The Boundless Vitality of No-Self

Zoketsu Norman Fischer on his deep love for Shantideva and the way the nice trainer’s insights lead us unavoidably to a path of vigorous service to the world.

In keeping with legend, Shantideva’s nice eighth-century textual content, the Information to the Bodhisattva’s Approach of Life, (the Bodhisattvacharyavatara, which might be shortened to the Bodhicharyavatara), is alleged to have been spontaneously spoken by Shantideva, in rhymed Sanskrit verse, as he slowly floated up into the air above Nalanda College. Even when he was solely out of sight, folks might nonetheless hear his booming voice. The textual content he spoke is as wonderful because the story of its composition. It compels not just for its cleverness and outrageousness, but in addition as a result of it strikes a well-known and galvanizing chord within the human creativeness.

People have at all times imagined that life is greater than it seems to be: that the tangible, tough world we reside in will not be all there may be, and that we ourselves are rather more than we look like. Sure, we’re poor souls misplaced within the wrestle for survival and recognition, huddled along with our associates, surrounded by troublesome and generally hostile others. On the identical time, although, we think about we’re extra: loving and brave creatures motivated by our dedication to the well-being of others.

The Bodhicharyavatara makes the case that the odd materialistic self-oriented view of life is inaccurate, irregular, horrifying, and harmful.

We think about—and we cherish this, we are able to hardly reside with out it—that the world generally is a higher place.
Given human historical past and our personal on a regular basis expertise, these hopes and goals appear preposterous. And but now we have held onto them for millennia.

Within the Bodhicharyavatara, Shantideva tells us that these hopes and goals aren’t solely worthy, however that they will, and should, develop into actual. The choice, he says, is grotesque and intolerable.

If we don’t develop into bodhisattvas, altruistic religious heroes, Shantideva says, if we insist as an alternative on our small-minded, self-centered way of life, we’re assured to endure terribly. Individually, we’ll be wired, dissatisfied to the purpose of despair, and compelled to take up all types of sad and harmful methods of coping. Collectively, our self-protectiveness will ultimately lead to societal deadlock—infinite wars, intractable injustices, environmental collapse. It’s important, then, that we throw off our limitations and enter the bodhisattva path. There isn’t a different means.

An Absurd Dedication

A bodhisattva is a religious Superman or Surprise Girl, a fearless and invincible Tremendous Particular person with the dual Tremendous Powers of innocence and common love. Bodhisattvas not solely love all beings equally and work tirelessly for his or her well-being with out noticing any obstacles—in addition they fully determine with beings, gathering all their sufferings and joys into themselves. With none concept of private benefit, or any sense that what they’re doing is impossibly idealistic, they’re fully with out guile.

Removed from the standard view of self and different as inherently at odds, bodhisattvas know that there isn’t a self aside from others. And this data will not be merely philosophical or aspirational—it’s bodily, emotional, religious, cosmic, and it propels bodhisattvas to expansive and salvific heights.

In Zen apply we chant the 4 Bodhisattva Vows:

Beings are numberless, I vow to save lots of them.
Delusions are inexhaustible, I vow to finish them.
Dharma gates are boundless, I vow to enter them.
The Buddha Approach is unsurpassable, I vow to develop into it.

Who with a straight face might chant such verses? And but we chant them and imply them, understanding that they don’t describe accomplishments within the odd materials world, inside odd time frames. As a substitute, they affirm the imaginative religious course we’re dedicated to, a lifestyle we reside, come what could.

The Bodhicharyavatara is a handbook for creating the bodhisattva lifestyle. It begins with reward for and strategies for creating bodhicitta, the altruistic spirit of awakening, a surge of inspiration that propels us ahead into unending effort on behalf of others. From there it teaches us how one can develop important bodhisattva practices: mindfulness of ideas and conduct; forbearance with difficulties, in order to rework them into the trail; joyful effort that takes enjoyment of each step of the best way, with out fear about outcomes; meditation to stabilize physique and thoughts; and, lastly, the knowledge that sees that the world is way in any other case than it seems. By the point Shantideva is completed, he has satisfied us that the bodhisattva path—outrageous and inconceivable because it appears at first—is a down-to-earth lifestyle we are able to truly reside. And that this lifestyle is extra actual and extra sustainable than the flimsy fiction of life as now we have identified it.

