Truth

sermon by Torin Eikler
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 John 18:33-38


On the cool morning the day after my 36th birthday – which you probably know better as Columbus Day – I found myself walking onto the bustling grounds of temple #58 on the 80-temple pilgrimage that circles the island of Shikoku. Whether you realize it or not, most of you have already heard of this temple. It’s the one that Carrie described last week, and 8:00 in the morning or not, people were certainly interested in it. And, that’s not so surprising since this is one of the most popular temples on the circuit, and is often visited by people like us who are not actually going on pilgrimage.

Two things make it a particular draw. One is the temple building called the Celestial Pagoda which looks surprisingly like some of the cathedrals I have seen in Europe complete with a standing, cruciform Buddha. The other is the dark tunnel Carrie described – the one with the little Buddhas along the middle to help you find your way. There is a big rock filled with holes that nearly blocks the far end of the tunnel, and when the wind blows through it, you are supposedly able to hear the sound of monks chanting. The tunnel interested me, and so I made the trek all the way through in the dark … no chanting monks, sadly, but I did get a pretty good crack on the head for my trouble.

What Carrie didn’t mention was that if you squeeze out the other side of the tunnel and cross the street there, you find yourself at the entrance to a very interesting garden. Clearly most people don’t go there on their visits because the place is quite run down. But, the crumbling statues along the path through the overgrown greenery have their own power and mystery.

At the other end of that path is an interesting golf-ball shaped building filled with all sorts of statues of Buddha that look nothing like anything I have ever seen. Weird faces and strange bodies all stretching out of blocks of wood as if they were struggling to get free. It was definitely one of the spookier experiences of my life, but what really stopped me in my tracks was the statue off to the right side of the building. It was, I think, a Buddha sitting in the lotus position.

Now, take a moment to close your eyes and picture the image of Buddha that you have tucked away in your mind. If your experience has been anything like mine, you are seeing a chubby, little man sitting with his legs crossed and either a smile or a look of concentration on his face. But, this was not that Buddha. This one had his eyes open so wide that they looked like they would pop out of his head. His nostrils were flared, and the look on his face was strained in pain or anger (I couldn’t tell). AND, he was nearly skeletal. That is to say that the artist had carved him with all his ribs showing (and some extras added in for effect) and his tummy caved in to the point that you could almost see his spine showing through. Imagine coming across a statue like that, all of the sudden, and you may be able to understand why I actually had to force myself to walk away at no more than a normal pace. Spooky just doesn’t cover it.


Clearly, the experience of seeing of that particular Buddha is well and truly lodged in my head. And, as I have had time to reflect on it over the past month, I have come to understand something of what it might be trying to convey. That realization came as I remembered a question asked by one of you before we left. Well, it wasn’t as much a question as a request: “Pay attention to statues of Buddha you see in Japan. I’m curious how they envision him.” It was a request that grew out of the experience of seeing Buddha portrayed as a thin, austere man in Sri Lanka where he achieved enlightenment and as a that chubby, jovial fella in much of the rest of the world.

Both of those traditions, I think, are trying to present a piece of the truth about Buddha. The thin Buddha speaks of the work of self-denial that goes along with seeking enlightenment in Buddhist thought. The other image represents the love, compassion, and generosity embodied in the life and after-life of the Buddha himself. I have come to think that the statue that I saw strives to represent in a super-real way the pain and struggle that come from receiving enlightenment and realizing how that changes everything we have ever known. The question that rises in my mind when thinking of this conversation in art is, “What is truth?” – the same question Jesus’ answers gave birth to in Pilate’s heart.


In today’s world, at least in the western world, there seems to be an obsession with truth. Whether we are adherents of the philosophy of science or follower of a more spiritual path, we judge all things based on whether they are “true” or not. Facts – absolutely unquestionable nuggets of information – are the currency of truth in our conversations or our arguments, but we tend to overlook that everything we “know” is filtered through human experience. Just because we see something one way doesn’t mean someone else doesn’t see it otherwise. My 12th grade physics teacher taught me that lesson in class when insisted on looking up whenever he dropped the chalk just in case the theory of gravity was wrong.


So, seekers of Truth, what do we make of the words that come to us from the prophet Daniel on this “Christ is King” Sunday? Given the historic aversion to celebrating special days that is embedded in our tradition, we do not often honor this festival, but the vision we heard from the Old Testament is certainly appropriate to the day. Can you picture it? The image of the mighty, shining Ancient of Days sitting, unconsumed, atop a burning throne with thousands serving him and tens of thousands just waiting for the chance is royalty and power embodied – at least in the language of the second century BC. To this raging God comes one like a human (but not) who is given kingship over all peoples and all nations – a rule that will last for all time and never be destroyed. Christ, the King, “sitting at the right hand of God” as the creed proclaims.

With a few variations here or there, that basically sums up the image of Christ enthroned as portrayed by artists of the West in cathedral windows, chapel ceilings, and illustrated texts for centuries. And, I have to say that just such a Christ sits in my head. But, right beside that one kneels another – a figure that takes his form from the statue that stands at the entrance to Bethany Seminaries Chapel. It is a Christ who, kneeling, washes the feet of his disciples – a Christ who humbly endures his trials and peacefully (though not passively) submits to the cross in service to all humanity.

So…. What is the truth? Which of these is the real, true Christ – the real, true king?

(pause)

Since we’re working with metaphor here, I’m happy to allow that both of these images have at least some truth to them just as different statues speak different truths about Buddha. Still, Jesus said in many ways that the Realm of God is marked by a different type of vision than earthly Kingdoms. “The first shall be last and the last shall be first.” “Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.” And, “If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting…. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” So, perhaps there is a bit more “truth” to the servant King – at least according to one version of truth.


And there are so many other images and goals that hold sway in our lives – questionable “truths” that speak into our minds. We, all of us, strive in one way or another, to have more wealth, yet Jesus challenged the rich young ruler to sell all he had in order to follow. Many of us plan for and save for the future, yet Jesus said not to worry about the future but trust in God to take care of it. (Or, in the words of one recent book title, “God doesn’t care about your 401K”). Most of us love and cherish our families, holding them as one of the highest values we have, yet Jesus warned us that we may have to forsake mother, father, brother, sister, and child to follow the way of discipleship.

What do you think? What is truth? Or better yet, what truths hold the power to guide and direct your lives?

(pause)

Even with just a few words, and metaphorical ones at that, Jesus said a whole lot there in that room with Pilate. “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” And, it is the voice of our King – the slave of all – that should be speaking to us over the tumult of the world. My prayer is that we will be true seekers of Truth – that we who belong to the truth will listen for that voice when it comes, ignoring all the others that clamor for our attention - listen and follow our teacher and our guide to the land where the servant king kneels enthroned before the thousands and tens of thousands that he wishes to serve.

May it be so.