Saturday, September 27, 2014

My 900-page letter

Did anyone ever send you a 900-page letter? Beautifully hand-printed on 8.5x11” sheets of loose-leaf notebook paper?

I once received such a "letter," although it didn't go through the US postal system. I shudder to think of the postage on something like that. No, David Ewald took the better part of a year composing this thing, and simply handed it to me when he finished. And the quality of his printing was as good on the last page as it was on the first page.

At the time, David and I had been members of the same Buddhist sect – the Soka Gakkai International – USA. He told me in advance that he decided to write this piece in an attempt to answer many of the questions about Buddhism that I had attempted to raise over the years. I had run my questions by David as well as by members at SGI-USA discussion meetings and numerous leaders within the organization.

My questions were either ignored or badly answered. David at least seemed to listen and try to process what I was saying. However, his oral responses were brief and largely unsatisfactory. Hence, his thought to try a prolonged written approach.

Word of David’s undertaking had become widely known by many of the SGI-USA members in our immediate circle. I was curious as to what this self-motivated scholar would come up with. David didn’t have an advanced academic degree; I doubt he had completed even a bachelor’s degree program. But his home library was huge, he was a voracious reader (for instance, having read all of Mark Twain's writings), and had even invented a coded language of his own to record thoughts he never intended to share with anyone else.

When David presented his 900-page letter to me, I read it immediately – taking about two months to plough though it. There was a lot of fascinating information on the history of cults in the USA, as well as an appreciable amount of Buddhist theory. BUT…for the most part, David didn’t even try to answer any of the questions I’d been posing for years. I didn’t have the heart to tell him this, since I knew he’d worked so hard on it.

I did thank him profusely for his efforts and I even spent the better part of a day making a photocopy of it, so he’d have a copy. He asked that I do this, and provided the money in advance so I could feed the photocopier. I even made up my mind to eventually re-read the manuscript and jot down points for us to disuss.

BUT…before that could happen, David Ewald passed away at the age of 69, seven years ago. I attended a farewell ceremony in his honor at the SGI-USA Cultural Center in Chicago, our home town. The gathering took place in a lovely, intimate space nick-named the Round Room. And there were maybe 200 members present. After we chanted and offered incense, a few of us took the mic to address the congregation.

When my turn came, I showed them the 900-page letter and explained why David had written this. And I heard a few “oohs” and “ahs” from those assembled. But I didn’t offer my opinion on the content, just saying it was rare these days for anyone to even consider undertaking such a project. And I was profoundly humbled that he'd do this for my sake.

After I finished speaking, the meeting came to an end after another speaker or two had offered their anecdotes and fond farewells. Most of us broke into small groups, just hanging around and chatting. To those few who walked up to me, wanting a closer look at David’s letter, I repeated my earlier statement about David having offered this in order to answer my religious, doctrinal questions. I was surprised when a long-time member, Dale Stankiewicz, interrupted by saying, “That should have shut him up.” [Meaning me.]

This wasn’t the first time Dale and I had crossed swords. When I was a member of the district he was in charge of (“District Chief”), on occasion I would ask a question or make a challenging statement. So Dale knew I wasn’t a member of blind-faith – far from it. For example, once, Dale told us about a fairly large sum of money he’d inherited recently. He considered that to be one benefit due to his decades of dedication to the organization and to the practice of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism.

He bristled when I suggested that he would have received this windfall without having practiced at all. Maybe, maybe not. It sounded too much like bragging about winning the lottery because he chanted.

In his own way, Dale was somewhat of a scholar – at least of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism as practiced by the SGI. That’s why I was surprised when, in a private conversation, he told me, “The word ‘daishonin’ in Japanese means ‘Buddha.’” I was too stunned to reply, as I should have, “No, the Japanese word for ‘Buddha’ is ‘butsu.’ ‘Daishonin’ means ‘great sage.’”

Dale’s words were spoken in answer to my question: “Why don’t we simply call him [the founder of our sect] Nichiren Buddha, if we really believe he’s a Buddha? Why do we stick with calling him ‘Daishonin?’”

