Infinity
Universal Infinity Day
Today is Universal Infinity Day, in case you are wondering how come imagine laying the number 8 on it’s side, and you get the symbol for infinity. Today is 8/8 so it is double infinity.
Thinking about infinity brings up a couple of Buddhist ideas in my head. One is the quality of boundlessness or unlimited. Another is lasting forever with no beginning or end.
“Needless to say, boundless will be the merits of the person who hears this sutra with all his heart, and expounds its meanings, and acts according to its teachings.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter XVIII)
Expressed here is the measure of the amount of benefit that will accrue to those who practice the Lotus Sutra. The measure is boundless, there is no limit to the benefit. Thinking about this I wonder how difficult or easy it is for us to not place restrictions on our own openness to this boundlessness. Is there some small part of us that says in perhaps an ever so small voice that it couldn’t mean me, or that in my case there would be a limit to the merit.
What limitations do we place on boundless, what restrictions do we place on the immeasurable benefits that we will receive. The other day I talked about correcting our vision, something not so easy to do. Even here we may need to work on opening ourselves up to this idea of boundless merit.
“Even if I praise for innumerable kalpas the keeper of this sutra, to whom it is to be transmitted, I cannot praise him highly enough. His merits are as limitless, as infinite, as boundless as the skies of the worlds of the ten quarters.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter XXI)
Finally addressing the concept of no beginning or no end, I am thinking of the insubstantial nature of all things in the universe. This may not be where you thought I would go. But I think about nothing remaining unchanged forever, a sort of backdoor look at eternity.
No matter what our troubles or our tribulations, or even our joys or satisfactions, nothing outside the truth contained in the Dharma is permanent throughout space and time, throughout infinity.
“Anyone who keeps this sutra will be able to see me. He also will be able to see Many-Treasures Buddha, the Buddhas of my replicas, and the Bodhisattvas whom I have taught today.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter XXI)
Have a great Infinity Day, make it last….
