Hiking the Three Treasures

Today I took the reconnaissance hike up Springer Mountain. The trip is not for another two weeks, but I wanted to make sure that the Forest Roads were still open, to check on the parking situation, and to look for good spots for meditation along the trail.

The hike itself is a five-mile loop along the Benton MacKaye Trail to Big Stamp Gap, then up Ball Mountain and over to Springer Mountain (the start of the Appalachian Trail), and then down Springer on the Appalachian Trail back to the parking lot. In many ways, the hike reminded me of the Three Treasures in Buddhism (Sangha, Dharma and Buddha). The first mile or so was along the Benton MacKaye Trail, south of Forest Road 42. This section was relatively accessible and flat. However, there were a lot of downed trees and branches across the trail, which required stepping over, under, around or through, and which clutched at my clothes as I hiked.

Similarly, the Sangha, the harmonious community of Buddhists, is also very accessible and the rewards are easily achieved. The Sangha supports us in our practice and encourages us on our path. However, one can also get caught up in personality conflicts, rivalries, petty jealousies and other impediments, which are like the branches, limbs and briars on this otherwise "easy" section of the trail. There is a nice campsite along a creek at the end of this section which would make an excellent spot for the group to sit and meditate on the theme of Sangha practice.

The second section of the trail crosses back over Forest Road 42 at Big Stamp Gap and begins the ascent up Ball Mountain. Here, the branches, limbs and briars are fewer, but the trail is steeper and requires more effort. However, I was rewarded with some beautiful views and vistas, particularly on the west side of Ball Mountain, which would make the second good spot for group meditation as we sit and contemplate the second of the Three Treasures, the Dharma, while looking out over the Blue Ridge Mountains.

This section of the trail is like the Dharma, the incomparable teachings, in that one rises above the entanglements of the Sangha but must also make a greater individual effort. Although this effort is more strenuous, the rewards are also greater.

After the beautiful view from Ball Mountain, the trail begins the steepest part of the climb, the final ascent up Ball Mountain and then across to the summit of Springer. Here the trees were spaced further apart and were notably upright, and the vistas enjoyed were like the one on the side of Ball Mountain, but in all directions, not just one-sided like before. Also, I could plainly see the summit, so that it was clear where I wanted to go and what I had to do to get there, and the views opening on all sides of me encouraged me to keep on climbing.

This section of the trail is like the Buddha, the world-honored one, in that it is free of one-sided views. At this stage of our practice, the goal can be plainly seen, but great effort is still required, even more than during the Dharma practice. And then one reaches the summit . . .

Of course, the three treasures are not Springer Mountain, and one does not sequentially engage first the Sangha, then the Dharma, and then the Buddha. In one's practice, one is continually involved with all three of the treasures. Also, one does not "attain" Buddhahood like one can summit a mountain. Where does one go after reaching the summit? Nothing is "attained," because you already are a Buddha, each and every one of you.

The hike with the Zen group will be on Saturday, March 12, 2005, leaving the Atlanta Soto Zen Center at around 8:00 a.m. Please email me if you would like to go, and I will send you details about the trip.