Good morning!
Now we can feel the fall atmosphere in the early morning and late evening, especially
after sittings and service. In a fortnight we will have the equinox, equal in day and
night, neither hot nor chilly. So, the time is celebrated in Buddhist countries as higan
(彼岸), yonder shore or nirvana, where there is neither coming nor going, neither
one nor many, neither annihilation nor eternity, neither birth nor death. The Heart
Sutra, which we recited earlier, tells us that all is empty (Pali: suñña, Sanskrit:
śūnya) of substance.
Seasons are neither coming nor going, but dependently originated on the earth’s
action. When the earth is upright, leaning neither forward toward nor backwards
away from the sun, there is neither heat nor chill. Likewise, when one sits solid and
upright, leaning neither forward nor backwards, stilling karmas of the triple poisons,
there is nirvana without suffering, the rampant raging of the five aggregates. Anyone
can and must come from and go to it without or withdrawn from one’s karma – better
earlier, before one cannot.
The Buddha said, “The world is on fire. Eyes are on fire. Ears are on fire. Nose…,
tongue…, body…, mind is on fire.” The world is on fire, burning down all like a
wildfire – global warming, mass extinction, etc. – due to our eyes, ears, …, minds
being on fire. Our six senses have been evolved and developed due to karma and
driven by karma with the triple poisons of desire, divisiveness, and delusion,
causing devastation to individuals and societies, and eventually the destruction
of the world.
The Buddha also said, “Better than conquering thousands upon thousands on the
battlefield is conquering one-self. That is the true conqueror.” How can one conquer
oneself? Sit still, still karmas, see dharmas, and serve and save all in interdependent
origination, in limitless relation and relativity. Anyone can and must cultivate his
karma to witness nirvana and enjoy holy (wholly wholesome) harmony, health, and
happiness in limitless life, light, liberation, and love for all. Only practice makes
perfect. Who, when, where?
9/6/15
