Guest guest Posted July 23, 2000 Report Share Posted July 23, 2000 Mark just reminded me. It started at the retreat, and seems to have been catching on. I'm suggesting the name Indra for the beautiful lady who has called herself Old Hag. Why? She is neither old, nor a hag. She said that she really has no name that seems to fit, as she finds herself adapting to the energies and personalities of whoever is in front of her at the moment. This is just like the jewels in Indra's Net. I'd noticed that in her e-mails before meeting her. Why Indra? Although in Hinduism and Buddhism Indra is male, and even though in Hinduism Indra is a warrior deity, here are some reasons I like Indra for o.h. - To these Western ears, Indra *sounds* like a female name, and I actually know a nice Hindu lady by that name. - In the Rig Veda, Indra is "the bounteous" and has a hundred strengths - In Buddhism in the Avatamsaka Sutra, Indra's Net is the net of jewels (phrase made popular by Ramesh Balsekar). The meaning of this image in Buddhism is a model of phenomenality itself. No jewel or object is an inherently existing entity - they are all just dependently arising reflections of other reflections, which are only reflections of them, etc. Because each jewel is empty of inherent nature, each jewel, even the tiniest grain of sand, is ultimately the stillness and serenity of Buddha nature. - The recent scientific model of the holographic universe is another way to refer to the this same empty inter- dependence. Each bit of energetic stuff contains all the rest of the universe in it. I'll try to keep this name going as long as it doesn't become confusing, or unless Indra demurs. Love, --Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.