I found this very interesting..
'Each bodhisattva makes specific vows unique to his or her personality and capabilities' He's talking here about the general vows and then particular vows. I have never heard of this before, I wonder could someone explain a bit more about this to me or direct me to further info?
I'm also intrigued about being led by karma - again I haven't come across this before and I'm not sure what to make of it., perhaps because I'm coming from the Tibetan tradition where so much emphasis is put on karma, purification and rebirth. I have to say that I've had misgivings many times about attitudes toward 'karma' and merit, almost as if we can carry a Karma Kard and get reward points, something that really annoys me - I once had some Buddhist friends offer to help me move furniture around in my flat; when I declined saying I was fine with it, they pointed out that they would like to help me
because they would earn merit - ugh, thanks for that! So yes, I'm looking at the meaning around not being led by karma with curiosity. I love how this is opening up new ideas for me.
I have highlighted a lot of passages but won't go into them all here - but I did just want to post this quote from Dogen Zenji's very beautiful passage on continuous practice..
' The virtue of this continuous practice sustains ourselves and others. The essential point is that, in the entire earth and throughout heaven in the ten directions, all beings receive the merit of our continuous practice. Although neither others nor ourselves know it, that is the way it is' And there it is, that's why I practice
Gassho
Sat with you all today.