So when Dale gave his inaccurate answer, he was either intentionally lying to me or he had suffered a momentary mental glitch. I suspect the former, since the translation of the word “Daishonin” is widely known among long-time members – and most new ones as well– as being “great sage.

Truly sad. But even sadder, since we have an obligation to study the Buddhist sutras and commentaries? Not one single member present at this gathering, including Dale, asked me, “May I borrow your letter – I’d like to read it?”


END NOTE:  I am sorry to report that I no longer have David Ewald’s letter. A former roommate of mine put it in a storage locker about five years ago. Last I heard, that letter probably ended up being destroyed. On the plus side, at least the copy I’d made for David survived and is part of his personal estate of 10,000 books he’d kept in his house.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Steven Searle, just another member of the
Virtual Samgha of the Lotus and
former candidate for US President (in 2008 & 2012)

Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com



Tuesday, September 2, 2014

"Lost Stars" revisited

Introduction

On Aug. 26, I posted my comments on the meaning of  “Coming up Roses,” and “Lost Stars,” as sung by Keira Knightley in the movie, “Begin Again.” Today, I want to take another (and better) shot at “Lost Stars.”

My original post is on this link:


I am happy to report that “Begin Again” has been re-released in order to make it eligible for Academy Awards’ consideration. The soundtrack is being emphasized in the chase for an Oscar. However, I’m amazed that not one single reviewer mentioned the very-obvious Buddhist themes involved in these two songs - and in the movie itself. I think it would be more than worthwhile for the Weinstein Company (this movie's distributors) to “mention” these themes. That would give audiences a heads-up on what to look for as they watch the film and listen to the songs.

Next, I’m going to post the lyrics as sung by Keira Knightley, followed by my interpretations.


“Lost Stars”

(1) Please don't see just a girl caught up in dreams and fantasies.
(2) Please see me reaching out for someone I can't see.
(3) Take my hand, let's see where we wake up tomorrow.
(4) Best laid plans sometimes are just a one night stand.
(5) I'll be damned, Cupid's demanding back his arrow.
(6) So let's get drunk on our tears and
(7) God, tell us the reason, youth is wasted on the young.
(8) It's hunting season,
(9) and this lamb is on the run searching for meaning.
(10) But are we all lost stars trying to light up the dark?
(11) Who are we? Just a speck of dust within the galaxy?
(12) 'Woe is me' if we're not careful turns into reality.
(13) Don't you dare let our best memories bring you sorrow.
(14) Yesterday I saw a lion kiss a deer.
(15) Turn the page, maybe we'll find a brand new ending.
(16) Where we're dancing in our tears and
(17) God, tell us the reason, youth is wasted on the young.
(18) It's hunting season,
(19) and this lamb is on the run, searching for meaning.
(20) But are we all lost stars trying to light up the dark?
(21) I thought I saw you out there crying.
(22) I thought I heard you call my name.
(23) I thought I heard you out there crying.
(24) But just the same,
(25) God, tell us the reason, youth is wasted on the young.
(26) It's hunting season,
(27) and this lamb is on the run, searching for meaning.
(28) But are we all lost stars trying to light up the dark?
(29) Are we all lost stars trying to light up the dark?



My Interpretations

Lines (1) and (2):

"Please don't see just a girl caught up in dreams and fantasies.
Please see me reaching out for someone I can't see."

Gretta is asking her boyfriend at the time, Dave Kohl, to see her as reaching out for the Buddha – “someone I can’t see.” To an outsider, unfamiliar with the Way, such a “reaching out” must appear to be “dreams and fantasies.” As I mentioned in my earlier post, her best friend Steve is responsible for Gretta trying to "reach out" for the Buddha.

Line (3):  “Take my hand, let's see where we wake up tomorrow.”

Attaining Enlightenment is sometimes called the Great Awakening. Gretta is inviting Dave to join her – “take my hand” – and see where this unpredictable journey will take them as they both pursue the Way.

Line (4):Best laid plans sometimes are just a one night stand.”

