This morning's sit was sat & solemn: there's so much suffering in the world, and so many of us feel powerless to stop it.
I kept coming back to the First Noble Truth (Suffering Exists) and a phrase repeated several time my Zen school's Sino-Korean chants: "dae-ja, dae-bi." It's a phrase usually associated with Kwan Seum Bosal, the Bodhisattva of Compassion: "dae-ja" means "great love," and "dae-bi" is usually translated as "great compassion."
I understand, though, that "bi" is more accurately translated as "sadness." So Kwan Seum Bosal is known as the bodhisattva of "great love, great sadness."
Somehow these days, that understanding of "compassion" makes a lot of sense to me.
Yes, Kwan Seum Bosal in Korean, Kuan Yin in Chinese, Kannon in Japanese, Avalokitesvara in Sanskrit. Many names for one the one bodhisattva we need the most right now, and always.
In some incarnations, Kwan Seum Bosal has a thousand hands, each with an eye. As soon as she sees someone in distress, there's a hand to offer help.
In Zen circles, it's understood that Kwan Seum Bosal isn't a heavenly being: her thousand hands & eyes are our own.
I find it hard to express anything coherent when it comes to the current situation ... I don't know who I believe to tell us the truth, but there is no disputing your message or understanding of compassion. It is comforting to read your chant, simply because it is so clearly true, and to be released from question is such a relief.
Doing a lot of breathing today. I'm in the going-backward-in-order-to-go-forward stage of being unwell ... but trying to remain focussed on the healing that I know is happening, all be it invisible at the moment.
It's amazing though how what others (can't remember who) have said on here - that simply to think about meditating is a small meditation in itself ... I'm having dozens of these micro-meditations and it's amazing what difference they make, almost instantly, to my anxiety level. And, instead of thinking "Damn, I should have made time for a proper meditation today", I think "Ooh, isn't meditation lovely, I'm glad I can take this small moment to be mindful ... right now".
Thanks to all who have helped me learn these precious things so far!
5 Comments:
This morning's sit was sat & solemn: there's so much suffering in the world, and so many of us feel powerless to stop it.
I kept coming back to the First Noble Truth (Suffering Exists) and a phrase repeated several time my Zen school's Sino-Korean chants: "dae-ja, dae-bi." It's a phrase usually associated with Kwan Seum Bosal, the Bodhisattva of Compassion: "dae-ja" means "great love," and "dae-bi" is usually translated as "great compassion."
I understand, though, that "bi" is more accurately translated as "sadness." So Kwan Seum Bosal is known as the bodhisattva of "great love, great sadness."
Somehow these days, that understanding of "compassion" makes a lot of sense to me.
Great love to all...
Sad days
Kuan Yin is the Chinese name for Kwan Sum Bosai, the Bodhisattva of Compassion ... also known as She Who Hears the Cries of the World
Dave Bonta wrote such lovely words yesterday:
"The sound of wind in grass -
the cries of all the small things."
Thank you Dave; thank you Lorianne
Yes, Kwan Seum Bosal in Korean, Kuan Yin in Chinese, Kannon in Japanese, Avalokitesvara in Sanskrit. Many names for one the one bodhisattva we need the most right now, and always.
In some incarnations, Kwan Seum Bosal has a thousand hands, each with an eye. As soon as she sees someone in distress, there's a hand to offer help.
In Zen circles, it's understood that Kwan Seum Bosal isn't a heavenly being: her thousand hands & eyes are our own.
Thanks Lorianne,
I find it hard to express anything coherent when it comes to the current situation ... I don't know who I believe to tell us the truth, but there is no disputing your message or understanding of compassion. It is comforting to read your chant, simply because it is so clearly true, and to be released from question is such a relief.
Doing a lot of breathing today. I'm in the going-backward-in-order-to-go-forward stage of being unwell ... but trying to remain focussed on the healing that I know is happening, all be it invisible at the moment.
It's amazing though how what others (can't remember who) have said on here - that simply to think about meditating is a small meditation in itself ... I'm having dozens of these micro-meditations and it's amazing what difference they make, almost instantly, to my anxiety level. And, instead of thinking "Damn, I should have made time for a proper meditation today", I think "Ooh, isn't meditation lovely, I'm glad I can take this small moment to be mindful ... right now".
Thanks to all who have helped me learn these precious things so far!
It's amazing though how what others (can't remember who) have said on here is turning out to be true ...
sorry ... incoherent ramblings of a person wishing they had more painkillers!
Post a Comment
<< Home