Reflecting on Superman

The Christian and Jewish symbolism in the movie, Man of Steel, is quite obvious as the creators of Superman were children of Jewish immigrants in USA and Canada. However the symbolism can be much more rich depending on how we perceive them.

A beautiful child appears in the heart of the lotus flower.

Notice how the space ship carrying baby Kal-El opens and closes like the petals of a lotus flower.

"There is a Boddhisattva, whose name is Avalokitesvara, in Vietnamese we call her Quan The Âm, in Chinese, Quan Yin. It means: 'Listening deeply to the sound of the cries of the world'. And listening deeply is the practice of mindfullness. But if you are full of pain, full of anxiety, full of projections, and especially full of prejudices, full of ideas and notions, it may be very difficult for you to practice deep listening. You are too full. And that is why to practice in order for you to have space, to have freedom within, to have some joy within is very important for deep listening. Avalokitesvara, Quan Yin, she practices deep listening to herself, and to the world, outside. She practices touching with her ears."

-- Thich Nhat Hanh

There is a scene where young Clark Kent is freaked out by his enhanced sense of sight and hearing and hides in a closet. And his mother, Martha, guides him to focus on her voice to regain calmness and concentration. Indeed, a mindful mother. Many parents are quick to reprimand or minimize the problems of their child.

The beings suffer embarassment and discomfort;

Incalculable woes press in upon them.

The Sound-Observer, by virtue of his unblemished knowledge,

Can rescue the world from its woes.

众生被困厄 无量苦逼身 观音妙智力 能救世闻苦

-- Ch. 24, Lotus Sutra 

(Opening the Heart of the Cosmos: Insights from the Lotus Sutra)

Sin

Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, from now on do not sin any more.”

-- John 8:10-11

Use the key of impermanence to unlock the door of reality -- the nature of inter-being, of no self, of emptiness. That is why you should not look at impermanence as a notion, a theory, or a philosphy, but as an instrument offered by the Buddha so that we can practice looking deeply and discover the true nature of reality.

-- Answers from the Heart, by Thich Nhat Hanh 

The religious conversations around sin are numerous. Sin is seen as an obstacle, as leading to punishment, and even classified into degrees of severity. Unfortunately it is also a notion often used to judge, to discriminate, and thus add suffering around the original wound.

Instead of casting sin away, sin can be a useful instrument for contemplation when we shine the light of mindfulness on it. 

If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

-- 1 John 1:8

Discrimination

I received an email addressed to many persons. The person spoke against my community, not knowing I am part of that community. My partner says such discrimination is to be expected. Yet it continued to bother me.

Breathing in ...

Breathing out ...

I look at discrimination

I see ignorance, doubt, and fear

I look at discrimination 

I realize I am neither of this community or that community

I look at discrimination

The one who discriminates is not out there

The perpetrator and victim inter-are

I look at discrimination

I vow to live each moment mindfully, not in ignorance, doubt or fear

We look at discrimination

I bow to my wise teachers, the wonderful teachings, and spiritual friends  

 

Inter-Be(ll)-ing

 

 You and I are strangers.

We bow to each other.

This me is made of non-me elements.

This bell is made of non-bell elements. 

Let us sing together.

A timid invitation brings a soft whisper.

An anxious invitation brings a quivering voice.

An irritable invite brings a thunderous clap.

A calm invite brings soothing waves.

An empty mind invites a rich melody.

We bow to each other.

Strangers no more.

Walking meditation 3

A lone butterfly visits the treetops.

A baby snail smiles at us waving her feelers, she is carried off to safety.

Walking meditation 2

Mindful walking in the morning is fascinating. One gets to experience many wonders. Let these wonders come without any seeking.

A rainbow greets you and me this morning.

A spider spins new web after the storm.

 Numerous communities of ants move themselves across the paths of humans.

A family of three squirrels dart around the branches of a large tree.

Swallows and song birds fill the air with movement and music.

Clean cool air fills us up and refreshes from within.

Dew drops shimmer from the tips of leaves.

Bare feet touch the stony path that lay untrodden over night.

The sun rays break through the foliage.

Walking meditation 1

“Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.”

-- Thich Nhat Hanh

Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’" And he looked around to see who had done it. 
-- Mark 5:30-32

Walking around the garden this morning, I saw ripples in a stagnant fountain. The ripples called out for my attention and I found a winged insect struggling.

One would have missed you easily, furthermore this was not my usual path for the past week. Little winged being, it is amazing to think what brought us to meet this cool clear Sunday morning.

Looking about, a palm branch had fallen nearby. The leaves are long and slender, and would make a nice big life raft for you. 

You climbed aboard and breathed. Sufficiently dry, you regained freedom in flight.