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The “Complete Lankavatara Sutra and discussion” is a great addition to the library.
(I also noticed a PDF version of the study of the Uttara-tantra-shastra ie. Ratnagotravibhaga there. Excellent.)
From the Hakeda commentary, very interesting how the First Noble Truth is actually not something that can be realized by the unawakened. This is why as much as we try, we can’t really see all existence as suffering. Obviously, some states are quite pleasurable and desirable to us ordinary men. It is from the vantage point of Enlightenment that the First Noble Truth can really be realized. So the “most basic” of Buddhism converges here with the highest.
So the “Noble Truths” are actually the truths of the noble disciples, arya-sravaka, not for the uninitiated. (I first realized this from reading Zennist blog). The “beginner’s truths” are not the Noble Truths, but the Five Precepts, which serve as a guiding principle, together with faith in the Tathagata and the Dharma and the Sangha (going for refuge in the three jewels).
I’m afraid today’s Buddhism mixes all these levels… when I first came to Buddhism this greatly confused me and caused cataracts or a parallax view from which I wouldn’t be able to see the Dharma even close to the right approach. Then you also add the fact that there are predatory sects out there who distort the Dharma for profit, and you get a pretty bad picture.
I remember Tozen always encouraged me to do well in the world and to not shun the ordinary life and the prusuit of prosperity… I thought he was misrepresenting the Dharma, but actually the Buddha himself gave laypeople business tips and advice how to invest money etc.
There’s a book by Bhikku Rasnagoda Rahula on this topic: http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/book-reviews/buddha-on-prosperity – the West has completely overlooked the teachings on prosperity by the Buddha!
Of course if one becomes greedy and pursues money for money’s sake, and not as a catalyst for good, then it all degrades into predatory capitalism which is the cause of so much harm today…
Back to 1 Noble Truth: the Hakeda commentary passage you posted reminds me that I am not presently able to realize the First Noble Truth. – That there is the happiness of the renunciant, of the monk, of the Muni, which is the highest happiness. And there is also the happiness of the householder, which doesn’t exclude one from the Dharma, but it’s a different situation. Not inferior – at least not in the Mahayana – just different.
Namo Amitabhaya, Buddhaya, Dharmaya, Sanghaya
Would like to open this up for more blogging…
Would you care to undertake, let us say, a series on the Noble Truths in light of the arya-sravaka?
It also need not be a complete series; if you prefer a series of articles?
(One those who realize the highest joy, the highest bliss, can then – in comparison – see all other happiness as “dung-like”… it’s like comparing the light of the sun with the light of the candle… compared to the sun, everything is dark… compared to the highest bliss known by the Buddhas, all is suffering. That’s the First Noble Truth as I understand it. But for us ordinary men, who only know glimpses of that Light, the Noble Truth is not yet realized, and we still tend to chase candlelight, due to past karma, but we also know about the Sun’s existence and when not distracted, look towards the Land of Limitless Light.)
I would certainly be honored to contribute to this great resource. My knowledge and especially my experience is quite limited and far from the level of your series, but if you think my contributions could in any way be helpful to the readers of this blog, then I’ll happily undertake this “Noble Truth” mini-series.
Welcome aboard! 🙂
How amazing!