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14 EASTERN HORIZON | TEACHINGS

Immediately a question is thrust before us: Just how will being of others. But, what if our deluded minds aren’t a
we go about saving all these numberless beings? The barrier to enlightenment?
class thought it sounded like a foolishly impossible task.
They asked, “If we already know the futility of it, then “The ultimate paradox of Zen liberation is said to
why on earth would we do it?” lie in the fact that one attains enlightenment only
in and through delusion itself, never apart from it.
Buddha’s answer: “And though I thus liberate countless Enlightenment consists not so much in replacing, as in
beings, not a single being is liberated. And why not? dealing with or negotiating delusion.”
Subhuti, a bodhisattva who creates the perception of –Dogen on Meditation and Thinking: A Reflection on His
a self, or a soul, cannot be called a bodhisattva.’’ –The View of Zen, Hee-Jin Kim
Diamond Sutra translated by Red Pine
What if our delusions are the very path to
“Not a single being is liberated? If that’s true, then what enlightenment?
is the first vow really about?” they asked.
Courageously, the bodhisattva studies his/her
Wow. The quote really stirred things up for the class. delusions, and how they present in their body and
That’s good. mind. Awakening is about not being obsessed by them,
or acting them out. Then, we can shed light on the
Chan Master Dajian Hui-neng explained, “Good friends, shadows of our conditioned self, and we can act in the
please recite after me: The beings in my own mind are light of helpfulness to all beings. Those who take the
infinite; I vow to liberate them. The beings in the mind are bodhisattva vow make one simple commitment: Put
delusion, deception, immorality, jealousy, malice; these others first, holding nothing back for themselves, even
states are all beings. Liberate yourself through your own one’s own enlightenment, all for the sake of others.
essential nature; this is called ‘true liberation.’ ”

Sometimes the blankets come off my wife at night.
This shook the class up even further. “You mean to say There is no thought in my mind that she is cold, yet, I
that it’s all in my mind, all those numberless beings? just reach over and pull the blankets back over her. It’s
What about my family, my boss, the insect, the tree? All almost an impersonal affair in that this is what needs to
in my mind? It sounds so self centered,” they replied. happen in the moment. It’s just an instinct to take care
of her. But, if I am carrying into the situation something
Master Hui-neng answered: “You are saving them all that is extra: this idea that I’m the one who’s going to be
in your own mind. No matter how numberless, it isn’t helpful, I’ve already created separation.
Hui-neng, or you who does the saving. Every being you
can think of saves themselves with their own enlightened 3) Hō mon mu ryō sei gan gaku – Boundless Dharma
nature. Those who are saved like this, are truly liberated. gates, I vow to enter them.
This is the power of vowing.”
These teaching “gates” are infinite opportunities for
2) Bon nō mu jin sei gan dan – Inexhaustible us, to play within the diversity of dharma openings
delusions, I vow to end them. that occur every moment in our everyday lives. When

we can be open to them they provide us countless
These are the passions that disturb and distress us. opportunities for endless realization of the bodhisattva
Again, the second vow is all about our own minds; and way. The sounds of the rain tapping on the roof, smiling
it expresses our aspiration to “cut off the mind road,” at the sight of a golden flower, the touch of a loving
to stop the incessant chatter of “me, my, mine.” In the partner, the whole universe itself, all become chances
silence that follows, we turn naturally to the well- for liberation; but only if we are ready to completely