I missed the opening of the Myoshoji service this morning waiting for my computer to restart after it refused to open the GoToMeeting software needed to participate in the service. Learning patience while chanting Odaimoku for 10 minutes.

Following the service, Rev. Ryusho Jeffus discussed how each of us can show the Lotus Sutra in our lives, challenging us to write our story in the context of the Lotus Sutra.

When Ryusho Shonin invited questions I offered up a question from Chapter 25, The Universal Gate of World Voice Perceiver Bodhisattva. Why, I asked, does World Voice Perceiver refuse to accept an offering made to him. Here’s the section in question from the chapter:

The Endless-Intent Bodhisattva said to the Buddha, “WorldHonored One! Now I will make an offering to World-VoicePerceiver Bodhisattva.” From around his neck, he took a necklace of many gems worth hundreds of thousands of ryo of gold, and offered it [to the Bodhisattva], saying, “Man of Virtue! Receive this necklace of wonderful treasures! I offer this to you according to the Dharma!”

World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva did not consent to receive it. Endless-Intent said to World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva again, “Man of Virtue! Receive this necklace out of your compassion towards us!”

Thereupon the Buddha said to World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva:

“Receive it out of your compassion towards this Endless-Intent Bodhisattva, towards the four kinds of devotees, and towards the other living beings including gods, dragons, yaksas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas, men and nonhuman beings!”

Thereupon World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva received the necklace out of his compassion towards the four kinds of devotees, and towards the other living beings including gods, dragons, men and nonhuman beings. He divided [the necklace] into two parts, and offered one part of it to Sakyamuni Buddha and the other to the stupa of Many-Treasures Buddha.

Ryusho considered this and decided something more than an off-the-cuff response was needed. I look forward to when he gets back to me.

I mentioned the question to my wife, who works for the State of California, and she suggested it’s just like working in public service. “I recently had to return a gift card a customer sent to me,” she explained. “We’re not allowed to accept gifts.”

Why? It is even more puzzling when you consider that in the story of the Dragon Girl, she gives a priceless gem to the Buddha and he accepts quickly. The quickness of his acceptance is used as a measure of how fast she will become a Buddha.

Something to ponder.