Good morning!
We have a sunny spring Sunday morning with our sesshin (embracing and touching the heart, 摂心・接心). Earlier this morning I saw the bright full moon, which represents the Buddha’s heart, calm and clear, illuminating the world. It is free from karma clouds and full in the dharma world in unconditioned peace (nirvana) and unsurpassed awakening (bodhi).
I worked weeding, cultivating, and sowing seeds yesterday until it got dark. I saw vines climbing over bushes and trees, shading, choking, and killing them, if not removed. Cognates of “freedom” in Sanskrit and Pali are priya-dhāman and piya-dhāman (familiar relation, lit. beloved domain), knowing karma and properly dealing with it for holiness (wholly wholesome way world).
This is from karma to dharma, or from preoccupation to prognosis. Recently there is road construction on Brentwood Boulevard. My karma leads to it unless I am wakeful and take precautions (prognosticate) for another route to Hanley Road, which is even faster but with fewer natural views. Especially in an advanced civilization with nukes, etc., we need awakening and prognosis.
We must sit still, still our karma, see, serve for the holy dharma, and save all in holiness, goodness, truth, and beauty. Our full function freed through this cultivation and culture, we work for the wholly wholesome way world. As our karma is strong for survival since life started, we must strive for the salvation of all, saving the world from destruction, as the Buddha did.
4/24/16
