KWOON - Threefold Lotus Martial Arts

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Guidance on sharing epiphany

Date: Sat, 3 Dec 2005

I am full of emotion as i read your letter. Your determination is inspiring. As you understand Helen's nature, please know that your determination and path are very powerful and always rattle the lives of those around us. Nichiren writes in his letters, "in the later day of the Law (Namu-Myoho-Renge-Kyo), when a person practices the Lotus Sutra just as it teaches, he is bound to meet with many difficulties".
Also, in his letter "On attaining Buddhahood", Nichiren writes. "If you wish to free yourself from the sufferings of birth and death you have endured through eternity and attain supreme enlightenment in this lifetime, you must awaken to the mystic truth which has always been within your life. This truth is Myoho-Renge-Kyo. Chanting Myoho-Renge-Kyo will therefore enable you to grasp the mystic truth within you. Myoho-Renge-Kyo is the king of sutras, flawless in both letter and principle....Life at each moment encompasses both body and spirit and both self and environment of all sentient beings in every condition of life, as well as insentient beings-plants, sky, and earth, on down to the most minute particles of dust. .... One awakened to this truth himself embodies this relationship".
So you can see, by just these two small quotations, the power and joy, and beauty you are now uncovering in your life is unfathomable to those around you. And those just being introduced, may not be certain of this relationship. They may sound as though they practice but may hold many doubts. This is the great obstacle of practice. The monkey mind allows tremendous doubt and delusion to take hold. For women it is always more difficult. But only through this teaching can women reach enlightenment in this lifetime. Try to exercise compassion and tolerance, as you have planted the most powerful seed into the lives of those around you. Be careful whom you expose this tremendous teaching to. Some are not ready or will require great strength and compassion beyond capability.
Always nurture your own practice, for only this way will you have the strength and the protection of the Buddhist gods or cosmos, and the support of the universe in your transition of the teachings.
I hope that you will have a few days to spend with me on your return so that we might share the joy of practice together.
With all my love and respect.
Sylvain

BACKGROUND

Written in compassion to one of the Reverend's friends and follower, James, who at the time of the writing was traveling in South America. James shares many things, but is most troubled by his traveling partner whom he seems to be having trouble communicating with. The Reverend's response is direct and supportive, in that transmitting insight borne of experience is nearly impossible by mouth. Language is always in efficient and elusive in transmitting epiphany. Deep spiritual insight is borne of quiet meditation and internal revelation with the surrounding universe.

Patience and compassion are the primary communications of this note. The attendant self-respect for this quality is also implied.

Sent: Saturday, December 03, 2005 11:14 AM
Subject: peace of mind
Hey compadre...Things are well with me. I am in the mountains of panama right now, in a place called bouquet. The climate here is milder than on the beach, and the cool nights are a nice change of pace. I haven't been practicing the breathing techniques, as much as I would like to, to be perfectly honest it's hard to concentrate with Helen here. She is a very needy person in a lot of ways and we just seem to be on a different page every day. She has the monkey mind and it seems that no matter how hard I try to get her to settle down and focus she is unable to maintain concentration. That relationship has sapped a lot of my energy, although I have been doing yoga every morning, and I am finding that I have a few real good sessions where I have been able to maintain my focus and let the energy flow freely through my body. My step dad just sent into the hospital for a bleeding liver and it seems that he wont be able to drink anymore, assuming that he lasts through the withdrawal phase, so that too has put a damper on my mood. To be perfectly honest I would rather be back there working so we could start moving closer to the realization of the sanctuary, but I am doing a lot here to help get me to where I want to be mentally, so I suppose I should let nature take its course and do my best with the facilities that are available. I have been reading ´The Way" and it is helping me to find some grounding. I have been chanting namu-myoho-renge-kyo as well. Have faith and continue to grow and learn and all things will fall into place. Prepare yourself for the long road ahead, for there is much climbing to do. I hope this finds you well and healthy
Much love and respect
James