SPP2025 Sesshin Day 2: The Four Bodhisattva Vows: The Nourishment of Endless Practice

In this second full day of Spring Practice Period Sesshin, Sensei Shinzan explores the Four Bodhisattva Vows as expressions of what Suzuki Roshi described as an “inflexible determination to carry out one’s will even through an infinite series of rebirths.” While “inflexible determination” might sound rigid, Shinzan suggests this determination can be understood as dedication or surrender to our vow – powerful qualities that transform fierce determination into something wholesome and beneficial to others. He goes on to emphasizes the profound paradox at the heart of these vows: “Beings are numberless, I vow to free them… how can I do it? Because there are numberless, I will never finish.” This recognition deepens our understanding of continuous practice and cultivates humility. Shinzan illustrates his points with the enlightenment story of Guishan, who searches for a hot coal in the hearth of a cold winter zendo. When Guishan gives up, his teacher Baizhang reaches deep into the bed of ashes and finds an ember. “The ember is our Buddha nature,” says Shinzan, “we have to make a fire, we have to wake up.” The talk concludes with an invitation to personal practice: “Look in those ashes for your vow, for this ember to practice,” encouraging us to allow our vows to become a compass that directs our awakening path beyond the cushion and into ordinary life. To access the resources page for this program, please sign up by clicking here.