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SÁCH AMAZON


Mua bản sách in

Fire. Fire broke out again in the vast forests of the west. Smoke billowed, spreading thousands of miles, all the way to the east. Ashes covered the sky, making the midday sky glow orange-yellow, sometimes red like the sunset. The sun and moon seemed to be hidden throughout the last days of summer. Ashes were carried far away by the wind, leaving the mountains and forests, then falling on fields, rivers, grass, trees, houses, vehicles... everywhere. The air seemed to be thick with the acrid smell of smoke. The order to social distance and wear masks has not been fully opened, and is even more necessary at this time, when people want to find a safe shelter to breathe fresh air.

Fire is one of the four great elements (four elements: earth, water, wind, fire), present throughout the physical, tangible world. There is no place without fire, just as there is no place without earth, water, and wind. Fire has been an essential need of mankind from primitive times to the present day, for lighting, heating, and cooking food. From the end of the 7th century BC, a sect that worships fire was established called Zoroastrianism (1). Fire in Buddhist scriptures is sometimes metaphorically used as the burning of anger (2); sometimes used to talk about a potential danger (3); and in a poem by Zen master Khuong Viet, fire is used as a metaphor for Buddha nature (4).

Whether in good or bad metaphors, the characteristic of fire is that from a small spark it can flare up into a huge fire. Looking at it negatively, and specifically, fire is often compared to anger, rage, and hatred. Thus, even a small anger can erupt into a great rage, causing harm to oneself or destroying others.

Looking at the actual firestorms that are raging and spreading terror to humans and animals in the forests, practitioners of the Dharma can use that as a lesson in mindfulness, monitoring, and controlling their anger. Even a small thought of anger needs to be recognized, carefully observed, and watched, so as not to let it become reckless or grow. Observing more deeply, we can realize that the root of anger is self-love and egoism - only liking those and things that please us; not accepting those and things that go against our will. Dissatisfaction, anger, irritability, and annoyance with others are all due to our love, pampering, and protection of our "ego" and "what belongs to us".

Therefore, the rage of a firestorm, whether a natural or man-made disaster, can be somewhat understood as a projection from the human mind. Too much selfishness gives rise to hatred; too much pride gives rise to discrimination; too much opinion gives rise to prejudice. From there, fierce fires are ignited. Religious wars, ethnic wars, isms, ideologies, parties... are all caused by not being able to control the small spark of anger.

Fire is always useful if we know how to control it. People can put fire in a match head, or lock the hidden fire in a matchbox. Burning incense to worship Buddha, burning wood to keep warm, lighting a fire to cook rice... fire does not harm anyone. Whether it is harmful or not depends on whether we know how to control and subdue it or not.

But when a fire has not yet lit, when a thought has not yet arisen, what, who is there?

All the rage of earthquakes, tidal surges, hurricanes, fires... will eventually subside. Nothing is born by itself, and nothing is born forever. Fire cannot burn forever. Waves cannot rise forever. Good thoughts or bad thoughts are just fluctuations on the surface of the mind. After the rage, there is silence.

California, September 16, 2020
Vinh Hao
www.vinhhao.info

_________

(1) According to Wikipedia: “Zoroastrianism or Zoroastrianism (also known as Hien religion, Hoa Hien religion, Zoroastrianism, Mazda religion or Mazde, Fire demon religion) is a religion founded by the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathushtra) around the end of the 7th century BC in the Eastern Persian Empire. This is one of the oldest religions of mankind, with the official scriptures being the Avesta (Old Persian scriptures) honoring the god of wisdom Ahura Mazda as the highest god of power. The prominent features of Zoroastrianism, including belief in a savior who will come to save humanity, heaven and hell, and free will are said to have influenced to later religious systems such as Second Temple Judaism, Gnosticism, Christianity and Islam.”

(2) “A spark of anger can burn down an entire forest of merit,” (Buddhist scriptures).

(3) “There are four things that are small, but cannot be underestimated. What are the four? The Kshatriya prince, although young in age, should not be underestimated. The young dragon, although young in age, should not be underestimated. The spark of fire, although small, should not be underestimated. The Bhikkhu, although young in age, should not be underestimated.” (Samyutta Nikaya, Samyukta Agama, Sutra No. 1226. Vietnamese translation: Thich Duc Thang; Edited & Notes: Tue Sy)

(4) A verse by Zen Master Khuong Viet (933-1011), with the meaning that because sentient beings inherently have Buddha nature, they must practice to attain Buddhahood; if they do not have Buddha nature, no matter how many lifetimes they practice, they cannot become Buddhas. The poem used fire in the tree as a metaphor:

“In the wood there is fire,
With fire, fire is born.
If the wood has no fire,
How can it be born?”

Translation:

In the wood there is fire,
With fire, fire is born.
If the wood has no fire,
How can it be born by rubbing?

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