Sunny Dharma Morning
Annette from Oasis joined us for our Sunday morning service. I gave a Dharma talk about the bodhisattva and the sravaka - the bodhisattva who goes through the world singing of the Buddha, literally or metaphorically and the sravaka, (literally "listener" but often translated as "disciple") who just delights in listening to the Dharma - these two roles, active and passive, are complementary and sometimes one is in one role and sometimes in the other, just as in the Buddha hall sometimes one is walking and chanting and sometimes one is sitting in the presence of the Buddha. After the service we had tea and talked about our experiences in the Dharma life. Annette has just come back from a retreat where she heard powa teachings and did Amitabha and Chenresig practices. There was some talk about mindfulness and I have written a Daily Teaching on the subject.
Outdoor Afternoon & Deteriorating Weather
Adam and I have been cutting grass, Modgala has been digging, and we have been doing other odd jobs in the garden and appreciating the spring season. It has been rather cold today due to the wind, despite the warm sunshine when it appears from behind the clouds. Last night there was a wonderful near full moon. As I write at 7pm it is just starting to rain. I think we may be going to have a rather stormy night.
Replies
o yes, tell me what is he thinking? I really want to know what he is thinking and what he is singing about?
Certainly nice, sometimes, to give the blackbird the benefit of the doubt, but I think I know what he is probably thinking.
just singing... like the blackbird who so naturally, without knowing, so easily reaches the heart of the bombu-human in the garden... A dharma talk can be like the song of the blackbird or an encounter without someone you meet, a connection from heart to heart, spontaneously, unexpected without thoughts...
There is no difference. Singing and teaching. The mistake is to think that teaching has an element of force in it. To use force one needs authority. Anybody can sing. The real teaching is just in the living of one's life. Then on the other side, it is beautiful to sit and lap up the Dharma and the self-power element is when guilt creeps in. Again it is the question "Am I authorised to do this?" But in Buddhism, there is no credentialising authority. Various sects have set up such procedures but they are really a way of catering for human delusion. Skilful means is the fact that Buddhas do thing tongue in cheek and deluded mortals take them seriously. Nobody cqn give you the authority to live your life and nobody can take it away either.
You can only really sing when you are no longer looking for authorisation which means that you are no longer intending to use even subtle force. Teaching is just putting people in touch with their freedom by being in touch with it oneself. This cannot be contrived. It is simply honest and true. Some people are earners and some people are thieves, but the real person is just being natural - just singing.
You say that they are complimentary roles and that we change back and forth but not everyone can teach. Though maybe everyone can sing?
ah the Camelia, nice too :-)
The Azalea is beautiful! Please post more photos of all the flowers in the garden this coming weeks. I will miss a lot in the garden and the woods now... :-(