Good morning!
After sittings we have a peaceful, calm, and clear world with fresh air. Sitting makes us true. True and tree share the root, deru, enduring, or dhri, holding (root of dharma: form, norm).
Trees stay solid, still, and serene in peace and harmony with wind, water, light, insects, etc., giving us oxygen, shade, shelter, flowers, fruits, etc.
This sitting is to stop human karmas and to return to truth, peace, and harmony – eventually reaching the ultimate source, the origin, the holy (wholesome whole) the true refuge for all to return to and reunite with (: re-ligare: re-ligion).
It is to reach nirvana (lit. no-wind, unconditioned peace) and anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (unsurpassed right awakening). That’s why we become peaceful, calm, and clear with all.
The world is, however, dealing with all kinds of problems and sufferings resulting from human creations and conditions (karmas: wars, nuclear disasters, global warming, mass extinction).
The Buddha said, “The world is on fire. Eyes are on fire, ears…, nose…, tongue…, skin…, and the mind is on fire.” When these fires are extinguished, the world fire will be extinguished.
We have two refuges: self and dharma. The self seeks dharma, truth. When we are awakened in the dharma, we become buddhas and we become dharmas (two of the triple treasure).
We must become awakened and let others become awakened (自覚覚他). How can we make others awakened? We make sangha (the third of the triple treasure) stronger with practice, participation, and promotion.
The Buddha wandered everyday to reach more people. We must follow him. We must make the world our sangha – a community of buddhas in the dharma.
We must practice the eightfold holy path. The crucial practice is sitting and stopping karma, settling into, striving and serving for peace and harmony.
Sitting naturally into nature (dharma) leads to peace and truth – like water in a bowl. When the bowl (body) settles, water (mind) settles. Without turbulence and turbidity, it (mind) reflects reality (dharma) as it is.
6/5/11
