Now in the first morning of the Sashin may I say, may I propose again that in this school the true practice of enlightenment is to wholeheartedly sit and in this way drop off body and mind of self and other We express the Buddha's seal, the Buddha mudra, in all of our actions of body, speech, and mind. The Buddha way is realized.

[01:05]

The Buddhist seal is wholeheartedness. The Buddhist seal is selflessness. So when we sit selflessly, when we sit wholeheartedly, which is the same as sitting selflessly, then our sitting and the Buddha way is realized. When we speak selflessly, when we think the whole phenomenal world turns into enlightenment.

[02:11]

We say just wholeheartedly sit, but we also say whatever action, we are to perform that action as the Buddha way is to perform it selflessly. And to perform it selflessly for those who wish to help others is to perform it the Buddha way. When we perform actions selflessly, that is the precept of not killing, not taking what's not given, misusing sexuality, not lying, not intoxicating body and mind.

[03:32]

and so on. When our action is selfless, all beings are included. When all beings are not included, or when some beings are not included, the action is not wholehearted. When all beings, it is selfless, This is the performance of the highest truth, the realization of the highest truth. Of course, because of causes and conditions, sentient beings are challenged to give themselves completely

[04:47]

to their actions of body, speech and mind. But there is a teaching to give ourselves completely to each action, to learn to give ourselves completely to each action until the action is selfless, is wholehearted, And I additionally say to you that this is also the way to realize the bodhisattva precepts. Similarly, if you wish to practice the bodhisattva precepts, make every action Selfless. Make every action completely wholehearted. Give yourself without holding anything back to everything you do and think.

[05:52]

The Lotus Sutra teaches this way of practice. And this is the application of that sutra to right sitting. So this teaching, that wholehearted sitting, or wholehearted chanting, or wholehearted meditation, ...or bowing or work or speech, this teaching that this wholeheartedness realizes the Buddha way is the Lotus Sutra style of teaching. And in this school we, as a group, often apply this teaching to sitting. The Lotus Sutra teaches that if you perform the Lotus Sutra, you realize the highest truth.

[07:10]

But that means if you perform the Lotus Sutra wholeheartedly, if you say the word Lotus Sutra wholeheartedly, the Lotus Sutra says you realize the great way. But it also says if you perform anything wholeheartedly, it's the same. And so if you perform anything wholeheartedly, you are practicing the sutra. And when you perform wholeheartedly, you understand that you did not do it by yourself, that all beings are included and all beings are supporting you, and that your selfless performance of your body, speech, and mind actions are supporting all beings.

[08:32]

living beings, sentient beings, just have karmic consciousness. It's boundless, unclear, orderly, and effective, precisely, unerring functioning. And there's no fundamental to rely on. Beings practice wholeheartedly. We enter the Buddha way. And in the Buddha way we see that karmic consciousness, we see clearly that karmic consciousness is boundless, orderly, effective,

[10:09]

and no fundamental to rely on. Seeing that karmic consciousness is boundless, clearly seeing that karmic consciousness is boundless, orderly, effective, and there's no fundamental to rely on, is Buddha. In wholeheartedness sentient beings can see causation clearly. clearly and become Buddha. We have opportunity now for five days to be wholehearted in this zendo and outside of this zendo throughout the day we have a chance to completely wholeheartedly act, completely selfishly breathe in and breathe out, stand up and sit down, wash and brush.

[11:16]

And here in this selfless wholeheartedness, we have a chance to see Clearly, the Dharma. We will realize the Dharma this way. We will realize it. We will see it. I hope that we can give ourselves completely to every action of body, speech and mind from now on.

[12:39]

And if by chance we feel we're unable to give ourselves completely, I hope we notice that, confess that to our great friends and ask them to help us give more completely this life to selfless action, moment by moment, for the welfare of all beings, in order to teach all beings how to be this way so that they may be free. How wonderful to practice the way of enlightenment and show it to others. How wonderful to be wholeheartedly, selflessly alive and give that

[13:57]

Receive that. Give that. May our intention equally extend to every being and place.

[14:56]

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