The Parable of the Burning House

Opening Statement

I will make some comments on the famous Parable of the Burning House, which is told in Chapter 3 of the Lotus Sutra (see Footnote 1).  But first, some thoughts on the role that lies play in Buddhism.

If the Buddha would ever have to lie to assure my enlightenment, I would rather never become Enlightened. On the one hand, it is written that the Buddha never lies. However, toward the end of Chapter 16 of the Lotus Sutra, there appear these two sentences spoken by the Buddha:

• "They [the buddhas] act in order to save living beings, so what they say is true and not false" - p268.

• "In view of the circumstances, however, no one can say that I have been guilty of lies or falsehoods'" - p270.

Regarding the first sentence, "what they say" is true or false irrespective of the motive for "what they say." That is, motive has nothing to do with the truth or falseness of a statement.

Regarding the second sentence, "circumstances" have nothing to do with one being "guilty of lies." If someone wants to call an object black (even though it is really white), he is lying regardless of any "circumstances."

And finally, we have this quote:

QUOTE:  And the Nirvana Sutra also says, "If all the desires and delusions of all the men throughout the major world system [one major world system equals one billion worlds] were lumped together, they would be no greater than the karmic impediment of one single woman. UNQUOTE: [Source: Major Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 3, p. 20]

I believe the Buddha made such a statement hoping his disciples would rise up in protest, saying, "That's not true!" In other words, to test his disciples. But, alas, they didn't protest and therefore failed his test.


The Parable of the Burning House

The Buddha tells this parable, in which he appears in the role of a rich man. He then explains to his disciples that the burning house is a metaphor for the everyday, ordinary world. If one refuses to leave this burning house, then he won't be able to escape its dangers and won't be able to transcend that world.

The parable begins on page 91 of the Lotus Sutra, the opening paragraph containing these lines:

QUOTE:

...his wealth was beyond measure. He had many fields, houses, and menservants. His own house was big and rambling..

:UNQUOTE:

By "his own house," it's safe to assume that's the house he lived in, though the preceding sentence says "He had many...houses..." Maybe his sons lived in one or more of those other houses. In his "own house" lived 500 people and an assortment of dangerous creatures. In addition, this house was in a state of severe disrepair. His 50 sons had gone into this house and were so distracted by the games they were playing, they didn't perceive they were in mortal danger because of a fire that was engulfing the house.

The rich man (the Buddha) runs into the burning house, trying to explain to his sons that they should get out before they get killed. But they ignore him, being absorbed in their games. Then the rich man tells his sons that there are fabulous, jewel-encrusted animal-drawn carts outside the house, one for each of them. But they have to leave the house immediately in order to claim them. Which they eagerly do.

The Buddha explains that this house owner is so wealthy, that he could give one such cart to every person in the whole country and still not exhaust his wealth. So that made me ask a couple of questions:

• If he was so rich, why didn't he post guards to prevent his sons from entering this dangerous, ramshackle house?

• If he was so rich, why didn't he raze this house after building a new one for the 500 people that lived there? Or he could have built two replacement houses - one for the 500 and one for the various monsters that lived there.

But since that rich man (symbolically representing the Buddha) didn't do that, if any of the sons had died in the fire or been devoured by the monsters living there, the Buddha would have been at fault. I found it interesting that the house represented the mundane world, which the Buddha owned. Not only "owned," but had allowed to reach a state of decrepitude which had made it into a firetrap

On page 94, the Buddha says, "He [the Buddha] is born into the threefold world, a burning house, rotten and old, in order to save living beings from the fires of birth, aging, sickness and death..." Not only is he "born into the threefold world," but since he owns this house and is responsible for its condition and could have replaced it, then the Buddha should be held responsible for any death or injury which might occur in a house he failed to replace.

Maybe the mundane world has the problems it has due to the unexpiated karma of the Buddha himself. Which is why he feels such a strong sense of obligation to return to such a world to make pure that which he bears some responsibility for having made impure.

I have no idea if this is the case, but his ownership of the house and neglect in replacing it made these thoughts occur to me. Of course, maybe I'm dead wrong about this, since it can also be argued that most metaphors are flawed.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Steven Searle, just another member of the

Virtual Samgha of the Lotus and

Former Candidate for US President (2008 & 2012)

Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com

Footnote 1:

All references to the Lotus Sutra above, which cite page numbers, refer to:

The Lotus and its Opening and Closing Sutras,
translated by Burton Watson,
published in 2009 by the Soka Gakkai.

This link will connect you to an on-line version of the Lotus Sutra, also translated by Burton Watson, which lacks page numbers:

http://nichiren.info/buddhism/lotussutra/text/chap03.html

A form of monks' greeting

I heard about a greeting meant for monks, strangers to each other, who might happen to meet when traveling in opposite directions on a road in ancient India. One would say to the other:  "Who is your teacher and what are your practices?" And the other would answer these questions and ask them of the one.

There were a lot of different sects in India during the time when the historic buddha (known as Shakyamuni Buddha) lived. And they had a teacher or guru, and varying numbers of disciples. The ancient Indians took their religions very seriously.

If someone would ask me those two questions in this modern day, I would reply:

"My teacher is Shakyamuni Buddha, and my practices are to read, recite, ponder, and to the best of my ability teach the Three-Fold Lotus Sutra. For Shakyamuni stated within its pages that these practices constitute appropriate practices after he [gave the appearance] of his death. He further stated that all Bodhisattvas attain Buddhahood by means of the Lotus Sutra, which he identified as his greatest teaching."

Wait a minute, you might ask, how can Shakyamuni Buddha who died and was cremated over 2,500 years ago be my teacher? He mentioned in the Lotus Sutra that there is "wisdom that comes of itself, teacherless wisdom, Buddha wisdom." If so, then I wouldn't need a teacher of any kind, not even Shakyamuni.

My belief is that the Buddha made this statement as an expedient means, a device to open up our minds to the lessons the universe itself (we suppose) has to offer. However, there is no such thing as "wisdom that comes of itself." Everything has a cause. Such wisdom might seem to come of itself, but my belief is that the Buddha himself whispers in our ears. Then we end up assuming any wisdom we obtain just pops into our heads - uncaused.

