The Buddha Way
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With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
Recently, I was reminded that our practice is to follow the Buddha Way completely, "Butsu do mujo seigan do." One might think that this Way is the way of the zafu, but this is mistaken. This is a limited view. In his Shobogenzo, in multiple fascicles, Master Dogen variously points out that we cannot become a Buddha practicing zazen and that we should not become attached to sitting. Zazen is a dharma gate, no doubt, but one among many.
What does it mean to follow the Buddha way completely? To address this, we must look on several levels. First, on the level of the physical, historical Buddha. How did Buddha live? What was his way? If we examine the sutras, especially the first section of the Diamond Sutra, we have a solid view. The Buddha taught not only through his sutras, but also through his behavior. The Buddha demonstrated in that section how to live. He taught the six paramitas or ways of reaching the "other shore" we have available to us in each and every moment whether we are on a zafu or in a market. These are: generosity, morality, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom. He taught further that we can practice mindfulness meditation in every posture: sitting, standing, laying down, even walking.
His life was a life of service to others, not to himself. He did not sit under a tree waiting for students and wounded citizens to come to him. He went to them. He did not stand by and allow warfare, he approached the king and demonstrated peace. He did not fear nor condemn a serial killer to prison or death, not even in his mind: he embraced him, taught him, supported him, and finally made him his disciple. This was the Buddha's Way.
In Zen, we have taken this life and through the work of the Mahayana Buddhists, such as Nagarjuna and later, Shantideva, we have distilled the Bodhisattva Way as the Way of the Buddha. The Bodhisattva Way is the way of redemption and salvation through a life of service to others. We redeem ourselves through our willingness to transfer the merit of our actions to those in need of merit. This is the whole point of each and every Eko recited at the conclusion of practice periods.,We free ourselves through our very practice of Zazen in its widest understanding. When we walk with no footsteps left in the sand, we are walking buddhas. Yet, walk we must.
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
Recently, I was reminded that our practice is to follow the Buddha Way completely, "Butsu do mujo seigan do." One might think that this Way is the way of the zafu, but this is mistaken. This is a limited view. In his Shobogenzo, in multiple fascicles, Master Dogen variously points out that we cannot become a Buddha practicing zazen and that we should not become attached to sitting. Zazen is a dharma gate, no doubt, but one among many.
What does it mean to follow the Buddha way completely? To address this, we must look on several levels. First, on the level of the physical, historical Buddha. How did Buddha live? What was his way? If we examine the sutras, especially the first section of the Diamond Sutra, we have a solid view. The Buddha taught not only through his sutras, but also through his behavior. The Buddha demonstrated in that section how to live. He taught the six paramitas or ways of reaching the "other shore" we have available to us in each and every moment whether we are on a zafu or in a market. These are: generosity, morality, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom. He taught further that we can practice mindfulness meditation in every posture: sitting, standing, laying down, even walking.
His life was a life of service to others, not to himself. He did not sit under a tree waiting for students and wounded citizens to come to him. He went to them. He did not stand by and allow warfare, he approached the king and demonstrated peace. He did not fear nor condemn a serial killer to prison or death, not even in his mind: he embraced him, taught him, supported him, and finally made him his disciple. This was the Buddha's Way.
In Zen, we have taken this life and through the work of the Mahayana Buddhists, such as Nagarjuna and later, Shantideva, we have distilled the Bodhisattva Way as the Way of the Buddha. The Bodhisattva Way is the way of redemption and salvation through a life of service to others. We redeem ourselves through our willingness to transfer the merit of our actions to those in need of merit. This is the whole point of each and every Eko recited at the conclusion of practice periods.,We free ourselves through our very practice of Zazen in its widest understanding. When we walk with no footsteps left in the sand, we are walking buddhas. Yet, walk we must.
Be well.