Transformation Through Compassion - the Essence of the Lotus Sutra
The Lotus Sutra has long been among my favorites of
Buddhist sacred scripture. Yesterday and last night, I was reading the Chinese
translation of this sutra. I’ve read the Lotus Sutra many times in its Sanskrit
translation, ‘Saddharma-pundarika-sutra’ (the ‘True Dharma Flower Sutra’).
Sanskrit is the language in which this sutra was originally written. The
Chinese texts didn’t interest me much until recently, when I found Venerable
Cheng Kuan’s translation.
Every time I look at the Lotus Sutra, it’s different. But
the message contained in this favorite scripture of mine is always the same.
The text is concerned with flowering – lotus – or the blossoming of all
sentient beings into Buddhahood.
In it, Shakyamuni speaks of the ultimate truth of life, of
which he was enlightened: Buddhahood - the supreme state of existence of which
all Buddhists strive - is characterized by compassion first, then wisdom, and
courage.
Compassion comes first. When we practice compassion, yes,
we transform those around us, but we transform even more deeply ourselves. When
we live in compassion – harming none, harboring no anger, taking no revenge,
speaking in kindness, forgiving all – we are utterly transformed. And I believe
that wisdom and courage are the natural and abundant fruits of compassion practice.
The Lotus Sutra teaches that Buddhhahood is inherent within
every one of us regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, social status, or
intellectual ability. Think of it as something precious locked away in a safe
inside all of us: Shakyamuni’s teachings and compassion practice are the keys
to freeing this precious thing, bringing it into the light, and into use.
The Lotus Sutra is a teaching of empowerment. We can transform
ourselves, realize our infinite potential, and live in and grant to all
sentient beings the dignity that’s inherent to all life. The way is open for
all sentient beings to awaken to their Buddha Nature.
I want to share a few late-season garden reports. The
tomato patch, which was cleared last month, is now a carpet of young Thai pink
egg tomato plants. This happens when ripe tomatoes fall to the ground and
decompose and the seeds germinate. It killed me, but my husband took the
tractor yesterday and razed all but a few to the soil line. The few he didn’t
flatten I dug up and potted. I just want to see if I can grow some tomatoes
indoors this winter. I doubt it, but I won’t know until I try.
For dinner last night, I made a yummy kaeng phet - a Thai
curry with lime leaves, mango, and tofu. The star of the dish was our own
garden Thai Burapa peppers (remember those seeds I had imported last winter?),
which made the curry spicy hot and really pretty. Long, bright red pods
swimming in coconut milk and spices. It was served with brown rice, and It was
awesome.
The birds and squirrels have found our bird and nut
feeders. Over the weekend, we enjoyed watching the songbirds fly to and fro,
grabbing sunflower seeds, disappearing for a minute, then coming back for more.
We’re on our way.
