Chain and Cage
ChatGPT-4/DALL-E3, 2023-01-01
Je Tsongkhapa's verses from "The Three Principles of the Path" poignantly illustrate the fundamental concepts in Buddhist philosophy, particularly those central to Mahayana Buddhism.
tightly bound by karmic chains, so hard to escape,
trapped in the iron cage of self grasping,
shrouded by pitch-black ignorance,
born again and again in endless cycles of life,
constantly tortured by the three sufferings,
all our mothers are in this plight.
Please generate ultimate compassion and love.
-- The Three Principles of the Path (7,8)
- Karmic Chains: The phrase "tightly bound by karmic chains" refers to the concept of karma in Buddhism, the law of cause and effect that governs the cycle of rebirth (samsara). These "chains" suggest that beings are bound to samsara due to their actions, making liberation or enlightenment challenging to achieve.
- Self-Grasping Ignorance (Atmagraha-Avidya): "Trapped in the iron cage of self grasping, shrouded by pitch-black ignorance" alludes to the concept of self-grasping ignorance in Buddhism. This ignorance is a fundamental affliction, characterized by a mistaken perception of the self, leading to the belief in a permanent, inherently existing self, contrary to the teaching of Anattā or 'no-self'.
all are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Who knows whether the human spirit goes upwards
and the spirit of animals goes downwards to the earth?
- Ecclesiastes 3:20-21
- The Three Sufferings are:
- Dukkha-dukkha: the actual feeling of physical or mental unpleasantness, such as pain, sorrow, grief, or distress.
- Viparinama-dukkha: the dissatisfaction or anxiety that arises from change, loss, or impermanence, such as losing a loved one, a job, or a possession, or fearing that something good will end.
- Sankhara-dukkha: the subtle and pervasive sense of unease or dissatisfaction that stems from our ignorance of the true nature of reality and our attachment to a false sense of self, such as feeling incomplete, restless, or dissatisfied with ourselves or our lives.
- "Our Mothers": The phrase "all our mothers" in Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes the interconnectedness of all beings and the belief in rebirth. It suggests that, throughout countless lives, every being has been our mother at some point, cultivating a sense of universal compassion and loving-kindness.
These lines from Tsongkhapa encapsulate the essence of the Buddhist path, emphasizing the need to understand and transcend karma, ignorance, and suffering, and to cultivate compassion for all beings in the quest for enlightenment.