Good morning, everyone. This morning, I start page 9, paragraph 19. Let me read several paragraphs. Shakyamuni Buddha said, The unsurpassable awakening of all bodhisattvas entirely belongs to this sutra. This sutra opens the gate of expedient means and reveals the true and genuine reality All bodhisattvas mentioned here are all Buddhas.

[01:03]

All Buddhas and bodhisattvas are not different. Neither is elder or younger. Neither is superior or inferior to others. This bodhisattva and that bodhisattva are not two separate persons. They are neither self nor others. They are not individual persons in the past, present, or future. Rather, becoming Buddha is the Dharma style of the practice in the path of bodhisattva. Bodhisattvas become Buddhas at the moment of arousing body-mind and become Buddhas at the stage of wondrous awakening.

[02:10]

There are bodhisattvas who have become Buddhas countless hundreds, thousands, milliard koits of times. Those who say that after becoming Buddha, bodhisattvas quit to practice and they have nothing to do anymore are ordinary human beings who do not know the way of Buddha ancestors. Those who are called all bodhisattvas are the original ancestors of all Buddhas. All Buddhas are the original teachers of all bodhisattvas. The unsurpassable awakening of all these Buddhas, whether it was practiced slash verified in the past, it is practiced verified in the present, or it will be practiced verified in the future,

[03:16]

whether it is practiced, verified, before body or after mind. The beginning, the middle, and the end are entirely this sutra. That belongs to and that is belonged to are both this sutra. At this very moment, this sutra verifies all bodhisattvas. The sutra is not sentient. The sutra is not non-sentient. The sutra is not doing. The sutra is not non-doing. However, when verifying the awakening, Verifying the person, verifying the true reality, and verifying the sutra itself, it opens the gate of expedient means.

[04:22]

The gate of expedient means is the unsurpassable virtue of the fruit of Buddhahood. It is Dharma dwelling in the Dharma position. The forms in the world abide forever. The gate of expedient means is not a temporary capability. It is the study of entire ten-direction world. We hold the true reality of all beings and study it. Even though this gate of expedient means is manifesting itself as the entire ten-direction world within the entire ten-direction world, unless we are not all bodhisattvas, it is not our environment. Xu Feng, or Seppo, said, The entire great earth is the gate of revelation.

[05:32]

but people are not willing to enter, even they are drugged. Therefore, we should know that even though the entire earth and the entire world is the gate, it is not easy to exit and enter. There aren't many who have exited and entered. Even when they are drugged, They do not enter. They do not exit. When they are not dragged, they do not enter. They do not exit. Those who try to take forward steps and enter will make mistakes. Those who try to take backward steps will stagnate. What can we do? When grabbing the people and trying to make them getting in and out of the gate, they are getting far and far.

[06:36]

When grabbing the gate and trying to put it into the people, there is a possibility to get in and get out. Here Dogen Zenji quotes another passage from the Lotus Sutra, that is, Shakyamuni Buddha said, the unsurpassable awakening, this is anuttara samyaksambodhi, of all bodhisattvas entirely belongs to this sutra. This sutra opens the gate of expedient means, and reveals the true and genuine reality. This statement is from the 10th chapter of the Lotus Sutra, entitled in Japanese, Hoshi.

[07:48]

Hoshi Hon. Hoshi means Dharma teacher. It is interesting what this Dharma teacher means, refer to. It seems this Dharma teacher are not monks, but somehow they teach Dharma. And this is Bodhisattva Dharma teacher. I'm going to . Dharma teacher. means chapter. Anyway, I'm going to talk about that point today, this morning, later. And here Dogen Zenji is saying bodhisattva in the next paragraph.

[08:59]

Bodhisattvas and Buddhas are identical. Here he put emphasis identity of cause and result. So Bodhisattva is practicing practice as a cause to become Buddha. So Bodhisattva is in the position of cause and Buddhas are in the position of result. When bodhisattva complete the practice, bodhisattva become Buddha. Because of the principle of ultimate identity of all ten suchness, cause and result are identity. That means bodhisattvas who are practicing in order to become Buddha, and the Buddha who has completed that practice are identical. That is the idea. So here Dogen put emphasis.

