Saturday, January 21, 2006

Thoughts on Twenty-Nine

The Tathagata has no form. Our Buddha nature has no form. When our mind is clouded, the Buddha nature is obscured. When the clouds disappear, our Buddha nature, like the moon, becomes apparent behind the clouds. Put in this way, I see why meditation is such a useful tool. Sitting there, clearing thoughts from the mind, the clouds can disappear, and stop obscuring the moon.

This conception of our Buddha nature resonates with me. I was involved in an incident (of no lasting consequence) with a certain caustic individual a couple of days ago, and despite the fact that I have tried to let the incident go, it has definitely lingered to cloud my mind. I have observed myself become more irritable and less spiritual as a result. My mind has become clouded. As B. so wonderfully pointed out though, I don't have to pile on additional clouds, thunderheads of self-pity and guilt. The fact that my state of mind is receptive enough for me to notice and be conscious of the clouds in the first place is a wonderful thing.

By the way, I didn't invent the moon metaphor, it is Buddhist tradition that I picked up from several different books I've read. It's a beautiful metaphor, though. I like it better than the sun, which can be harsh, uncomfortable and far from tranquil. The moon is peaceful, beautiful and subtle. A landscape illuminated by moonlight, such as some I've seen in the desert where there is little light pollution, is an extremely beautiful and calming sight.



(I stole this image from here. )

1 comment:

beckett said...

Maybe I am being too literal here, but if the Tathagata has no form, neither comes nor goes, undertakes no action, how does a Tathagata spread the teaching?

Is this a bit of mysticism? After all, the holy one who is undefinable, mysterious, beyond comprehension is definitely a mythical archetype.

Or is it that to an outside observer, the realized one has form, action, etc., which is not perceived by the realized one?

Likely, I suppose, it is both and more. That is part of the value of such teaching. It excercises our brains with spiritual abstractions.