Wholehearted Way by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi

Author:Kosho Uchiyama Roshi
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-8048-3105-5
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing

Part Two

RECITING SUTRAS IS LIKE FROGS IN THE SPRING RICE PADDY, CROAKING ALL DAY AND NIGHT.

In the previous section, Dōgen Zenji described the merit of zazen as jijuyū zanmai. In this part there are eighteen questions and answers to enable us to more clearly understand this.

QUESTION ONE:

Now we have heard that the virtue of this zazen is immense. Stupid people may question this asking, "There are many gates to the buddha-dharma. Why do you only recommend zazen?"

In the beginning of Bendōwa, Dōgen Zenji said that burning incense, bowing, nembutsu, repentance, and sutra reading are not necessary, and in another section he emphatically described the limitless virtue of zazen. However, there are various kinds of practice in Buddhism, including offering incense and prostrating oneself in front of a buddha statue, chanting nembutsu, reciting sutras, many sorts of contemplation, meditation, or visualization, the practice of giving, the practice of patience, and so on. It is said that since we human beings have 84,000 desires, there are the same number of practices (dharma gates) to become free from each desire. Why did Dōgen Zenji exclusively recommend the practice of zazen?

His answer was:

Because this is the true gate to buddha-dharma.

I suppose, on hearing this kind of answer, there were people in ancient times who were convinced and said, "You have won me over." However, in these days, how do people react when they are told, "Practice zazen! Zazen is the true gate to buddha-dharma"?

Since ancient people believed that the buddha-dharma was venerable, saying that zazen is the true gate to buddha-dharma could work. But people in modern times don't accept this. Buddhist priests must understand this clearly. Priests in the Sōtō school often merely repeat, "Buddha-dharma is such and such," "The buddha way is such and such," and the audience stifles a yawn. Moreover, they don't go to listen to such tedious preaching. So in these days, an answer that says zazen is the true gate to buddha-dharma is not effective. How shall we answer? I'd like to say that zazen is the true gate to the life of the self.

There must be people who don't like zazen. Such people look for something that can be a substitute for zazen. For example, you have a girlfriend and you want to marry her, but your parents and relatives do not agree. Then you think of eloping with her. In such a situation, first of all, do not carry it out right away. Wait quietly for a while. Waiting is a substitute for zazen. Take your time; then you will naturally calm down. Suppose you wait for ten or twenty years. No matter how beautiful and attractive she may be, she will certainly become a withered old woman. It is the same when you want to fight with someone. Even when you get mad, do not shake your fist immediately. Wait without an action for a while, and imagine that you wait for ten years, twenty years, or until after your death. I don't say you should not fight.

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