First day of Intro to Buddhism

I'm too worn out after Hindi, Dr. Schlutter's lecture, three sections of Intro to Buddhism and two and a half hours of Modern Japanese History to write much, so instead I will share the two images that are staving off my migraine.

Quote of the Day

I hope no reader will suppose that "mere" Christianity is here put forward as an alternative to the creeds of the existing communions -- as if a man could adopt it in preference to Congregationalism of Greek Orthodoxy or anything else. It is more like a hall out of which doors open into several rooms. If I can bring anyone into that hall I shall have done what I attempted. But it is in the rooms, not in the hall that there are fires and chairs and meals. The hall is a place to wait in, a place from which to try the various doors, not a place to live in. For that purpose the worst of rooms (whichever that may be) is, I think preferable. It is true that some people may find they have to wait in the hall for a considerable time, while others feel certain almost at once which door they must knock at. I do not know why there is this difference, but I am sure God keeps no one waiting unless He sees that it is good for him to wait. When you do get into the room you will find that the long wait has done you some kind of good which you would not have had otherwise. But you must regard it as waiting, not camping. You must keep on praying for light: and, of course, even in the hall, you must begin tying to obey the rules which are common to the whole house. And above all you must be asking which door is the true one; not which pleases you best by its paint and panelling. In plain language, the questions should never be: 'Do I like that kind of service?' but 'Are these doctrines true: Is holiness here? Does my conscience move me towards this? Is my reluctance to knock at this door due to my pride or my mere taste or my personal dislike of this particular door-keeper?'



When you have reached your own room, be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall. If they are wrong they need your prayers all the more; and if they are your enemies, then you are under orders to pray for them. That is one of the rules common to the whole house" (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity. pg. 8).

Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar's Big Day

From Matthew 2 (NIV)

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel."
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

From the Nalaka Sutta (Sn 3.11)
Quotations are from Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Once, while the sage Asita was residing in heaven, he heard that the gods were rejoicing like they never had before. Wondering what event had caused them such amusement, Asita approached the gods, and having bowed to them asked for the cause of their merrymaking. The gods replied.

"The Bodhisatta, the foremost jewel,
unequaled,
has been born for welfare & ease
in the human world,
in a town in the Sakyan countryside,
Lumbini.
That's why we're all so wildly elated.
He, the highest of all beings,
the ultimate person,
a bull among men, foremost of all people,
will set turning the Wheel [of Dhamma]
in the grove named after the seers,
like a strong, roaring lion,
the conqueror of beasts."

With the intent of seeing the newborn Boddhisatta, Asita descended to Earth and entered the Kingdom of Kapilavastu. Having approached baby Siddhartha and while holding him in his arms, Asita began to weep. Fearing that his actions were a sign that some calamity would soon befall the young prince, King Suddhodana asked the sage why he was crying.

“On seeing the Sakyans' concern
he replied, "I foresee for the prince
no harm.
Nor will there be any danger for him.
This one isn't lowly: be assured.
This prince will touch
the ultimate self-awakening.
He, seeing the utmost purity,
will set rolling the Wheel of Dhamma
through sympathy for the welfare of many.
His holy life will spread far & wide.
But as for me,
my life here has no long remainder;
my death will take place before then.
I won't get to hear
the Dhamma of this one with the peerless role.
That's why I'm stricken,
afflicted, & pained."

Then, having brought the family of Siddhartha such abundant rapture he took his leave from the kingdom.



CMB! Happy Epiphany!

Lucas and Me

Over the break I had a nice visit with my good friend Lucas. After dinner we decided it would be nice to indulge in a film. I wanted to watch WALL-E on DVD but Lucas was set on going to the theater to see Valkyrie. As usual Lucas got his way, but I got back at him by being cranky during the trailers and sleeping through most of the film. Afterwards, Lucas wouldn't stop telling me how disappointed he was that the filmmakers had chosen not to include the contributions of Neo-Orthodox theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer in the Abwehr's July 20th plot to assassinate Hitler.

Back at home we had a late night cocktail (Lucas drank a dry martini, while I had cookies and milk). Before I got into my jammies, I reminded Lucas that he was a poopy-head and threw some LEGOS at him.

St. Thomas More

More married again very soon after his first wife's death, his choice being a widow, Alice Middleton. She was older than he by seven years, a good, somewhat commonplace soul without beauty or education; but she was a capital housewife and was devoted to the care of More's young children. On the whole the marriage seems to have been quite satisfactory, although Mistress More usually failed to see the point of her husband's jokes. (The Catholic Encyclopedia)