Gemini Thinking
In this square illustration, I have depicted Śākyamuni Buddha, the enlightened historical Buddha, seated upon a lotus throne beneath a bodhi tree on the left. The Buddha is instructing Constant-Endeavor Bodhisattva, shown on the right with a serene expression and a visible tongue. Consistent with the verses, the Bodhisattva's tongue is illuminated with a pure golden light. A celestial stream of flavor—visualized as colorful jewels and a subtle vapor—leads from the offering of food on the table, indicating that everything they eat will become as sweet and refined as nectar. In the bottom-right corner, I have included the kanji signature的双子座 ("Gemini") with the accompanying red seal stamp containing the katakana text ジェミニ ("Gemini").
Their tongues will be purified.
Their tongues will not receive anything bad.
Anything they eat will become
As delicious as nectar.
Śākyamuni Buddha sings these verses to Constant-Endeavor Bodhisattva in Chapter Nineteen of the Lotus Sūtra, describing those who keep the Lotus Sūtra. With food and drink it is easy to see how different people will find the same food either delicious or disgusting. Our experience and beliefs shape what we are comfortable putting into our bodies, and whether we do so for the sake of our health or the pleasure that comes from experiencing their flavor. But when we find that something with good flavor is bad for our health, or vice versa, we can change our tastes. This is another example of how the Lotus Sūtra teaches us how to live in the world. We learn to embrace situations we once found frightening or intolerable. We increase our capacity with our focus on benefiting others. As a wise teacher once said, we learn to enjoy problems the way we enjoy ice cream.
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