You cannot purify everything in this world (The Sermon of the Flower in the Mud)
You cannot purify or cleanse everything in this world.
However, just as a lotus flower blooms in the mud, can you not also bloom as a single flower?
That is what enlightenment within your environment means.
You cannot change the environment itself.
You cannot completely erase the past misfortunes you have experienced.
You cannot cancel them all out.
However, even in the same environment,
it is not the case that everyone born into an unfortunate environment must remain unfortunate until the very end, is it?
Within that, can you not polish your heart, seek your own path, and bloom as a single flower?
That is what (the Buddha) preached.
He said that should be possible for everyone.
Enlightenment in that sense is possible.
The enlightenment of 'blooming as a single flower within your circumstances, situation, and environment' is possible.
Happiness does not come from having all objective conditions met.
There are many people who are born into environments others envy and possess every condition, yet their hearts remain empty and dark.
However, there are many people who shine brightly even in modest environments.
In Buddhism, it is important to aim for that radiance.
Therefore, you might think,
If you look at your surroundings, your past way of life, or your current heart, it might be a quagmire.
But, even if it is modest, why not bloom the flower of enlightenment from there?
That is what it means.
'Blooming your own single flower'
is also the answer to the phrase
'Life is a workbook'
That is what it means.
🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
When I was organizing my bookshelf and opened an old notebook I was about to throw away,
I found the teachings of the Buddha that I had written down in the past.
My bookshelf is full of books, and I have to dispose of books and notebooks, but there are some things that are hard to throw away.
I have written this down for my own reference.
Master Okawa has authored over 3,000 books, and
I have been noting down
the teachings that are necessary for me.
The reason so many teachings have been given is
because the collection of life's problems that each person carries
is different.
The teachings that led to the resolution of my problems
may not apply to others.
However, there are laws of the mind that remain unchanged
even after 1,000 or 2,000 years.
I hope to learn them, digest them as my own,
and make them treasures of my heart.