Consider this passage from the Lotus Sutra (see Footnote 1):

QUOTE (page 270-271):

In order to save living beings,
as an expedient means I appear to enter nirvana
but in truth I do not pass into extinction.
I am always here, preaching the Law,
I am always here,
but through my transcendental powers
I make so that living beings in their befuddlement
do not see me even when close by.
When the multitude sees that I have passed into extinction,
far and wide they offer alms to my relics.
All harbor thoughts of yearning
and in their minds thirst to gaze at me.
When living beings have become truly faithful,
honest and upright, gentle in intent,
single-mindedly desiring to see the Buddha,
not hesitating even if it costs them their lives,
then I and the assembly of monks
appear together on Holy Eagle Peak.
At that time I tell the living beings
that I am always here, never entering extinction,
but that because of the power of expedient means
at times I appear to be extinct, at other times not,
and that if there are living beings in other lands
who are reverent and sincere in their wish to believe,
then among them too
I will preach the unsurpassed Law.
But you have not heard of this,
so you suppose that I enter extinction.,

:UNQUOTE.

So there it is, but there is more. For the last 8 years, I've practiced alone - that is, without the benefit of a samgha, that is, a congregation of fellow believers. During those years, I've read an English-language translation of the Lotus Sutra over 175 times. If you  made a stack of  this one-inch thick book, that would make a pile over 15 feet high.

In response to my lack of a samgha, I invented a Virtual Samgha. This is a website on which I post essays I've written on a variety of religious topics - not just dealing with Buddhism. I invite comment on these essays, but in the less-than-two years of its existence, I've receive precious few comments.  All good things take time to gain traction, so meanwhile I wait for the Buddha's words to come true in my case, that I will find good fellow students with whom I can study the Lotus Sutra.

Meanwhile, in my war against brick-and-mortar churches, I state:

"I am a member of a sect that has exactly one member - that would be me;
that has exactly one leader - that would be me;
I'm not recruiting though I welcome dialog;
and I don't want your fucking money."

That is, I despise collection plates, though if you want to give alms, make any donations to a cause of your own choosing. For me? That's the United Negro College Fund to which I make donations designated as reparations owed by me - a white American who benefited quite handsomely from the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

I encourage you to set up your own on-line Virtual Samgha.  Mine is at:
http://LotusSutraChampions.blogspot.com

Meanwhile, I will continue to practice on my own, since the Buddha has spoken of those seekers of the Way who prefer solitary practices.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Steven Searle, just another member of the

Virtual Samgha of the Lotus and

Former Candidate for US President (2008 & 2012)

Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com

Footnote 1:

Any mention in this post concerning the Lotus Sutra refers to this version:
I heard about a greeting meant for monks, strangers to each other, who might happen to meet when traveling in opposite directions on a road in ancient India. One would say to the other:  "Who is your teacher and what are your practices?" And the other would answer these questions and ask them of the one.

There were a lot of different sects in India during the time when the historic buddha (known as Shakyamuni Buddha) lived. And they had a teacher or guru, and varying numbers of disciples. The ancient Indians took their religions very seriously.

If someone would ask me those two questions in this modern day, I would reply:

"My teacher is Shakyamuni Buddha, and my practices are to read, recite, ponder, and to the best of my ability teach the Three-Fold Lotus Sutra. For Shakyamuni stated within its pages that these practices constitute appropriate practices after he [gave the appearance] of his death. He further stated that all Bodhisattvas attain Buddhahood by means of the Lotus Sutra, which he identified as his greatest teaching."

Wait a minute, you might ask, how can Shakyamuni Buddha who died and was cremated over 2,500 years ago be my teacher? He mentioned in the Lotus Sutra that there is "wisdom that comes of itself, teacherless wisdom, Buddha wisdom." If so, then I wouldn't need a teacher of any kind, not even Shakyamuni.

My belief is that the Buddha made this statement as an expedient means, a device to open up our minds to the lessons the universe itself (we suppose) has to offer. However, there is no such thing as "wisdom that comes of itself." Everything has a cause. Such wisdom might seem to come of itself, but my belief is that the Buddha himself whispers in our ears. Then we end up assuming any wisdom we obtain just pops into our heads - uncaused.

Consider this passage from the Lotus Sutra (see Footnote 1):

QUOTE (page 270-271):

In order to save living beings,
as an expedient means I appear to enter nirvana
but in truth I do not pass into extinction.
I am always here, preaching the Law,
I am always here,
but through my transcendental powers
I make so that living beings in their befuddlement
do not see me even when close by.
When the multitude sees that I have passed into extinction,
far and wide they offer alms to my relics.
All harbor thoughts of yearning
and in their minds thirst to gaze at me.
When living beings have become truly faithful,
honest and upright, gentle in intent,
single-mindedly desiring to see the Buddha,
not hesitating even if it costs them their lives,
then I and the assembly of monks
appear together on Holy Eagle Peak.
At that time I tell the living beings
that I am always here, never entering extinction,
but that because of the power of expedient means
at times I appear to be extinct, at other times not,
and that if there are living beings in other lands
who are reverent and sincere in their wish to believe,
then among them too
I will preach the unsurpassed Law.
But you have not heard of this,
so you suppose that I enter extinction.,

:UNQUOTE.

So there it is, but there is more. For the last 8 years, I've practiced alone - that is, without the benefit of a samgha, that is, a congregation of fellow believers. During those years, I've read an English-language translation of the Lotus Sutra over 175 times. If you  made a stack of  this one-inch thick book, that would make a pile over 15 feet high.

In response to my lack of a samgha, I invented a Virtual Samgha. This is a website on which I post essays I've written on a variety of religious topics - not just dealing with Buddhism. I invite comment on these essays, but in the less-than-two years of its existence, I've receive precious few comments.  All good things take time to gain traction, so meanwhile I wait for the Buddha's words to come true in my case, that I will find good fellow students with whom I can study the Lotus Sutra.

Meanwhile, in my war against brick-and-mortar churches, I state:

"I am a member of a sect that has exactly one member - that would be me;
that has exactly one leader - that would be me;
I'm not recruiting though I welcome dialog;
and I don't want your fucking money."

