I finally have two days off work, and absolutely nothing is planned. In fact, one of those days is already nearly over. The weather outside is a bit cold and rainy, but the autumn leaves are beautiful. It’s the perfect atmosphere for catching up on chores, dedicating time to German learning, and simply hanging out with my pet rabbit.
There’s a play date happening in the house right now, and the children are happy. My rabbit is warm and soft. Dinner is cooking in the oven, and in this moment of domestic calm, I read the first eight stanzas of the Diamond Sutra many times.
如是我聞。一時佛在舍衛國祇樹給孤獨園。與大比丘衆千二百五十人倶。爾時世尊食時著衣持缽入舍衛大城乞食。於其城中次第乞已。還至本處飯食訖。收衣缽洗足已敷座而坐。
The translated passage, as described by A. Charles Muller, details the Buddha’s ordinary routine:
“Thus I have heard. Once, the Buddha was staying in the Jetavana Grove in Śrāvastī with a community of 1,250 monks. Then, at mealtime, the World-honored One put on his robe, took his bowl, and went into the great city of Śrāvastī to seek alms food, going from house to house within the city. Finishing, he returned home and took his meal. He then put away his robe and bowl, washed his feet, arranged his seat, and sat down.”
At first, I thought it was cool that the sutra takes the time to describe Gautama Siddhartha—the World-honored One—seeking alms and carrying on his day by doing his own chores. But then I remembered that most major religious texts deliberately mention this quality in their figures to emphasize humility and service.
While I deeply appreciate different Buddhist scriptures, and the Diamond Sutra in particular for its beautiful text, I still struggle with why Gautama Siddhartha is worshipped in temples and Buddhist institutions everywhere.
There are many striking similarities between philosophical existentialism and Buddhism, particularly around concepts like existence, suffering, and the nature of the self. Yet, we don’t worship people like Jean-Paul Sartre or Albert Camus and chant their novels and works the way Buddhists chant mantras.
This contrast between spiritual reverence and intellectual appreciation is something I can’t reconcile.
Today was an ordinary day, and I’m tired. There are still more chores to do. I’m certainly not looking for enlightenment, but a little dose of existentialism mixed with Buddhist philosophy might just provide the framework I need to get things done and stop feeling so crappy.