I had this flash of inspiration the other day, whereupon I
realized that T'ien T'ai's teaching concerning the Five Periods
of Shakyamuni Buddha's teaching and the Three Ages of the Law are
clearly illustrated in the Wizard of Oz. I hope that
others will find this helpful in their practice of Buddhism:
1. The story begins in a black and white Kansas with
Dorothy, who is confronted by alienation, a mean old neighbor
and a tornado. At this point Dorothy represents all of us
common mortals confronted with suffering in this saha world.
However, she is soon deposited in Munchkin Land where she
kills the first Wicked Witch and meets Glenda the Good Witch.
Everything is now in technicolor as Dorothy tries to grasp
what is happening to her. This represents the Kegon
(Flower Garland) period, where Mara is defeated (the
first witch) and the Buddha makes his appearance in the saha
world for the first time (Glenda's first appearence).
However, Dorothy is unable to grasp the true significance of
all of this, and is threatened by the Wicked Witch of the
West (Mara) and so she desperately requests the way
home (the search for her own True Nature).
2. Glenda obliges Dorothy and sends her down the Yellow
Brick Road where she encounters her three companions and is
threatened by the Wicked Witch on the way to see the Wizard
of Oz in the Emerald City. This represents the common mortal
who follows the Eightfold Path during the First Age of the
Law, who must confront the three obstacles and the four
devils while transforming her ignorance into wisdom,
heartlessness into loving-kindness and cowardice into
courage. Of course, this journey to the Emerald City of
Nirvana ends as she falls to sleep in the Poppy Field, which
represents the annihilation of body and mind sought by the Sravakas
and Pratyekabuddhas. This dead end is also the end
of the First Age of the Law, the teachings of the Agon
or Hinayana teachings have led to their ultimate end and are
now revealed to be mere expedients which must be transcended
if Buddhism is to remain a living faith. Goodbye Yellow Brick
Road.
3. Fortunately, Dorothy is able to awaken and enter the
city through the help of Glenda. In the Emerald City, she
learns that her journey must continue, for if she is to get
back to her own home she must first defeat the Wicked Witch
of the West for the sake of all the sentient beings in Oz.
This represents the Hodo or introductory Mahayana
period and the beginning of the Second Age of the Law.
Glenda's magical rescue and the temporary rest in the Emerald
City represent the assistance of the provisional Buddhas such
as Amida and their Pure Lands. In addition, the commision to
defeat the Witch is equivalent to the Four Bodhisattva Vows.
4. Dorothy finally confronts the Witch and causes her to
melt away. She then discovers that the Wizard is not a
Wizard. This corresponds to the Hannya or Wisdom
period of the Buddha's teachings where all things are shown
to be Empty. As it says in the Heart Sutra:
"Nothing is defiled, nothing is pure." No Witch, no
Wizard. However, Dorothy is now stranded and her companions
have discovered their innate virtues but are still incapable
of helping Dorothy attain her true goal. This is the end of
the Middle Period of the Law, where even the Mahayana can not
restore vitality to a Buddhism that only seems to end in an
undifferentiated nothingness, something deeper must be
revealed to truly bring Buddhism to life.
5. At this point, Glenda reappears and tells Dorothy that
she had the power to return home all along. Dorothy does so,
and discovers that after her journey Kansas (the saha
world) and Oz (the Pure Land) are one. In the Lotus Sutra,
the Buddha teaches that even after his Nirvana he has not
really gone away but will reappear in response to our sincere
aspiration to attain Buddhahood just as Glenda reappeared to
Dorothy. The Ruby Slippers which Glenda points out to Dorothy
represent our innate Buddha-nature. Finally, the realization
that Kansas and Oz are not different, is the realization that
the Saha World and the Land of Eternally Tranquil Light are
not different. This is the teaching of the Lotus Sutra
in the fifth period of the Buddha's teaching where he finally
revealed the Truth. This is also the teaching of the Latter
Day of the Law which is the true spirit of the Buddha Dharma
that transcends the teachings and practices of any of the
historical schools and institutions of Buddhism.
Well, I hope that everyone enjoys this and is able to get
something out of my rather eccentric manner of expounding the
Dharma.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei
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