Wonder; Spiritual Progress
I have been asked on more than one occasion how we as moderns should relate to some of the mythical or superstitions that Nichiren may have believed in or that we find in the various Sutras. Some want to know whether or not we can still believe in the Lotus Sutra even with out believing in superstitions or the mythology of Buddhism.
One of my standard responses is to talk about the belief that dragons make rain, as was believed in previous ages. Today we have sophisticated equipment, satellites, world wide communication, fancy equipment and so forth which we use to study and understand weather. Meteorologists have become quite good at telling us what the weather will be in a few hours or in 10 days. Their information and advice can be fairly accurate.
So, we know that actual dragon creatures do not hover in the sky and cause rain. We now understand the meteorological causes for rain.
With all of this information it is possible for people to feel as if they are actually in control of the weather aspect of our lives. Yet we really don’t have any direct control over the weather what we have is information to act upon to mitigate the effects of weather on our lives.
There is still an aspect of mystery when it comes to understanding weather, we are not capable of actually making it rain in any controlled sustainable and manageable way. Yes clouds can be seeded but that isn’t always effective, nor is it completely controllable.
So in spite of all our knowledge we are in fact no better off than ancient man when it comes to controlling the weather. Our vast amounts of information give us an illusion of control.
There are many mysteries in life and I think it is important to not be afraid to accept the mysteries as being just that. When we can open our lives up to all the mystery that surrounds us, when we are in awe of the things that surround us daily we can actually open our lives up to a joy that is unburdened by our ever-so-clever rational mind.
“Thereupon a stupa of the seven treasures sprang up from underground and hung in the sky before the Buddha. The stupa was five hundred yojanas high and two hundred and fifty yojanas wide and deep. It was adorned with various treasures. It was furnished with five thousand railings and ten million chambers.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter XI)
Opening ourselves up to the wonder, the mystery, the unexplainable in our experiences and in our world outside our lives allows us to be in touch with the wonder, the mystery and the unexplainable within our lives. Be in awe, be amazed, be wowed.
