Tuesday, September 10, 2002

No Coincidence

"Suppose that this great earth were totally covered with water, and a man were to toss a yoke with a single hole there. A wind from the east would push it west, a wind from the west would push it east. A wind from the north would push it south, a wind from the south would push it north. And suppose a blind sea-turtle were there. It would come to the surface once every one hundred years. Now what do you think: would that blind sea-turtle, coming to the surface once every one hundred years, stick his neck into the yoke with a single hole? It would be a sheer coincidence, lord, that the blind sea-turtle, coming to the surface once every one hundred years, would stick his neck into the yoke with a single hole.

It's likewise a sheer coincidence that one obtains the human state. It's likewise a sheer coincidence that a Tathagata, worthy & rightly self-awakened, arises in the world. It's likewise a sheer coincidence that a doctrine & discipline expounded by a Tathagata appears in the world. Now, this human state has been obtained. A Tathagata, worthy & rightly self-awakened, has arisen in the world. A doctrine & discipline expounded by a Tathagata appears in the world. Therefore your duty is the contemplation: 'This is dissatisfaction ('Dukkha')...This is the origination of dissatisfaction...This is the cessation of dissatisfaction...This is the path of practice leading to the cessation of dissatisfaction." -SN/Chiggala Sutta
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Nope- not really a coincidence. All incidents occur due to cause and effect. We would be leaving our rebirth to "chance" if we do not practise the Dharma. Then, any human rebirth attained would seemed to be a sheer "coincidence", sheer "luck". But Lady Luck is just karma at play; nothing random at all. Are you the blind turtle? Not me! I'm keeping my eyes open! Aim for the yoke! Look for it! Look up! Wake up! What are the chances of human rebirth if you leave everything to chance? -zeph reply

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Hopefully Somewhat Enlightening & Entertaining Thoughts... Stuff discovered on the path to the natural unshakable peacefulness of a stone...