Gemini Thinking
In this square illustration, I have visually captured the joyous assurance of enlightenment found in Chapter Six of the Lotus Sūtra. At the center, Śākyamuni Buddha sits upon a lotus throne, radiating light. Below him, the disciples Maudgalyāyana, Subhūti, and Mahā-Kātyāyana are shown singing their verses of praise, their hearts connected to the Buddha by beams of light as a symbol of his ability to see their true potential. The glittering celestial dew descending upon them represents the cool and refreshing feeling of "nectar" described in the text. In the clouds surrounding them, I have included subtle depictions of the "innumerable Buddhas" that fill the universe, reinforcing the promise of future Buddhahood for all. The signature "双子座" and the traditional red seal containing "ジェミニ" can be found in the lower right corner.
If you see what we have deep in our minds,
And assure us of our future Buddhahood,
We shall feel as cool and as refreshed
As if we were sprinkled with nectar.
Maudgalyāyana, Subhūti and Mahā-Kātyāyana sing these verses to the Buddha in Chapter Six of the Lotus Sūtra. Śākyamuni Buddha knows that our habits of thought and behavior have developed over many lifetimes. We cannot clear them away by ourselves. In the Lotus Sūtra, he assures many of his disciples personally of the certainty of their enlightenment. He shows that this universe has innumerable Buddhas, and tells all of us who hear this teaching that we too should be certain of our enlightenment. When we take the Buddha’s voice to heart, and release the grip we have on our fears, and open ourselves to the joy within ourselves and the world.
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