MindYourBuddha

I found this chapter difficult to read and understand.  The focus is on how the Buddha taught the law for the forty years after he became enlightened.  It starts by the Buddha admitting that the laws as they appeared to him under the Bodhi tree "had such various appearances as to be inexpressible".  One can imagine the challenge that lay before the Buddha to find a way to express the law.  The Buddha also realized that man continually transmigrates among the six realms of existence which are the following various mental states:

Hell - as defined by a mind consumed by anger.
Hungry Spirits - as defined by a mind dominated by greed associated with the uncontrolled and unsatisfied desire for things.
Animal - as defined by a mind that acts on instinct alone without wisdom, precaution or reservation and unconcerned by the consequences of its actions.
Demons - as defined by a mind that is self-centered in everything.
Human Beings - as defined by a mind that is aware of and operates above the four lower mental states.
Heaven - as defined by a mind filled with the temporary joy to be found though the senses in experiencing the things in the world.  This joy is opposed to the unchanging joy gained through the Buddha's enlightenment.

As you can imagine there would be a endless variety of mindsets that the law would need to penetrate.  The Buddha says,

As they (man) have innumerable natures and desires, your preaching to them should be immeasurable, and as your preaching is immeasurable its meaning should be innumerable.  This is because the teaching with innumerable meanings originates from one Law.  What is this one Law?  It is the truth.  What is the truth? It is non-form, which transcends the discrimination of all things.  Things are equal in having the buddha-nature.  This fact is the truth and the real aspect of all things.

Its interesting that the Buddha says "for forty years the truth has not been revealed", indicating that his teaching up to that time were to prepare the minds of men for the truth.  We all have to reach a spiritual maturity before we can receive the truth.

I may never fully appreciate the meaning of the one Law but I am encouraged that all things are equal in having a buddha-nature.  To me, for now, this means I should stop thinking of myself as distinct and separate from everything in the world and refocus on how I am alike and dependent on everything in the world.

As is the practice of our church study group we hold a Hoza session after Sunday service.  The purpose of the Hoza is to share issues we are going though and provide support by reflecting on how to apply Buddha's teaching to the problems of the day.  I'm always surprised by the great variety of problems facing people. Many are based on difficult or non-existent family relationships, and although the circumstances differ, the suffering is real.  No matter how terrible the issue, our Reverend always shows great compassion and reminds us that the way to advance is through our suffering.  He is the first to say we are beautiful persons with a strong Buddha nature and that everything in all our lives happens for a reason and it is our purpose to find out why.

I have a long way to go to understand the teachings and put them into daily practice but seeing how this holy man lives gives me hope.