The Fusion of Reality and Wisdom - Essay by Sue Thornton

In a television interview, Paul Tortellier, the famous cellist was asked by the interviewer, 'Has playing music taught you anything about life?' Without pausing for a moment's thought Tortellier replied, 'Through playing the cello and playing with other musicians I have learned that to enjoy life, you must know how to play your instrument really well'. He then added, 'It does not matter what instrument we play, what matters is that we play in the same key'.

The capacity to create value in life depends on the fusion of objective reality and subjective wisdom. Tortellier's cello is the objective reality, he himself having the subjective wisdom, or ability to play it. The cello and man produce a fusion of two things. The result is fine music.

In case of Tortellier, he is an outstanding musician playing a fine instrument, thereby creating beautiful music; separated they can create nothing. If Tortellier offered his cello to a five year old boy, he would probably produce nothing resembling music. Alternatively, we could ask Tortellier to fly an aeroplane, and he would porbably never get it off the ground. What is required is the interaction between the ability to create value inherent within Tortellier as the subject, and the corresponding value capable of being produced by the object, the cello. When the subject and the object are perfectly fused, something of great value is created.

There are many ways of relating to our surroundings to produce something valuable. However, only limited human potential is tapped by any single relationship. The fusion between wisdom and reality derived from Buddhist practice, however, opens up a much wider area of creativity. It reaches the essential nature of each individual and taps the richest source contained within a person and this has a far-reaching influence over his interaction with the outside world.

How is this possible? The extent to which wisdom is drawn out of a individual depends on what object is relating to which subject. Most objects have their limitations. They may produce, with human application, certain creativity; they may produce some self knowledge or happiness in the process.

It was in order to show the full, limitless potential of human life that Nichiren Daishonin inscribed the Gohonzon. This scroll, or mandala, can be be described as the objective reality of Buddhahood or the external reality that encompasses all the power of the universe. The Gohonzon can exist only because every human being has the same rich condition within, even though it is latent or undeveloped.

Nichiren Daishonin inscribed, in an objective form, the Buddhahood that he realized from wihtin his own life and which he knew to be inherent in all life. As the cello brings out Toretellier's musical creative ability, the Gohonzon, representing objectively the highest condition within man brings out the universal wisdom often untapped within human life. This is called the Buddha wisdom. Chanting to the Gohonzon reveals this condition. The Gohonzon is the perfect mirror of this inner potential.


Source: The Buddhism of the Sun (Pg. 28-29)