Vol. 7. September 2, 2020
Shakespeare described an image for this time of year: “The whining schoolboy, with his satchel, and shining morning face, creeping like snail, unwillingly to school.”
If Shakespeare were to update his school supply list, he would add a face mask and hand sanitizer.
One issue facing Americans today is should we open schools during a pandemic.
Of course, the issue is not should we open schools, but is it safe to open schools?
Unfortunately for us, to answer the question throws us into one of two political camps.
Buddhism would phrase the quandary this way:
As soon as one thought arises, you fall into dualism.
Samsara is the dualistic world. This swirling vortex of pleasure versus pain, man versus woman, right versus wrong, life versus death. Human beings, trapped in samsara, helplessly flail between polar opposites.
Attachment to one position causes suffering.
Even clinging to the polar illusion of life causes suffering.
How do we escape suffering in samsara? Meditate.
The Diamond Sutra advises, “Develop a mind that rests on nothing whatsoever.”
Including your self.
No Self
The Buddhist monk Nagasena said to King Milinda, “Resulting from my hair, nails, teeth, skin, bones, internal organs, blood, sweat, tears, brain, sensations, perceptions and consciousness, there is that which goes under the term, designation and name of Nagasena. But in the strict sense, there is no individual in that matter.”
Whoever perceives a self in matter is traveling the wrong path.
There are no schoolchildren. There is no you. There is only all-pervading spotless beauty.
Call it the Dharmakaya. Call it Buddha-nature. Call it the Uncreated Absolute. But names mislead. Designations distract. Rather, rest content in Undisturbed Oneness.
Then everywhere your foot may fall is a sanctuary for enlightenment.
Even wending your way unwilling to school.
The Buddha Times 