[10:02]

Our practice as bodhisattva and anuttarasannaksan body of Buddha are identical. But in another place, he said bodhisattvas are not Buddha. And he also said ancestors in our lineage are Bodhisattvas and are not Buddha. So here he emphasizes the identity of cause and result. But in another phrase, he said this cause and result should be clearly distinguished. Yes. I'm not talking about Dharma teacher. I'm talking about bodhisattva, the practitioner and the Buddha.

[11:04]

So I talk about Dharma teacher later. So here Dogen said, all bodhisattvas mentioned here are all Buddhas. All Buddhas and bodhisattvas are not different. Neither is elder or younger. Neither is superior or inferior to others. So they are completely identical, each other. And this bodhisattva and that bodhisattva, you know, there are many bodhisattvas, and all those bodhisattvas are not two separate persons. They are neither self nor others. That means all are manifestation of true reality of all beings. In that sense, all bodhisattvas are not individual persons.

[12:06]

And according to the commentary on the Lotus Sutra, this bodhisattva and that bodhisattva differ to bodhisattva in the land of Shakyamuni and bodhisattvas in the land of other Buddhas are identical. You know, I'm from Japan. I was born and became a Buddhist and ordained and trained in Japan and came to this country. Probably, you know, and you are American and you study and practice Buddhism in America. So I'm this bodhisattva and you are that bodhisattva. But we are doing the same thing. There are not individual persons in the past, present, or future.

[13:10]

Rather, becoming Buddha is the Dharma style of the practice in the path of bodhisattva. So Bodhisattva becoming Buddha, that is within cause and result. But next sentence he said, Bodhisattvas become Buddhas at the moment of arising body-mind and become Buddhas at the stage of wondrous awakenings. there are bodhisattvas who have become buddhas countless hundred thousand million quarters of times this is a kind of strange thing a bodhisattva become buddha many times in a in a pardon oh i'm sorry

[14:12]

You know, it's kind of an interesting thing. As a common understanding, a bodhisattva first allows body-mind, that is a starting point of bodhisattva practice, and practice according to Mahayana Buddhist teaching from the starting point of allowing body-mind, and until the reach to the Buddhahood, there are 52 stages. And Fen Dogen said, Bodhisattva becomes Buddha at the moment of arousing body-mind. That is a starting point. and become Buddhas at the stage of wondrous awakening. This wondrous awakening is a translation of myokaku chi.

[15:21]

Myokaku chi. Chi is a translation of Sanskrit word bhumi. That means bhumi. That means stage. And myo is wondrous, like myoho. And kaku is awakening. So stage of wondrous awakening is 52nd stage, the final stage. Next is buddha. buddhahood so fat dog is saying when a bodhisattva allows body mind this at this moment bodhisattva become buddha and uh from uh starting point to the goal it takes it said it takes three Sandayasri Mahasangika, that Karpath, that means longer than forever.

[16:32]

So Bodhisattva continued to practice going through 52 stages and finally attained Buddhahood. So at this final stage, Bodhisattva becomes Buddha. So between this starting point and the goal, what Dogen said is millions or billions of times this Bodhisattva becomes Buddha. This is also, you know, we have to understand he's talking about, you know, the time flows from past to present, present and present to future, time as a flows, and time as, you know, how can I say? complete moment of each a time so he's talking about two different way of viewing this uh process one is as a gradual process another is in each moment it's complete and perfect here right here right now

[18:00]

in this with these five scandals this is the perfect manifestation of buddhahood this is one way of viewing this process so each moment is perfect moment that is what was sativa become buddha millions of times and yet from another you know point you know we continuously practice from starting point to the goal. We need to keep these two aspects at the same time. And here Dogen put emphasis or discussing about practice and enlightenment and also the reality of all beings from this point of view. So we should not confuse these two. And Dogen never forget, I think, these two.

[19:06]

And never negate either of them. I mean, later he said, you know, in one of the 12-volume version of Shobo Genzo, he wrote a chapter of Shobo Genzo entitled Jinshin Inga, Deeply He believed in cause and result or causality. And in that chapter, he put emphasis on this side. We should, you know, practice continuously from starting point to the goal. And both sattvas are both sattvas. Even the ancestors or patriarchs are different from Buddha. This is knot one and knot two. And in order to make this point more concrete and clear, I'd like to introduce another part of

[20:23]

second chapter of the Lotus Sutra that is continuation of the final part of the second chapter of Lotus Sutra that is the chapter of tactfulness. This is a part of the verse and first I read this verse and I make comment. This is, well, let me read it. In the past, countless kalpas, innumerable extinct Buddhas, so the sutta is talking about the Buddhas in the past, in hundreds, thousands, and millions whose numbers cannot be counted.

