(no subject)
"The lamp contains oil, which it holds securely in its close grasp and guards it from the least loss. Thus it is separate from all other objects around it and is miserly. But when lit, it finds its meaning at once; its relation with all things far and near is established, and it freely sacrifices its fund of oil to feed the flame. Such a lamp is our self. So long as it hoards its possessions it keeps itself dark, its conduct contradicts its true purpose. When it finds illumination it forgets itself in a moment, holds the light high, and serves it with everything it has; for therein is its revelation. This revelation is the freedom which Shakyamuni preached. He asked the lamp to give up its oil. But purpose-less giving up is a still darker poverty which he never could have meant. The lamp must give up its oil to the light and thus set free the implicit purpose it has in its hoarding. This is emancipation."
-Kenryo Kanamatsu "Naturalness: A Classic of Shin Buddhism"
-Kenryo Kanamatsu "Naturalness: A Classic of Shin Buddhism"