The Bodhicharyavatara is among the world’s nice motivational texts. Utilizing colourful and infrequently startling language, it makes the case that the odd materialistic self-oriented view of life is inaccurate, irregular, horrifying, and harmful. Against this, the bodhisattva view—gloriously transcendent and joyful—accords with issues as they really are. In the middle of explaining how one can develop forbearance, joyful effort, mindfulness, knowledge, and different religious qualities, Shantideva consistently coaxes us into desirous to develop them.

Fractured and Confused World

As virtually everybody I do know is consistently repeating, we reside in unprecedented instances. Though now we have extra materials know-how and prosperity than ever, we’re conscious of huge long-standing social and financial injustices, and of struggling everywhere in the world. We see how fractured and confused our societies are. And we’re shocked to understand that our materials progress has led to environmental collapse, together with the demise of many valuable species. Nobody within the fashionable world might be unaware of all this. It’s no surprise the common particular person is gloomy.

Because of this chapter seven of the Bodhicharyavatara, the chapter on virya paramita, appears particularly salient.
Virya paramita actually means the perfection of virya. The phrase virya, like its English cognate virile, implies power and energy. However virya paramita entails not solely vigor, but in addition pleasure, zest, and ardency. Shantideva tells us that bodhisattvas depend upon virya paramita above all else. They’re moved by it simply as wind strikes timber and grasses. Joyful effort is the important vitality of bodhisattva apply.

Power or energy, as we often conceive of it, is aimed toward conquest or domination. However effort expended to manage or to win is grim, and inherently weak. Each hero might be introduced low and each victory will ultimately finish in collapse or defeat.
However not so for bodhisattvas.

They’ll by no means be defeated, as a result of they aren’t attempting to win. Since their objective—common love and well-being—is limitless, their joyful effort can also be limitless. It by no means flags. Love is the one actually sustaining motivation.

Watch Out!

Within the odd world, selfishness appears so cheap. “It’s tough on the market, be careful!” Be vigilant, perpetually able to defend your self, your loved ones, tribe, nation. Nobody can argue with this. Even respectable, well-meaning folks, as most of us are, know they’d be fools to not look out for themselves and their households as they scan the world for threats. It’s a threatening world. Self-protection is pure.

Provocatively, Shantideva calls this regular on a regular basis angle restricted and lazy. It requires no deep thought, no nice braveness. However a deeper look will present that it’s unworkable, as a result of it lacks creativeness and leaves out one unavoidable undeniable fact that renders it infeasible: dying. Shantideva personifies dying as Yama, Lord of Dying, who devours you ultimately, all of a sudden, and far ahead of you deliberate. Self-protection is a sham, a defective idea. Its failure is assured.

Shantideva conjures up a vivid deathbed scene. Right here we’re, terrified in our final delirium, undone, wracked with guilt and remorse for all we did that we should always not have achieved and all we didn’t try this we should always have. And as we glance dimly up on the unhappy, bewildered faces of our family members standing spherical our mattress, not understanding what to say or do, we really feel their remorse and cluelessness too, because the screeching demons of unfinished enterprise swirl spherical our heads like a smoking whirlwind.

All this as a result of we lacked the braveness and creativeness to look extra deeply into our lives, as a result of we didn’t commit ourselves to what we knew all alongside was proper and good, didn’t prioritize love over all the opposite issues we thought have been needed or compelling.

We thought we have been making a giant effort, however the truth is we have been lazy—distracting ourselves with ineffective exercise. And now that the

Lord of Dying is about to leap into our throat, we understand it.

Too late.

A Uncommon Alternative

Human life is a valuable vessel, Shantideva reminds us, uniquely able to crossing the stream of struggling to the shore of affection and liberation. Everybody is aware of this however few take it to coronary heart. Let’s not waste this uncommon and valuable alternative. Let’s begin proper now to show our boat round.

