The text for the rope chant is available in the chat. The text for the rope chant is available in the chat. Thank you. Field far beyond thorn and emptiness.

[01:29]

Wearing the totalitas teaching. Sleeping all beings. Good morning. Thank you for being here. While the assembly prepares, just a word of explanation. This morning, we're holding a practice period opening ceremony. for the 2020 fall practice period at City Center. During this ceremony, the abbot will process through five altars of the temple and beyond, finishing in the Buddha hall with an opening statement, a chanting of the Heart Sutra, and a formal opening of the practice period. Let's wait just a moment more before we begin. Our great Zen ancestor, A.D.

[11:23]

Gogan rose, that the time and place that the blue lotus flowers open and spread are in the midst of fire and in the time of fire. Now is the time of great fires and great suffering. We are flinted by both literal fires and figurative fires. Pandemic, systemic racism, social injustice, gender inequality, climate crisis, economic disparity, and other conflagrations caused by the three poisons of greed, hate, and delusion. Now is also a time for bloomedotuses to bloom. Another meaning for bloomedotuses is bodhisattva, one who is pouring out of the desire to address the suffering of the world and its innumerable beings.

[12:23]

It's ironic to consider, but without suffering, there would be no need for compassion, wisdom, and the skillful means of the Bodhisattva practice. The Bodhisattva's fierce compassion is built on an equally fierce imagination, that all beings can be free of suffering. Compassion and concern for others is the essence of the Bodhisattva life. In working to free others, we inevitably free ourselves. When the Bodhisattva comes forth and supports the world, the world comes forth and supports the Bodhisattva. Our practice is not separate from the world, but grounded in participation in this samsara work. How intimate is the way that we together make the world a better place.

[13:25]

Let no one deceive us. We are the bodhisattvas we have been waiting for. Over the next 10 weeks, let us call upon the following seven wise and compassionate awakening beings to inspire us and guide us on our journey toward collective liberation. Manjushri, Leicester of wisdom and insights. Samantabhadra, shining practice activity bodhisattva. Abalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of boundless compassion. Jizo, loving protector and guardian. Maitreya, the future Buddha. Vimalakirti, enlightened lay practitioner. and Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha. May we, together with them, take out the Bodhisattva vow of awaiting and working for the benefit of all beings.

[14:34]

Suzuki Roshi said, when you practice Zazen, everything practices Zazen, and everything practices Zazen with you. and you share the practice with everything. Zazen happens in that way. Our real life happens in that way. Our real bodhisattva way happens in that way. A practice period is a chance to intensify our practice for a period of time, to set our intention to bring zazen into more focus and to extend our zazen practice into our everyday life. This practice period is also a time to practice together and be encouraged by each other's practice. In addition to the inspiring bodhisattvas from our Buddhist tradition that David mentioned, we will be practicing with modern bodhisattvas. The theme for this 10-week practice period is fierce compassion, enacting bodhisattva principles in a troubled world.

[15:45]

John Lewis throughout his whole life was such a great example of this. This paragraph is from his opinion piece in the New York Times published the day of his funeral. