Do you ever wonder at the path you’ve taken?  What has lead you to take this way?  I do.

Several days ago tending the lilies planted at the edge of the yard, I admired again the small statue of the female Buddha placed as background to the colorful lilies.  The statue is the image of Cannon, the Buddha of compassion.  The female Buddha, incidentally is the most popular of the many icons of Buddha in Japan.  I’ve thought for a long time the Cannon image is a superlative invitation to become more human.  Mother Mary redux?

I mused to myself, does all of that mean that I am a Buddhist?  Is that what it amounts to?  I do not know.  I did not grow up in a Buddhist culture.  We in America are embedded in an incipient Protestant type of Christian culture, no matter the nominal affiliation with any of the Christian denominations, or even an absence of affiliation.  Many Americans are agnostic, or atheist by family tradition.  No matter.  The categories of thought developed by Calvinist Protestants, — morality conceived as sharply distinct right and wrong, belief in a substantive soul, the sensual features of the human body (touch, aesthetic discrimination, visual, the palate) encumbered with the baggage of good or evil, etc.   These and more make us “Christians” by culture, – if one comes to adulthood in America.

I do not know whether to call myself a Buddhist.  Perhaps I will when opportunity arises such as to speak with someone who knows about Buddhism, who was raised in a country of Buddhist tradition.  Otherwise I will chose to use the vocabulary, the manner of speaking that is the default for all Americans who stand in the tradition of Europe.

In any case the insight offered by the Buddha is universal.

The Upajjhatthana Sutta (Subjects for Contemplation) is famous for it’s five facts regarding life’s fragility and our true inheritance.

The Five Remembrances

I am of the nature to grow old. There is no way to escape
growing old.

I am of the nature to have ill health. There is no way to escape
ill health.

I am of the nature to die. There is no way to escape death.

All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to
change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.
My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the
consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground upon
which I stand.

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We need a tune do we not!?  Living is always better when accompanied by a song.  This one, Southern Cross, captures the sense of “the journey,” the unique expression which is the living-out of one’s destiny.

Southern Cross

By Crosby, Stills, and Nash

Oooh …

Got out of town on a boat goin’ to Southern islands
Sailing a reach before a followin’ sea
She was makin’ for the trades on the outside
And the downhill run to Papeete

Off the wind on this heading lie the Marquesas
We got eighty feet of the waterline nicely making way
In a noisy bar in Avalon I tried to call you
But on a midnight watch I realized why twice you ran away

Think about
Think about how many times I have fallen
Spirits are using me larger voices callin’
What Heaven brought you and me cannot be forgotten

(Around the world) I have been around the world
(Lookin’) Lookin’ for that woman girl
(Who knows she knows) Who knows love can endure
And you know it will

When you see the Southern Cross for the first time
You understand now why you came this way
‘Cause the truth you might be runnin’ from is so small
But it’s as big as the promise, the promise of a comin’ day

So I’m sailing for tomorrow my dreams are a dyin’
And my love is an anchor tied to you tied with a silver chain
I have my ship and all her flags are a’ flyin’
She is all that I have left and music is her name

Think about
Think about how many times I have fallen
Spirits are using me larger voices callin’
What Heaven brought you and me cannot be forgotten

(I’ve been around the world) I have been around the world
(Lookin’) Lookin’ for that woman girl
Who knows love can endure
And you know it will, and you know it will
Yes

Oooh …

So we cheated and we lied and we tested
And we never failed to fail, it was the easiest thing to do
You will survive being bested
Somebody fine will come along, make me forget about loving you
In the Southern Cross

Lyrics written by Stephen Stills, Richard Curtis, Michael Curtis