Good evening!
We had a beautiful, bright sunny day today, with plants budding, burgeoning, and sprouting. I saw a pretty white star magnolia blooming in full size on a branch I had taken in during the chilly weather and put in a vase; its buds looked like pussy willows then.
For a flower to bloom, it takes billions of years of effort and the whole universe supporting it. I’ve also been supported by all beings throughout the world, through billions of years. To meet and appreciate this white flower is invaluable and priceless.
In the tea way we say “ichigo ichie(????),” once in a lifetime. This is our attitude in meeting anyone, even though we may meet again. What a precious time we have now, sitting together, coming from different countries. So, please sit well as the Buddha did.
A flower blooming out of season is the work of nature, made through billions of years in a vast integral life system in space and time. The Buddha was awakened to the Dharma of dependent origination: phenomena originate depending on limitless causes and conditions.
He sat in deep meditation (jhâna, chan, zen) and stopped karma, eventually witnessing unconditioned peace (nirvana) and unsurpassed right complete awakening (anuttara-samyak-sambodhi) in this universal truth, becoming truth and peace himself.
He attained prajnâ (prognosis, insight) into existence as substanceless (shûña, zero, no independent eternal entity), and so changeable – either to a wholly wholesome way or not. The principle and practice of the Awakened Way depend on this truth.
If we want to function freely and fully, wholly wholesomely, we must understand and actualize this truth of dependent origination. This requires complete calmness and clearness, unbound by karma. This sitting allows us to help all beings to bloom fully.
3/2/11