[21:31]

All such world-honored ones as these, with various reasonings and parables and innumerable tactful powers, tactful powers is power of expedient or skillful means, have proclaimed the various dharmas, teachings. But all these world-honored ones proclaimed the one-vehicle Dharma, the Dharma of only one vehicle, Ekayana, and converting numberless creatures. I don't like the word converting. Maybe this is teaching or transforming. numberless living beings to enter the Buddha Way.

[22:36]

Moreover, the great holy masters, knowing that which all the worlds of God's men and other creatures deeply desire in their hearts. In addition, by varying tactfulness, assist in revealing the first principles. So here is tactfulness or expedient means and the first principle that is absolute or ultimate truth or reality and expedient means or absolute reality and conventional reality. And Buddha offer the expedient means in order to show the true absolute reality to all beings. So Buddha gave many different toys to let them come to see the true reality of all beings.

[23:47]

That is the main point of this chapter, expedient means. And if there are any beings who have met the former Buddhas, if having heard the law or dharma, they have given donations, if they have kept the commandments and been persevering, being assiduous, meditative, and wise, I don't like these English translations, but these refer to six parameters, offering, precepts, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom. So if those people practice six parameters, having kept these various ways of happiness and virtue, such beings

[24:57]

as these have already attained the Buddha Way. So those people have already attained the Buddha Way. Those mean those who practice six parameters. And not only those who practice a complete six parameters, but the sutra continues. After the extinction of Buddhas, Men with good and soft minds, good and soft. This soft mind is same as a new nanshin or a flexible mind, Togen Zenji often mentioned. Men with good and flexible mind for the truth, such living beings as these have all attained the Buddha way. And continues, after the extinction of Buddhas, those who worshipped their relics, there means Buddha's relics, and built many courtes of sorts of stupas.

[26:09]

Do you know stupas? Stupa is a building to construction to enshrine Buddha's relics. with gold, silver, and crystal, with moonstone and agate, with jasper and lapis lazuli, all are names of jewels, clearly and broadly decorated, handsomely displayed on every stupas, or those who built stone shrines. of sandalwoods and aloes, eaglewood and other woods, of brick, tiles, and clay, or those who in the wilds raised earth for Buddha's shrines, even children in their play who gathered sand for a Buddha's stupa,

[27:19]

all such beings as these have attained the Buddha Way. So not only the people who practiced six paramitas, but those people who built the stupas to worship Buddha's relics have attained the Buddha Way. and not only those, but if men, for the sake of Buddhas, have erected images carved with the characteristic signs they have all attained the Buddha way. So people who made the Buddha statues have attained the Buddha way. Or those who with the precious seven, with brass, red and white copper, with wax, lead and tin, with iron, wood and clay, or with glue and lacquer,

[28:30]

have adorned and made Buddha's images. All such ones as these have attained the Buddha Way. Those who have painted Buddha's images with the hundred blessing-adorned signs, whether done by themselves or by employing others, have all attained the Buddha Way. not only the people who made a sculpture, Buddha image by themselves, but also the people who employ those craftsmen or artists to, you know, paint the Buddha images, have all attained the Buddha way. And even boys in their play who with reed, wood or pen, or with the fingernail, have drawn Buddha's images.

[29:35]

All such ones as these, gradually accumulating merit and perfecting heart of great pity, I think pity is compassion, have attained the Buddha way. Indeed, by influencing the bodhisattvas have saved countless creatures. And the sutra continues. If men to the stupas and shrines, to the precious images and paintings, so stupas are constructed and Buddha statue or images or painting are decorated, and that is a temple. If men to the stupas and shrines, to the precious images and paintings, with flowers, incense, flags, and umbrellas,

[30:38]

have paid homage with respectful hearts or employed others to perform music, beat drums, blow horns and conches, palm pipes and flutes, play lutes, harps, guitars, gongs and cymbals, such mystic sounds as these. all prayed by way of homage or with joyful hearts, by singing, have extolled the merit of Buddhas, even though in but a low voice. Those too have attained the Buddha way." So people who chant the sutra or pray music, or to praise the Buddha as an expression of homage to the Buddha.

