Bill Fell 3/8 – 9/20
When asked to represent the Buddhist “faith” in front of the Unitarian Church’s two Sunday morning gatherings, one learns how difficult it is to explain the Mahayana view of “wisdom” in a VERY short time. So, start with the “two truths,” and end with our opening liturgy four-liner and pray that I can somehow link these two teachings. But why do I stress over it all?
For Rev. Beth Banks and Cliff Ohmart of Unitarian – Universalist (or “UUians”), Anne Kjemtrup of Davis Engagement and Interfaith Network (DEIN) , and the piano player
Explain “wisdom” in ten minutes
OK, set some goals, imagine outcomes; speak
Do the best you can
It will all be over soon, and then . . .
Brevity being the soul of wit ,* I’m finding
The shorter the talk
The longer the prep
Everything’s left unspoken
Awakened at 3AM
Got it! the perfect second sentence
Capture it this instant, or just
Stay; risk letting it go
While teaching on emptiness, and
Obsessing on ordering a few bullets; ah
The irony and vanity of the aspiring bodhisattva
Wisdom is seeing the movie, the pause
Walkers, canes, name-tagged regulars
Filling the lobby, the sanctuary
Not exactly like first day of kindergarten
Confusion any of us?
“May it dawn as wisdom” *
*Four Dharmas of Gampopa are:
Grant your blessings so that my mind may be one with the dharma.
Grant your blessings so that dharma may progress along the path.
Grant your blessings so that the path may clarify confusion.
Grant your blessings so that confusion may dawn as wisdom.