Good morning!
We have a nice day today with the warmer Sun and almost without snow! This
Sunday and last Sunday have “the difference of clouds and mud.” Even clouds
would make rain melting snow rather than snow mounting snow. The roads are
dry and without the danger of cars colliding out of control.
Last Sunday the local roads and highways were several inches deep in snow
without being plowed. So, it was very difficult and dangerous to drive without
clear vision due to the ice-coated wipers not wiping well. Cars and trucks tried
to maneuver or pass through piled snow covering the lane lines.
In the cold weather and world we tend to move through severe states without
clear vision, a cloudy shield making dangerous maneuvering. The Buddha,
seeing deep laya (layers of karma) like the Himalayas’ snow-storage (hima-ālaya),
was rather reluctant to come out into such a world with its Triple Poisons.
In the warmer weather and world we can see and drive through the familiar
and friendly world with intimate feeling and safe sailing. The Buddha saw
some lotus flowers blooming above and untouched by muddy water and
decided to come out into the world to save it from destruction.
A cold world or society and a warm world and society are made by nature and
nurtured by people. Depending on different temperatures and temperaments
we experience hardship or happiness, as in mundane and supramundane
realms with different seasons and senses in the same place.
Even though it is easier to see and drive through a warm world, we have to strive
and suffer through some stresses and suffering. “Coming home and sitting in
comfort” is totally safe and satisfying. “Come and see” nirvana and bodhi beyond
samsara suffering, tasting amrita, ambrosia of immortality.
1/12/14
