Buddhism is the path or mārga of the hero ([vigorous: √ 1. vī] vīra, a man of might, champion). This path is one of seeking, a seeking that turns away from the potential riches of the external world only to proceed, inwardly, into the very heart or essence of one’s being, like Siddhartha did.
But before we set out on the path, it is first necessary to have a heroic disposition. What good is the hero’s path for a person who is not a hero?
Real Buddhist training first requires that we find out if we are hero material. Not all who enter the temple’s precincts are heroic or even wish to be such since the Buddhist hero is someone who must show great courage, intuition, and faith in the Buddha’s Dharma, enough to attain enlightenment come what may.
Especially, lay Buddhists are not what could be called hero material. They tend to be milquetoast. Teachers will usually smile a lot and say nice things to these kinds of people—like talking to an infant. Such people simply lack any understanding of Buddhism’s spiritual world and where Buddhism is really aiming.
There is nothing outwardly showy or discernible about someone who is hero material. Yet, even without a teacher they find the right teachings and sense exactly when to begin their retreat proceeding inwardly. Their effort is one that culminates in a spiritual transformation. The hero’s inward journey has, finally, opened the heart up to this mysterious transformation. The hero is now attuned to the spiritual world (lokuttara).
https://youtu.be/tgj2br-teu4
Posted by: Buddy | December 17, 2019 at 07:15 AM