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It is that.
I especially like this part of the sutra for devotional and inspirational reasons. The presence of the Buddha and the sublime spiritual assistance offered should not be thought of as symbolic or metaphorical expressions, as so many contemporary rationalist Buddhists choose to do. No, this assistance is real and always available.
But I wonder if it is better in translation to say “listen to” rather than “hear”, because I think there is more than passively absorbing the sutra. When we step through the fog on our own merits we see how much help we have had all along the way.
I wonder how many Buddhists call upon the Tathagata when poisoned by Mara. With thoughts racing and boiling with these poisons, at times even an experienced meditator has difficulty taming the passions of mind. I have verified many times, when I call upon the Buddhas, not even using words in prayer, but asking for their compassionate guidance to ease the venom of mind, so quickly, and without fail, I encounter in my own reach all the necessary tools to cut through the dark veil of defilement and rest once again in mind, even in the darkest hour. The work is ours, but they clear the way. Just cry out for help, in humility, and they come.
How strange it seems to me a Buddhist practice where Buddha is merely a concept, a dry and inaccessible “thing” to be aspired to. No, it is so much more than this. How patient, how generous is the Tathagata.
Amen. 🙂
Very well stated; I sense a brother in the Buddhadharma with similar sentiments towards those ever watchful Tathagatas…
I would only like to reiterate the important point that the effort is on us. This is why I am hesitant to say prayer, which in Western terms tends to be a release of all responsibility (and in fact, one of the main reasons for Christian practice, for example, is being able to put our burdens on Christ). While I respect this “open hands” form of renunciation in prayer, I have also seen in my own spiritual journey how meaningful and satisfying it is to carry our own karmic burdens to cessation, indeed how necessary at times. I don’t doubt there is spiritual assistance in many areas of our lives which we simply do not see (or at least, do not become aware of until passing a certain stage of practice) but if anyone wonders why God doesn’t win the lottery for us when we ask, I think it can be explained by our own lack of understanding in even asking for such a thing. I most sincerely urge other Buddhists who have not availed themselves of this infinite and compassionate support, thinking “who would I pray to?”, to consider what is presented in this sutra and elsewhere in the Buddhadharma. We are not alone in this saha-world, and the further we work toward our liberation, the greater the spiritual presence in our lives behind the scenes, helping us along and singing joyously in praise when we make the slightest progress. The sutras are filled with such references if one looks, but as I wrote above, it is also something which can be verified in experience. It fills me with gratitude to think upon it.
Striving should be done by yourselves; the Tathagatas are only teachers. The meditative ones who enter the way are delivered from the bonds of Mara.
–Maggavagga (the path)
Dhammapada 276