Cool Buddhist comic

Tatsuya Ishida, author of “Sinfest” webcomic, published another great one this Sunday:

I really liked Sunday’s comic because it conveyed a few things in my opinion:

1. Beyond all the Buddhist rhetoric, the basic teaching surrounding a Bodhisattva or Buddha is simply one who works to make the world a better place for everyone. Notice that even the Devil benefits from the tree too. This reminds me of a wonderful quote from the Flower Garland Sutra:
   

   On seeing a bodhisattva
   Perform various practices,
   Some give rise to a good mind and others a mind of evil,
   But the bodhisattva embraces them all.

2. When the Buddha is done with the tree, he rightly departs without taking credit or gloating over it. This is a hard thing for people to avoid doing, but if one can simply walk away and move on, what a great person that is. This reminds me of the Tao Te Ching, where Lao Zi that the way of the sage is to complete one’s work and withdraw, rather than clinging on for more praise.
3. Everyone enjoys the tree in their own way. The Buddha does not offer the tree for one purpose, he cultivates the tree so that everyone can enjoy it in their own way, each according to their own level. This reminds me very much of the fifth chapter of the Lotus Sutra, where the Buddha’s teachings are like refreshing rain, and each plant drinks to its own capacity and grows from it.

Anyways, very cool comic this Sunday. Tatsuya, if you ever stumble on this blog, keep up the great work!

Namuamidabu