That is, I despise collection plates, though if you want to give alms, make any donations to a cause of your own choosing. For me? That's the United Negro College Fund to which I make donations designated as reparations owed by me - a white American who benefited quite handsomely from the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

I encourage you to set up your own on-line Virtual Samgha.  Mine is at:
http://LotusSutraChampions.blogspot.com

Meanwhile, I will continue to practice on my own, since the Buddha has spoken of those seekers of the Way who preferred solitary practices.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Steven Searle, just another member of the

Virtual Samgha of the Lotus and

Former Candidate for US President (2008 & 2012)

Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com

Footnote 1:

Any mention in this post concerning the Lotus Sutra refers to this version:
I heard about a greeting meant for monks, strangers to each other, who might happen to meet when traveling in opposite directions on a road in ancient India. One would say to the other:  "Who is your teacher and what are your practices?" And the other would answer these questions and ask them of the one.

There were a lot of different sects in India during the time when the historic buddha (known as Shakyamuni Buddha) lived. And they had a teacher or guru, and varying numbers of disciples. The ancient Indians took their religions very seriously.

If someone would ask me those two questions in this modern day, I would reply:

"My teacher is Shakyamuni Buddha, and my practices are to read, recite, ponder, and to the best of my ability teach the Three-Fold Lotus Sutra. For Shakyamuni stated within its pages that these practices constitute appropriate practices after he [gave the appearance] of his death. He further stated that all Bodhisattvas attain Buddhahood by means of the Lotus Sutra, which he identified as his greatest teaching."

Wait a minute, you might ask, how can Shakyamuni Buddha who died and was cremated over 2,500 years ago be my teacher? He mentioned in the Lotus Sutra that there is "wisdom that comes of itself, teacherless wisdom, Buddha wisdom." If so, then I wouldn't need a teacher of any kind, not even Shakyamuni.

My belief is that the Buddha made this statement as an expedient means, a device to open up our minds to the lessons the universe itself (we suppose) has to offer. However, there is no such thing as "wisdom that comes of itself." Everything has a cause. Such wisdom might seem to come of itself, but my belief is that the Buddha himself whispers in our ears. Then we end up assuming any wisdom we obtain just pops into our heads - uncaused.

Consider this passage from the Lotus Sutra (see Footnote 1):

QUOTE (page 270-271):

In order to save living beings,
as an expedient means I appear to enter nirvana
but in truth I do not pass into extinction.
I am always here, preaching the Law,
I am always here,
but through my transcendental powers
I make so that living beings in their befuddlement
do not see me even when close by.
When the multitude sees that I have passed into extinction,
far and wide they offer alms to my relics.
All harbor thoughts of yearning
and in their minds thirst to gaze at me.
When living beings have become truly faithful,
honest and upright, gentle in intent,
single-mindedly desiring to see the Buddha,
not hesitating even if it costs them their lives,
then I and the assembly of monks
appear together on Holy Eagle Peak.
At that time I tell the living beings
that I am always here, never entering extinction,
but that because of the power of expedient means
at times I appear to be extinct, at other times not,
and that if there are living beings in other lands
who are reverent and sincere in their wish to believe,
then among them too
I will preach the unsurpassed Law.
But you have not heard of this,
so you suppose that I enter extinction.,

:UNQUOTE.

So there it is, but there is more. For the last 8 years, I've practiced alone - that is, without the benefit of a samgha, that is, a congregation of fellow believers. During those years, I've read an English-language translation of the Lotus Sutra over 175 times. If you  made a stack of  this one-inch thick book, that would make a pile over 15 feet high.

In response to my lack of a samgha, I invented a Virtual Samgha. This is a website on which I post essays I've written on a variety of religious topics - not just dealing with Buddhism. I invite comment on these essays, but in the less-than-two years of its existence, I've receive precious few comments.  All good things take time to gain traction, so meanwhile I wait for the Buddha's words to come true in my case, that I will find good fellow students with whom I can study the Lotus Sutra.

Meanwhile, in my war against brick-and-mortar churches, I state:

"I am a member of a sect that has exactly one member - that would be me;
that has exactly one leader - that would be me;
I'm not recruiting though I welcome dialog;
and I don't want your fucking money."

That is, I despise collection plates, though if you want to give alms, make any donations to a cause of your own choosing. For me? That's the United Negro College Fund to which I make donations designated as reparations owed by me - a white American who benefited quite handsomely from the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

I encourage you to set up your own on-line Virtual Samgha.  Mine is at:
http://LotusSutraChampions.blogspot.com

Meanwhile, I will continue to practice on my own, since the Buddha has spoken of those seekers of the Way who preferred solitary practices.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Steven Searle, just another member of the

Virtual Samgha of the Lotus and

Former Candidate for US President (2008 & 2012)

Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com

Footnote 1:

Any mention in this post concerning the Lotus Sutra refers to this version, which is accessible on-line, free of charge:

The Lotus Sutra and Its Opening and Closing Sutras

[That is, the Lotus Sutra, which is preceded by The Immeasurable Meanings Sutra, with the Lotus being followed by the Sutra on how to Practice Meditation on Bodhisattva Universal Worthy.  These three are collectively known as the  Three-Fold Lotus Sutra.]

Translated by Burton Watson
Published in 2009 by Soka Gakkai

Black Baptists? Are you kidding me?

Why is it that Blacks living in the United States adopted the religion of their slave masters? And to this day, continue to worship the God of the Abrahamists? I'm not only talking about the Black Baptists mentioned in this article's title. There were Blacks sold into slavery by Arab slave traders, so embracing Islam seems to be yet another form of acknowledging the supremacy of the conqueror. Not to pick on US Blacks, I note that a lot of Japanese converted to the religion of the conqueror when they lost World War II.

I further note: Might doesn't make right, but that point is lost on most people.

I'm sure various Black communities in the South found solidarity and mutual support to be uplifting as they suffered under Jim Crow laws. As they say, "Any port in the storm." But surely they had to be aware that they could not set foot in any of the Christian churches attended by whites. And they bore witness to how white churches close to their communities did not support them in their struggle for civil rights in the 1960's. Jesus might indeed have been willing to save them, but their white "brothers" in faith didn't lift a finger. Some of these "brothers" rode with the Ku Klux Klan on Saturday night, only to put on a suit and tie to attend church services the next day.

