Like the neighborhood skunk that tiptoes down the driveway in its nocturnal travels and sends its scents through open windows here, yesterday was a "Buddhism" day, I guess. Old actions, old choices, old stuff comes calling once again like some ex-spouse with whom the connections appeared to have been severed and then, oddly, reassert themselves.
My younger son's good friend and fishing companion Brian was sitting on the couch when I ambled by on my way to the kitchen yesterday morning. He and Ives were watching TV. It was mid-morning and I wondered why Brian was here so early. "They let me out of work very early," he explained. Less work, less money ... so I said I would pay both boys something if they mowed the lawn ... and do a good job. I told them what I wanted and they agreed.
But later, Ives told me he had taken Brian out to the zendo and Brian had some questions. More or less, the questions seemed to boil down to, "What do you do in a place like that?" I'm a sucker for the simple questions, the direct questions, the human questions, so I told him in the simplest language I could find. Zen Buddhism -- what a strange pastime. On the one hand it's dumber than a box of rocks -- sit down and shut up -- and on the other, people put out a lot of effort to build sometimes fancy buildings in aid of such an activity. A conundrum -- why put out energy for something that stupid?
That's my kind of question. The vast compassion of the bodhisattva or the emptiness of mind ... I know others can expatiate and fiddle around, but those matters don't press my buzzers as surely as a simple, straightforward, open-hearted "What's it all for?" Now that makes some sense to me.
Not that it's a question anyone could adequately answer, of course: But at least it's straight-up and straight-across. Buddhism ... who thought that up and what usefulness did it have? I floundered around, told Brian what I could, and pretty soon the conversation turned to baseball.
Then, in the evening, some woman named Whitney called. She sounded somewhat breathless and young. She was interested in Buddhism and wondered if we could have a cup of coffee some time. I said -- perhaps rashly -- that it might be easier if she just came here and I would give her a cup of coffee. I figured that she could see the zendo if she wanted. But when I asked her when she wanted to get together, she replied, "As soon as possible." Uh-oh ... was this a case of drugs or recent social trauma desperate for any available talisman ... some wand which, when waved, would take away all worries and pain? I couldn't tell on the phone, but I guess I'll find out, assuming she shows up for the 9:30 date we set for this morning.
Buddhism ... coming calling again like some ex-spouse, reasserting a presence as if it were still as present as it had been in the past. Everyone makes his or her own bed and then has to sleep in it, but still ... that old bed?! I can see why the old-timers of the past were quick to point newcomers to someone else ... "Go ask Harry or Sally -- they know about that stuff." It's easier to let someone else flounder ... especially when they are convinced they are not floundering.
But since I am on the topic, here (Harry- or Sally-fashion) is an old cheat-sheet I once wrote for a high school student who came to visit the zendo as part of a Christian church assignment to learn about co-existing with other 'religions:'
BUDDHISM
The truth of Buddhism does not come from a book. It does not come from a temple. It does not come from someone else. It is not written on a piece of paper. The truth of Buddhism comes from the individual effort to investigate, verify and actualize a clear understanding of this life.
Shakyamuni Buddha, the man most often referred to as the founder of Buddhism, was born on the border of India and Nepal in about 565 BC. He attained what is sometimes called enlightenment at 35 and preached until his death at 80. Many schools of Buddhism sprang from his teachings … in India, Tibet, China, Korea and Japan among others. Uncertain estimates put Buddhist numbers at about 350 million worldwide.
All Buddhist schools agree on at least two things:
1. THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS: These are observations about the world around us.
The Four Noble Truths are:
*** 1. There is suffering (dukkha – the uncertainties, dissatisfactions and doubts that life can dish up); 2. There is a cause of suffering; 3. There is an end to suffering; 4. There is a way to end suffering.
2. THE EIGHTFOLD PATH: These are the tools suggested as most useful when seeking out a truly peaceful life in a changing world.
The Eightfold Path is:
*** 1. Right View 2. Right Intention 3. Right Speech 4. Right Action 5. Right Livelihood 6. Right Effort 7. Right Mindfulness 8. Right Concentration.
The word "right" is sometimes translated as "complete." A “complete” effort is thorough-going and whole-hearted. Nothing is held back. Buddhism is not a threat-based persuasion: You won’t go to heaven (right) if you practice it and you won’t go to hell (wrong) if you don’t. But honesty is required -- complete honesty.
The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path carry with them the verifiable observation that everything in life changes. There is nothing that does not change. Joy turns to sorrow, love turns to anger, birth turns to death, and the family car always gets a flat. All Buddhist schools agree on such things, but how they approach them may vary.
But as the Dalai Lama put it once, "Everyone wants to be happy." And that is probably as good a summary of Buddhism as any.
The truth of Buddhism does not come from a book. It does not come from a temple. It does not come from someone else. It is not written on a piece of paper. The truth of Buddhism comes from the individual effort to investigate, verify and actualize a clear understanding of this life.
Shakyamuni Buddha, the man most often referred to as the founder of Buddhism, was born on the border of India and Nepal in about 565 BC. He attained what is sometimes called enlightenment at 35 and preached until his death at 80. Many schools of Buddhism sprang from his teachings … in India, Tibet, China, Korea and Japan among others. Uncertain estimates put Buddhist numbers at about 350 million worldwide.
All Buddhist schools agree on at least two things:
1. THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS: These are observations about the world around us.
The Four Noble Truths are:
*** 1. There is suffering (dukkha – the uncertainties, dissatisfactions and doubts that life can dish up); 2. There is a cause of suffering; 3. There is an end to suffering; 4. There is a way to end suffering.
2. THE EIGHTFOLD PATH: These are the tools suggested as most useful when seeking out a truly peaceful life in a changing world.
The Eightfold Path is:
*** 1. Right View 2. Right Intention 3. Right Speech 4. Right Action 5. Right Livelihood 6. Right Effort 7. Right Mindfulness 8. Right Concentration.
The word "right" is sometimes translated as "complete." A “complete” effort is thorough-going and whole-hearted. Nothing is held back. Buddhism is not a threat-based persuasion: You won’t go to heaven (right) if you practice it and you won’t go to hell (wrong) if you don’t. But honesty is required -- complete honesty.
The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path carry with them the verifiable observation that everything in life changes. There is nothing that does not change. Joy turns to sorrow, love turns to anger, birth turns to death, and the family car always gets a flat. All Buddhist schools agree on such things, but how they approach them may vary.
But as the Dalai Lama put it once, "Everyone wants to be happy." And that is probably as good a summary of Buddhism as any.
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