Today is Valentine’s Day. Love is in the air. Somewhat different from February 2, this day does not merit uncertainty.
Upaya is a Sanskrit term referring to limitless possibilities. It is often used with upaya-kausalya, meaning "skillful means."
Upaya finds mention in Mahayana Buddhism as an aspect of guidance that recommends practitioners to follow their own specific techniques according to a prevailing situation in order to achieve enlightenment.
Using skillful means is considered as one of the attributes of a bodhisattva, which refers to those who tread the path toward achieving Buddhahood. https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5369/upaya
This “attribute,” to me implies a boundless point. Therefore the selection of a word or phrase as a description of “___________, ” is, in the words of the immortal Buzz Lightyear– To infinity and Beyond.
So today, how can one convey (upaya-kausalya)... "love" without counting the ways. And my stumble is over gratification, which I sense is different from contentment. This is a welling-up beyond my grasp, that can seep-forth or burst-out.
Could it be that there is being grateful beyond gratification? I have a joyful feeling about this in that it is beyond need and expectation. Jack Kornfield ponders this too through the practice of mindfulness:
Just as we are grateful for our blessings, so we can be grateful for the blessings of others… https://jackkornfield.com/meditation-gratitude-joy/
Turning now to translations of Dogen’s meaning of penetrating, one often reads intimacy or heartfelt. Our heart metaphorically skips a beat…the clutch is engaged. I resonate with expounding thankfulness, which is the action arm of gratitude beyond being gratified, with a pinch of heartfelt joy. Love?
108 Bows,
Sangaku
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