Guide
Myoken Bodhisattva Day
The Bodhisattva Myoken is related to the North Star, the pole star for the northern hemisphere. The pole star, in this case the north star is called such because its appearance in the sky in the northern hemisphere aligns with the northern pole and does not deviate by our normal viewing, though in reality it does vary even if only slightly. Currently there is no equivalent star for the southern hemisphere though Sigma Octantis serves as the closest star visible with the naked eye.
“Being blind, they have no leader. They do not know how to stop suffering, or that they should seek emancipation. In the long night fewer people go to heaven, and more people go to the evil regions. They go from darkness to darkness, and do not hear of the names of the Buddhas.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter VII)
Before the ‘discovery’ of the North Star, and the use of various navigation instruments, to travel by sea meant always staying within eye-sight of land. Those navigation aides allowed for further and further sea exploration.
“The people had a leader. He had a good memory. He was wise and resolute in mind. He could save people from dangers.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter VII)
What makes the north star useful is its reliable characteristics. It is known that it always appears to point out the direction of the north pole, so it could be relied upon for guidance. Whenever we rely on a leader we should make it a point to understand as many of their characteristics as possible. In Buddhism, with the Buddha as our leader we try to learn what a Buddha is like and then we try to emulate those qualities in our life.
I once had a Christian visit the temple, mind you this is not characteristic of all Christians, who claimed the as long as he believed in his savior it wasn’t necessary for him to worry about his personal behaviors. I felt sad for this person and I also knew that he was missing something in his life.
For us to believe in something and then walk away from trying our best to emulate that something is like asking someone to guide us, and then walking in another direction. It would be like looking up into the heavens, seeing the North Star and then heading off in an opposite way. It would be bad enough to commit such senselessness, it is worse to then expect a favorable result.
“This sutra saves them from all sufferings, and gives them great benefits. All living beings will be able to fulfill their wishes by this sutra … just as a party of merchants who find a leader… this Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma saves all living beings from all sufferings, from all diseases, and from all the bonds of birth and death.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter XXIII)
