Robin Beck: The Power of Threes

June 29, 2008

The Power of Threes

Ki to Revitalization
Words mean things
Buddhism & Positive Thinking

Precepts/Ethics = Sangha = Nirmanakaya = Body = Mudra = Kaidan
Meditation = Dharma = Sambhogakaya = Speech = Mantra = Daimoku
Discernment = Buddha = Dharmakaya = Mind = Mandala = Honzon

The late W. Clement taught a system of analysis that he called the PIT formula.

P=Principles: Universal truths that are Timeless and Infinite; they are always true regardless of the time and place.

I=Ideas. Various tentative theories or plans about how a Principle might be applied at a certain time and specific place.

T= Techniques. Actual methods which have proven to be effective in practice

Buddhism teaches a number of threefold concepts:

The Threefold Training
The Three Vehicles
The Three Karmas
The Three Truths
The Threefold Contemplation
Three kinds of Meditation {right effort, concentration, mindfulness}
The Tri-Kaya or Triple Body
The Three Refuges or Triple Jewel
The Three Proofs
Three Kinds of Wealth
The Three Mysteries
The Three Great Secret Dharmas

My take is all of these sets of threes are connected:

Principle = Dharma = Wisdom {Prajna/Jo} = Speech {Saca} = Emptiness {Sunyatta/ku} = Ultimate Truth = Right Mindfulness {Samma Sati/Smrti} = Insight {Vipasyan/kan}= Entity {Nyo Ze Tai} = Dharma-Kaya {Principle Body} = Documentary Proof = Wealth of the Heart = Mystery of Mouth {jihva} = Mantra = Daimoku {Namu Myoho Renge Kyo}

Ideas = Dharma = Meditation {Samadhi/dhyana/smrti} = Thought {Sankappa} = Middle Way {Chu} = Interdependent Co-Arising = Right Concentration {Samma Samadhi} = Stillness {Samatha} = Nature {Nyo Ze Sho} = Sambhoga-Kaya {Recompense Body}= Conjectural Truth = Mind { Manas} = Wealth of the Mind = Mandala = Honzon or Gohonzon

Techniques = Sangha {Congregation} = Ethics {Sila/Kai} = Action {Kammanta}= Form {Rupa/ke} = Conventional Truth =Right Effort {Samma Vayama} = Metta {Empathy} = Appearance {Nyo Ze So} = Nirmana-Kaya {Created Body} = Practical Proof = Body {Rupa-Kaya} = Wealth in the Bank = Asana/mudra {Posture/gesure}= Kaidan {Ordination Platform/Altar}

Some of these connections are tenuous; the Power of Threes is more of an epistemological than an ontological construction. For example, what is actual proof? Is it wealth of the heart, or cash in the bank? I am not sure that Three Kinds of Wealth and the Three Proofs connect well. However, as a memory tool, the Power of Threes is useful.

The application of the Three Truths to this is especially problematic. There are different formulations:

Ultimate Truth = Emptiness = Principle
Conventional Truth = Form = Technique
Middle Way = Inclusive of both. Interdependent Co-Arising = Idea

My understanding of this and the Threefold Contemplation is still very tentative. The point of the exercise is to cultivate our own insight; to ask the right questions; rather than getting the right answer.