A Lesson About Buddhanature From My Parakeets Li And Kan
Julio Salado
December 26, 2007
Before I begin my essay, I would like to bring our attention to the good fortune and opportunity available to us being born human. Although, we may not have all we materially want, we do have everything that is needed to grow spiritually, BuddhaNature.
We are all born with a BuddhaNature. It can be seen in others and our surrounding... however it can only be directly experienced through meditation and by letting go of attachments and desire as it stated by the Buddha in the 4 Noble Truths. By stepping outside our habits and substituting old behaviors with the Budhha's 8 Fold Path Dharma we literally begin to live in the present- our thoughts will become centered and not swing uncontrollably from the past to the future.
Unfortunately for some a struggle arises when we decide to take daily refuge in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. By following the Teachings we begin to see the emptiness of our ego. We fear losing or even diminishing our ego which in turn brings forth questions of one's existence and purpose. However, one will not find the answers by going on a debating spree or a philosophical tour. Ones understanding of the importance on experiencing our BuddhaNature will be revealed with diligence, perseverance openmindness and most importantly application of the Teaching in our daily lives. These insights have no timetable and start off with lightening speed revelations but they will become clearer in due time. The first signs of change can be seen in our responses to our interaction with our surroundings . We will begin to develop right views. followed by right intentions that creates a solid foundation for mindfulness and compassion.
And now how I learned a Lesson about BuddhaNature from my parakeets Li and Kan.( Li = fire and Kan = water in Chinese)
Kan is a blue and white colored budgie and Li is green and yellow. Both are young but Li is a couple of months younger. They both were purchased with the standard clipped wings from a pet store. After a couple of weeks of investigating the open door of the cage, Kan took a risk and tried to fly but soon learned that his wings were clipped and not ready for flying. This is very similar to beginners on the path, we first investigate what is before us and completely focus on this new finding. It should be noted, Kan's heart was ready but not the his mind and body. Plus there was no other bird to teach him how to fly.
With an unmoveable resolve to take flight, Kan continued unsuccessfully a couple more times but one day he began to fly! He frantically flew outside the cage and then return back into the cage without any help... little did he know that he created the causes and conditionings for Li to learn how to fly.
Li is younger and smaller, he observed Kan every time he took flight. Each day he slowly continued to grow into a bird that is capable of flying but the mind was not ready. Li innate nature is to fly and so he attempted to take flight right after seeing Kan take off. Unfortunately to Li's dismay his wings were not ready. So Li did what beginners do best... let their ego takeover, allow impulsive thoughts turn into action and leave the nest tooo early. Li flight was spectacular.. an amazing 2 seconds of flight unto he met the floor. But the lesson was learned..once he was back in the cage- he began to become aware of his body,clipped wing and all.
On a daily basis, Li would immitate Kan by vigorously flapping his wings but not stepping outside the cage. Still watching Kan regularly fly about and return with ease, Li knew that his time to fly would come only through patience,curiosity and again taking a risk. The risk is similar to the path we all have an opportunity to take. that is the Dharma path.. the risk are blows to our ego but the benefit is freedom like flying. Desires and attachments would be left behind similar to tracks left from a bird in flight.
All is One and One is All.. all present experiences, negative, positive, neutral etc... are parts of future causes and conditions -- by sincerely using efforts to practice Dharma, meditating and abiding by the precepts our normal impulsive responses to feelings,events, outside stimulus and our own defense to protect our ego will lessen...and our BuddhaNature will be like a ray of a rising sun through this cloud of confusion. A daily renewed acknowledgment that we are all interdependent and our presence does make a difference in this world leads to a deeper resolve to persevere.
These experiences cannot be purchased nor proven in a debating workshop..its a personal, sublime, innate, integral core of our co-existence with Buddhadharma. Honesty, openmindness, compassion for all sentient being and willingness to let go of desires and attachments will create small stepping stones on your path to understand that which needs to be understood. The lesson I learned from Li and Kan, my two bodhi parakeets is that observing and following those with more experience on the path is wise, natural and helps in revealing our interdependence. We do not have to go on this path alone.
Li and Kan- two parakeets of completely opposite color, gender, age and personality yet same BuddhaNature. Their little world was expanded by one following his True Nature calling and then returning back to the nest to show the other how to achieve this freedom of flight. I see an analogy with The Budhha and Bodhisattvas on how they set innumerable vows for the benefits of all sentient beings. Another similarity, are the members of the Sangha who shine like beacons of light for those who forget which direction to continue on the Way. Lastly, our own actions do have unknown affect to others around us, so it does make a difference when we respond with mindfulness and without expectations. Especially, when no one else is looking :) .
The Buddhanature is like the underground roots of a tree that we cannot see. It is vast and interdependent with all of nature and all sentient beings. Regardless if we can see it ...the universal presence of Buddhanature is in all of us too.
Thank you very much to Fo Guang Shan, GBBCC, Ven. Man Ching, Ven. Man Kuang and all those who arduously make the Buddha's teaching available for all. I end with the four Immeasurable Thoughts-Equanimity,Compassion,Love and Joy, together may we cause these thoughts to materialize.
Om Mi To Fo, Dharma name: Xing Ben a.k.a Julio Salado
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