I guess people need hope so desperately, they're willing to overlook a great deal of bad history and sin. These days, a lot of poor and struggling middle class folk are easily swayed by smooth talkers who preach, "God wants you to be rich." That pitch is aimed at Blacks and Whites alike, so at least color knows no barriers in that regard. The truth? God wants you to be holy, to be so filled with goodness that you no longer care about such worldly things as the accumulation of vast wealth.

But there is a greater truth: The God of the Abrahamists (you know, the One who said, "I am an angry God"), is only one of untold trillions of gods throughout the universe who want to someday elevate themselves above their mere godly status so that they can become fully-enlightened Buddhas. Which is the highest possible goal.

But most US blacks haven't heard of this. Maybe the lack of millionaire Buddhist televangelists is at fault for failing to reach out to the Black community. Or maybe Blacks are attracted to prosperity Buddhism as they would be to prosperity Christianity. In any event, Buddhism is a hard sell in this primarily Christian and materialistic country. But if you are a member of a Christian denomination, I want you to think about a couple of things:

• Can you name even one individual who emerged as a leader in his own right from Joel Olsteen's or Creflo Dollar's megachurches? Don't we overly emphasize charismatic leaders who we know as household names but who treat their congregants as being worthy only of contributing to the collection plate? And there's always a collection plate, isn't there?

• If you believe God created the universe, there's a problem. Before the Creation, all was perfect since only God existed. After the Creation, there was God and there were the things God created. These "things" God called "good." But as good as they were, they lacked the perfection of God Himself simply because they weren't God. So, due to God's decision to create, the universe became less pure. Not to mention that sin emerged. That wouldn't have happened if God hadn't created anything. If He'd left well enough alone (that is, didn't do the Creation thing), the universe would have contained only God and would have remained perfect. So you could conclude that the act of creation was God's original sin.

• It's just as easy to say, there's a God who was uncreated and has always been as it is to say, the universe was uncreated and has always been. If you embrace the latter view, it's not necessary to invent a God the Creator.

• So you think Jesus died for your sins? That is, someone other than yourself can act on your behalf? Suppose someone walked up to you and said, "Let me make love to your wife. It will be the same as if you made love to her, but only if you believe it will be the same." Could you really believe such an outlandish claim? The claim that Jesus (or anyone or thing else) can save you is equally outlandish.

I offer,.free of charge, access to a link that contains essays I've written over the last three years that will challenge your current beliefs and invite you to think for yourself. This link is a haven for those who are suspicious of traditional brick-and-mortar churches, or are dissatisfied with what their owners have to offer.

Think about what I am offering:

"I am a member of a sect that has exactly one member - that would be me, and has only one leader - that would be me. I'm not recruiting members for this sect, though I welcome dialogue, and I don't want your fucking money. In fact, I encourage each of you to establish such a sect in your own name."

Here's the link I mentioned above:  LotusSutraChampions.blogspot.com

As for starting your own Buddhist practice, here's my advice:

Set aside 30 minutes every day to:

• Close your eyes and meditate in silence, while trying not to think about anything;

• Chant these words repeatedly: "Lotus, Buddha, Samgha."

• Read out loud from an English-language translation of the Lotus Sutra, which the Buddha claims is the highest teaching of all the buddhas in the universe.

• Talk to others about the insights you gain and the questions that arise in your mind. I offer, again free of charge, my ears to hear you out. But it doesn't have to be me. The link above provides my contact information and a chance for you to comment on the essays I've posted.

These points are my personal recommendations, which others might find fault with. But you've got to start somewhere and you'll find this approach will open doors for you and prove to be richly rewarding.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Steven Searle, just another member of the

Virtual Samgha of the Lotus and

Former Candidate for US President (2008 & 2012)

Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com

Ferguson, Missouri

I was watching Fox News earlier today and saw something rather amazing - well, "amazing" by my standards. It seems the man who had shot two police officers a few days ago has been apprehended, along with the gun he used. Apparently, this man had come from out of town to attend the anti-police demonstrations in front of the local police station.

A detective was interviewed by Fox. He was a very fit, well-dressed, barely-middle aged black man with close-cropped hair. He spoke disparagingly of "outside agitators" who'd come to Ferguson to make trouble. He said that locals were anxious to see that normalcy be restored, especially small business owners who'd seen their businesses take a hit.

I don't know the politics of Ferguson or if the resignations of six top officials should satisfy the demonstrators. They are calling for the resignation of the mayor, who said he would remain on the job.

That comment about "outside agitators" struck me. It was outside agitators who had joined Martin Luther King Jr as he attempted to cross the Edmund Bettus bridge in Selma, Alabama 50 years ago. Governor George Wallace had spoken derisively of "outside agitators," as had numerous mayors and governors across the South. They assured the world that they were capable of solving their own problems without having to suffer from the interference or pressure of outsiders.

Hearing this black detective deride outside agitators was doubly ironic:

First, he was channeling the words of racist officials uttered 50 years ago,
and the two police officers who'd been shot were not locals - they were outsiders.

As a Buddhist, I despise violence. But I am forced to note that Dr. King's non-violent civil rights movement would not have succeeded in the long run if the white establishment didn't at least worry that this movement could take a violent turn. And that there were blacks outside his movement who had guns and were willing to use them.

I remember radicals within Nelson Mandela's movement who had planted bombs with the intention of damaging the government's infrastructure. No one was supposed to get killed, but at least one innocent bystander was. The intention was to get the attention of the authorities, to show them they had something to fear. Especially, if the radicals were to decide to escalate their activities.

In my own case, I have never engaged in or been a victim of violence - with two exceptions. I was in a fist fight in the seventh grade - I lost. And I had been jumped, along with my brother, by four young men 35 years ago. I got banged up pretty good, but I managed to bite the nose of one of my attackers. My brother, who knew martial arts, took care of the others.

