Wisdom
Bodhisattva Kokuzo Day
“I also see some sons of the Buddha Concentrating their minds, having wisdom, expounding the Dharma to the multitude with innumerable parables and similes, expounding the Dharma with joy, teaching other Bodhisattvas, defeating the army of Mara, and beating the drum of the Dharma.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter I)
Nichiren, the founder of our order of Buddhism, tells in one of his letters how he prayed to Bodhisattva Kokuzo that he become the wisest man in Japan. His intent was to be able to somehow lead all people out of the suffering they were enduring. He recounts how Bodhisattva Kokuzo transferred the jewel to Nichiren so that his wish could be fulfilled.
I think it is important to make clear that Nichiren didn’t want to become the smartest person in Japan. He was not interested in merely acquiring knowledge or information about Buddhism. He was motivated to be able to have the wisdom to share with others, to teach others the benefit of practicing Buddhism to become enlightened.
As the quote says, we concentrate our mind, have wisdom, and expound the Dharma. In many ways, it isn’t the amount of things we know about Buddhism, it isn’t the technical details that are important. Instead it is the ability to share with others what we know and experience through our Buddhist practice. When we have wisdom we can share from our heart, not just our intellect, our experiences, our journey, and our discovery of the path to enlightenment.
I have heard frequently from many people something to the effect that they don’t think they know enough about Buddhism to be able to talk to others about it. Yet, it isn’t the technical details of Buddhism that is most likely to influence others, it is the genuine heartfelt conviction we feel based upon our own life experiences that will be the most moving.
When we can share with others our joy, and share through the simile and parables of our own lives we can speak to the other person heart to heart, not just mind-to-mind.
“That World-Honored One expounded the Dharma, and caused innumerable living beings and many hundreds of millions of Bodhisattvas to enter the Way to the wisdom of the Buddha.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter I)
