In Our Lives What Truth Do We Reveal?
The following was written based upon Mark 6:2-5. I was given the opportunity to prepare a ‘sermon’ based upon those passages from the Bible. I continue to engage in this because I think there are many truths similarly to be found in both Christianity and Buddhism. This is my submission.
Part I
I think what the author, Mark, is saying here is there is no easy way to impress on our family and closest friends the truth of Jesus other than by the most difficult of changes required, the changes at the core of our lives. It is easy to master the words of faith, or even to put on a show of faith for brief interactions, however to constantly wear that faith and belief so that it manifests in the littlest things we do in every moment of our lives is much more difficult.
It is easy to be righteous for brief encounters, but much more difficult to sustain over the course of intimate relations. Our friends and family see not the clothes upon our back, they see the flesh underneath. Our flesh is revealed and often times it isn’t as pretty as the robes we done.
On the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands!
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Mark 6:2, 3
While it is true that the hardest to convince are our closest friends the case is also that sometimes those we wish to speak with may condemn us because of our connections, such as family or even our past behaviors.
So Jesus was an ordinary person from humble birth and background, what gives him the right, what makes him think he can teach, where did he come up with these ideas of his?
We may suffer some of the same criticisms; by those we wish to speak to about our faith. They may say, well I knew you when you used to be such and such. Or maybe they might say, you don’t speak very well, you aren’t very educated, how can you claim to know anything about religion?
It would seem that Jesus was undaunted by this burden as he went out and continued his mission to save mankind.
There is a famous practitioner of Buddhism called Never Despise Bodhisattva. He appears in the Lotus Sutra and is famous for his practice of bowing to everyone he came in contact with and saying to them how he revered them, how he praised them, how he respected them because they were to become Buddhas one day.
They laughed at him at first, then as he continued to engage in this reverential practice, this practice of respect, those people became more agitated. Some derided him, some called him names, some even became violent towards him. Some said things like, who does he think he is a common person, a nobody, and ignorant to proclaim we will become Buddhas, what does he know.
Still he persisted in his activity, however he employed more skill and wisdom. When they threatened him or tried to attack him, he stood back and continued to bow to them. Never once did he become angry or defensive, never once did he think how mean-spirited or hateful they were.
Finally as he approached the end of his life all those people whom he had come into contact with became enlightened because of his actions and his very own life was extended.
Just as in the case with our closest and intimate friends and family who know our inner weakness, those outside our intimate lives know our outer weaknesses. When we can respect the truths they reveal about our selves, when we can continue to practice our beliefs undeterred and without wavering in our beliefs, that is when we can cause the most significant changes in both ourselves and in the lives of those we wish to change.
The path is never easy, but there is great opportunity not only for us but also for all of mankind. Respecting the lives of those who would be our teachers, even if we do not like the teaching they reveal, will lead to the greatest influence in the changes we wish to cause in ourselves and in the lives of our friends, family and all of society.
