Phantom City is an op-ed column of our journey. We’ll explore the mind, the heart, the universe, and the angst and joys of samsara in an honest, compelling way. Some of you may remember me from the BuddhaJones website. It was my first experience as an e-columnist. It’s a pleasure to be back.
Why Phantom City? Chapter seven of the Lotus Sutra describes the parable of a wise and fearless leader blazing the way forward for a multitude of aspirants. They follow a steep and treacherous path toward the far off goal of enlightenment. Weary from their difficult, dangerous sojourn, they become disheartened and want to turn back. The wise leader knows their trepidations and conjures up a magnificent phantom city to refresh his followers. Once rested, he banishes the vivid hallucination he had conjured and points the way to the true goal of Buddhahood and planetary peace, not much further ahead. I’m proud to be a scribe for my fellow travelers. There are volumes to write.