Eastern Orthodox icon: The True Vine
Byzantine and Christian Museum
Athens, Greece, 16th Century
My dear friends,
The teachings of Jesus in John 15:1-8 have much to tell us about interconnectedness, reliance upon a wise guide, and the transformative process of spiritual cultivation that leads to the ultimate benefit of all beings.
and my Father is the vinegrower."
- John 15:1
This metaphor portrays the relationship between the divine source of wisdom and compassion (the vine) and the nurturing, guiding principle (the vinegrower). In Tibetan Buddhism, this can be likened to the relationship between the followers of the Bodhisattva path and their spiritual guide (Sanskrit guru, Tibetan lama). The guru guides and nurtures the disciple's path, much like the vinegrower tends to the vine, ensuring its growth and fruitfulness.
that bears no fruit.
Every branch that bears fruit
he prunes to make it bear more fruit."
- John 15:2
This saying mirrors the Tibetan Buddhist practice of Lojong ("mind transformation"), where unwholesome actions and thoughts are abandoned, and wholesome qualities are cultivated and refined, as prescribed by the Buddha in the Kalama Sutta. This process involves continual self-examination and correction, guided by the teachings and the compassionate hand of one's teachers.
- John 15:3
The "cleansing" by Jesus' word suggests the transformative power of the Dharma, which, when genuinely assimilated, purifies the practitioner's mind of defilements and ignorance. In Buddhism, the Dharma acts as a purifying agent, cleansing the mind of obscurations through the realization of emptiness and the practice of virtues (the Greek words translated as "to prune" in verse 2 and "to cleanse" in verse 3 have the same root - katharos - meaning "clean" or "pure").
Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine,
neither can you unless you abide in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit,
because apart from me you can do nothing."
- John 15:4-5
Nothing exists independently but arises in dependence on multiple causes and conditions. Just as a branch cannot survive or flourish without the vine, a practitioner cannot progress on the spiritual path without reliable spiritual guides, their teachings, and the community of spiritual friends.
such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned."
- John 15:6
Failing to follow the path of wisdom and compassion leads to continued suffering in samsara. The imagery of burning can be seen as a metaphor for the intense suffering experienced when one is disconnected from the source of spiritual nourishment and guidance.
ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."
- John 15:7
This verse emphasizes the efficacy of aligning one’s will with divine will or, in Buddhist terms, aligning one's aspirations with the ultimate truth of emptiness and Bodhicitta (the mind of enlightenment).
- John 15:8
In the Bodhisattva path, the ultimate glorification is in the enlightenment of all sentient beings. The fruits of the spiritual practice are shared universally, manifesting as acts of great compassion and wisdom that relieve the suffering of all beings.
through the lens of the Bodhisattva path, John 15:1-8 underscores the necessity of a profound connection to the spiritual guide, the transformative process of inner purification, and the cultivation of virtues, all aimed at the ultimate betterment and enlightenment of oneself and others. This scripture invites us to reflect on our spiritual dependencies and commitments, urging us to remain connected to our sources of spiritual vitality and wisdom.