Looking back on my life, I took an inventory of the many in positions of authority who had abused me, against whom I could not retaliate. But I found out later that most of them had suffered a profound reversal of fortune. It is written in the Lotus Sutra - and here I paraphrase: "If one hurls insults to the Buddha's face for 1,000 years, he will suffer severe recompense for this action. But if one directs even one insulting or disparaging word against a man who embraces the Lotus Sutra, his punishment will be much more severe."

I have found that to be true in my case, with one man being suddenly struck by a brain cancer that killed him in short order. While it's true that I myself have been diagnosed with terminal liver cancer and given only five to eight months to live, I'm still here 30 months later - much to the amazement of my oncologist. And my current condition is stable and non-life threatening.

I don't think the natives of Ferguson, Missouri are going to convert to Buddhism any time soon. Though I am amazed that the Black man has adopted the religion of his slave masters. Can't get over how many Black Baptists there are. But being a practical sort, I thought of a solution. I think the federal government should set up sting operations with the intention of catching local cops behaving badly. The initiation of these operations should be well-advertised in advance, though only the feds would know the details and set up and control the environment of these stings.

I think cops far too often are the beneficiaries of local and state official agencies and sympathetic citizens all-too-eager to look the other way. That shit's gotta stop.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Steven Searle, just another member of the

Virtual Samgha of the Lotus and

Former Candidate for US President (2008 & 2012)

Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com

German karmic retribution

Sometimes I have imaginings of alternate universes. This is one such, though before I proceed, I want to let you know I'm not beating up on the Germans of whom I find much to admire:

Joseph Stalin announcing to the world at the immediate conclusion of World War 2:

"The Soviet Union announces the annexation of East Germany as an official part of the Russian state. Only Russians and, by approval of the party, other citizens of the USSR will be allowed to live in this newly-annexed part of Russia. All Germans currently living there will be dealt with as follows, unless they allowed by another country to emigrate. And they won't be allowed to leave before all of their wealth is confiscated.

"Any Germans remaining in East Germany after a year has passed will either be executed or force marched to their new homes and assignments in Siberia."

This scenario of course didn't happen - here. But it did happen in at least one of the alternate universes which are out there. In such a place, nobody in Europe or the United States could have protested Stalin's policy. Didn't the Germans embrace genocide? Surely they of all people would understand why Stalin decided to exterminate so many millions of their race.


Karmic Retribution

Hans Frank said, "A thousand years will pass and still this guilt of Germany will not have been erased." A thousand years? Loyal Nazis at the highest and lowest levels of the extermination campaigns against their fellow man will pay the karmic price during their many reincarnations over billions of years. Those loyalists who have passed away - and I include among their number those who cheered enthusiastically at all those rallies and parades - are currently roasting in hell. And, no, those who had turned to God or Jesus for forgiveness have found out: That didn't work!

Hans Frank also said this [my comments are highlighted in blue, and are in response to those words I highlighted in yellow]:

QUOTE [source: See Footnote One]:

There is still one statement of mine which I must rectify.  On the witness stand [at the Nuremburg war crimes trials] I said that a thousand years would not suffice to erase the guilt brought upon our people because of Hitler's conduct in this war. [NOTE:  Your people are guilty because of what they did. They were not the innocent victims of "Hitler's conduct in this war." Hitler had, shall we say, a little help in carrying out his policies.] Every possible guilt incurred by our nation has already been completely wiped out today, not only by the conduct of our war-time enemies towards our nation and its soldiers, which has been carefully kept out of this Trial, but also by the tremendous mass crimes of the most frightful sort which - - as I have now learned - - have been and still are being committed against Germans by Russians, Poles, and Czechs, especially in East Prussia, Silesia, Pomerania, and Sudetenland. Who shall ever judge these crimes against the German people?

:UNQUOTE.

[NOTE:

I want to address the section above which follows Every possible guilt. What Germany's enemies did will only somewhat reduce Germany's negative karma. The nation has yet to endure the full force of the karmic retribution for what it did - and, yes, nations as well as individuals are subject to the laws of karmic retribution (and reward, I must add). Those German supporters of Hitler who lived during the war and have since passed away and are right now screaming in hell. And, no, their pleas for forgiveness directed toward God or Jesus failed to save them.

And you too will roast in hell if you fail to take measures to save the dearly departed. Even if you were born after the war. You are part of a nation that sinned and will have to pay the price. But Buddhist practice can help reduce the severity of your punishment.

You can save your dead ancestors and can save yourself. If you engage in Buddhist practice and pray for them, that will help reduce the time they'll have to suffer. From billions of years to perhaps only a few hundred million. Right now, Germany is prospering, so it's all too easy for their citizens to be lulled into a false sense of security. I urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to practice Buddhism like your hair is on fire. Abandon the Catholicism and the Lutheranism - I can't believe there's a faith bearing the name of a man (of course, Martin Luther, its founder).

Hans Frank was correct in citing the atrocities committed against Germans by its war time enemies. Those war criminals will have their own negative karma to overcome and they will also suffer in hell. And so will the American and British airmen who bombed Dresden, as well as those ordinary citizens back home who had cheered what they did. As will the descendants of the British redcoats who had wreaked so much pain and suffering in the Third World. As will Americans currently trying to force their way of life and their dominance on the rest of the world. Which is why I renounced my American citizenship over three years ago.

:NOTE]

This is my understanding of Nazism: Some people are better than others and they have a right to enslave or exterminate inferior humans. However, this is a somewhat more accurate statement: Some people appear to be better than others. There might have been profoundly accomplished Bodhisattvas who were killed in the concentration camps. They might have been members of an "inferior" race - perhaps they had been born into the Jewish tribe. Killing such a person can have a ripple effect that harms or even destroys an entire nation.

If you think you're better than someone else, it is your responsibility to embrace that man, show him loving kindness, give him alms, and - above all - encourage him to join you in Buddhist practice.

Now, you might ask, "What is Buddhist practice?"  There are many opinions on this, and many teachers who run schools based on their interpretations of correct Buddhist practice. Most importantly: Overcome the Germanic tendency to ask, "Who's in charge?" Answer: The Buddha, who walks among us, is in charge and he will find ways to teach and encourage you though he rarely reveals himself. After 27 years of practice, I haven't seen Shakyamuni Buddha or any of the other trillions of Buddhas currently teaching throughout the universe.

