Commentary on "Bodhisattva's Four Methods Of Guidance" - by Dainin Katagiri Roshi

"Identity action does not function in a small area called ego, but in the vastness of existence. When we clean a room, the room is in us. Then we and the room communicate with each other in the rhythm of identity action. We have to take the best care of the room we can, because the room is not a material being apart from us. The room is a great being called Buddha-dharma. Buddha-dharma means the unity of Buddha and us, Buddha and the room. It is nothing but a great being, just a great being completely beyond out speculation. Cleaning the room is not something someone makes us do. This action comes up from us, from the unity of Buddha and us and the room . . . . Taking the best care of the life of each being and circumstance, we can practice giving, and then we can practice loving speech with our mind, words and body. This is beneficial action. In all these practices there is always identity action.

We are more or less ignorant and crazy, but it doesn't matter. We are already ignorant, so we must be right in the middle of ignorance and make the best of ignorance. That is all we have to do. But usually we add something extra to ignorance; we hate it and our life goes away from us. How can we be free from ignorance? How can we take care of ignorance? If we take care of our life by saying "I hate my life", it is pretty easy for us to make our life short. My teacher always said his health was not strong. He said maybe he would die at sixty. He said he was weak, but he took the best care of his body and he lived to be eighty-six. The same applies to your room. If you rent your room from others you may think because you don't own it you don't have to take care of it. This is not the Buddhist way. Whether your room is rented or not, it doesn't matter. The room is a great being, our clothes are great beings, our boots and shoes are great beings, completely beyond our speculation. Day by day we have to practice 'identity action', 'giving', 'loving speech' and then there is 'beneficial action'.

If we see our life as an object separate from us, it is easy for us to create fear and anxiety and confusion. When we see our life we may feel many things. This is called experience. Of course it is ok, but it is not the total picture of the way to live. We must put aside and be one with our life, that is all we have to do. This is most important. When we dance, we cannot look at the dance, at the stage, as something separate from us. We must be right in the middle of dancing. At the time we are one with the dance and are realizing the significance of the dance. Later, when we reflect on the significance of dance, we are separate from it, but our understanding is the result of dynamic identity action.

We are human beings, so we are always thinking in terms of others and us, a leader and the people, zazen and us, Buddha and ordinary beings. Even though we know Buddha's teaching pretty well, ignorance comes up very quickly in our daily life. So, day by day we have to do our best to practice identity action. Because they are aware of how ignorant everyone is, Bodhisattva's take a vow to practice identity action continually.

With a gentle expression, with a kind, compassionate attitude, we have to take care of our life and other people's lives. If we practice identity action, the other three methods of guidance are included. Very naturally we can practice beneficial action, we can really help others. Then we can fulfil our duty in life."

- from "Return to Silence" by Dainin Katagiri

Danin Katagiri was a Zen master in the Soto Zen lineage of Suzuki Roshi and founder of the Minnesota Zen Meditation centre in Minneapolis, USA.