My goal is to have a new book published by mid-December dealing with matters of mind and attitude as we approach and engage in our practice of the Dharma of the Lotus Sutra.
Here is the introduction as it is tonight. Of course it is subject to change, lol.
Over several months in the Spring of 2017 I gave a series of lectures on some of the important material available to ministers in the Shutei Hoyo Shiki. Due to the importance of the material I felt it necessary to make it more widely available. Many ministers simply do not have the time to present this material especially given the ongoing nature of teaching basics to new Sangha members. Also, there is so much information that needs to be shared it would be a challenge to anyone even if their sole job was simply to teach. Ministers in the United States are not so blessed since in most instances all the administrative tasks, fund raising, conducting services, as well as provide counseling all usually come on top of holding a job to keep a roof over ones head and food on the table.
As a mostly retired minister who mainly hosts an online sangha and who helps Kanjin Shonin with the training of his disciples I have a certain luxury of some freedom to focus on things which I feel are important and make them available to as wide an audience as possible. It doesn’t mean I have unlimited time, and even if I did I do not have unlimited energy. So before judging a minister for not providing what I am going to provide you, and before judging what I have chosen please bear in mind that we all do the best we are able. And that holds true for you.
The best you are able to do today may not be the best you were able to do yesterday or could do tomorrow, it is however the best you are able to do now. So it is with everyone.
I leave you with this quote from the Shutei Hoyo Shiki.
The way we are and the state of our mind in any moment is the relationship we experience with the Three Treasures. There is no distinction. We are either constantly bowing, or not bowing but always manifesting our relationship.
