When talk gets too philosophical I vow together with all beings
to recall the challenge of the Buddha: ‘What is life? What is death? What is this?’
– Robert Aitken Roshi.
There are several outcomes of saying a gatha such as this one from Robert Aitken Roshi’s The Dragon Who Never Sleeps: Firstly, it is a mindfulness practice, and so it ensures that one directs one’s heart to present-moment recollection. Abandoning greed, hatred and ignorance endlessly, so as to be present for the great matters of life, is nothing but mindfulness. Secondly, such gathas remind us of the depth and universality of the purpose of this practice. Furthermore, they invoke interdependence.
I have been thinking how important in my own life vows have been. Since about 1975 I have made a making a practice of the Bodhisattva vows, and the thought of the welfare of all others has been a source of strength, kindness, and inspiration. From time to time in my groups, I do a little kinesiology-derived muscle test to demonstrate that a person has more strength when they do their inner work for all beings than if they do it for themselves alone.
The four Bodhisattva vows themselves are reminders that the universe is not logical. They are aspirations of that Flesh which exceeds the flesh. In Zen they are:
The many beings are numberless – I vow to save them.
Greed, hatred and ignorance rise endlessly – I vow to abandon them.
Dharma gates are countless – I vow to wake to them.
The Buddha’s way is unsurpassed – I vow to combody it fully.
Thinking about this last one, I am grateful to Akira Ikemi for his concept of combodiment. It directly says the truth of everything in everything timelessly – that is, of interdependence. The Buddha’s way and our very human body are not two.
Due to this lack of separation – or, if you like, interaction first – to directly realise interdependence is to save all beings. And, taking a conventional view of relationship at the same time, I vow also to give my energy to the collective 2000-year project of bringing peace to our planet.
There is no event anywhere that is not reflecting the sacred dance. The smallest flea on my friend’s carpet is a Dharma gate. This illness, today, is a Dharma gate. One who sees dependent origination sees the Dhamma. (Majjhima Nikāya 28) The NIkāya Buddha says:
“He who sees Dhamma, Vakkali, sees me; he who sees me sees Dhamma. Truly seeing Dhamma, one sees me; seeing me one sees Dhamma.”
– Vakkali Sutta. Translated by Maurice O’Connell Walshe,
The wonderful thing about the Bodhisattva vows is that they catapult one deeper than logic and into intimate connection with the measureless beauty and peace of life as it actually is.
When people talk about war, I vow with all beings to raise my voice in the chorus and speak of original piece.
– Robert Aitken, The Dragon Who Never Sleeps: Verses For Zen Buddhist Practice.