My own recommendation:

I was an agnostic before I joined a Buddhist lay organization known as the Soka Gakkai International (SGI). I had joined at the encouragement of my friends who had recently joined in the summer of 1974. I was eventually kicked out of the SGI in 2013 as a heretic, though they didn't use that word.

My form of Buddhist practice for the last ten years has been to "read, recite, ponder, and teach to the best of my ability" the Lotus Sutra, which the Buddha identified as his highest teaching. Within the pages of the Lotus, the Buddha repeatedly states that after his (apparent!) passing in ancient India, future generations are to "read, recite, ponder, and teach to the best of my ability" the Lotus Sutra.

I read from a text often referred to as the three-fold Lotus Sutra, which is entitled:

The Lotus Sutra and Its Opening and Closing Sutras

These sutras cover almost 400-pages as translated into English by Burton Watson, and copyrighted by the Soka Gakkai in 2009, though there was an earlier version which I'd also used. I have read other English-language translations from which I've profited, but I really enjoy the Watson version's simple elegance. This text appears on-line and can be accessed at no cost. I have orally recited the three-fold Lotus over 175 times. That would make a stack fifteen feet high, since this text is about one-inch thick.

I don't have a teacher or even any fellow Buddhists to practice with. I would really enjoy the company and input of the latter, but I practice alone since no one's come into my life with whom I can practice and discuss the meanings contained within this text. Undaunted, I simply remember the Buddha's words as expressed in the Lotus, concerning "Buddha wisdom, teacherless wisdom, wisdom that comes of itself."

I don't endorse brick-and-mortar "churches," which is why I established the Virtual Samgha of the Lotus at this site, which contains 80 of my essays on various Buddhist doctrinal issues:

lotussutrachampions.blogspot.com

Though this site has had over 2,000 hits over the last few years, I've received only two comments. Maybe the virtual samgha blog site that you establish for the benefit of your circle of internet contacts will prove to be more successful than mine. I sincerely hope so and wish you the best in that endeavor.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Steven Searle, just another member of the

Virtual Samgha of the Lotus and

Former Candidate for US President (2008 & 2012)

Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com

Footnote 1:

http://www.cwporter.com/thousand.htm

A small collection of my Buddhist insights

I've been practicing Buddhism correctly for at least 10 years - or almost correctly, since I don't really meditate, which is considered a vital part of practice. I'd only tried this two or three times, and got good results. And I know meditation is supposed to connect us to the void, which is the source from which all creation springs. So, I know what I must do, even though I had overemphasized oral recitation of the Buddhist Bible - the Lotus Sutra. In that text, the Buddha said that correct practice after his passing is to read, write, ponder, and teach to the best of your ability the Lotus Sutra.

I've read aloud this Bible well over 175 times, all 335 pages of its text as rendered in English.

Today, I'm going to offer some comments which I hope will prove useful to others as they themselves seek a better spiritual path.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I am a member of a Buddhist sect that has exactly one member - that would be me;

one leader - that would be me; I'm not recruiting but I welcome dialogue; and I don't want your fucking money.

* * *

I don't believe in brick-and-mortar religious establishments. So I established the Virtual Samgha of the Lotus. This is basically a website on which I post essays and welcome comments. Of course, I encourage others to create their own virtual samghas in order to benefit their own circle of friends. The one I've maintained over the last three years has over 75 essays I'd written to which I've only received two comments. Oh well, all good things take time to catch on, I guess. Here's the link:

lotussutrachampions.blogspot.com

* * *

I also don't believe in hierarchies. We're all leaders, so we should encourage the shy ones among us to speak their pieces, instead of allowing Type A blowhards to suck all the oxygen out of a room. Even though the Buddha could be considered to be obviously a leader, he himself tried to de-emphasize his role in favor of encouraging his disciples to seek out and learn from greatly accomplished Bodhisattvas. He even referred to "wisdom that comes of itself, buddha wisdom, teacherless wisdom."

So when I see Buddhists fawn over the Dalai Lama, Daisaku Ikeda (of the SGI), and other famous teachers with starry-eyed followers, I think of these teachers as self-glorifying fame seekers. The Dalai is a heretic who is primarily a Tibetan nationalist, who has never mentioned the Lotus Sutra - the Buddha's highest teaching - even once. And Ikeda is a wealthy businessman - and also a nationalist.

I am a retired civil servant who never made over $40,000 per year who renounced his USA citizenship three years ago. I am not a nationalist but a self-declared citizen of the world.

* * *

Buddhists don't have:

friends, lovers, significant others, nor do they have any kinds of sex.

Buddhists do have or seek to have:

fellow, compassionate seekers and teachers of the Way, whom they teach and from whom they learn - together trying to forge understanding. But, lacking those, there's nothing wrong with practicing alone.

About that sex thing - I'm 63 years and was married for 25 years (divorced 14 years ago). I had an extremely high sex drive for 20 or so years, thinking, "If I was actually good looking, I'd be dangerous." But I reached a point where I thought, "The sex thing is more trouble than it's worth."

My crowning achievement was to have lived with a woman in a platonic relationship for four-and-a-half years.  I admit, I had occasional carnal yearnings for her, but I never touched her. She moved to another state over two years ago, though we stay in touch. I came to realize, "Sometimes, the ones that get away leave the strongest and sweetest impression." Pay attention to that, my female readers: It's too often true, once a guy get what he wants physically, it's amazing how quickly you become a whole lot less interesting to him." But...I guess this is something you already know at some level.

* * *

I was recently hospitalized for 21 days, though I'm now in a physical rehab facility to regain my strength. Here's a summary of my physical condition:

* Diagnosed with terminal liver cancer in Sept, 2012 - officially called metastatic colangio carcinoma;
* Colon cancer, non-terminal, since Sept, 2012;
* Deep Vein Thrombosis in my left leg (9/2012);
* Only 40% of my kidney function remains, due to the ravages of chemo therapy;
* Sarcoirdosis;
* fluid build-up in pericardial sac - needing two drainage operations two months apart;
* fluid build-up in the chest cavity - needing one operation;
* nerve damage in toes, but I can still walk without pain;
* pinched nerve in my L2 vertebrae which made it extremely painful to walk - though a recent operation fixed that problem;
* I have another pinched nerve in my right leg, resulting in a condition called "dropped foot," though I can still walk;
* Shingles broke out on my inner right thigh - though that is subsiding and never caused me any pain;
* I have the BRAC 2 gene, which could cause me to develop other cancers;
* I don't have diabetes, but I've been given occasional insulin shots due to high blood sugar.

