Good morning!
Last night we had light rain after a long spell of hot, dry weather. So, now trees and
other plants seem moistened and greener. On the way here I saw mists hovering over
the grass. Above we could see the slim crescent moon. Soon we will be able to see the
renowned full moon in the clear autumn sky.
The full moon represents the Buddha’s heart, full, round, clear, and calm in
cultivation and verification. When we were born, we were like the slender crescent
moon. As we grow greater, we become like the half moon, and we may be able to
become like the full moon, if we strive in cultivation and verification.
Our growth is like enlarging the eight spokes of the Eightfold Holy Way, making
the octagonal shape more balanced and brimming to the fully round full moon,
brightly shining and illuminating the world, becoming more holy (wholly
wholesome), harmonious, healthy, and happy.
However, we may not grow balanced and harmonious, but unbalanced and distorted
– self-centered, heavy-headed, etc. Human karma-machines have been marching
in me-ism, materialism, and militarism, individually and collectively, alienated
from the longer life lineage and the holy heart harmony.
Mankind made the Farming Production Revolution10,000 years ago; with the wealth
from this, the City Urbanization (Civilization) Revolution 5,000 years ago was made
possible; against that miseries of it (wars, etc.) the Spiritual Revolution appeared
2,500 years ago and Life Revolution 50 years ago – respectively 20, 10, 5, and 0.1
seconds ago in the Cosmic Calendar.
Our lives are four cornered in seeking matter, power, mind, and life, and our
mental life is triangular with intellects, emotions, and volitions in seeking truth,
beauty, and goodness or sciences, arts, and ethics. These fields, functions, and
fruits are often uncultivated and unbalanced, rugged and ravaged.
That is why we need to cultivate capacities and verify virtues throughout our lives.
Dr. Suzuki of the Suzuki Method said, “You don’t play a violin. Let the violin play.”
When we sound a bell, arrange flowers, or water plants here, we had better let the
bell sound, the flowers arrange, and the plants water to their nature.
The Buddha said that religion is cultivation. Religion is to re-unite with the
holiness (wholly wholesomeness) of life, mind, power, matter, truth, beauty,
goodness. Our cultivation is to verify the free full function of them, freed from
karmas and fully functioning with our bodies, hearts, and the whole world.
9/1/13
Note: Eightfold Holy Way is:
Right view
Right thinking
Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Right striving
Right mindfulness
Right concentration
