May 2021
Dear Friends,
How are you? How is your health today?
In one of our kong-ans from the Blue Cliff Record, the great Master Ma-tsu was not well. The temple housemaster was quite concerned and went to ask him, “Master, how is your venerable health today?”
Master Ma answered, “Sun-faced Buddha, moon-faced Buddha.”
According to an early sutra that enumerates thousands of Buddhas, there are, among them, a Sun-Face Buddha and a Moon-Face Buddha. It is said that a Sun-Face Buddha lives in the world for 1800 years, whereas a Moon-Face Buddha lives only for a single day and night. But consider this: 1800 or one day, are they the same or different? Right here, in the midst of our current catastrophe and confusion, whether the light is bright or dim, can we see enough and feel enough to live fully? Can we find equanimity, and at the same time, take care of one another in the changeable light that is our precious world?
May it be so! Especially now. Especially for 10,000 years.
Yours in the dharma,
Jeong Ji