So...in other words, I'm pretty much a train wreck, but I try to look on the bright side. In Sept of 2012, I was given only 5 to 8 months to live. But here I am, and I feel very good spiritually and mentally. And I see a whole lot more clearly than at any other time in my life.

I see my onslaught of illness as being karmic retribution for evils I've committed in this and past lives. And I feel my Buddhist practice has helped me survive and even thrive under these adverse conditions. Being in the hospital for three weeks served as a form of retreat - giving me a lot of think time as each form of pain taught me something about myself.

* * *

"I am an angry God" - thus spoke the God of the Abrahamists .That's okay for now - though if He works on His anger issues, He might someday achieve total enlightenment and become a Buddha. Meanwhile, take into account - if a person grows up with an angry father, he himself will have that in his life. Which goes a long way toward explaining why the sons of Abraham - Jews, Catholics, Protestants, and Muslims - have been responsible for the worst wars and persecutions suffered by humanity.

It's time to abandon this God and encourage Him to engage in Buddhist practice. He'll  be in the good company of the trillions of other Gods in the universe who are similarly engaged.

* * *

In the Bible, compare Genesis chapters 1 and 2 - which are very short - regarding the creation of man.

In Genesis 2, Adam (created from dust) and Eve are created by the LORD God, with Eve being made from one of Adam's body parts and the term "wife" was introduced. They were created on the day of rest - the 7th day - which God blessed but He did not bless them.

In Genesis 1, man and woman were created on the sixth day of Creation by God (not the LORD God) and they were blessed. And they were told to be vegetarians. And...we never hear about them again, perhaps because they were meant to work behind the scenes.

Since Moses wrote Genesis, I believe he saw the Genesis 1 unnamed man and woman as having been created. I believe they were bodhisattvas who had popped into existence to lead and guide this God. Their descendants walk among us today, stealthily and without fanfare, trying to help the descendants of Adam and Eve.

* * *

It's just as easy to say "God, who was uncreated and has always been, created the universe," as it is to say, "The universe was uncreated - it has always been and always will be; though things within it will live, die, and be reborn, the Universe as a whole will never die and was never created."

* * *

About that 100 year life span:

We are so impressed with our high level of tech achievement,  we fail to realize the meaning of having a 100-year life span. True enough, only a handful of us live that long, but many of us come close. We smirk at the people who lived at the time of the Buddha who lived much shorter lives. Even the Buddha lived only in his 80's, though scripture makes it clear he only gave the appearance of his death though he is alive and with us to this day: "I am always here, but through my transcendental powers I make it so that living beings in their befuddlement do not see me even when close by." - Lotus Sutra, chapter 16.

Scripture speaks of extraterrestrial societies in which the average lifespan is billions of years. And those societies don't have any technology, since each citizen has the personal power to do what machines could do. Scripture speaks of having a short lifespan as being the sign of a society in deep decline. And 100 years is considered such a short lifespan.

* * *

I can imagine Mohammad, if he were alive today, fighting side-by-side with Muslims while he routinely totes a rifle.

I can't imagine Jesus doing this, so how do the Christians justify war? It bothers me that Joan of Arc led and inspired troops into battle. But she herself, as she claimed, never killed anyone. But...she caused her troops to kill.

* * *

The new daimoku

Several sects of Buddhism believe that chanting the daimoku (the Great Invocation, Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo) is the highest form of Buddhist practice, though no buddha ever endorsed this. N-M-R-K is supposed to be the essence of Buddhism. However, it means, "I devote myself to the Lotus Sutra." Which is odd, since I've met many chanters who adamantly refuse to read the Lotus Sutra, even though the Buddha said that doing so is the appropriate practice for now and forever.

When I'm not reading the Lotus Sutra, I chant a daimoku of my own: Lotus, Buddha, Samgha. This comes from the vow that is respected by all Buddhists - that we take refuge in the Buddha, the Law, and the congregation of fellow believers. Note, however, that I didn't put the Buddha first - I put the Law first, specifically the Law known as the Lotus Sutra. I believe each of these three is indispensable in terms of our attainment of enlightenment, but I put the Buddha in second place so as to make a statement against hierarchy and the overemphasis on leaders.

I have a very liberal definition of the samgha, which I take to be everybody - even if they aren't Buddhists. Everybody, in his own words and in terms of his own faith, has a Buddhist insight or two to offer. Even though they don't call it Buddhist, it works that way for me.

* * *

Why did God cause Noah's flood? Doing so wiped out the sinners but...it also killed innocent animals. If God was so keen on killing sinners, no flood was necessary to do that. A truly omnipotent God could simply have zapped each individual sinner out of existence (as in, "poof, you're gone without a trace").

* * *

Jesus won't save you, He can't save you. Only you can save yourself, with the help of others and by means of you giving such help to others. Think of Jesus subbing for you this way:

If a guy came up to you and said, "Let me make love to your wife for you. It will be that same as if you did it, but you have to believe that's possible." Jesus didn't die for your sins - He died for His as surely as you will die for yours.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Steven Searle, just another member of the

Virtual Samgha of the Lotus and

former candidate for US President (in 2008 & 2012) 

The Buddha Keira's vagina

My name is Bodhisattva Yeah But, and I was part of a Great Assembly of trillions of other bodhisattvas. We were summoned by the Buddha Keira [Footnote 1]. The following is an account of what I saw.

We were all anxiously waiting, wondering why the Buddha Keira had summoned us. As we gazed at the Buddha, he underwent a unique transformation. Starting from the top of his head, a mass of hair suddenly appeared which moved down the entire length of his body. What we beheld looked more or less like a stack of hay, and we could no longer see the Buddha's body.

