By: David Xi-Ken Astor, Sensei
I have been speaking recently about the importance of living a life by vows, either as lay Buddhists or especially for those of us that have taken monasticism as a life’s vocation. Our monastic vows is a way of intentionally committing us to a social life of rigorous action honoring the Bodhisattva ideal above other competing personal responsibilities. We are beginning to see in the West, however, a new secular teaching community arise that reflects, perhaps, a more realistic attitude to an ordained life within our communities beyond the walls of a monastery/temple. In addition we are seeing monks that have decided to live outside of these “walls-of-practice”, but still adapt the monastic precepts as a guiding force for daily living. No matter how we see our Buddhist practice developing, however, building the spiritual dimension to how we see the world around us is critical for having a well balanced life and worldview. For after all, seeking the wonder of our Universe and spiritual wisdom to understand our role in it, is what it means for us to be human. A spiritual life is both one of interior riches, and exterior displays of wisdom. We must learn to balance these two aspects of practice in order to have a mature spiritual life.
I am reminded of the story of an elementary school teacher that gave her students a drawing assignment. As she went around the room looking over the students work and giving encouragement and help, she was absorbed in the joy of the assignment as well. As she approached Stephen totally entranced and furiously working on his picture, she was confused at what she saw on the paper. When she ask him what he was drawing, he replied, “I’m drawing a picture of God.” But she reminded him that no one knows what God looks like. “They will in a minute!” exclaimed Stephen, as he returned to his work. What Stephen is teaching us is a can-do, I’m on top of this, I know what I am doing spirit of the intrepid spiritual seeker. He was lost “within himself”. He is reflecting the “Buddha with-in”, or the natural nature of what is possible when committed to an ideal. Then I suppose we grow up and loose the clear mind of the child. Building a spiritual practice is like stepping back on the path we use to have before cultural influences cloud our minds.
Order of Engaged Buddhists 