Robin Beck

Coming soon

Right now, I am going to be updating Gongyo on Line ; and posting on that topic here. After that, I shall be switching to the types of things I discuss at Ninth Consciousness.

By the way, I use the word Gongyo in a general sense of indicating formal religious services, especially chanting meditation. Most people likely associate the word Gongyo with Nichiren Buddhism, especially Soka Gakkai and Nichiren Shoshu. However, according to wiki, Gongyo 勤行 is a Japanese word that means "assiduous practice" and refers to a formalized service performed by followers of nearly every Chinese, Korean, and Japanese Buddhist denomination. It is often done once or more times a day and consists of the recitation of a sutra passage or passages, a mantra or mantras, or a combination of both. Gongyo can be done at a temple or at home, almost always in front of an object or objects of veneration and accompanied by offerings of light, incense, and food. Gongyo is also sometimes called o-tsutome (お勤め) or shōjin (精進). All three terms are common Japanese words and none is specific to any particular sect or school.

In the last 6 years or so, I have expanded my own chanting practice beyond Nichiren and the Lotus Sutra. At the present time, I see Daimoku as primarily an insight electing mantra' and, as such is basic. In other words, my take is that spiritual introspection and the insight derived therefrom, as the primary and ultimate practice. However, I noe believe that provisional practices are in no way harmful, and indeed can be useful, provided they are used as intended. Moreover, I think focusing too much insight / wisdom practices; at the exclusion of other, more emotive cultivations, can make one a bit grumpy. At any rate, unless I change mu mind, I intend to revisit some of the mantras and other chanting meditations I have discussed here. I might simply re-date and edit the old entries, or leave those as is, and do rewrites.

Any thoughts on which approach I should take? How about on mixing other devotional mantras with the Daimoku? One more thing, one of several reasons I started mixing was to challenge my own superstitions.

Gospel of Thomas and Buddhism

This topic came up at one the e-groups. I have been fascinated by the Gospel of Thomas {GoT} for years. While I have not delved into it deeply, I tend to agree with the scholars who see it as of pre-Gnostic origins. While there are different ways of reading the text, a "big G" Gnostic reading strikes me as an imposition. I find it more conducive of a non-dual, immanent kingdom sort of construction; rather than the world loathing dualism of true Gnosticism. The difference is kind of analogous to immanent versus transcendent understandings of the Buddhist Pure Land. What fascinates me are the tantalizing hints of Buddhism like teachings in some of the passages.

It is not my intention to speculate about the origins of GoT. I go with the theory that it was composed in the first Century AD, probably a bit earlier than the canonical gospels; possibly side by side. I suspect it represents the teachings of a knowledge or gnosis school within the early Christian community; possibly connected with older wisdom / knowledge traditions. I do not think it is a composition of the Gnostic community; the Gnostics simply happened to preserve the most complete extant version presently known. At any rate, my intention is to 'read' the sayings themselves, in light of a Buddhist perspective.

From the Scholars translation of Gospel of Thoma {GoT}:

These are the secret sayings that the living Jesus spoke and Didymos Judas Thomas recorded.

1. And he said, "Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death." ~~ GoT Scholar's Translation

The same introduction and first saying from the "Nancy Johnson" Translation:

These are the secret words spoken by the Living Jesus, and recorded by Didymus Judas Thomas.

1.)
Jesus said:
He who uncovers
The significance of these words
Shall not taste death. ~~ GoT "Nancy Johnson" translation

So these sayings are said to be a kind of esoteric teachings transmitted from a 'Living' Jesus to Thomas. There are a couple different ways of construing 'secret.' One would be the closed fist concept; that the teachings are to be withheld from all but initiates. It could also simply mean that the language itself it not meant to be taken too literally. The latter fits with the first saying. A person who understands the figurative meaning of the sayings shall attain a deathless spiritual awakening. The Buddha is said to have spoken something quite similar, soon after his Awakening:

"Wide open are the doors to the deathless! Let those with ears to hear make sure their faith" The Buddha, MN 26.21

It is also said that, in his last moments, the Buddha told Ananda that he never taught with a closed fist; that all the teachings should be public. Yet, he was saying, from the beginning, that one must have 'ears to hear.' Discernment is needed. The meaning is not always obvious. The same is true of GoT; we do not even need to take it as a literal transmission. The "Living Jesus" could mean our own 'Buddha Mind' or 'Christ Consciousness;' while 'Doubting Thomas' could indicate our own samjna-skandha; our mental perceptions, conceptions, or recognition. Doubt can mean to inquire more deeply; to not just accept our own preconceptions or the trendy popular views.

Here is the second saying from GoT, same translations as above:

2 Jesus said, "Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find. When they find, they will be disturbed. When they are disturbed, they will marvel, and will reign over all. [And after they have reigned they will rest.]" ~~ scholars

2.)
Let him who seeks,
Not cease from his search
until he finds.
When he finds he will be bewildered,
And when bewildered,
He will wonder, and reign over the All. ~~ "NJ"

This 'sounds' to me like guidance for meditative practices. Whether one is practicing the absorption-concentration meditations or mindfulness meditations, it is necessary to maintain right effort, to keep a seeking mind. The Absorption Meditations {Dhyana} elicit spiritual states that can be bewildering. If we let go and open our minds; we can experience something that is truly wondrous. Then, we can learn how to rule our own minds; instead of allowing our minds, or the conniving of others, to rule us. Once we gain mastery of our minds, we can rest, there is a cessation of dukkha.

"All of conditioned existence is unsatisfying [dukkha]. When one acquires the skills of discernment and insight, then one grows weary of frustration [dukkha], and seeks the path of purification." ~~ the Buddha

"since there is a an unborn, a non-arisen, an un-fabricated, an un-compounded or unconditioned; there is a basis whereby emancipation from that which is born, arisen, fabricated, and conditioned is intuited." ~~ the Buddha