With over 1,600 pages, multiple translations, over six centuries. The Buddhāvataṃsaka Sūtra offers perspective on how many sutras were created. Not by a person but several people with added thoughts building branches of possibilities as various ancestors include their understandings as commentaries. Here we will explore two aspects of the Sutra, the evolution of vows and later precepts and the understanding of the turning of the Dharma Wheel.
The Dharma Wheel is a circle (enzo) held by eight posts of the Noble Eightfold Path, emanating from the hub (Sila) bearing the Dharma (outer rim) along the path of the Middle Way. Symbolically the turning of the wheel were accomplished via three teachings of the Buddha (see #6 below). We each turn this wheel by following the Middle Way of existence as our experiences open the universe of Buddha Nature.
We can now ask how we keep these teachings in play? Samantabhadra Bodhisattva’s Vows is a practical guide to embody awakening. It is helpful to explore these vows as precursors to the current precepts we take in our Soto Zen Lineage. Please look into these ten as actions of wheel-turning as in vow-taking = vow actions/behaviors.
- Venerate all Buddhas.
- Praise their virtues.
- Make extensive offerings.
- Repent misdeeds.
- Rejoice in others’ virtues.
- Request the Dharma Wheel to turn
- Ask Buddhas to remain in the world.
- Study and follow teachings diligently.
- Benefit all beings universally.
- Dedicate merit to all beings
Sangaku