Originally Posted by
Kyrillos
If everything were easy, if life had no obstacles and we were able to simply float coolly on a raft right through it, what do you think would happen? I think that for a while we would love the peace and take advantage of it to enjoy our surroundings, take it all in and live unperturbed. Then we would begin to get less motivated and more lazy and just sleep alot on the raft as it floated past many wondrous places. Our muscles would begin to atrophe from lack of use and soon we would become bored with the sameness of our journey and then lie there eyes closed, weak and motionless. Our boredom would soon turn to resentment that all we are able to do is float down the middle of this river and never go ashore. And then we would hate our easy life. There is no satisfying us!
So be joyful that there are obstacles in life; opportunities for us to exercise our will (or not to) to move past an obstacle. These are all chances for us to recall that we are still alive and vital. So far I have not met any lotus-floating saints who are beyond this human existence; and if I did I might just be the one to splash a bit of water on them just to help them overcome an obstacle or two, and to remind them of their humanity. I believe that it is our job to live here with all the noise, dirt, warts and doubts in order that we remain as human as possible while seeking daily for the Buddha knowledge concerning these things. I do not see us "escaping" them so we can float on a lily pad down the river, but "understanding" them so we can live in that understanding in this life and world. It is an "Hard" way in that it is tangible, present and calling for attention. That is what makes it human and possible rather than divine and impossible to attain.
Gassho,
Seishin Kyrill