Not Clinging (poem)

Not clinging to belief,
my heart-mind is embraced by Amida
whenever he calls through me.
Namu Amida Butsu.

Because it arises
from not clinging to Amida,
my faith is unwavering.
Namu Amida Butsu.

---

The above poem was inspired by reading "Reflections on the Religious Case Against Belief" by Carl von Baeyer of the Saskatoon Unitarian Church.

Through this poem, I am freeing my heart-mind of clinging to ideology with regard to my faith.

For each time one calls to Amida gives less fuel for belief to burn until all that is left is faith.

Many thanks for Mr. von Baeyer for inspiring me to study the Buddhist Upādāna.

---

References:
Reflections on The Religious Case Against Belief: http://www.ucsaskatoon.org/wp/guest-speakers/reflections-carse

Clinging or Upādāna: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up%C4%81d%C4%81na#Buddhism
http://gandhara.blogspot.com/search/label/Up%C4%81d%C4%81na

Form is Suffering

Form is suffering. The cause and condition for the arising of form is also suffering. As form has originated from what is suffering, how could it be happiness?

-"The Connected Discourses of the Buddha"

This quote is derived from the Dharmacakrapravartana Sutra:

"...Form is suffering, feeling is suffering, perception is suffering, karmic constituents are suffering, consciousness is suffering; in sum, these five agglomerations, which are the basis of clinging to existence, are suffering. This, monks, is the Noble Truth of suffering.

...

"And what is the Noble Truth of the origination of suffering? It is the thirst for further existence, which comes along with pleasure and passion and brings passing enjoyment here and there. This, monks, is the Noble Truth of the origination of suffering." - Commentary on Dharmacakrapravartana Sutra

Originally the Pali Sutra, Dhamma-kakka-ppavattana-sutta (see References) has no entry stating that "form is suffering". Instead it mentions the five aggregates (Skandha) i.e form, feeling, perception, karmic constituents, and consciousness.

"The five Skandhas are a fundamental Buddhist concept and play an important part in Buddhist doctrine. For it is through the five Skandhas that the world (Samsara) is experienced, and nothing is experienced apart from the five Skandha. Furthermore it is through the five Skandha that clinging (Upadana) occur and through the five Skandha that suffering (Duhkha) arises." - Skandha - The Five Aggregates

References:


Commentary on Dharmacakrapravartana Sutra:
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Temple/6198/1stsermon.html

The DHAMMA-KAKKA-PPAVATTANA-SUTTA - "Dhamma-kakka-ppavattana-sutta" is another variation of the original Pali title for Dharmacakrapravartana Sutra.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/sbe11/sbe1104.htm

http://www.buddhistinformation.com/ida_b_wells_memorial_sutra_library/dhammakakkappavattana_sutta.htm

Skandha - The Five Aggregates:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skandha

The Ego Prayer (poem)

If the very nature of Being
is to become "I am",
what a challenge for someone
who foolishly chooses
Ego over selflessness!
For this person would sooner
choose having No-mind
over all the suffering
that Ego has brought to life
on this good earth.
So let this person lose
his hold over all clinging,
if only to let go of Ego.