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Excerpt From Chozen Roshi's Book, Jizo Bodhisattva:
We are fully responsible for creating our own hell, hot, sterile, futile, and endless source of suffering. We are responsible for freeing ourselves and others from it, and entering that place that is cool, quenched, fertile, gentle, an endless source of renewal. We have to be very careful, however, not to become confused about what responsibility means. It does not mean that if bad or difficult things occur such as catching a cold or having someone we love become ill and die, that we are at fault and should feel guilty. It means that we are responsible for how we react to these circumstances that cause and effect brings to us.Yatsutani Roshi gave the example of someone who is put in prison and can choose to use the time there either to become a more cunning criminal or to begin a serious spiritual practice. Our place of choice and action is in the present. It is our responsibility, our privilege, and our joy to bring ourselves out of ignorance and reactivity, to dig into our own earth and uncover our own hidden potential. Engaged in Life In Japan Jizo Bodhisattva is found everywhere. This means that Jizo is never far from someone who needs help. Of all the bodhisattvas, Jizo is felt to be accessible, even interested in the problems of daily human life. We can surrender our life as Jizo has done and live it fully. It requires giving up our neurotic preoccupation with the collection of five elements and mind-events we call our life. When we are not the centre, then we are unhindered, free to be engaged to heal the human world in whatever way is appropriate. We could go on a medical relief mission. We could send money. We could help homeless people in our own city. We could intensify our practice to clarify what our place of assistance is and how to function better in it. All are needed. All our lives are the division bodies of Earth Store Bodhisattva, given life for the purpose of healing the human world. Unquenchable Optimism Many people lose their initial joy and optimism in practice after a few years. They become depressed and worried because they cannot tell if they are making spiritual progress. This is because the changes due to practice are deep, below the level of operation of the conscious mind. The more objective observers of the fruit of practice are those on the outside, those impacted by how we speak, think, and act. The second reason you cannot measure progress is that it is actually anti-progress. It is not the process of gaining something the self can measure, compare, and feel proud of, but rather of letting go of that which relentlessly judges, criticizes, makes up ways to compete, and wants always to win.
Koans About Jizo Here are several koans about Jizo Bodhisattva that were used by Zen masters during the Kamakura era in Japan. They are from a collection called Warrior Koans, named for the fierce men and women of the samurai class for whose training the koans were devised. Zen students would ponder the koan night and day until they had a breakthrough. The master checked the authenticity and depth of their realization using testing questions, a few of which are included here.
Jizo Stands Up The image in the great hall at Kenchô-ji was a wooden Jizo seated on a lotus throne. The samurai Mamiya Munekatsu confined himself for the hall for 21 days, vowing to make Jizo stand up. He continuously recited the Jizo mantra," OM KA KA KABI SAN MAEI SOHA KA!" On the last night he was running the hall like a mad man, shouting, "Holy Jizo, stand up!"
Testing question: What is the life of Jizo apart from standing or sitting?
The Very First Jizo The samurai Koresada entered the main hall at Kenchô-ji and prayed to the Jizo of a Thousand Forms there. Then he asked the monk in charge of the hall, "Of these thousand forms of Jizo, which is the very first Jizo?" The monk said, "In the mind of the man before me are thousand thoughts and ten thousand fantasies. Which of these is the very first?"
Honored Jizo A general asked the priest of Jômyô-ji temple to borrow an ink drawing of Honored Jizo to use as protective charm with his battle armor. The priest exclaimed, "Honored General!" "Yes?" "Who is it that said, 'Yes?' Honored Jizo is there. Do not go seeking for another!" The general had a realization.
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