[31:44]

And even anyone who with distracted mind, not a mind in the samadhi, but distracted mind, that is ordinary mind, with but a single flower, has paid homage to the painted images. That's what we do. We offer flower to the Buddha statue or paintings, even with a distracted mind. Shall gradually see countless Buddhas or those who have offered worship. were it by merely folding the hands, that is, just to gassho, or even raising a hand, or by slightly bending the head, slightly bending the head, not so polite, but thus paying homage to the images, gradually see innumerable Buddhas attain the supreme way,

[32:59]

extensively save countless creatures and enter the formless nirvana. As when firewood is finished, the fire dies out. If any, even with distracted mind, Enter ashtupa or temple and cry. I don't like this word cry, but this means chant. Chant, but once, only once, Nama Buddha. Nama Buddha means I take refuge in Buddha. They have attained the Buddha way. If any from the Buddhas of the past, whether in existence or already extinct, have had this role, they have all attained the Buddha Way.

[34:12]

This is what the Lotus Sutra is saying as a practice. And these practices are kind of different from practice done by monks in the monastery. So these practices, you know, building a stupas, and placing Buddha statues, and offering incense, flowers, and play music or chanting, make prostration to Buddha, to praise the Buddha. This is kind of a different kind of practice from what monks did in the monastery and This is what originally so-called Mahayana Buddhist practiced at Stupas. And in order to understand the historical background of this kind of practice, I think we need to go back to Shakyamuni Buddha.

[35:19]

And this practice is what we are doing. at temples right now together with you know dharma studying and meditation please Yeah, this is a description of devotional practice that is different from monks' practice in the monastery. That is what I'm going to talk. When Shakyamuni Buddha died, passed away, Buddha said his funeral should be taken care of by lay people, not by monks.

[36:26]

and because monks should focus on studying dharma and practice for liberation to attain enlightenment or awakening but so buddha asked lay people to take care of to do his funeral And after the funeral, those lay people, it said from eight places, divided Buddha's relics into eight pieces. And in each places they are from, they built a stupa. to enshrine, you know, Shakyamuni Buddha. So there are eight chupas. And those stupas are taken care of by laypeople.

[37:38]

So stupas and monastery are two separate places for Buddhists. Monastery are for monks. And at the monastery, what monks did was, of course, studying Dharma, they compiled the sutras or nikaya. And also they continuously had discussion about Buddha's teaching. And they had a debate. And they made a lofty system of Buddhist doctrine called Abhidharma. Abhidharma texts are really big texts. And it's not written by one person. It's a record of debate done for many centuries. And that is what monks was doing, studying Dharma and making a system of teaching and also meditation for their, you know, liberation.

[38:52]

That is what had been monks doing. And at the stupas, you know, lay people, you know, make kind of a pilgrimage to visit, you know, the stupas at different places like Buddhagaya or Kushinagara and other important place in Buddha's life. And making pilgrimage to pay homage to the Buddha is one of the practice for lay Buddhists. Sometimes lay Buddhists visited monastery and participate monks practice certain occasion once or twice a month. And about 100 years after Buddha's death, the very famous emperor, King Ashoka, united almost entire India.

[40:03]

And King Ashoka wanted to govern his empire with Dharma. and he divided those eight relics into many more pieces and built a stupa almost all over India. And those stupas are also taken care by lay people because the property belongs to buddha treasure and property belongs to sangha treasure should be separated So the property donated to the stupa were taken care of by lay people, not monks. Monks cannot be in charge in the stupas. And this is kind of a theory by modern Buddhist scholars in Japan.

[41:12]

The Mahayana Buddhism came out of this tradition not that tradition so in the beginning you know those because people visited the stupas you know there were some people who lived there and take care of the people who visited and explain about Buddha's life what Buddha did in the past lives. The stories of Buddhas in his past lives was collected and become like jataka tools, that kind of story about Buddha's life. And the biography of Buddha was written in the form of verses.

