Sutra BookTable of Contents

Diamond Sangha
Sesshin Sutra Book

December 1991 version
Translations/revisions by Robert Aitken Roshi
of the Diamond Sangha Zen Buddhist Society,
Koko An, 2119 Kaloa Way, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA 96822

TO-REI ZENJI: BODHISATTVA'S VOW

A homily by Torei Enji (1721-1792), recited after the first dedication during sutra chanting (8.30 am) at sesshin. Originally in prose, it is set in verse form to facilitate chanting.

see Bushy's notes on The Virtue of Abuse from Original Dwelling Place by Robert Aitken Roshi

Leader:

I am only a simple disciple, but I offer these respectful words:

Assembly:

When I regard the true nature of the many dharmas,
I find them all to be sacred forms
of the Tathagata's never- failing essence.
Each particle of matter, each moment,
is no other than the Tathagata's inexpressible radiance.

With this realization, our virtuous ancestors
with compassionate minds and hearts
gave tender care to beasts and birds.
Among us, in our own daily lives,
who is not reverently grateful for the protections of life:
food, drink, and clothing!
Though they are inanimate things,
they are nonetheless the warm flesh and blood,
the merciful incarnations of Buddha.

All the more, we can be especially sympathetic
and affectionate with foolish people,
particularly with someone who becomes a sworn enemy
and persecutes us with abusive language.
That very abuse conveys the Buddha's boundless loving-kindness.
It is a compassionate device to liberate us entirely
from the mean-spirited delusions we have built up
with our wrongful conduct from the beginningless past.

With our open response to such abuse
we completely relinquish ourselves,
and the most profound and pure faith arises.
At the peak of each thought a lotus flower opens,
and on each flower there is revealed a Buddha.
Everywhere is the Pure Land in its beauty.
We see fully the Tathagata's radiant light
right where we are.

May we retain this mind
and extend it throughout the world
so that we and all beings
become mature in Buddha's wisdom.

Sutra BookTable of Contents

dharmas with a lower-case "d" can be read "phenomena."

The ascii version of these texts can be acquired from the Electronic Buddhist Archives section of the Coombspapers Social Sciences Research Data Bank