The Eternal is the whole of heaven, earth and living beings.
Our parents gave birth to us,
But It is the true Source of our existence.
We must let It help us in order to return to It
And become the vessel of Its Water of Compassion.
Our True Body, the Buddha Nature, then appears
And we revert to the state of the full moon that reflects the Light of the Eternal.
The following is an excerpt from my diary dated June 13, 1998:
The Way of Ancient Buddhas
Ask sincerely.
Offer wholeheartedly.
Wait patiently.
Listen carefully.
Follow gladly.
I have written about these five aspects of meditation in Parts XII through XVI of "How to Grow a Lotus Blossom: Reflections," the essays that parallel these "Reflections in a Disciple's Life." And I have taught about these aspects of meditation ever since my retreat in 1998-'99. Yet I am always a beginner in doing the asking, offering, waiting, listening and following. I am always re-discovering how much I need this teaching.
The teaching of the five aspects of meditation is essentially the same as the teaching of the five columns in How to Grow a Lotus Blossom. The difference is that the teaching of the five aspects of meditation emphasizes our part in the process of training/enlightenment, whereas the teaching of the five columns shows our part and the Eternal's part. Furthermore, in the fifth column, the teaching points beyond all distinctions of "our part" and "the Eternal's part:" there is the Eternal, the "Buddha within."
The five aspects of meditation can all be seen in Rev. Master's Commentary on the Precepts, which was written during the first months of her great retreat and kensho in 1976, and which is found in the text accompanying Plate XII (first edition, Plate VIII) of How to Grow a Lotus Blossom. Here is an example of each of the five aspects of meditation as it appears in Rev. Master's Commentary on the Precepts:
Ask sincerely.
"Do not do anything unless it is 'good;' do not do anything unless I have first asked the Lord of the House if it is good for me to do it."
Offer wholeheartedly.
"Since all possess the Lord, there is nothing to be given and nothing to be taken away, and still all things must be given, all things offered at all times and in all places."
Wait patiently.
"Do nothing whatsoever in a hurry; do nothing whatsoever on the spur of the moment unless I know the certainty given by the Lord of the House . . ."
Listen carefully.
"If I always face the Buddha I will always know Buddha; if I always listen to the Lord of the House there is no possibility of my ever killing anything."
Follow gladly.
"When the Lord speaks, spring up joyfully to answer; then, indeed, it is good to do anything whatsoever; know that the Lord will never break the Precepts."
Here is a brief description of the five aspects of meditation as they manifest within a single moment of meditation:
Ask sincerely: looking up in faith.
Offer wholeheartedly: placing all that arises upon the altar of the Heart.
Wait patiently: remaining in stillness.
Listen carefully: focusing attention.
Follow gladly: going on in willingness!"
Click here to proceed to Section XIX, "Benevolence"
Click here to go to the Table of Contents of Book One: How to Grow a Lotus Blossom: Reflections