[42:15]

Those literature to praise Buddha was created in this group of people. So the practices the Lotus Sutra describe is what those people are doing at Stupas. Please. What about a forest practice, a practice of finding a tree and sitting inside the tree? A forest practice is some small number of monks did not like even to practice in the monastery. A very typical example is Mahakasyapa. You know, when Buddha accepted a donation of land to create a monastery, so Buddha and monks lived in a monastery. But people like Mahakasyapa rejected to live in the monastery.

[43:17]

They continued to live in the forest. and eat certain food and wear certain clothing. So they continued to practice, continued the original practice style before Buddha accept and had a monastery. That tradition became a forest tradition. So there are three kind of different kind of tradition in Buddhism. And these three, you know, continue even within the Mahayana Buddhism. Originally Mahayana Buddhism was, you know, created by lay people. But gradually monks joined this movement. And Mahayana people also had monks. And those monks you know, created a monastery, and they create a kind of a Mahayana philosophy, like yoga-chara teaching, very similar with agdharma teaching.

[44:32]

Those are, you know, done by Mahayana, so-called Mahayana Bhikkhus. But it seems Dharma teacher, that is the title of the 10th chapter of the Lotus Sutra, is a people who stayed at the stupa and teach something about Buddha to the people who visit the stupas. Mahayana Buddhism originally came from lay people's movement. And yet later, monks or monastic practice is also, how can I say, created in Mahayana Buddhism. So is the philosophy that the monks created Did it come from what the lay people were already doing, or was it something that the monks just kind of made up?

[45:39]

You mean in Mahayana? Well, the original philosophy of Mahayana is prajnaparamita, that means emptiness. I'm not sure whether it was originally created by lay people or it was created after monks joined. I'm not sure. That history is not clear in India. Please. I think from the point of these people who are mainly homage, their practice is praising Buddha.

[46:52]

and more like a devotional instead of studying dharma, like abhidharma, philosophical teaching and meditation. But their practice is more devotional. And from their point of view, or their image of Buddha's, what Buddha did looks different from what monks are doing. monks are doing to create such a lofty philosophical system which those people couldn't understand at all. And those monks lived in a monastery, and it seems they didn't do begging anymore because they are supported by the lay society. interaction between monks in a monastery and they people are kind of a separate or become weak and from their point of view what monks are doing just for themselves and only they can enter nirvana they can only the monks

[48:13]

can attain arahat-hood. No lay people could. And they enter nirvana. And these people cannot. And it seems their practice in the monastery are different from what Buddha have been doing in his past lives. As Bodhisattva, Buddha helped in many different forms. Even Buddha was animals or lay people. Buddha keep helping others and also even In his lifetime as a Shakyamuni Buddha, he traveled all over India to teach not only monks but laypeople. So from their point of view, monks practice only for their own sake of liberation and going to nirvana, where those people cannot go.

[49:22]

So for them to become arahat and enter nirvana is not a goal. Their goal is to become Buddha. And the idea or image of bodhisattva was created. by among these people. That means the goal of Bodhisattva is not Arhat-hood or entering Nirvana, but Bodhisattvas take a vow to become Buddha. So this, you know, Bodhisattva way to become Buddha together with all beings. And to study Abhidharma and practice meditation and enter nirvana seems very different. And those people called this way of practice Hinayana. small vehicle this this practice only in the for individual people but this practice is for all beings that is the kind of a point to separation between mahayana and so-called hinayama

[50:44]

I think so, if big mind is liberated mind. You know, those people are also liberated. So within Buddhism, there are this kind of two separate stream are always existing even within Mahayana Buddhism even in China or Japan some people wanted to live in a forest or mountains in a very quiet place and focus on studying Buddhist teachings and meditation and some people stay in the city and teach or practice with a broader range of people in the society. So these are two aspects of Buddhism. And often these two are contradicted and quarrel or fighting each other.

[51:57]

Pardon? There are some people like, you know, practice in a quiet place like Tassajara, and some people say we should work in the society. I think both are important, and both should support each other, should not fight each other. And in the case of Dogen's life, it seems, I mean, people think before Dogen moved to Echiden, when he practiced in Kyoto or capital, he put more emphasis on practicing together with lay people. But after he moved to Eheiji, he focused on practice with small number of monks, dedicated monks in a quiet place. So there is a tension between these two.

