Pardon my delayed responses folks. I didn’t think anyone was reading this blog. I am just now getting back into the swing of it again. I’ll be more consistant with my post from now on. A question: how have the rest of my Buddhist friends spent the last month, or so? Do you practice the holidays you were raised to celebrate? I’m especially curious to hear from folks who were not raised in a Buddhist household. I mean people like me. I was raised in a formally Jehovia’s Witness/Voodoo/Episcopal/Baptist/Holiness family on an island that was at first predominantly WASP and later Jewish. So, when the holidays roll around, I tend to take in all of the love and celebrations from as many different faiths as I can. I also tend to take time during the holiday season to reflect and do a little self assessment. You know what I mean? I try to see how I can learn from the year’s past mistakes and move forward in a more self-aware, honest and sincere way. And you? How do you celebrate? O,r do you?
Beautiful Butterfly July 2, 2008
This week, I wrap up a school-year based arts class. I’ll miss my students, but I will remember all of the lessons that they’ve taught me with their sincerity, thoughtfulness and joyfulness.
One of my students made this beautiful butterfly for me. It is a demonstration of symmetry. I’d like to think that it’s more than simply visual symmetry, but instead I hope it’s symbolic for the exact correspondence between my fondness for them and their fondness for me. In my heart, I will keep the best wishes for their absolute happiness, today and always!
Wanting June 25, 2008
People must realize that…the real culprits are our unceasing desires. Our wants have no end.
-His Holiness the Dalai Lama, “Imagine All the People
I’ve been told that chanting will make all of your wishes come true. However what happens when your wishes do come true, they stay true for a while, and then they blast off and go away? What if they disappear as swiftly as they appeared only to be replaced by some horrible demon-possessed spirit. A caricature of what and who you knew remains. I wonder. Am I mourning not what is gone? Or, I am feeling a hunger that remains from the wanting of something that I once held so dear. Just thoughts…
Surprises Abound April 22, 2008
Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time in downtown Los Angeles–a place that I once had thought was bleak and gray. Yet, in this area I’ve found a lot of beauty in its patterns, its structure and its history.
I hear many people talk about downtown LA. They say it’s a booming creative community for film, painting and theater. I didn’t believe it at first, but now I see it myself–in fact, I’m experiencing it as a part of my company, The Company of Angels.
The Company was invited to move into the historic Alexandria Hotel (501 S. Spring St., LA). We’ve moved in, we’ve cleaned it (this is an ongoing effort, to be sure), and we’ve even mounted our first production in the space. The show is called LA Views, and it has received great response…a standing ovation or two, in fact.
People are saying: “Creative, funny, thought provoking, strange are just a few word that come to mind. Great format idea!” And, “i saw this show…and was truly amazed.”
We are in our last performance week, and we’ve sold out the house. I think this show demonstrates a lot of hope for my Company, for the Alexandria and for our new neighbors.
IMAGINAAAAAATION April 17, 2008
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
A quote from Einstein that really moved me today. I found it as I am preparing for an interview that I have tomorrow for a TV show. More details to follow about the show, the role that I hope to book and my next steps.
A Day of Satisfied Ease February 12, 2008
Mentor and Disciple Relationship September 1, 2007
What is the essence and spirit of the “mentor and disciple” relationship?
The essence and spirit of the relationship is about building character. You see an explanation of this ideal in a quote from President Ikeda:
“True character is forged only through hardship and suffering. Moreover, it is the mentor-disciple relationship, not organizational structure that builds character. Many great scholars, pioneers and leaders of the world have come to note how crucial the mentor-disciple relationship is.”
Who is the mentor?
Basically, it’s a person who expounds the principles of the Lotus Sutra.
“Both the teacher…and the disciples who receives his teachings will, in no long time, together become Buddhas through the power of the Lotus Sutra.” (Taken from Daishonin’s treatise, “Conversations between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man,” WND, 133)
The roles can change and disciple can become a mentor to another person or people while still maintaining the role of disciple in his/her original relationship.
Who is the disciple?
The disciple is everyone who practices this faith. For example, I am a disciple of my ultimate mentor, Nichiren Daishonin, and also my living mentor, President Ikeda. In addition, I am a disciple of people who shakubukued me into the practice—Lorrie (in Seattle), Ngu Yen, and Dornita (in LA).
I also think being a disciple means to embody the vow of your mentor. And in this case, it is to live my life as a Buddha and propagate Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism.
Why do we discuss this relationship as such an important part of the SGI practice?
We discuss it because the relationship helps to build true unity of purpose and commitment, and it fosters our development and growth. It’s a crucial element of our faith.
According to President Ikeda:
“Mentor and disciple are inseparable. Because they are so united, I, too, embrace my mentor’s heart as I travel the world opening the way for a great river of peace and happiness. A river’s grandeur attests to the greatness of its source.”
The mentor and disciple grow and learn together. It reminds me of the students that I tutor. On the hand, I am like a teacher to them; however, they teach me new things every time I see them. Sometimes they teach me.
Other times they teach me how to be a better tutor—how to explain things more clearly, how to be more compassionate, and how to be more confident as a person in life. I also see them overcoming their challenges and this inspires me to do the same thing in my life.
The Secret Remains A Secret March 20, 2007
The Secret seems so simple: your thoughts control your life. Or, as the Buddha said: “All that we are is the result of what we have thought.” I am an idealist. Of course, this makes sense to me.
There is a sad irony however. When I go to view the movie about The Secret online on the official The Secret Web Site, I am not allowed to open the link because my MacBook has an Intel processor. That’s a little sad. I guess The Secret will remain a secret to me until I can uncover (read: buy) a copy of the DVD, and other materials.
The Causes March 16, 2007
This week has been tough. I expected it to be busy, but I didn’t think that so many doors would slam shut in my face this week. So far, I have experienced two career losses, one missed creative opportunity, and one personal disappointment that has broken my heart.
President Ikeda says: “Victory is a cause for defeat, and defeat is a cause for victory.” This evening, I chant and think about this phrase. I let it soak deep down within me. I hope that I will learn from it, and gain more wisdom or some victory from my current challenging circumstances.
Definitions & Terms March 10, 2007
As I learn things, I share them here with you. In this entry, I present a few terms to you in no particular order.
- The Dharma – The Buddha’s teachings, which are based on the Four Noble Truths. They explain how suffering is caused and how it can be overcome by following the Noble Eightfold Path.
- Mahayan Buddhism – also known as the Bodhisattva Path, emphasizes devotion to Bodhisattvas as one of its central features.
- Daruma – an missionary from India. He is known as the founder of Zen Buddhism. Daruma is usually represented in statues and images in a humorous way: yawning, and stretching with his big belly. He has no eyelids–at all. They are thought to have fallen away, or been removed as part of his nine year meditation. I think his legs may have weakened as well.
- In China, Buddhism forms only one strand of spiritual thought. Some of the other strands include Daoism and Confucianism. These teachings are regarded as complementary rather than exclusive. There are subtle nuances between them.
- Buddhism is chiefly concerned with the escape from this world into nirvana; Daoism with the quest of longevity; and Confucianism with human relations with duties to heaven and duties to one’s ancestors.
More to come as I seek to learn more about Buddhism in all of its facets. Stay tuned…