Apply instantly, Shantideva says, the equality of self and different and the change of self and different. These practices will free us from our crabbed and lazy small-mindedness and lead us into the open. The practices of the equality of self and different and exchanging self and different quantity to a radical revision of our sense of id. Quite than figuring out with my physique, my ideas, my historical past, my emotions, and so forth, I come to understand that considering of all this as me has at all times been a painful useless finish. And there may be actually no motive for it. As soon as I study it carefully, I see that my sense of id is nothing greater than a lazy behavior.

Once I open my eyes, am I not what I see in entrance of me? Once I hear the wind, am I not the wind? Am I not the meals I eat, the books I learn, the individuals who have influenced and beloved me and whom I’ve beloved? Once I take a look at one other particular person and fill my coronary heart with that particular person’s presence, am I not that particular person?

The “I” that I believe I’m is a place, a selection, a behavior. Should I take that place, make that selection, reinforce that behavior? Particularly after I know that it’s assured to result in struggling not solely ultimately (bear in mind Lord Yama’s scary enamel—if I’m not my physique, who will he kill?), however it’s going to result in struggling every single day, as I wrestle to defend my valuable self in opposition to the odd insults, fears, and anxieties which have at all times been part of my life.

All the pieces Apart from Myself

As Buddhist instructing so merely factors out, I wish to be completely satisfied and keep away from struggling in precisely the identical means everybody else does. The Japanese Zen masters are saying the identical factor of their humorous means after they level out that all of us belong to the identical nose-hole society. In different phrases, we’re all in the identical boat; self and different are equal. Realizing this dispels all concern, loathing, and judgment of others. It’s common brotherhood/sisterhood/otherhood that liberates me from my painful and small self-cherishing.

To acknowledge that what actually constitutes myself is every little thing apart from myself—all that I see hear scent style contact consider sense and bear in mind—is to change self and different. I’m you and you’re me. We rely on one another. As Shantideva says later within the textual content:

All of the struggling there may be on this world arises from wishing our self to be completely satisfied. All of the happiness there may be on this world arises from our wishing others to be completely satisfied.

Shantideva’s dialogue goes on. Chances are you’ll object, saying, “That’s a fantastic concept for somebody however not for me. I’m too egocentric and too weak; it’s past me.” Extra laziness! Bodhisattvahood is lofty and nice, sure. However it’s inherently accessible to all. Even gnats and houseflies with a bit effort develop into buddhas. Definitely each human being, born with the innate capability for language and due to this fact the power to tell apart between proper and incorrect, is able to it. We’ll all develop into buddhas. So why not you? Are you actually that particular?

OK, you say, possibly. However it’s so exhausting. It takes so lengthy. All that meditation and deprivation. I’m fearful of the trouble and the sacrifice.

Nicely, sure, effort is concerned, however give it some thought: when you’re sick the physician prescribes drugs that isn’t essentially tasty or nice. However you’re completely satisfied to take it, as a result of it’s so a lot better than the choice. In addition to, it seems that the trouble and sacrifice you’re afraid of is definitely fairly invigorating, in the identical means that strenuous bodily effort that at the beginning appears onerous is a superb pleasure when you practice a bit. Furthermore, as you proceed, your concept of what’s tough and horrifying turns inside out, and also you understand that it solely appeared like a sacrifice out of your restricted perspective. In truth, it’s no sacrifice in any respect, however pure pleasure!

These arguments may strike you as a bit facile. However I’ve discovered them to be true. It consistently amazes me that folks consider odd life as informal and enjoyable, and spiritual life as dour and tough, when truly the other is the case. It doesn’t take lengthy for the noise, agitation, and stress concerned in what we often name enjoyable to put on us out, and the pressures and deflations of on a regular basis life are all too clearly not a lot enjoyable to start with. However, the enjoyment of silence and of merely taking a look at and loving the world retains getting higher and higher as your apply goes on.