[53:00]

But this tension is important. I mean, I think both are really important. But the reason why I introduce this section of the Lotus Sutra is Bodhisattva attained or become Buddha many times. You know, even a child, you know, offer a son. You know, this is like a story of King Ashoka. When he was a kid, he offered some son to Buddha. And Buddha give the kid the prediction that he will be a real turning king. That kind of story also, I think, made within this tradition. So even, you know, a kid offering a sand, or we offer a flower to the Buddha statue or images, or we just chant the sutras or play music to praise or to pay homage to Buddha.

[54:18]

The Lotus Sutra said, those have already attained Buddha Way. This is about in the future. But later it said, this is what I read is about in the past. But later Lotus Sutra said, in the future Buddha... taught, teach the same thing. Therefore, this is Shakyamuni. Shakyamuni said, I teach in the same way. So Buddhas in the past, future, and present are teaching the same thing. You know, all those people could attain the Buddha way. And when we apply the principle of ultimate identity of cause and result, then this is not simply, these practices are not simply the beginning of their bodhisattva practice, but in each moment they practice, you know, this way, these things, like offering incense or chanting or offering flower and even just doing gassho to Buddha or to each other.

[55:42]

At this moment, at the very moment of practicing these things, I think Fat Dogen is saying they attain Buddha way, or Buddha way is accomplished or completed. That means in each practice, they become Buddha. But unfortunately, next moment we return to samsara. So as a Bodhisattva, we need to continue to practice endlessly. So again, there are two ways of viewing this endless continuous practice. One is we are always incomplete. And from another side, in each moment, if we practice wholeheartedly, that is complete attainment or accomplishment or perfection of Buddha mind.

[56:45]

So these two are, I think, always together, at least in Dogen's teaching. That is what I wanted to say. So I think So Bodhisattva become Buddha billions of times and yet there's no time Bodhisattva can stop practicing because now I'm in the goal. That is what he said in the last sentence of this paragraph. Those who say that after becoming Buddha, Bodhisattvas quit to practice and they have nothing to do anymore so they can just rest. are ordinary human beings who do not know the way of Buddha ancestors.

[57:48]

So in each moment our practice is complete and yet we continue to practice this practice endlessly. This is also what it means going beyond Buddha. Next paragraph. Those who are called all Bodhisattvas are the original ancestor of all Buddhas because Bodhisattva becomes Buddha. So Bodhisattvas are the parent of Buddhas or ancestors of Buddhas. Buddhas are children of Bodhisattvas in a sense. And, of course, all Buddhas are the original teachers of all bodhisattvas. And this is not difficult to understand.

[58:52]

The unsurpassable awakening, or anuttarasamyaksa body, of all these Buddhas, whether it was practiced, verified— practiced, verified is my translation of shosho, shusho suru. Suru is like do. You know, Japanese is an interesting language. If we put this verb suru to any noun, this noun become verb. So in this case, shu is practice, and shu is verify. And suru means we do practice and verification.

[59:59]

This is like, for example, telephone in Japanese is denwa. And when we say make a phone call, we say denwa suru. So any noun can become verb in Japanese. And this is one of the examples. So shusho is practice, verification. But do practice, verification. So I translate to practiced, verified. in the past practice slash verified this is one word shusho is one word compound that means when we practice verification is there verification the character is the same character yes

[61:03]

There are three, at least three Chinese characters which is commonly translated into English word enlightenment. Those three, this show is one of them. Other two is kaku. First one is kaku, that means awakening. Awakening is also a position of dreaming. We are commonly not awakened. We are in a dream. but when we awake and start to see the real reality, that is one meaning of enlightenment. And the second word that is often translated as enlightenment is go. The one I said is kaku. means to awake, wake up. And go is to realize is better translation, to realize something.

[62:15]

Japanese or Buddhist term. Pardon? This one is verified, yes. One, two, three. And also those three characters are read as satori in Japanese. Satori is enlightenment. But in the case of shō, the shō is the opposition of shū, practice, enlightenment, or as a cause and result. And in the case of kaku, dreaming and awakening. And in the case of go, the opposition of go is mei. Mayou, mayoi. Mayoi is like, you know, it looks like an intersection. And when we are at the intersection and we don't know which way we should go,

[63:20]

We don't know our destination. We don't know what to do. We don't know which way we should take. That is mayou. We lost. Mayou means to be lost. And Satoru is now we clearly see, understand which way I should go. That is Satoru. This go. So each of them have different meanings. Please. In Sanskrit, Buddha, I believe, comes from a root that means wake up. Yes, same as body, awakening. Awakening. So Buddha is like . Yes, Buddha is called . Well, here we are.

