Roshi’s original plan was to begin our discussion of the Paramitas in preparation for students considering taking Jukai vows.  However, this week he was so moved by the funeral of former president Jimmy Carter, that he decided to change the content his talk.  

 

It is interesting to note that a funeral tends to sanctify an individual.  As an aside, it may be wise to remember that the person being lauded in the eulogy probably would have appreciated hearing these kind words when they were actually alive!  Roshi reminded us to never miss a chance to be appreciative of the good things people around us do.

 

So, thinking about the career of Carter, many may say that he was a mediocre president but one of our greatest “past presidents.”  Roshi asked us to think about this deeply.  What made this man and how did he transform over the years.  Carter was born into a southern plantation owning family.  Needless to say, this situation provided some strong conditioning in his early childhood and adulthood.  For instance, Carter held racist views in his early adulthood due to his upbringing.  Carter changed, however, as he matured and experienced the wider world.  How did this happen and what does it mean for the rest of us?

 

Roshi pointed to a story told by Dogen in the Bussho which translates to “Buddha Nature” and is the third book of his masterpiece – Shobogenzo.  In this story, Shakyamuni is giving a dharma talk when all of a sudden, a cloud opened up above him.  From this cloud, a golden alter descended with a real buddha in the middle.  So, suddenly, there is a Buddha and a Buddha.  We may think that these two Buddhas would start debating to see who was the authentic master, but this is NOT what Dogen is pointing at.  In Dogen’s story, Shakyamuni is elated that the Buddha visited the Buddha!  This is because nobody including the historical Buddha can travel this path alone!  We all need help.  From the most deluded student to the great masters and ancestors.

 

Here Roshi stopped to emphasize Dogen’s point.  We really cannot “do Zen” by ourselves.  We must do it within a community.  This is why the Sangha is considered one of the three treasures.  Roshi pointed out, however, that our Sangha is so much wider than the set of meditators we sit with.  Our Sangha is the entire world.  We need to expand this Sangha wider and wider.  Every being is a potential teacher.  Every being has value.  Every being, in their own way, helps us on the path.

 

So, this brings us back to the former president.  In his early adulthood, Carter had a very small community and limited experience.  As such, it is natural that he would hold uninformed views about groups he never met before.  However, as Carter got out in the world through his career in politics, he changed.  By the time he finished his presidency, he had a totally different view of the world and the value of people.  This experience informed every decision he made in the latter part of his life – especially the charity work he engaged in.  This transformation is exactly what Dogen was pointing to.  This transformation is available to all of us.

 

Roshi wrapped up the talk by reminding us of the value of the Sangha – both our “Zen family” and the family of all sentient beings.  We vow to save all beings, but we need to do this one person at a time.  We need to do this not via social media, but like Carter did it – face to face, handshake to handshake.  This is not an academic exercise; it is an exercise of service!