できることが分かっている
Know what is capable
2024-03-04 17:00:00
In the apartment complex where I used to live, there was a balcony about the size of two Tatami (straw) mats.
The ceiling of the balcony, of course, served as the floor for the balcony of the unit above. Perhaps for height adjustment or soundproofing considerations, it was constructed as a hollow box, and the underside was covered with gypsum board.
Due to a typhoon, a portion of that board fell off, creating an opening about 50 square centimeters in size.
As a result, access to the box-shaped hollow space became available.
And after a while, pigeons built a nest in that box-shaped space, and their chicks hatched.
Since it couldn't be removed, we watched over them, but there was a height of over 2 meters from the nest to the balcony floor. <translator’s note: In Japanese law, if there are eggs in the nest, it is prohibited to remove it.>
I had been wondering how the chicks would practice flying, but one day, they flew down to the balcony floor.
After practicing flying on the balcony for a while, the chicks flew back up to the ceiling cavity.
“Better done than said”
And thus, as if it were natural, the chicks grew, learned to fly, and eventually flew the nest.
It seems that the parent birds also understood that they had nothing to worry about.
They made a nest in the ceiling cavity of the balcony as if they had found a perfect spot.
By the way, from the perspective of the Buddha, it's natural for those who accumulate merit to attain enlightenment and become Buddhas.
In essence, it’s self-evident that anyone can attain enlightenment, knowing it is possible, and there’s no need to worry about it.
However, what distinguishes it from the growth and fledging of pigeon chicks is that if a person is carefree, he cannot accumulate merit or awaken (= liberation).
Therefore, various Buddhas expound diverse teachings to lead people (sentient beings) to enlightenment, without begrudging their efforts. At the core of such actions lies the understanding that "anyone, as a human, can attain enlightenment."
Furthermore, it is a matter of concern that despite enlightenment is possible for human, only few people actually achieve enlightenment.
Regarding this aspect, we can find the following teachings in the original scriptures of the Buddha:
275 If you walk this path, you will be able to eliminate suffering. (Having removed the thorn from the flesh) Knowing the method to extract the arrow and heal, I have preached this path to you.
276 You must diligently strive with volition. The various Buddhas (those who have completed their practice) only teach. Those who walk this path with composure of mind will break free from the bondage of evil spirits. ("Dhammapada," Chapter 20: The Path, translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko)
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