Welcome to A Single Thread
~ Dogged, Backyard Zen ~
If you truly appreciate a single thread
your eye can suitably meet the world and its changes.
Hongzhi
The Handful of Leaves.
Buddhism essentially does not have a set of beliefs that one
memorizes and believes in intellectually. The essence of Buddhism
is more about the nature of reality and the characteristics of
reality. These characteristics are like the leaves on the
trees.
This classic story of Buddha shows the enormity of what Buddhism
is about.
The Buddha was staying in a forest with his disciples. He picked
up a handful of leaves and asked,
“What do you think, are there more leaves in my hand or more
in the forest?â€
The disciples answered, “More in the forest.â€
The Buddha agreed and explained to his followers that what he
knew directly was far more than what he taught.
He goes on to explain that the handful of leaves is what is
needed to awaken.
You must be dogged and persistent in your practice no matter
what you face in life.
Leaves of Reality.
Buddha began by teaching what all human beings know. There is
stress or suffering in this world. And this stress and suffering is
experienced by all beings.
Birth is stress, sickness is stress, old age is stress and dying
is stress. The Buddha’s teaching amplifies what human beings
already experience. The amplification is the path of practice. His
first teaching was the Four Noble Truths. These truths show the
cause of suffering and the end of suffering.
Characteristics of Existence.
Suffering is the first characteristic. The two remaining are
similar to the first, in that most human beings know the reality of
change. The morning begins followed by the afternoon and night. All
are able to see this simple reality of anicca or impermanence.
The Buddha offers teachings to broaden and deepen what is
already known. The average man knows that life changes, but how to
respond to this reality is what Buddhism helps one to do.
The Two Extreme Responses to Reality.
There are two extreme responses to reality that cause more
difficulty and also reflect the reality of the third
characteristic, anatta or non-self. The two extremes are in modern
language, narcissism and nihilism.
Narcissism refers to the extreme of self-centeredness and
eternal existence. This is not the teachings of Buddha. The other
extreme is nihilism or the annihilation of any phenomena of ego.
The Middle Way or neither narcissism nor nihilism is the reality of
non-self.
This last characteristic may be the most difficult to
experience. Yet, even though difficult, it is possible to see for
your self the reality. Perhaps, for example, you set out to get an
education to become a professional.
Let’s say you actually complete the education and fulfill the
conventional requirements to become the professional. If one
contemplates this “professional†classification one is able to
see that it is a convention and not a real, substantial eternal
thing.
It is, like all phenomena, under the law of change and
suffering. It may provide momentary experiences but there is no
solid thing known as a professional. It is at best a collection of
characteristics we agree to call a “professional.†The
phenomena known as “human being†also abide by this law of
reality.
The Middle Way.
The Middle Way is a response to reality. It is when one does not
cling to narcissism or nihilism. It is recognition of the flow or
law of change of the whole existence of reality. It also is the
realization of cause and effect and co-dependent arising.
Cause and Effect.
All phenomena respond to cause and effect. It is inescapable. If
you put your finger in a flame, for example, your finger gets
burned. It is a simple example of cause and effect. Cause and
effect, although inescapable, is complex and therefore nearly
impossible to make sense of each aspect of what cause brought what
effect.
Buddhism clearly teaches that a wholesome response brings a
wholesome effect and an unwholesome response brings an unwholesome
effect. Despite this clarity of the path and the clear teachings in
the precepts or moral guidelines there are no black and white rules
in Buddhism.
Co-Dependent Arising refers to the reality when certain
conditions exist certain things arise and when certain conditions
do not exist certain things cease. The rising and ceasing of things
relates to the existence of suffering. When, for example, tanha or
desire exists suffering arises, when tanha or desire ceases
suffering ceases. All phenomena fall under this law of co-dependent
arising.
Karma or action is part of the cycle of cause and effect. It is
sometimes misunderstood as resignation or as if one is doomed to
certain results. Karma like cause and effect is complex. It is
difficult to make sense of what actions lead directly to what
result.
Buddhism teaches that actions in the present moment are the most
important. The focus is on what you are up to right now and not on
what you have done or might do. Buddhism emphasizes knowing the
mind and training the mind in wholesome ways.
The law of change is in some ways a leavening effect on karma.
Although actions effect and cause certain phenomena, change is ever
possible. Buddhism teaches skillful means of living in order to
effect the causes of suffering.
Skillful Means are all of the teachings of Buddhism which help
to alleviate suffering. The Eightfold Path, the Paramitas and the
Precepts are three major sets of skillful means.
The Three-Legged Stool of Buddhism.
Precepts are one leg of the three-legged stool of Buddhism. The
other two legs are meditation or concentration and wisdom or
insight. All three are necessary. If one or the other is forgotten,
the Buddhist practitioner is wobbly and unstable as a stool would
be. There are different sets of precepts. The lay practitioner vows
to follow five or ten or sixteen precepts depending upon the
tradition. Monks and Nuns follow many more.
Meditations are another leg of the three-legged school of
Buddhism. There are many forms of meditation, but in general, each
form is practiced in order to cultivate a concentrated mind.
Wisdom or Insight arises from the vows of the precepts as well
as the practice of meditation. It is also considered one wing of
Buddhism, the other wing being compassion.
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