Getting To Know God
“A man goes to a monastery and asks the head monk there, Father Frederick, to help him find God. The Father instructs the man to touch his nose every day exactly at ten o’clock in the morning and at three o’clock in the afternoon. He was not to touch it earlier or later, only exactly at the times specified. It turns out the man frequently would remember either too early or too late, and often would not remember at all. Sometimes he would remember one time but forget the other. What the man eventually realized that it is hard enough to make change happen much less spiritual change. It is difficult enough to make spiritual change however it is even harder to remember to make the effort.” Paraphrased from “The Five Stages of The Soul”; p. 203-204; by Harry R. Moody and David Carroll
What this story teaches us is perhaps somewhat self-evident yet worth contemplating. In the Eightfold Path we have Right Effort, Right Intention. It is easy to have an intention for something to happen in our lives, it is sometimes more problematic to couple the intention with the effort.
Our lives are strongly influenced by our habitual way of living. We may not even realize the trap we are in until we try to engage in something so intentional as the seemingly simple act of touching our noses twice a day at very specified times. Of course you might think setting a timer, say on your pocket phone or computer, could solve the problem. But that is a habitual response, looking for an easy way to accomplish what has been already admitted by thinking this way, that doing it might be beyond your realm of possibility.
Touching one’s nose is not a very complicated activity even within the limitations prescribed; imagine how much more complicated it is to change our patterns of behavior. For some even doing morning and evening prayers is challenging, as we try to fit it into our already busy lives instead of fitting our busy lives into our prayers.
“Anyone who, while he is seeking the enlightenment of the Buddha, sees or hears this Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma, and after hearing it, understands it by faith and keeps it, know this, will approach Anuttara-samyak- sambodhi.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter X)
“I made a vow to attain unsurpassed Bodhi. I never faltered in seeking it. I practiced almsgiving in order to complete the six paramitas. I never grudged elephants, horses, the seven treasures, countries, cities, wives, children, menservants, maidservants or attendants. I did not spare my head, eyes, marrow, brain, flesh, hands or feet. I did not spare even my life.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter XII)
While it is true, as it says in the Lotus Sutra, we can gain immeasurable merits from merely associating with the Lotus Sutra, the ultimate purpose of Buddhist practice come from our dedicated efforts to practice and strive in living the Lotus Sutra.
