DAILY READINGS 8th May 2008

As water is balanced, unshaken, untroubled and quite pure by nature, even so, the meditator, the earnest student of meditation, dispelling trickery, cajolery, insinuation and dissembling, should be well poised, unshaken, untroubled and quite pure by nature.

As water is poised, cool by nature, even so, the meditator, the earnest student of meditation, out of compassion for all creatures and seeking their welfare, should be possessed of patience, love and mercy.

Again, as water makes the impure pure, even so, the meditator, the earnest student of meditation, whether he be in the village or the forest, should in all circumstances be one who, being without transgression, gives no reason to be reprimanded by preceptor or teacher.

And again, as water is desired by everybody, even so, the meditator, the earnest student of meditation, because he has few wishes, is content, aloof and solitary in meditation, and should be one who is constantly much desired by the whole world.

And finally, as water gives trouble to no one, even so, the meditator, the earnest student of meditation should do no wrong by body, speech or thought that produces in others strife, quarrels, contention, disputes, neglected meditation or dislike.


DAILY ENLIGHTENMENT - TRANSGRESSIONS

The Sixth Patriarch of Zen, Venerable Master Huineng said, "the transgressions of others are my transgressions. But my transgressions are mine alone."

That others have transgressions (misgivings), is in a way our fault, as we have not Enlightened ourselves to be able to help them enough. However, we should never blame others for not becoming Enlightened to help us. Blaming each other never created more Enlightened beings. A truly helpful person never complains about others, just like the Bodhisattvas don't! They just see what they can do to help the situation.

The state of the world lies in the hands of the individual. Don't just complain you don't know what the world is coming to. The transgressions of the world belong to the world. The world is responsible for them all and you are part of the world. You are just as responsible as any one else for the state of the world. Before you ask what the world is coming to? Ask what are you coming to.