In real life, a one-night stand could never be considered a “best laid plan.” So, saying that “best laid plans” are sometimes the equivalent (in outcome) to one night stands is an interesting way of criticizing our over-reliance on conventional thinking when it comes to how we should proceed in seeking personal growth. Sometimes being more open and spontaneous will yield a better result than good planning.

Line 5:I'll be damned, Cupid's demanding back his arrow.”

“I’ll be damned” usually means “I’ll be shocked or surprised.” Gretta shouldn’t be “shocked/surprised” at Cupid’s demand – she should be grateful. If she’s really inviting Dave to join her in a quest for Enlightenment, the kind of smitten love implied by Cupid’s arrow would only get in the way. People can love each other and pursue the Way without the hindrance of being smitten.

In a more literal sense, both Dave and Gretta would “be damned” to a failure to make anything but a slow and tortuous spiritual progress if they should decide to keep Cupid’s arrow.

Lines (6) and (7):

“So let's get drunk on our tears and
God, tell us the reason, youth is wasted on the young.”

Getting drunk on emotions is what Cupid was hoping to prevent with his demand. But the path to Enlightenment takes into account the way we are, so indulging in emotion isn’t fatal to our search for Awakening. For most people, it’s absolutely necessary – though it does slow things down a bit.

The movie makes clear that God doesn’t talk to us. So in that sense, there might as well be no such thing as God. If, however, Gretta is hoping for some teacher to “tell us the reason,” she’ll be pleasantly disappointed – for “youth is NOT wasted on the young.” By means of pursuing appropriate Buddhist practice, it’s possible to have a second youth and a renewed body within one lifetime.

Lines (8) and (9):

“It's hunting season,
and this lamb is on the run searching for meaning.”

I see “this lamb is on the run” as being a positive and aggressive behavior in keeping with the motto, “It’s hunting season.”

Line (10): “But are we all lost stars trying to light up the dark?”

We only feel lost because we don’t fully comprehend the (karmic) forces that determine our location and our path of travel. Our mistake is in trying to “light up the dark” solely for our own benefit – so we’ll be less afraid of the dark. Having a desire to light up the dark for everybody’s sake will provide a guarantee of spiritual success. That’s the goal of the Buddhas – to totally eliminate darkness throughout the universe for everybody’s sake.

Lines (11) and (12):

“Who are we? Just a speck of dust within the galaxy?
'Woe is me' if we're not careful turns into reality.”

Without making any efforts for spiritual growth, that’s all each of us will remain – “a speck of dust.” Read line 12 with this definition of “careful” in mind: full of care, that is full of compassion.” If we lack caring and compassion for others, we will always only remain “a speck of dust.” However, those who cultivate compassion in their lives eventually become capable of moving entire galaxies and filling the heavens with their light, which is capable of saving others.

Line (13):Don't you dare let our best memories bring you sorrow.”

As you progress spiritually, don’t be ashamed of your past. That past, coupled with your current determination to grow, will prove to be the fertile ground from which your Enlightenment will take root.

Line (14):Yesterday I saw a lion kiss a deer.”

Join me, and you too will see such things. You will come to expect the unexpected.

Lines (15) and (16):

“Turn the page, maybe we'll find a brand new ending.
Where we're dancing in our tears…”

“Turn the page” could be read as “Turn over a new leaf.” Pages are sometimes referred to as “leaves of paper.” If we indeed “turn over a new leaf” – that is, diligently work on trying to change – we’ll definitely find a brand new ending. And that will cause us to “dance in our tears [of joy].” Dancing for joy in appreciation of how our efforts have borne fruit is a very prominent theme in the world of Buddhist practice.

Lines (21), (22), and (23):

“I thought I saw you out there crying.
I thought I heard you call my name.
I thought I heard you out there crying.”

By saying “I thought,” Gretta is understating what she saw and heard so as not to embarrass Dave. But she wants him to know she is aware of the personal anguish and shortcomings of which he himself might not even be consciously aware.

And this whole song is an invitation for him to join her so that, together, they might make that huge leap in personal satisfaction that most people only dream of.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * *

Steven Searle, just another member of the
Virtual Samgha of the Lotus and
Former Candidate for USA President (in 2008 & 2012)


Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com