Hi Jundo and Taigu,

Leading up to my upcoming ordination in August I have been doing some personal preparation. Ive been reading and a lot of thinking about the four noble truths, the Eightfold path and the Bodhisattva Precepts. I had a couple of questions that I was hoping you could answer for me or at least point me in the right direction.

1. Why do we (soto zen or zen in particular) not seem to specifically discuss the four noble truths and the eightfold path? The eightfold path seems very straightforward and pragmatic and foundational.

2. Did the Bodhisattva precepts evolve from the Eightfold path? If so why was this evolution needed? What was the need to clarify?

3. Both the precepts and the eightfold path seem so similar. Why two?

Gassho,

Daido