Buddha’s Five Teachings

Summary

The website content presents a reflection on Buddha's teachings through a somonka, a poetic form consisting of two tankas, inspired by a statue in the Japanese Tea Garden and influenced by Steve Hagen's "Buddhism Plain and Simple."

Abstract

The web content introduces Buddha's Five Teachings and presents a somonka, a Japanese poetic form, as a creative expression of the author's understanding and personal connection to these teachings. The poem, structured as two love letters in tanka form, emphasizes the impermanence of life and the flexibility rather than rigidity of existence. The author was inspired by a serene Buddha statue in the Japanese Tea Garden and found additional inspiration in Steve Hagen's book, which likely provided a straightforward interpretation of Buddhism. The content concludes with a hope that the reader will find enlightenment within themselves, echoing Buddha's own words.

Opinions

The author finds joy and connection to the world through running, which is akin to living in the present moment.
Suffering is acknowledged as part of life, and truth is realized through acceptance rather than rejection.
The author views life as fluid and adaptable, aligning with the Buddhist concept of impermanence.
The somonka serves as a personal dialogue with Buddha, suggesting a deep reverence and affection for the teachings.
The author encourages self-enlightenment in the reader, emphasizing the importance of personal insight in Buddhism.

A somonka

Photo taken by the author in The Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco

Running is my joy getting in touch with the world one step at a time a brief breath of lingering life — being here in the now.

There is suffering. Truth comes to us through seeing not from rejecting the right view that our lives are not frozen, but flexible.

The somonka is basically two tankas(5–7–5–7–7 syllable format) written as two love letters to each other (one tanka per love letter). This form usually demands two authors, but it is possible to have a poet take on two personas.

This peaceful statue of Buddha in the Japanese Tea Garden has inspired me to write this somonka, as a loving and kind conversation with Buddha. I also read and found inspiration in Buddhism Plain and Simple by Steve Hagen.

I hope you enjoy it and that “you will be a light unto yourself,” as Buddha said.