy seeing the lovely Costa girls drinking in my fine chiselled features (I've always seen the winks of course)
Anyway, today, I was musing on the coming of the Dharma to the West. In the past it was often one form that arrived anywhere, but now in the West, with mass communication and the internet, its all coming at once. Personally I have always been glad that I had the peg of Theravada first in my meeting of the Buddha's teaching. Virtually "fundamentalist" teachings as in Rahula Walpola's fine book, "What the Buddha Taught", the Dhammapada, and various other Theravada teachers such as Nyanaponika Thera (aka Sigmund Feniger...... They're all at it......
) and Bhikkhu Nanamoli (Osbert Moore......where will it ever end?)
I would'nt seek to dictate how anyone should approach the Dharma but as I say, personally I'm glad I had that Theravada grounding before being exposed to the Mahayana, zen etc......lets not mention the more obscure forms of tantric Buddhism.
I've been getting back to some Theravada works recently, re-reading Nanamoli's fine "Life of the Buddha" which is based solely upon the early Pali texts. It is excellent and if you take your zen or whatever with you, you can see the seeds of future Mahayana developments (what can you call them?) in the words.
"Unenlightened Bodhisattva" for instance, in describing the Buddha prior to enlightenment. How suggestive! Easy to look at Bodhisattva's and think of them as being above and beyond. But "unenlightened"? It give's hope to us all. No need to wait before seeking the salvation of all! Just get on with it.
I love the Mahayana teaching of expedient means (Upaya), expounded well in the Parable of The Dharma Rain found in the Lotus Sutra.....
I bring fullness and satisfaction to the world,
like rain that spreads its moisture everywhere.
Eminent and lowly, superior and inferior,
observers of precepts, violators of precepts,
those fully endowed with proper demeanor,
those not fully endowed,
those of correct views, of erroneous views,
of keen capacity, of dull capacity -
I cause the Dharma rain to rain on all equally,
never lax or neglectful.
When all the various living beings
hear my Law,
they receive it according to their power,
dwelling in their different environments.....
..The Law of the Buddhas
is constantly of a single flavour,
causing the many worlds
to attain full satisfaction everywhere;
by practicing gradually and stage by stage,
all beings can gain the fruits of the way.
(The Lotus Sutra, Parable of the Dharma Rain)
Hopefully the quote will be allowed. The words are echoed in other sutra's such as the Vimalakirti Sutra and the Hua-Yen Sutra. Obviously upaya can be expressed variously.
As I read recently, Dharma practice is grounded in reality itself. Help can be found anywhere, often from surprising places and in surprising ways. Best not to anticipate just where illumination can be found.
Whatever, my drink is finished. Shopping to get.
Linear Mode
