Bodhisattva’s Vow

Torei Zenji

When I, a student of the Way

look at the real form of the universe,

all is the never-failing manifestation

of the mysterious truth of the Awakened Life.

In any event, in any moment, and in any place, None can be other than the marvelous revelation of its glorious light.

This realization made our ancestors and teachers extend tender care, with respectful hearts

even to such beings as birds and beasts.

This realization teaches us

that our daily food, drink, clothes,

and protections of life

are the warm flesh and blood,

the merciful incarnation of the Awakened One.

Who can be ungrateful or not respectful

even to senseless things,

not to speak of humans?

Even though they may be fools,

be warm and compassionate toward them.

If by any chance they should turn against us,

become sworn enemies and persecute us,

we should sincerely bow down with humble language

in the reverent understanding

that they are the merciful messengers of the Awakened One,

who use devices to emancipate us from blind tendencies,

produced and accumulated upon ourselves

by our own egoistic delusion and attachment

through countless cycles of space and time.

Then on each moment’s flash of our thought

there will grow a lotus flower

and on each lotus flower will be revealed

Perfection, unceasingly manifest as our life,

just as it is,

right here and right now.

May we extend this mind to all beings

so that we and the world together

may attain maturity in the wisdom of the Awakened Life.

Flint’s modern translation

The world is always asking you to open up and be more loving.

Look closely and you will begin to learn things that are

more interesting than the things you think about everyday.

No matter what you love, what you hate, or what you imagine,

everything belongs somehow.

When you truly open to this way of looking and living

you will learn how to care for what used to scare you.

Do your best to be friendly, even when it’s hard.

Sometimes people are difficult or even mean. Think of them

as strict teachers in a school where you learn about

these hard, confusing, or scary things.

When you have good friends with you in this kind of school,

things begin to look really different. There is a lot more love…

and more of everything else, too…but you can do it.

Just keep going. Offer your love back as best you can. If you do,

you and your friends will grow together in ways you could have

never imagined.

Inquiry Vow

Open your drama eye and see that

what you seek is right in front of you.

––already and always!

When you see––what you realize__will bring you to

your knees with humility and lift you up with gratitude

––for receiving your life and giving back your life.

Dharma gate never close, but

you can refuse to step through.

Expect nothing. Appreciate everything.

Tell the truth and love everyone.

2021-04-26 | Depth In Practice | Passing Through the Gateless Barrier by Appamada

2021-04-20 | Inquiry I What's here now? I Flint Sparks by Appamada

2021-04-19 | Depth In Practice | Passing Through the Gateless Barrier by Appamada

2021-04-18 | Dharma Talk | Setting Our Intention As We Reenter The World | Robin Bradford by Appamada

“…the key to Chan enlightenment—the ‘place’ from which it is possible to be fully realized and not merely talked or thought about—is direct communicative crises. That is, enlightenment has to do with relationship—not with and one individual’s attainments—and in particular with the kind of relationship in which everything is at stake and nothing is in principle excluded as impossible. In short, Chan enlightenment should not be seen as private and experiential in nature, but as irreducibly and intimately social.” [Liberating Intimacy, Peter Herschock, p. x]

2021-04-12 | Depth In Practice | Passing Through the Gateless Barrier by Appamada

2021-04-06 I Inquiry I Sitting Together I Flint Sparks by Appamada

2021-04-05 | Depth In Practice | Passing Through the Gateless Barrier by Appamada

2021-03-30 I Inquiry I Being With in Loving Presence I Flint Sparks by Appamada