Good morning!
After some showers we have a little milder weather. Especially after sittings we can enjoy a serene, still, steadfast, and satisfied state.
Why do we sit? We all have problems and sufferings (duk-kha: lit. wrong-going, dissatisfaction). We cannot avoid four fundamental sufferings: birth, sickness, aging, and death. We have four concomitant sufferings: no gain of the desired, parting with the loved, meeting with the hated, and (in short) the ferocious five aggregates. We now have all of them on a large scale – socially and ecologically, in the form of nuclear disaster, resource depletion, global warming, and mass extinction. Scientists say that by 2050, given current consumption rates, we’ll need 27 globes to support a projected population of 10 billion.
Why do we suffer? We have fundamental delusion and desire: the delusion of a separated self (âtman/attan, I) and the desire of possession (mama, my). Trees don’t have these, but live truthfully, peacefully, and harmoniously with water, wind, light, genes, birds, and bees, giving us oxygen, shade, fruits, and flowers. Trees are firmly rooted deeply in the ground, but animals (“moving beings,” sensing bodies) are not. On top of this, humans use language (concepts), fortifying the sense of “self.” This delusion, strengthened by karma (habit), leads to bondage, discrimination, exploitation, and extermination (the five calamities).
Only when we sit and still our karma (physical, verbal, mental actions, habits), can we become true, peaceful, and free (from delusion, desire, divisiveness: the three poisons), like trees. Continuous practice makes anyone able to witness truth, peace, and freedom, and to wake up to the truth of dependent origination (phenomena originating on causes and conditions), bringing one back from temporary turbulence to solid serenity (like going from the surface of the sea to its bottom, from a small bubble to the great ocean). Constant practice stabilizes one in ocean samadhi (concentration, lit. total transformation, cf. nirvana; unconditioned peace, lit. windless state of karma).
Only this can keep one in awakening and awakened action, leading to freedom, equality, unity (unified world), love, and peace (the five blisses). This practice can commit one to limitless life, light, liberation, and love, as if one is returning from a provisional, precarious bubbling state to a perpetual, peaceful ocean state, tasting amrita (ambrosia/immortality, no up and down, birth and death, dread, doubt, drowsiness, depression, desertion, etc.). By simple sitting anyone, without discrimination of race, religion, age, gender, etc., can witness these, become awakened to the four holy truths, and wakefully act following the holy eightfold path.
Anyone can become a buddha (awakened one) and share the awakened way with others anywhere, any time. Why can’t we do it, a practice that is good for all and always?
8/7/11
