The Four Great Vows
Sentient beings are numberless, we vow to save them all.
Delusions are endless, we vow to cut through them all.
The teachings are infinite, we vow to learn them all.
The Buddha way is inconceivable, we vow to attain it.
Of course, all of these statements seem to be a bit of hyperbole. How is it possible to save all sentient beings, or cut through endless delusions? These vows seem enormous, but in reality these vows just refer to our every day life - moment to moment.
Have you seen the comic strip with two people walking down the beach and starfish are strewn over the beach. One person picks up a starfish and tosses it back into the ocean. The other person says, "What are you doing? You can't save them! There are too many!" And the other person replies as she picks up another starfish and tosses it in the water, "I saved this one. And I saved this one....." The last picture shows them both picking up starfish and throwing them in the ocean. Saving sentient beings is like that. Every time you offer a smile, a compliment, a loving hug, a moment of empathy you are saving that sentient being in that moment.
The same is true for each one of the vows. Delusions are endless, moment to moment. We practice so we can see through the endless drama of life. What is the fundamental point - just here, just now? Open hearted, we cut through to the true meaning in each moment and then we can act accordingly. How can I help this world?
The teachings are infinite. Every moment has them and they don't stop. I asked my mother when she was 92 years old, if she was still working on herself. I laughed when she said she was always working toward being more loving. These teachings don't stop only when we are aware of each moment as a teaching, each thought as a teaching, each emotion as a teaching, each interaction as a teaching. Listening to the response of others gives us a teaching. Over and over again.
The same is true for each one of the vows. Delusions are endless, moment to moment. We practice so we can see through the endless drama of life. What is the fundamental point - just here, just now? Open hearted, we cut through to the true meaning in each moment and then we can act accordingly. How can I help this world?
The teachings are infinite. Every moment has them and they don't stop. I asked my mother when she was 92 years old, if she was still working on herself. I laughed when she said she was always working toward being more loving. These teachings don't stop only when we are aware of each moment as a teaching, each thought as a teaching, each emotion as a teaching, each interaction as a teaching. Listening to the response of others gives us a teaching. Over and over again.
And then the Buddha Way is inconceivable, we vow to attain it. What is this Buddha Way that is inconceivable? Inconceivable means to not be able to mentally grasp it. Inconceivable means opening ourselves to what the old teachers call "don't know" mind. What is this? "Don't Know." the answer comes back to us. This don't know mind brings us to a radical openness to all that is in front of us. No thought of good or bad. No thought of judgement. Just "What Is This?" Oh, let me open the door for you.
