"Vowing to free all sentient beings" means we do what?

[Tai Shi]

I have learned that what we do at Treeleaf Zendo is practice zazen. This zazen is shikantaza which is just sitting. Just sitting is just sitting. Our teacher speaks of Dogen like Jazz improvisation. For us there is no goal. This is the gateless gate. This the nothing goal. We just sit. "I am asking you to help me be reborn into your paradise." There is no such thing.
Gassho
sat/ lah

[Jundo]

"I am asking you to help me be reborn into your paradise." There is no such thing.

We don't say there is a thing or no thing.

Just be good, and should there be a paradise, I am sure they will let you in.

Gassho, J

stlah

[shikantazen]

I'm recently thinking about the bodhisattva vows too. Due to our past karma, we are born with certain nature in this life. This makes being truly compassionate difficult for people in different ways (based on their nature). Practising these vows to me means, trying to do the right thing despite what our nature says. To give some practical examples from my life (highlighted ones are my nature or karmic conditioning). Also our life revolves around self and my preferences, living by vow is to keep letting go of this self-centered thinking

- I have collaboration issues and often find a difficult person at every company I worked at. I used to deal with this by changing companies (almost every year). I realized that by doing this, I'm not thinking about the companies / teams and just thinking of myself. I now try to stay put despite my suffering and am trying to stay long enough for me to make a valuable contribution before I leave
- I always avoided uncomfortable things (leadership, facing conflict, trying to take more responsibility at work etc) thinking that I don't need the next promo. But now I realize it is not about me. When I try to take on these uncomfortable things, I am infact helping my team and people around me. Now I try to face those more openly without worrying about how difficult it is for me or if I will be successful or not.
- Also at home, I'm usually lazy and let my wife do most of the common stuff. I am now trying to be the one that picks up those stuff despite how I feel.
- If a boss or colleague at work asks for some suggestions, I used to give suggestions that is also good for me rather than for the project (e.g., should we work remote or try to be back in office). Now I am watching for those instincts

I initially avoided doing these things, thinking it is too much work and I'll do it once I become more open through Zazen. But since I realized that trying to do the right thing despite our karmic conditioning is an important piece of practice (along with zazen), I'm trying to practice this in my daily life more.

Gassho,
Sam
STLah

[vanbui]

I'm recently thinking about the bodhisattva vows too. Due to our past karma, we are born with certain nature in this life. This makes being truly compassionate difficult for people in different ways (based on their nature). Practising these vows to me means, trying to do the right thing despite what our nature says. To give some practical examples from my life (highlighted ones are my nature or karmic conditioning). Also our life revolves around self and my preferences, living by vow is to keep letting go of this self-centered thinking

- I have collaboration issues and often find a difficult person at every company I worked at. I used to deal with this by changing companies (almost every year). I realized that by doing this, I'm not thinking about the companies / teams and just thinking of myself. I now try to stay put despite my suffering and am trying to stay long enough for me to make a valuable contribution before I leave
- I always avoided uncomfortable things (leadership, facing conflict, trying to take more responsibility at work etc) thinking that I don't need the next promo. But now I realize it is not about me. When I try to take on these uncomfortable things, I am infact helping my team and people around me. Now I try to face those more openly without worrying about how difficult it is for me or if I will be successful or not.
- Also at home, I'm usually lazy and let my wife do most of the common stuff. I am now trying to be the one that picks up those stuff despite how I feel.
- If a boss or colleague at work asks for some suggestions, I used to give suggestions that is also good for me rather than for the project (e.g., should we work remote or try to be back in office). Now I am watching for those instincts

I initially avoided doing these things, thinking it is too much work and I'll do it once I become more open through Zazen. But since I realized that trying to do the right thing despite our karmic conditioning is an important piece of practice (along with zazen), I'm trying to practice this in my daily life more.

Gassho,
Sam
STLah

Thank you for sharing.
These are practical examples of practising bodhisattva vows.

Much Gassho
Van
SAT+LAH

[Kakunen]

Hi

Dogen write in Shobo-genzo chapter Bussho.

一切衆生悉有仏性
I think this meaning is all being have same system of life.
So we are connecting each other.

This is not special thing.
So we need to do nothing.Just live as you are.

This is my opinion.

Gassho
Sat today
LAH
Kakunen

[Jundo]

I think this meaning is all being have same system of life.
So we are connecting each other.

This is not special thing.
So we need to do nothing.Just live as you are.

Not just connecting. Connecting is separate things to link.

We are each other. All beings are all system. "I think" is all beings, all life, all meaning just so.

So, this "no special thing" is most special.

Gassho, J

stlah

[Kakunen]

"Vowing to free all sentient beings" means we do what?

Not just connecting. Connecting is separate things to link.

We are each other. All beings are all system. "I think" is all beings, all life, all meaning just so.

So, this "no special thing" is most special.

Gassho, J

stlah

We can not express words about this.

But for me when I live as I am,easy to support and connect neighbours.
If I try to do effort,I go to bad direction.

So I don't do practice(vow and pray).This fact from my experience.

But I always do what I want to do.(Pray,vow,clean up,making meal,Zazen,
chant)

And I am not English native,difficult to express in English.And also I am artist,so difficult to express word.Music and passion is better to express.

This is reason why I sit Zazen.Zazen is Zazen.Zazen is kind of good way for express myself.
Jundo is not me,I am not Jundo.

Gassho
Sat today
LAH
kakunen