[64:26]

So the unsurpassable awakening, anuttarasamyaksa and bodhi, of all these Buddhas, whether it was practiced, verified in the past, in the present, and in the future. So all Buddha's awakenings, past, present, and future, whether it is practiced, verified before body or after mind, This before body and after mind doesn't mean so much, I think. It means together as an entire body and mind, I think. The beginning, the middle, and the end are entirely this sutra. And of course, in the quotation from the Lotus Sutra, this sutra refers to the Lotus Sutra.

[65:35]

But here Dogen Zenji used the expression, this sutra, not simply the lotus sutra, but this entire network of interdependent origination is the fifth sutra. The true reality of all beings is this sutra. So all Buddha's awakening is awakened to this sutra, this true reality of all beings. That belongs to and that is belonged to are both this sutra. So now he introduced the idea of this sutra to refer to this reality of all beings. that belongs to is, you know, all Buddha's awakening. And that is belonged to is this sutra itself.

[66:39]

So both are this sutra, this true reality of all beings and each and every being within this network are both this sutra. At this very moment, This sutra verifies all bodhisattvas, so this entire network of interdependent origination verifies each and every bodhisattva's practice. So when we practice wholeheartedly using these five skandhas, you know, this entire network of interdependent origination verify our practice. That is what, you know, during the meal chant we say, you know, entrust ourselves To the Sangha.

[67:49]

How verified is used? Verified our understanding. So our understanding is verified by all Buddhas. And all Buddhas is the same with this sutra. So our understanding is verified by this sutra when we practice wholeheartedly. So now he's talking about this sutra. The sutra is not sentient. The sutra is not non-sentient. And the sutra is not doing. Not doing is ui. This is the word we had before, ui and mui. and . I think you know and .

[68:56]

And means action or activity or another meaning with purpose. And means, so I translated, doing. And Dogen negate this. This sutra is not ui. So I said, not doing. And he also said, this sutra is not mui, non-doing. And non-doing means not conditioned. Conditioned and not conditioned. So Dogen said, this sutra is neither conditioned nor not conditioned. Conditioned. That also means both. However, when verifying the awakening, verifying the person, verifying the true reality, and verifying the sutra itself, this sutra as a

[70:08]

entire reality, verify all these things, and the sutra itself. At that time, It opens the gate of expedient means. The gate of expedient means is ho-ben. The gate of uttaya is opened. Then this entire true reality of all beings, verify each and every bodhisattva's practice, Upaya, the gate of Upaya, that means all different kind of means to awaken to and practice and express this reality. That is all different kind of practice mentioned in the Lotus Sutra as I introduced today. building a temple, enshrine Buddha statue, and pay homage, and offer incense, flowers, and all those things.

[71:23]

That kind of expedient means to please. My question was about that phrase, the gate of expedient means. And I guess, well, you started answering it, but it just When I first hear it, there's a sort of irony in it that expedient refers to, like, expedient reality, conventional reality, and it doesn't seem like enough, you know? Like, does there have to be something more to get to true understanding than... That is the point. I mean, the Japanese word for tire or skill means it's hoben. Ho is the method, and Ben is skillful or convenient. So something we can use. The method is something we can use.

[72:25]

And this Ho-Ben has some kind of negative connotation that, you know, for example, there is a Japanese proverb that is saying usomu houben. Do you know this proverb? Usomu houben means to telling a lie can be as upaya. So upaya is skillful means. Sometimes, you know, we... you know, tell a lie because of our compassion. So skillful means or expedient means is something which is not really true, but it's helpful to see or reach that truth. That is the connotation of this word Hou Ben. So this is kind of, in a sense, even though we should reach the ultimate absolute reality or truth, but we cannot because of our delusion and thinking mind.

