Advent

Simonthepilgrim

This is a big time in the Christian calendar. I mean in the liturgical year and am not intending to start a discussion about commercialisation of the festival.

I don't know if any of my fellow Buddhist Christians observe the season and whether they would like to share their own experiences as the new year begins.

To all those for whom it has resonance: a happy new year and Marantha.

not1not2

Simon,

Could you elaborate a bit on this?

Thanks

_/\_

Simonthepilgrim

not1not2 wrote:

Simon,

Could you elaborate a bit on this?

Thanks

_/\_

OK, N1n2. First of all, Advent is the period of four Sundays leading up to Christmas. It used to be a time of fasting, like Lent. The Church dates the start of the liturgical year from the first Sunday which began, for me, at sunset tonight. It was a wonderful sunset, too.

In the Christian churches, Advent started off by being a preparation for the Second Coming. This was swiftly transformed into a preparation for the Christmas celebrations but hundreds of sermons will be preached, tomorrow, as clergy desperately try to focus congregations' attention to what is meant by "Second Coming". This will usually happen after he has announced the Christmas services so that the two liturgical actions become confused.

As I take a text from the liturgies of the next four weeks, it is usually in this sense of preparation for that mnoment of awakening which is how I understand the Second Coming ("then we shall know as we are known" as Paul puts it).

This year, my attention appears to return, over and over, to the story of the Maitreya, the Buddha-Who-Is-To-Come. I realise how little I know about this and make it my daily study to learn more.

For interest, the Chapter at Vespers on the first Sunday is from The letter to the Christians in Rome: "Brothers and sisters: it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed." (Rom 13:11)

Palzang

Actually it is taught that there will be 1002 Buddhas in this fortunate aeon, of which four have already appeared. Maitreya is simply the next one. Dudjom Rinpoche, it is said, will be the 1002nd. These are so-called "cosmic" buddhas, i.e. buddhas who bring the Dharma into a world where it has been forgotten or never heard before.

Palzang

Simonthepilgrim

This year, the Fourth Sunday in Advent coincides with the Feast of the Vigil of the Nativity (Christmas Eve) which means that the Church skips the liturgy of the Fourth Sunday. It means that we miss a wonderful Introit verse:

Rorate, coeli, desuper, et nubes pluant justum: aperiatur terra et germinet Salvatorem.
Drop down dew from above, o heavens, and let the clouds rain down righteousness: let the earth bring forth salvation like an opening flower.
Is. 45:8

I love the nature imagery and the flowerbud opens like a lotus, petal by petal.

BTW, context being all, it is interesting to notice how general have been the good wishes exchanged at this time of year, irrespective of faith preference. I have cards and emails from Humanists, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Pagans and a few Christians who still dare to be in contact! No such generality of greetings occurs at the High Holidays or Eid or other, non-Christian-adopted festivals. It suggests to me that it is crucial that we uncover and share the common ground as well as the different areas of expertise of Christianity and the Dharma if we are to be heard and welcomed.