The Bodhisattva Vow – Torei Enji
When I, a student of the Dharma, look at the real form of the universe, all is the never-failing manifestation of the mysterious truth of Tathagata. In any event, in any moment, and in any place, none can be other than the marvelous revelation of its glorious light.
This realization made our patriarchs and virtuous Zen masters extend tender care, with the worshiping heart, even to such beings as beasts and birds. This realization teaches us that our daily food, drink, clothes, and protections of life are the warm flesh and blood, the merciful incarnation of Buddha. Who can be ungrateful or not respectful to each and every thing, not to speak of a man! Even though someone may seem a fool, be warm and compassionate toward them. If by any chance such a person should turn against us, become a sworn enemy and abuse and persecute us, we should sincerely bow down with humble language, in reverent belief that he or she is the merciful avatar of Buddha, who uses devices to emancipate us from sinful karma that has been produced and accumulated upon ourselves by our own egoistic delusion and attachment through countless cycles of kalpas. Then in each moment’s flash of our thought there will grow a lotus flower, and on each lotus flower will reveal a Buddha. These Buddhas will glorify Sukhavati, the Pure Land, every moment and everywhere. May we extend this mind over all beings so that we and all beings together, may attain maturity in Buddha’s wisdom.