Namo Amitabul (Amitabha)
Namo Kwan Se Eum Bosal (Kuan Yin)
Namo Ji Jang Bosal (Ksitigarbha)
Namo Seokeomoni Bul! (Shakyamuni)
oooooooooooooooooooooooo
The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are projections of our minds — and so is everything else. The idea that they don’t really exist is also a projection based on our high valuation of scholars, the modern historical method, and scientific materialism, in which we’ve been steeped since day one of our lives. Which is a more skillful projection? I’d take the former any day, because it reminds me of what’s possible, who I want to become — afterall, I am becoming something, may as well make it pleasant and beneficial for others.
If we look at our lives we can see these Bodhisattvas and Buddhas manifesting in various ways. Throughout my life certain teachers would manifest suddenly: Thich Nhat Hanh, Joko Beck, the Dalai Lama, Daehaeng Sunim, etc. (If I were to name all my kind teachers it would make a long list!) Isn’t it possible we may actually meet Amitabha or Kuan Yin? I couldn’t have imagined such a bodhisattva the magnitude of Thich Nhat Hanh, but he reached down low into samsara and is delivering countless beings with his skillful teachings and great compassion.
All my gratitude and praise to these Buddhas and Bodhisattvas emanating immense kindness, non-discriminating compassion, and stainless wisdom to us suffering fools. May they continue to turn the wheel of dharma and be our kind teachers forevermore.
Wake Up and Laugh! 
wow, thanks Joe!
perfectly put!
Thank you Joe!
What a wonderful post!
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Thank you
this exist/not exist – is kind of dualistic thing, kind of, because it is both at the same time, or at least it feel like that. Buddha Shakyamuni also was a person, an animal and in hell at some point (he said so)- knowing this helps to not look down on yourself too much.
One of the Tibetan practices – is Medicine Buddha practice, there are different ways, or levels maybe, the best, they say, is to visualize yourself as Medicine Buddha. One of the precious things Kun Sunim gave me is Medicine Buddha practice (I call it like that), it is not to see separate, not to see division whatsoever between you and Buddha, it is “to call” Medicine Buddha to manifest from within you, your body to fill from within with the essence of Medicine Buddha, this can radiate to others to. To perfect this can take a very long time, but even in “small portions”, in between stupidities and all sorts of defilements, it brings “windows”, like blue patches in a cloudy sky.
So I don’t pronounce “Namo…” because there are many, I don’t want to offend others by not mentioning them, they are not always associated with Buddhism either. Thinking of all the enormous amount of help I recieved in this life, seemingly coming from different people, but actually coming from one place, what can I do to express gratitude, or maybe even to lessen a burden of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas by stop seeing them as separate and running for refuge and help from them, maybe if I find the solid ground of that help within myself, then maybe Buddhas and Boddhisattvas would smile on me with “finally”.
They say there are different levels of Boddhisatvas, so there are many different teachers too. I am so very greatful for many of them. But there is one teacher I cannot put in line with others, it is someone who actually helped me not just with words of wisdom, but with action. When I bow to this teacher, I bow to Buddha. Complete enlightment is a very rare event, it is incredibly fortunate to have a teacher like that, teacher like that is in different league of teachers. I mean if there would be Buddha Shakyamuni giving a teaching and somebody else, no matter how great and respected, would you not prefer to go and see Buddha Shakyamuni? There is one Zen Master here, some years ago his temple did some fundrasing to get money for him to go on piligimage of Buddha’s places in India, I wrote to him and said why don’t you go and see living Buddha, what is the point to see those places when there is living Buddha and you don’t see it. I never heard from him or their temple again.
how lovely expressed:
‘it reminds me of what’s possible, who I want to become — afterall, I am becoming something, may as well make it pleasant and beneficial for others.’
that’s why we are here, that’s what we try to bring to realisation, switching on an inner light for us and the world. even if it is a rather small one… our Gurus are leading us.
Namo Gurubhya
Namo Buddhaya
Namo Dharmaya
Namo Sanghaya – bliss to you, Josesiem!
Wonderful post, Joe! And great comment Evelyn!
Thanks all!
Hi Tanya,
“There is one Zen Master here, some years ago his temple did some fundrasing to get money for him to go on piligimage of Buddha’s places in India, I wrote to him and said why don’t you go and see living Buddha, what is the point to see those places when there is living Buddha and you don’t see it.”
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. And so right. What is the point of a Zen ‘Master’ going on a ‘pilgrimage’ in India (and expecting others to pay for it) to see some buildings?
It reminds me of something I read by TNH (in “the Heart of Buddha’s Teachings” I think, but I could be wrong) in which he said that if the Buddha were to schedule a teaching in India next week, all the airplanes would be fully booked overnight! Millions would want to be there, just so they could later say they had seen the Buddha.
Yet very few would have actually seen him. To see the Buddha right now, TNH says (and I’m paraphrasing here, I don’t have the book with me) all you need do is walk in peace, with love and understanding, and the Buddha is right there with you.
But yes, if you are a ‘Zen Master’ and you still wish to travel to see the Buddha, then I agree with you totally, go and see a living Buddha rather than some tourist sites. Not that there’s anything wrong with looking at tourist sites, but if people are paying you to go on pilgrimage, a true living Zen Master such as our very own Kun Sunim would be a better destination than a pile of stones.
Thank you Tanya – and thank you again Joe!
Marcus _/\_
PS – “I never heard from him or their temple again.” – I’m not surprised! LOL! LOL!
And thank you for the pictures on this post! I love how the post starts with the Buddhas and then, everything returns to emptiness.
But of course we know that that emptiness is ever moving, ever manifesting, so more Buddhas – like you Joe, and like Chong Go Sunim, and like Tanya – are here teaching even now. Thank you! _/\_
Joe,
Strong, Sincere, Courageous, True, and Beautifully Expessed, helping me, very much, this day.
Thank you, Brother,
Carl (-.-)
PS: Hello Chong Go Sunim, Joseph, and Marcus
Peace, Love, and Joy
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(one hand clapping)