FALL PRACTICE PERIOD

This fall, the theme of our practice period is Living the Life of a Bodhisattva.

We invite you to engage with the offerings of the season and investigate for yourself what it might mean to apply more vigor and dedication to your zazen and study. The Practice Period Commitment Form is designed to help provide direction and focus, to hold us accountable to ourselves and to each other. It includes “the four methods of guidance,” enumerated by Eihei Dogen in a teaching that we’ll be studying together. These four methods are Giving, Kind Speech, Beneficial Action, and Manifesting Sympathy. Although the practice period may seem intimidating for those new to the concept, it is designed to work with your life, here and now.

---

STUDY TEXT

With our theme of Living the Life of a Bodhisattva, our study text will be Dōgen Zenji’s Bodaisatta Shishōbō, a fascicle of the Shōbōgenzō translated here as The Bodhisattva’s Four Methods of Guidance.

Sometimes translated as Four Elements of a Bodhisattva’s Social Relations, the four methods are Giving, Kind Speech, Beneficial Action, and Manifesting Sympathy.

Click here for the Okumura/Senauke translation.

Click here for the Nishijima/Cross translation.

Click here for the Tanahashi/Richmond translation.

Click here for the Nearman Shasta Abbey translation.

Click here for the chart comparing the various translations.

---

PRACTICING WITH THIS YEAR’S THEME

For this Fall Practice Period, we encourage everyone to practice with the following Four Methods of Guidance:

1. Giving

Giving means non-greed and not coveting. Give yourself to yourself and others to others. Give valuables, time, a smile, or even a penny. Things given are beyond measure. In Giving, mind transforms the gift and the gift transforms mind.

2. Kind Speech

Kind Speech is arousing the heart of compassion and offering words of loving care. It is the basis for reconciling enemies and making peace. When Kind Speech is offered, it gradually expands and transforms the world.

3. Beneficial Action

Beneficial Action is to help all beings by using skillful means. It is an act of oneness, benefiting self, others, friends and foes equally. Even Beneficial Action for the sake of grass, trees, wind, and water is spontaneous and unremitting.

4. Manifesting Sympathy

Manifesting Sympathy is sometimes referred to as Cooperation or Identity Action. It means nondifference. What is “self” and “other” has no boundary but is dependent on time and condition. We should not treat ourselves or others as different. The ocean does not exclude water; that is why it is large. Simply face all beings with a gentle expression.

Specific commitments regarding the Four Methods of Guidance can be made on the commitment form.

 

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT
YOUR COMMITMENT FORM