Hi , Here's your weekly Buddha Post! Thanks for subscribing!
|
|
|
|
|
Special note
Rev. Ronald Miyamura to lead OBON SERVICE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rev. Ron Miyamura Rev. Ron will travel from Chicago to lead Obon Please join us on this special occasion
|
|
|
|
Sunday, July 16, Service:
- 9:45 AM: Sitting mediation, all levels, including beginners
|
|
|
|
- 10:30 AM: Shin Buddhist Sangha Gathering and Service: Rev. Ron Miyamura: Supervising Minister of CBT and Resident Minister of Midwest Buddhist Temple, Chicago
- OBON
- July Memorial Service: Expressing gratitude to our ancestors who passed away in the month of July.
Following the Service:
|
|
|
|
Dhammapada |
|
A collection of verses of Shakyamuni Buddha |
|
|
|
Seated Amitābha, late 1500s-early 1600s Chinese, Ming dynasty (1368-1644) Cleveland Museum of Art |
|
Ageing: 153 - 154 |
|
Through the round of many births, I roamed
without reward,
without rest,
seeking the house-builder.
Painful is birth
again & again.
House-builder, you’re seen!
You will not build a house again.
All your rafters broken,
the ridge pole destroyed,
gone to the Unformed, the mind
has come to the end of craving.
|
|
|
|
|
|
H.G. Wells – War of the Worlds
‘A common enemy unites even the bitterest of enemies.’ Aristotle
What is an illusion? What is real? In Buddhism, understanding this is a pivot point in liberation from samsara. It is when we have that first glimmer of understanding that the “I” is not the fixed or permanent “I” of our self-conception that we begin to walk the path of liberation and experience relief from burdens we place on ourselves.
Sure, letting go of that illusion will happen, well, when pigs fly! Why is it so difficult to put into practice the teaching of the Buddha? Why is it so difficult to see that this or that is an illusion? Why is it we think we are different, smarter and better than the next person? Or, why is it we think we are victims, have no control and are destined to live as we find our self as we are right now?
Being social beings we have a strong need to be accepted within a clan or group. To belong, we need to buy into the group’s story line. Before we know it, groupthink is how we see and respond to everyday living. Is this way of thinking right or wrong? For now, put aside this question and let’s ask ourselves at what point do we find it easier to accept a story line rather than question it?
What I’m suggesting is that rather than beginning with the big question of do “I” exist as a permanent self, we begin by testing illusions with something easier, like how we have the political views we hold as real and fixed. Many of us know people of each major political party who will have nothing to do with a person of the “other” political party. Not only is the dividing line between the two becoming wider, the deep trench dug between them is even more difficult to bridge.
In the 3rd century BCE, Aristotle is to have said ‘A common enemy unites even the bitterest of enemies.’ This is a truth most leaders have understood, and used on their citizens since time immemorial. In a time of war, a common enemy does more to unite people than most anything else. What about within a country, within a state or, within a city? What causes us to be “us” or “them?” Is this divide based on a fixed reality or, or could it be illusion we accept? A case in point is what happened in 1938.
The 19th century author, H.G. Wells wrote a science fiction book War of the Worlds, a story about an invasion of Martians who landed in, of all places, New Jersey. On October 30th, 1938 the Mercury Theater on the Air Wells’ War of the Worlds1
performed by Orson Welles.
|
|
|
|
Many of the listening audience believed it was real news. Newspaper headlines shouted FAKE the next day. Throughout history, leaders wanting to unite the people behind them understood that a common enemy was needed. Those listening were a nation remembering the war to end all wars and easily were swept up into believing it was real. This was innocent, entertainment, illusions, but those not realizing it were terrified. And once illusions turn into reality in our minds, aren’t we ready to accept the solutions we are told will protect us?
|
|
|
|
The fear of being invaded by Martians can be symbolic of fears we all carry within us, conscious or not. It can be fear of being excluded, of being hungry, of being without a job, illness, old age and death. And once the fear takes hold of us, we tend to turn to those promising fixes, for a fee, or a vote.
