All Things Must Pass

This is my life lesson for today: All things must pass…thus spoke the Buddha, I mean Beatles…oh, whatever!

Just listen to this classic from the Beatles…

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The Five Remembrances

Lately, I’ve had this nasty, hacking, coughing, snotty sickness.  Several family members have sounded concerned about this, so I assured them it did not seem like this would lead to death.  They further expressed the hope I’d feel better soon and not feel bad.  Rather than accept the kindness like a good boy, I felt ponderous and amused.  I thought, “It really matters to them that I don’t feel poorly.  They seem to feel discomfort due to my sickness.”  Hmmm…  I kept thinking…”Don’t they know that we all must become old, get sick and die?”  (The Three Marks of Existence)  Cognitively, they must.  But…there’s something more.  Something in our desire to somehow “buck the system.”  There’s a discontent with things as they are, and we often desire things to be better.  So very human.  Well, I’m not too concerned at this point, and figured that the worst would likely be death caused by pneumonia.  It brought to mind The Five Remembrances of the Buddha as interpreted by Thich Naht Hahn:

The Five Remembrances

1. I am of the nature to grow old. There is no way to escape growing old.
2. I am of the nature to have ill health. There is no way to escape ill health.
3. I am of the nature to die. There is no way to escape death.
4. All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.
5. My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand.

The final one is very strengthening and motivating to me.  I can talk all I like, but what are my actions?  I could possess, temporarily of course, a vast fortune…but what about my actions?  In some religions, our sins are said to be washed away.  From the Buddhist understanding, all our deeds create a karmic effect that can never be undone.  Like toothpaste squeezed from the tube, you can’t put it back.  It is not a personal punishment in Buddhism, but more like a moral law that is impersonal.  Certain actions makes waves that extend to the furthest reaches of the universe never to be taken back.  This, too, motivates me to consider my actions more.  Then I can see how people could think it could take many lifetimes to enter buddhahood or enlightenment.

Being of the Zen tradition, it is usual to consider that kensho could happen at any moment.  Even while taking a crap!  (I love that Zen has humor.)  So what can we make of this “sudden” vs. “gradual” enlightenment?  My take is that it is actually gradual for most people, though it may happen in an instant through a thunderous insight.  But do not seek thunder.  Practice mindful living and the Noble Eightfold Path.  Along the way, growth will happen.  The “vehicle” of Buddhism is not the goal, just a means of transportation.  Buddha and the Dharma are not required.

So after all this jabbering from a sick Zen student, maybe we’ve learned nothing but mental concepts.

When the concepts are silent, though, what is left?

Answer now!!

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