Good morning!
We have a calm clear Sunday morning after sittings and service as usual. Still sitting is stilling karma providing us the Triple Learning of sīla, samādhi, and prajňā, which all Buddhists learn. Recently Mr. Otsuka sent me pictures of southern magnolia (magnolia grandiflora) looking like white lotus with good scent. The Buddha said that sīla scent spreads far unlike close flower scent.
Sīla is usually translated as morality, but established character, backbones, and pillars, which support system structure. When one sits solid and stable like boulder or mountain, one is not moved by karma winds physically, verbally, or mentally. One stays calm and clear volitionally, emotionally, and intellectually, where the Five and Ten Precepts (no killing, stealing, lying, etc.) are observed.
Samādhi (from sam-ā-dhā, total projection/dedication/application over) is usually translated as concentration (focusing), but settling stable and serene in holy (wholly wholesome) harmony of the body, heart, and the world through and through beyond the Triple Poisons, the Four Fluxes, and the Five Coverings leading to nirvana as shown in the Four Stages of Zen, Jhāna, Dhyāna.
Prajňā (from pra-jňā, pro-gnosis) is usually translated as wisdom, but penetrating insight beyond discrimination (called mu-funbetsu chi, non-discursive intuition) or prognosis as the cognate indicates (not premonition only as its modern use) leading to unsurpassed right awakening. The Triple Learning is the countermeasure of the Triple Poisons coming from bad karma.
Note:
Triple Poisons: desire, divisiveness, and delusion: thirst, anger, and delusion (taṇhā, dosa, avijjā)
Four Fluxes: Leaks: lust, becoming, views, nescience (kāma, bhava, diṭṭhi, avijjā)
Five Coverings: lust-desire, covetousness-malevolence, sloth-drowsiness, agitation-worry, doubt (kāma-chanda, abhijjhā-vyāpāda, thīna-middha, uddhaccha-kukuccha, vikicchā)
7/24/16
– The above pictures were sent by Mr. Noriyuki Otsuka from Japan –