Dispelling Darkness

[선혜]

Dispelling Darkness

Dharma messages by Ven. SongChol

Korean Chogye Zen Master and Patriarch

Translated by Brian Barry

The lamp that the poor old women Nanda lit for the Buddha and the Buddha's Birthday lanterns that we have lit over the years still burn today and will continue to burn in the future. Broader than the endless sky itself, deeper than the deepest ocean, the immaculate lamp in our hearts brightens everything, dispels the murky darkness, and opens up a world of joy. While lanterns hanging in every yard dance in the breezes, butterflies flutter to the flower patches and orioles sing to their hearts content, melting away all the cares of the world.

   The Buddha came to this world for sentient beings, so since he came for us, naturally we are more joyful than him. But he came as a sentient being himself and then become a Buddha, so today is our birthday as well as his. In other words, sentient beings are Buddha, too. The earth and the skies are from the same single source, so everything is one, and all sentient beings are both equal and noble. The Buddha' teachings in the Tripitaka all speak of equality and peace and freedom. When everything is treated with equanimity, all obstacles and hardships are overcome as the world of peace and freedom opens up to all.

   So let's cleanse away the anguish of struggling with greed and deceit in this hollow, dreamlike state and let's all stand as siblings - whether brilliant or stupid, handsome or ugly, rich or poor, powerful or weak - for today is Buddha's Birthday. That makes it our birthday, too, so let's all soak up the nectar of eternal life together!