Editor's Notes, Fall 1999

For perspective, it helps to recall the notion of time from Buddhist cosmology. I am not quite sure what specific measure of time a "kalpa" is --- but in Buddhist thinking, a kalpa is a vast aeon of time. And time and world systems go back for an aeon of kalpas.

The Buddha was once asked about his previous lives. Because of his immense achievement in attaining full enlightenment, it is said he was able to see back through his untold human incarnations. "Look backward, Buddha," he was asked. "When did your incarnations begin, when did Time begin?" The Buddha looked. He studied the trail of bread crumbs of his past lives. He followed them back into infinite lifetimes. He could find no beginning point.

Time is that long. Kalpas go on forever.

Here is another illustration of the immense size of time, the universe and its world systems.

Thich Nhat Hahn, who makes two appearance in this fourth online issue of Hundred Mountain (in Eyewitness and Foundobjects) tells the tale of Diamond Matrix in his book "Touching Peace" (Parallax Press, 1992). In this tale from the Mahayana Buddhist teaching known as the Avatamsaka Sutra, we hear of how Diamond Matrix attained the highest of the ten stages of a bodhisattva. He then gave a discourse on his experience in the practice. Thich Nhat Hahn writes:

"Many other bodhisattvas came to hear him, and after the talk, millions more bodhisattvas named Diamond Matrix appeared from all quarters of the universe and told him, 'Congratulations! We are also named Diamond Matrix, and we have been giving the exact same discourse throughout the universe.'"

It's hard enough to get anyone to listen to us or care about us, much less a million cheery bodhisattvas. It's a big world after all.

THIS BUDDHIST NOTION of infinite time and space can be a daunting, disspiriting challenge to our spiritual practice if we are not careful. Are we doomed to wander forever, lashed to the endless wheel of rebirths known as samsara in Buddhism? Have we marked millenial passages like the one coming the night of Dec. 31, 1999, a million million times before? For a millenium of milleniums?

Somebody get me a beer---my head hurts.

But after you put the beer down, it might be wise to head downstairs. I invite all the many subscribers and readers of Hundred Mountain Journal from all over the planet to come over to my place on January 1, if your lights go out or even if they stay on. Salsa and cookies will be served.

I've also got some long-burning candles and extra space in the meditation room.

EDITOR: Douglas Imbrogno
E-MAIL: hundred@newwave.net

PREVIOUSLY:

Editor's Note, Issue 3:
Keeping Faith With Spiritual Practice
in Light of Littleton & Milosevic

Editor's Note, Issue 2:
A Personal Take on Fitting the
Spirit into Busy Daily Life

Editor's Note, Issue 1:
A Mission Statement of Sorts
For a Buddhist-Oriented E-zine