Wishing
“It is the virtue of the child to think in terms of wishes. But the virtue of the grown man is to will.” (Ortega y Gasset, Spanish Philosopher)
I think it is natural as children to wish for things. When younger, especially very young, things seem to just happen. There is almost always someone doing something to make your life better. Of course this isn’t always the case.
When we are young we are told stories of Santa Clause, the Fairy Godmother, the Tooth Fairy and so forth. Life is filled with stories of people merely wishing for something and then it happens.
As we age though we learn that it isn’t as simple as that, or maybe we don’t. In the quote by Ortega y Gasset he says that for children it is acceptable to think in these simplistic terms. As a person ages and matures though it is important to shift from wishing to willing. A change needs to occur from merely hoping something will happen to actually making causes for it to happen.
Early in my practice of Nichiren Buddhism I recall being told that it isn’t possible to chant enough Odaimoku to make the kettle of water boil. At some point, if I wished the water to boil I would need to get up and turn the burner on.
“Seeing that they had already had a rest, the leader collected them, and said “Go on ahead now! This is a magic city. You were tired out halfway. You wished to go back.
Therefore, I made this city by magic as an expedient. Make efforts! Let us go to the place of treasures!” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter VII)
In some ways the wishful attitude of youth allows us time to grow and mature so that as adults we can set out on our own and through our own efforts achieve our greatest dreams. Of course the greatest of dreams for us as practitioners of Buddhism is the attainment of enlightenment, which fundamentally includes the conquering of Mara and self-doubt and negativity.
“The people were under the pressure of various sufferings. They were fighting with the Maras in order to emancipate themselves from suffering. Because I saw all this,
I expounded various teachings to them. I expounded many sutras with skillful expedients. Now I know that they can understand the Sutra Of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma. Therefore, I expound it to them lastly just as the king took the brilliant gem out of his top-knot and gave it to the bravest man lastly.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter XIV)
