“The Dharma is the medicine given by Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Masters and is offered to sick people like us to take it exactly as it was prescribed. ”
— REVEREND JŌSHO ADRIAN CIRLEA
The other day I was preparing some essential oil blends for a local spa.
Formulating blends involves choosing one or a few essential oils , rarely going beyond 5, to optimise their therapeutic properties as well create something that smells nice. Essential oils are highly concetrated each having it’s own safety limit to avoid adverse reactions which could damage the body’s tissues. So when I formulate I want to determine precise percentages of each essential oil within a therapeutic window which provides optimal benefits as well as ensuring minimal risk of adverse reactions. As an Aromatologist, this is my expertise. My qualifications provide me the knowledge and skill to formulate precisely and ensure maximum safety and beneficial efficacy for my clients.
The expertise of the Buddhas
The Dharma represents is the expertise of the Buddhas to guide us to enlightenment. I believe They take utmost care in providing us the the best means to do so. In my case through entrusting in the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha as taught by Shakyamuni Buddha in the Three Pure Land Sutras and the teachings of the masters in my Jodo Shinshu Lineage. to guide us to enlightenment. I believe They take utmost care in providing us the the best means to do so. In my case through entrusting in the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha as taught by Shakyamuni Buddha in the Three Pure Land Sutras and the teachings of the masters in my Jodo Shinshu Lineage.
As Reverend Josho asks,
How can a sick person, an unenlightened person, consider himself superior to a doctor or an Enlightened One, and modify the medicine?
I wouldn’t want to provide my clients with a product that would either be therapeutically useless or potentially dangerous. I know that the unskilled use of essential oils can cause a real and serious health risk. It alarms me when I hear people say that they use cold pressed bergamot oil, which is highly photo-toxic, on their skin, which when in contact of UV rays will cause serious burns, or take oregano oil orally, which, rich in carvacrol, can damage mucous membranes, leading internal bleeding.
Whether educated or not, in my opinion our unenlightened minds, makes us unqualified to manipulate the Dharma.
It’s as simple as that.
References & Links
The Path Between the thorns, Reverend Jōshō Adrian Adrian Cirlea, The spiritual autobiography of Rev Josho Adrian Cirlea, founder and Head Priest of Amidaji