You don’t hand over odd life: how might you as long as you’re alive? Altruistic religious apply makes life a lot simpler and extra joyful. As a result of, as you overcome caught habits, oceans of pleasure rush in. Continuing from happiness to happiness, despair dissolves as you trip the sailboat of awakening, which glides easily previous all fear and weariness—that is what Shantideva guarantees.

Switcheroo

Subsequent Shantideva cajoles us into creating what he calls pleasure and need. I think about the verses right here to be intricate within the unique language, turning as they do on a set of verbal, religious, and psychological reversals. As a result of it’s precisely pleasure (self-centeredness) and need (greedy and clinging) that bodhisattvas should heroically overcome. And the way do they overcome them? With pleasure (buddha confidence) and need (bodhisattva love). “I might be an impediment to obstacles!” Shantideva insists we declare. “I’ll conquer conquering and being conquered! For I’m a toddler of Buddha.”

Simply as the attention can not style nor the ear see, so the bodhisattva is now not the type of human being who fears difficulties or shrinks within the face of daunting duties. Bodhisattvas see no difficulties, solely steps within the infinite path ahead. They’re intoxicated with the apply of joyful effort; they will’t get sufficient!

Bodhisattvas can by no means be defeated, as a result of they aren’t attempting to win. Since their objective—common love and well-being—is limitless, their joyful effort can also be limitless.

Ordinarily, we do every little thing for a motive, with a objective in thoughts.

A great deal of the time we don’t obtain the objective. And even after we do, we’re more likely to be disillusioned. And even when we’re not disillusioned, ultimately we might be, because the preliminary pleasure of the accomplishment or reward wears off. In truth, the entire proposition of goal-oriented motion, apparent because it appears, is kind of shaky.

For bodhisattvas who’ve inconceivable objectives, issues are fully in any other case. Each step of the best way is joyful. Since each second of the trail fully disappears as quickly because it arises, there may be nothing to develop weary of. There may be simply step after step. Bodhi­sattvas plunge into every successive exercise with delight, simply as an elephant, overheated within the noon solar, plunges right into a cool watering gap. Disappointment and frustration are inconceivable.

Resting and taking good care of oneself is a needed a part of this infinite joyful effort. Bodhisattvas know how one can regulate themselves. When hungry they eat, when drained they relaxation. They know they want train and good meals to proceed their duties, so that they make sure that to get simply as a lot of these items as they want, no more, not much less, for they don’t deal with themselves for themselves. They deal with themselves for others. And so they do what they do with flexibility and improvisation. No guidelines, simply wit and weal and a great spirit, come what could.

There’s a Zen poem about this easygoing bodhisattva spirit known as “Track of the Grass Hut.” It’s a couple of hermit who builds a grass hut and lives a lifetime of ease, taking naps when he desires to and having fun with his mountain life. At one level he writes, “Bind grasses; by no means hand over!” That is an expression of the disciplined joyful effort of the bodhisattva, practiced in simplicity and easefulness.

Shantideva ends his chapter on joyful effort with an exquisite picture. Simply as a skinny piece of cotton, he writes, is wafted this manner and that by a heat summer time breeze, so ought to the bodhisattva make joyful effort to be a blessing for the world.

The fabric relaxes to collaborate with the wind simply because the bodhisattva relaxes to collaborate with actuality. Bodhisattvas know they aren’t alone and that it’s not all as much as them. So they’re by no means determined, by no means discouraged. They’re absolutely conscious in fact that life brings good instances and unhealthy, well being and illness, beginning and dying. They’re grateful for all of it, and stream with it gracefully.

When Shantideva’s life story is instructed, his uncommon profession at Nalanda is at all times talked about. Much less well-known is what occurred to him after he disappeared into the sky. Legend tells us that his subsequent profession was numerous: he lived for a time quietly as keeper of a shrine; later, by means of miraculous powers, he introduced peace to warring nations; after that he occupied himself feeding the poor; and nonetheless later he served as bodyguard for a king, whom he successfully defended utilizing a wood sword. A really versatile bodhisattva, Shantideva went past his monastic coaching, past his devotion to meditation and examine, as a result of he understood that bodhisattvas at all times go forth to do sensible service in a needy world in no matter means they will.