Somewhere in The Threefold Lotus Sutra the gathered multitudes all simultaneous cough and snap their fingers thus signifying that they speak the One Truth and will, I’m presuming, all teach it.
I had to smile when I read about the collective cough. Made me feel so much better about my bouts of mad coughing that well up from nowhere, go on and on and then leave me exhausted. Dignified affirmation of the One Truth? I think not! Sorry for myself? No. Just embarrassed about the explosions!
I’m reading the Threefold Lotus Sutra, Kosei Publishing Co. Japan. It’s a deeply significant work within this tradition with segments of the text used in our ceremonies.
Sorry to hear about the cough…when I’ve had the flu or a cold with a cough that is one of the parts that I really dislike. Especially the anxious anticipation that arises in my mind, lying in bed…am I going to start coughing…oooo it’s tickling…I really don’t want to…etc…which of course makes it worse!
I started reading The Lotus Sutra again as well. I’m reading it with two books, one in English and one in German, just to practice how the translators are expressing the Sutra in the two languages. Very interesting and a good way to increase my vocbulary in German.
Keep taking care of yourself!
I’ve had my share of “manyfold coughing” the last two months.
Reading rev. Mugo’s comment here, it came to my mind that no “I” was involved in my coughing, it just happened and I couldn’t stop it, it had to heal according to its own nature.