Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘To vow to save all beings doesn’t mean that we believe that we have the power to help all those who are in trouble. Imagining that were so would truly be quite arrogant. To save all beings means to be one with all beings. We cannot become one with others by means of our individual efforts. But we can wake up to the reality that from the beginning we are one with all beings. That is why we study the obstacles that prevent us from seeing this reality. That is how we become free from delusion.To become free from delusion, we have to study the Buddha’s teachings.

Reality itself is also a teaching. All beings in this universe — trees, leaves, and animals — teach us to awaken to the reality that is impermanent and egoless. We are not sensitive enough to hear this teaching without effort, so we must actively listen and study. In our practice together, we vow to attain the Buddha’s Way, the Buddha’s enlightenment, and to be one with all beings. As the Buddha said in the Lotus Sutra, “But now this threefold world is all my domain, and the living beings in it are all my children.” That is the Buddha’s attitude, and we vow to attain such an attitude. We know it’s almost impossible, but we vow to do so.

Each of the four bodhisattva vows is a kind of a paradox or contradiction. It is impossible to accomplish or completely achieve the vows. Since we are working at something infinite and absolute, it’s important to reflect on the fact that we can never accomplish it. We cannot be perfect. This awakening to our own imperfection is repentance.

In Buddhism repentance does not mean saying “I’m sorry” because of some mistake I have made. That kind of repentance is relevant, but as Buddhists repentance means awareness of our imperfections and limitations. Vow and repentance are two kinds of energy that enable us to continue our practice. Zazen is itself the practice of vow. Zazen is itself the practice of repentance.’ (Living By Vow)

This book has popped up in several different ways this week: I am finalising details for a class on the Four Bodhisattva Vows in the spring, and, asked for some suggested reading, could only really think of this. Also, one of my students was asking about good books to read, and this one came to mind – we might study it next year. I also heard that the Tanto at City Center is using the book for teaching a resident group.