A Brief Introduction to Buddhism

A Sermon Given 21 Years Ago Today

Below is the text of a sermon given twenty-one years ago today. It was part of a series, “Eastern Religion.” The second in the series, “Islam” will be posted tomorrow.

Buddhism
Guest Sermon Delivered July 7, 2002
Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo
Frank Housh
copyright © Frank Housh 2002

Readings

I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journeywork of the stars
And the pismire is equally perfect, and a grain of sand, and the egg of the wren,
And the tree-toad is a chef d'oeuvre for the highest,
And the running blackberry would adorn the parlors of heaven,
And the narrowest hinge in my hand puts to scorn all machinery,
And the cow crunching with depressed head surpasses any statue,
And a mouse is miracle enough to stagger sextillions of infidels,
And I could come home every afternoon of my life to look
at the farmer's girl boiling her tea kettle and baking shortcake.

Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman, verse 31

The brain is wider than the sky,
For, put them side by side,
The one the other will co…