Liberation from illusions whether Martians or the “I am right you are wrong” armor of mentality most of us wear only gets us deeper into dukkha. Our illusions run the gamut from simple to complex and life threatening. Even as Buddhists we have our own illusions that we struggle with. Over time, we can learn to catch ourselves and make course corrections. It is not easy, but the more we become aware and catch ourselves, our actions become more effective, because, they no longer react to illusions.
It isn’t the Martians, other countries or other people we need to fear the most, it is our own illusions. The Buddha taught us the Four Noble Truths and gave us the road map of the Eightfold Noble Path to follow. Becoming independent of our groupthink mentality, by dropping illusions, takes courage. Seeing the world as it is…
Namo Amida Buddha
Namo Amida Buddha
Namo Amida Buddha
Rev. Anita
rev.anita.cbt@outlook.com
1 https://www.wellesnet.com/audio-orson-welles-the-radio-years/ Link to the broadcast
|
|
|
|
The Buddha was told the story about a young man who was a trader and had a beautiful wife and baby son. Sadly, his wife felt ill and died and the man poured all his love into his little child, who became the sole source of his happiness and joy. Once while he went away on business, bandits rated his village, burned it to the ground and captured his five-year-old son. When he returned and saw the devastation he was beside himself with grief. He found the charred corpse of a small child and, in his desperation, took it for the body of his son. He tore at his hair and beat his chest and wept uncontrollably. At last, he arranged a cremation ceremony, collected up the ashes and put them in a very precious silk pouch. Whether he was working, sleeping or eating, he always carried that bag of ashes with him, and often he would sit alone and weak, for hours on end.
One day his son escaped the bandits and found his way home. It was midnight when he arrived at his father’s new house and knocked on the door. The man lay in bed, sobbing, the bag of ashes by his side. “Who is?” He asked. The child answered, “it’s me, daddy; it’s your son. Open the door.” In his anguish and confusion, all that the father could think of was that some malicious boy was playing a cruel trick on him. “Go away,” he shouted. “Leave me alone.” Then he started to cry once more. Again and again, the boy knocked, but the father refused to let him in. Finally, he slowly turned and walked away. The father and son never saw each other again.
When he came to the end of his story, the Buddha said, “Sometime, somewhere, you take something to be the truth. But if you cling to it too strongly, that even when the truth comes in person and knocks on your door, you will not open it.”…
(Excerpt. In gratitude from : The Spirit of Buddhism, Sogyal Rinposche. New York, HarperSanFrancisco, 2003)
|
|
|
|
Sunday, July 16 Service
Obon
If you lost a loved one to death since our Obon of 2022, please contact Rev. Anita to include their name in our Obon Service. Adding their name does not make them a Buddhist. What is does is allow us to remember, with gratitude, their earthly life and honor them together, as a Sangha
|
|
|
|
|
Special note
Rev. Ronald Miyamura to lead OBON SERVICE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rev. Ron Miyamura Rev. Ron will travel from Chicago to lead Obon Please join us on this special occasion
|
|
|
|
Sunday, July 16 Service
Obon
If you lost a loved one to death since our Obon of 2022, please contact Rev. Anita to include their name in our Obon Service. Adding their name does not make them a Buddhist. What is does is allow us to remember, with gratitude, their earthly life and honor them together, as a Sangha
Sunday, July 16 following Service
Please see, print and share the flyer below with friends, family and community.
Children love this Festival because we all get to dance, even people like me -with 2 left feet! This Buddhist practice of letting go of our ego is put to the test, with fun and laughter and joy. We understand that being perfect is an illusion. We are OK, just as we are.
|
|
|
|
In a way meaningful to you... |
|
|
|
Supervising Minister
Rev. Ron Miyamura
Resident Tokudo Minister
Rev. Anita Tokuzen Kazarian - rev.anita.cbt@outlook.com
Buddha Post is published by the Cleveland Buddhist Temple, 21600 Shaker Blvd, Shaker Heights, OH 44122
The Cleveland Buddhist Temple is an affiliate of the Buddhist Churches of America, founded in 1899:
https://www.buddhistchurchesofamerica.org/
© 2023. Anita Kazarian. All rights reserved.
|
|
|
|
|