Shakyamuni Buddha’s relics are not only the ashes and bones of his physical body, but also his teaching that has been passed down to us in the scriptures. In reciting this scripture, the heart raises up in faith and includes all things in gratitude.
This talk was given at Throssel last year. There is an introduction to ceremonial and scripture recitation as well as my thoughts on the Adoration of the Buddha’s Relics.
Jim and Joanna are my hosts this night. Their Corgi dogs are two sets of pointing ears with bodies attached who dote on Jim, who in turn dotes on them. Bless ’em all.
Jim writes a blog about these remarkable dogs.
The two dogs looked back and forth from me to the merchandise and other shoppers. I am fairly sure I detected some eye rolling on a couple of them. I suppose it is a common reaction to seeing a seedy-looking, sixties-something guy, crooning away to his dogs and wheeling them around the store in a shopping cart. From a post titled, Dog People are Silly
This evening during the meditation group meeting at Seabold Community Center I realized, not for the first time, how very fortunate I am to be invited into the lives of so many interesting, impressive, funny, eloquent people. And their dogs. Who are interesting, impressive, funny and eloquent!
We all have our special qualities which carry a particular charm. There is love in this.
Some years ago a fellow monk was given a car which involved a lengthy trip in order to pick it up. She was reticent about going. A friend advised her simply. Don’t let the thought of the journey put you off going!
For the next ten days I’ll be traveling in Washington and Oregon, by early July I’ll be in Idaho. At times during the past week making the arrangements for this trip have become overwhelming. Thankfully there have been opportunities to walk in the forests around here and to spend time with fellow monastics and lay friends too. There were so many details that needed to be dovetailed together, so many variables to juggle. Thankfully the thought of this trip has not put me off making it! I’ve recycled my friends advice many times over. It has become something of a mantra, Don’t let the thought put you off.
Tomorrow I’ll be driven to Seattle to catch a ferry to Bainbridge Island. It will be a 40 minute crossing and I’m told I might just see a whale, but at this time of year it’s more likely you will see sea lions or seals. And possibly a Dall’s porpoise, which looks like a miniature Orca. There may be another more lengthy ferry voyage next week and, if all goes to plan, a very interesting visit which I’ll write about. Already the mental gymnastics of the past days are fading.
Ancient sages left their works behind, not to let us know
About themselves, but to help us understand our own stamp.
Had we wisdom deep enough to know ourselves, single-handed,
No benefits would result from the works of ancient saints.
A wise person learns the mystery of existence in a flash
And climbs in a leap beyond the world of hollow phenomena,
Whereas a foolish person holds willfully to facts and details,
To drown in subtle differences of words and lines,
And being envious of others in their supreme achievements,
Wastes the mind night and day in efforts to exceed,
Truth, if you cleave to it as truth, turns into falsehood.
Falsehood, when you see it as such, becomes at once truth.
Truth and falsehood are the mated edges of a double sword.
None alive can separate with certainty one from the other.
Alas, too many people drift with the skiff to fathom the sea.
From time immemorial they are causes of endless deception.
Practice Within The Order of Buddhist Contemplatives
