The Buddha is trying to teach us that deep within us we have the Buddha-nature which is also the ultimate criterion. The only thing equal to it, is itself. All else is just a configuration of it which if we follow these configurations lose our way—suffering from spiritual amnesia.
None of us can afford to be in a state of spiritual amnesia having forgotten what our Buddha-nature is. We have to remember it.
Similar to this predicament we read in the Lotus Sutra the parable of a man having come to a friend’s house who became drunk and fell asleep. While in this condition his friend gave him a priceless gem binding this gem in his garment so he wouldn’t lose it. Finally sober the man travels further. The Lotus Sutra says of this man:
[H]e goes to some other country, where he is befallen by incessant difficulties, and has great trouble to find food and clothing. By dint of great exertion he is hardly able to obtain a bit of food, with which (however) he is contented and satisfied.
Eventually, the old friend of that man who bound the priceless gem in his garment happened to see him again. He says to his greatly impoverished friend,
How is it, good friend, that thou hast such difficulty in seeking food and clothing, while I, in order that thou shouldst live in ease, good friend, have bound within thy garment a priceless gem, quite sufficient to fulfil all thy wishes?
Then he shows the priceless gem to his friend who had no knowledge that the gem had been in his garment all along. He became greatly overjoyed. Subsequently, he became a very rich man, of great power, and in possession of all that the five senses can enjoy.
All of us have this hidden gem bound within us which we know nothing of. The problem we face is we need to see it firsthand. The Buddha’s teachings can help us see the Buddha gem provided that we are first, in earnest, and secondly have sufficient faith that the gem lies within us.
Zen gets us close to start looking in our garment for the Buddha’s priceless gem that isn’t an article of clothing which is to say from a spiritual point of view, we must look for the unconditioned Mind setting aside the conditioned five skandhas of physical shape, feeling, perception, volitional formations and consciousness.
Communist Feminist: Thanks for reading The Zennist. Your comments and suggestions are important. The Zennist is always looking for better ways by which to improve its content.
Posted by: thezennist | December 17, 2016 at 04:45 PM
Can I ask, why is that what you say about Buddhism has almost nothing to do with the actual religion? Why do you misquote the Lotus Sutra and don't mention Buddha's divinity or heaven, things that are mentioned in said Sutra instead of the vague concept of "Buddha-nature"? (And why do you hyphenate the term "Buddha-nature"? It's annoying incorrect grammar.)
And why do you talk about incoherent things? I mean, what is this post about, and how does it relate to Buddhism and real life? Because it seems to have little to no connection with either.
Posted by: Communist Feminist | December 17, 2016 at 02:52 PM
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
Mt 13:45-46
Posted by: Jure | December 17, 2016 at 11:53 AM