[73:43]

So we need this device that is skillful means. Please. of the word gate, because gate isn't the destination. It's just something you use to get somewhere. That is what Dogen discuss next. He said entire world is a gate. So what he's saying here is the gate of expedient means is not second-class truth. This is itself absolute truth. So Dogen is kind of challenging the common understanding of this expression, hoben, or expedient means. So in Zen tradition, we say a finger pointing at the moon. The finger is expedient means.

[74:46]

The moon is ultimate reality. So according to Dogon, there's only a finger. The only thing that's important is the finger. Forget about the moon. Well, I think what he's saying is moon and finger is the same thing. Finger is a part of the moon, I think. That's why Dogen value making a statement or expression using words. For Dogen, you know, if we really awake, and experience the ultimate truth or reality it should be expressed by words otherwise your experience is still vague it's not clear and ryokan also said in his poem you know

[75:47]

finger and moon if you really see the moon there's no distinction between finger and moon there's no moon and no finger or there's no moon beside a finger So this is a kind of a common idea, you know. Moon is absolute reality and the finger is expedient mean. If we want to see the moon directly, but because we cannot, we need someone's teaching or direction or instruction, so we should not see the finger but see the moon. But Dogen Inake, in a sense, is challenging about this common sense. Without finger is not expedient. It's expedient, but this is a manifestation of ultimate reality. Yes. Yes, I think so.

[76:55]

The means we can use as a method. to see or to awaken to that reality which cannot be expressed using words. But Dogen asked us who should use words, and that is what he is doing when he writes this kind of strange writings. Let me finish this paragraph. So the gate of expedient means open. And he said, the gate of expedient means is the unsurpassable virtue of the fruit of Buddhahood. Fruit of Buddhahood is the final goal of Buddhahood, anuttara samyaksam bodhi.

[77:59]

So what he's saying here is expedient means is a virtue of anuttara samyaksam bodhi. Without expedient means, there's no such things called anuttara samyaksam bodhi. Even if it's there, it has nothing to do with us. It's only Buddhas. It is dharma dwelling in the dharma position. Dharma dwelling in dharma position. This Dogen also said in Genjo Koan. Dharma dwelling in dharma position. And there is before and after, and yet before and after is cut off, that dharma position. And the form in the world means the things coming and going, changing the shape, and arising and perishing. Abide forever means the reality of all these things, of coming and going, is itself true reality of all beings.

[79:08]

In that sense, these forms abide forever. or eternally. So the gate of expedient means is not a temporary capability. Temporary capability, gi-ryo, is capability or technique that we can use. But it is a study of entire ten-direction world. So expedient means is the way we live, the way we do things in accordance with this true reality of ten-direction world. So we hold the true reality of all beings and study this expedient means. as a bodhisattva, even though this gate of expedient means is manifesting itself as the entire ten-direction world within the entire ten-direction world.

[80:24]

This means this gate and ten-direction world is exactly the same thing. Unless we are not all bodhisattvas, it is not our environment. That means we don't see it. Unless we allow body, mind, and practice, and awake, and nirvana, you know, this continuous practice. Unless we Yes, thank you. Unless... Yeah, unless we are not... Unless we are all bodhisattvas. Mm? Mm-hmm.

[81:32]

Right. Okay. Thank you. So, unless we are all bodhisattvas. Okay, any questions? Please. 5,000 monks walked out and they did the lotus sutra. 5,000 monks. where when those 5,000 monks left, when Buddha started to talk on this true reality of all beings, Buddha said it's good for them to live.

[82:43]

And I don't think Dogen made any comment on this, those people who left. Please. Mm-hm. Mm-hm, yes. one example, precise example of what we're talking about. I think so. And also, you know, the fact that we are deluded, we are so selfish, and we feel sick about it, that is an expectant means that help us to awake. Our awareness of our deluded, our delusion, is a help from the reality.

[83:55]

This is also same as awakening of the reality of suffering. So the truth of suffering is the first noble truth. So to see our delusion, to feel our suffering, not only personal, but all living beings suffering, is the gate to the liberation. So this is also expedient means. The gate of expedient means is the answer best for virtue of the truth of Buddhahood. Frankly, Buddhahood is not just waking up, but being able to help other people wake up, find ways to help other people wake up. Yes, yes. Waking ourselves and waking others is bodhisattva, very essential point of bodhisattva practice.

[84:57]

Thank you. Okay, thank you very much.

[85:03]

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