Then, starting at the Buddha's feet, this curtain of hair began to retreat revealing more and more of the Buddha's body which was completely naked. And female, complete with breasts and a vagina. She was also pregnant with a huge belly signifying imminent birth.

Without saying a word, the Buddha Keira arched her back, which made her huge belly even more prominent. And then we saw blood start to trickle from her vagina, from which also emerged trillions of what appeared to be grains of rice. Red grains of rice, which spewed forth, totally covering every square inch of the sky above us. I knew the Great Assembly was uneasy about this great red cloud, which they perhaps feared would start raining woman's detestable blood upon them.

The redness in the sky was so intense, the entire Great Assembly seemed to consist of countless bodhisattvas who were red in coloration down to their cores. We were so astonished at the appearance of all those seeds dominating the sky, we could not speak. And we further lost our power of speech when each of those seeds transformed into a red Buddha who was naked and female and also very pregnant.

How extraordinarily unprecedented! I'd never heard of a Buddha assuming female form. Though perhaps this was not an assumption, but was instead what this Buddha really looked like. But what does "really looked like" mean? The Buddha, like many of us in this Great Assembly, is a shapeshifter. So it would not make sense to ask what a shapeshifter "really" look like.

Most discomforting was the overwhelming silence of these seed buddhas, the Buddha Keira, and all the members of the Great Assembly. There weren't even any murmurs among my peers - we all seemed to have lost our power of speech. We had lost the power to ask questions or express our feelings. And none of those Buddhas spoke - they all seemed to be waiting.

I myself couldn't help but recall two seemingly contradictory teachings I'd heard from many buddhas in the past:

          And the Nirvana Sutra also says, "If all the desires and delusions
          of all the men throughout the major world system [one major
          world system equals one billion worlds] were lumped together,
          they would be no greater than the karmic impediment of one single
          woman." [Footnote 2].

          I look upon all things as being universally equal, I have no mind to
          favor this or that, to love one or hate another....At all times, for all
          things I preach the Law equally...[Footnote 3]

And then, breaking the silence by filling the whole universe with his words, was Bodhisattva Repentance [Footnote 4], standing next to me, who exclaimed:

         I apologize to all the red Buddhas hovering in the sky above us.
         I apologize to them and to all women everywhere for not having
         protested against those words spoken by the the Buddha, concerning
         the "karmic impediment of one single woman."

         I apologize for not having realized the Buddha who had expressed
         those words against women expected us Bodisattvas to rise up
         and say, "Those words are a lie." There are times when buddhas
         expect us to contradict them. [Footnote 5]

         I also deny these words of the Lotus Sutra [Footnote 6]:

              The girl said, "Employ your supernatural powers and watch me
              attain buddhahood...."

              At that time the members of the assembly all saw the [8 year old]
              dragon girl in the space of an instant change into a man [Footnote 7]
              and carry out all the practices of a bodhisattva...and attaining
              impartial and correct enlightenment.

         It is not necessary to "change into a man" in order to "carry out all the
         practices of a bodhisattva." Women, as women maintaining their female
         forms, can become buddhas. A buddha can manifest any form E pleases
         in order to attract and convert people to the Law.

After Bodhisattva Repentance had spoken these words, all the vaginally-spewed buddhas in the sky and the Buddha Keira spoke in one voice saying to Bodhisattva Repentance:

         Very good! Very good! It is just as you have said. And we are honored
         to witness your immediate attainment of Buddhahood

And then I saw, still standing next to me, Bodhisattva Repentance become a Buddha. I felt all the eyes of all the members of the Great Assembly staring at this new Buddha standing in their presence. There was a period of deafening silence as they stared, beholding in wonder. And then all of us, in unison in one voice, cried out:

       Hail to the Buddha Repentance! Hail to the female form this Buddha
       is manifesting!

All of this I witnessed a million years ago - and I'm still struggling to process its import. Though when I do, I feel an immense gladness filling my whole being.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Footnotes:

Footnote 1:

           
NOTE: This quote is from a wikipedia article entitled "Kira (given name)," which gives "Keira" as a variant form:

QUOTE:

The girl's name Kira is pronounced [KEER-A].It might be a female form of the name Kiran,[which is] of Hindi and Sanskrit origin, meaning "beam of light". Besides Sanskrit, there might be other etymologies from Egyptian, where the word Ki-Ra means "like Ra" ... In Russian Kira (Ки́ра) is the feminine form of the male name Kir, meaning "mistress, ruler", but can translate to "leader of the people", "one the people look to" or "beloved".[5]  ... There is also a Japanese name, romanized as Kira, which is common in Japan, as both given name and family name. Kira kira also means "glittery, shiny" in Japanese. [7]

:UNQUOTE.

Personal note: Of course I couldn't help thinking of Keira Knightley who starred in a Buddhist movie, "Begin Again."

Footnote 2:

Source: Major Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 3, p. 20.

Footnote 3:

SOURCE: Page 140 of The Lotus Sutra and Its Opening and Closing Sutras, copyright 2009 by Soka Gakkai, translated by Burton Watson.

Footnote 4:

I find it interesting that the word "repentance" isn't expressed even once within the Lotus Sutra, even though Bodhisattva Universal Worthy (the subject of chapter 28 - the Lotus Sutra's final chapter) has much to say about repentance in the closing section of the three fold Lotus Sutra which is entitled:

     Sutra on how to Practice Meditation on Bodhisattva Universal Worthy

Footnote 5:

As with all teachings of the Buddha, two determinations must be made:

ONE: Is the statement in question true?

TWO: If it is not true, then why did he say it? He might have said it as an "Expedient Means" - a teaching method which has been called the foremost device of the Buddhas. Or he might have said it, expecting his disciples to properly identify a lie - even one expressed by the Buddha as being truthful.

Footnote 6:

SOURCE: Page 227 of The Lotus Sutra and Its Opening and Closing Sutras, copyright 2009 by Soka Gakkai, translated by Burton Watson.


Footnote 7:

See the section "So why did the Buddha say this?" in this link:

http://lotussutrachampions.blogspot.com/2013/11/buddha-beholds-womankind-and-she-is-good.html

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Steven Searle, Just another member of

the Virtual Samgha of the Lotus Sutra and

former candidate for US President (2008 & 2012)

Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com