The post titled Abbot’s Commentary: Suffering is Not Inherent is now up on Buddhism for All. Angela from the Buddhism.net team reflected on it, and invites you to do so too.
🌕 Angela’s Reflections:
I am deeply inspired by a simple teaching from Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, that says “no mud, no lotus“. If we use the analogy of “mud” to mean suffering, and the analogy of “lotus” to mean enlightenment, one way of understanding “no mud, no lotus” is that mud can be transformed into lotus. Suffering is necessary as a raw material for us to awaken to our true nature, our Buddha nature. If there is no suffering (or mud), then literally, there will not be enlightenment (or lotus). Looking even more deeply, we will see that “no mud, no lotus” teaching is pointing us to realize there is really no mud, and no lotus at the ultimate level.
🌱 Journal Reflection Prompts for You:
- 📝 How has recognizing the impermanence of a situation or feeling brought you closer to freedom and happiness?
- 📝 Have there ever been a situation in your life where you experienced suffering (or mud) as conditions for your transformation and growth (lotus). What qualities (for example, compassion and love) arose from the suffering you experienced?
Featured image, an AI-generated artwork, by Angela Ho.
