Risk
Over the past several years we have heard a lot about risks. In terms of the financial industry we learned of the risky loans that were made and traded. When insurance rates are calculated risk is taken into account, not just your personal risk but the accumulated risk of people similar to you. For youthful drivers you are well aware of the cost of risk. If you don’t use certain shampoos you run the life shattering risk of having dandruff. And don’t forget about the risk of underarm stains.
Talk of risks is especially prevalent with the political season in pretty darn close to full swing. If you vote for candidate X you run the risk of certain catastrophic events occurring. Risk is either mentioned directly or indirectly and factors into almost every thing we are exposed to.
Many religions also participate in the risk game. You know, if you don’t believe such and such you risk going to hell or some other destination not generally on tourist maps. Although, I remember fondly when I was a youngster, visiting my grandmother, driving across the River Styx and my parents talking about Sheridan being retired. I originally thought it was a retirement place, but later learned that is the crossing over to death. But still it was pretty interesting that there was an actual river in Florida named Styx.
“I see the region to which each living being is to go, the good or evil karmas he is doing, and the rewards or retributions he is going to have.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter I)
Notice, the Buddha says that behaviors determine reward or retribution. The principal of cause and effect operates, not some mythical supreme judge in an imaginary court.
In Buddhism the risk of not practicing or not believing is that nothing changes. There is no real belief in retribution or some sort of accounting for belief and disbelief. There is not punishment for not chanting Odaimoku or for skipping sutra recitation 5 days in a row.
We practice Buddhism not because we are fearful of some punishment, or some risk for not practicing. We practice Buddhism for the joy and the transformation that takes place in our lives. Fundamentally we have a choice, practice and change our lives, or don’t practice and we remain on the same track we have always been on with no certainty of improvement. We don’t practice because if we didn’t something bad will happen, we practice because we can see the changes manifest in our lives and the kind of life we have because of those changes.
“World-Honored One we have attained enlightenment, perfect fruit. We have secured pure eyes with which we can see the Dharma-without-asravas. We observed the pure precepts of the Buddha In the long night. Today we have obtained the effects and rewards of our observance of the precepts.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter IV)
I hope you will keep in mind that our practice should be one of joy and lightheartedness and never one of guilt, shame, or fear.
