A
koan asks, "The world is vast and wide. Why do you put on your 7-piece robe at the sound of the
bell?" Why do we have
guidelines for practice forms in Boundless Way Zen?
One
of the answers to this question lies in the nature of the heart-mind, which is
like a fire, uncontained. Practice
and its forms help us to create a container for this fire, which then becomes a
form of energy that helps us to see more clearly and act with compassion.
Another
answer lies in the way we encounter each other as a Sangha, a community of
persons of the Great Way. We are
all meeting the world through our own particular, ego-centered viewpoint. In following forms, we bow and
surrender to something greater than our small view. We allow ourselves to feel the support of others in the
community, and learn to act as one body, for the sake of all beings, not just
for our own selfish needs.
Yet
another view of surrendering to practice forms lies in the teachings of one of
our ancestors, Eihei Dogen, who encourages us to see our life of practice and
the forms of practice as one. When
we bow, our awakened nature is bowing.
When we walk, our awakened nature is walking.
Our forms are meant to be guidelines, not rigid rules. They are intended to contain, unify and express our practice. Zen is not about right and wrong, but about
learning the true meaning of being human.
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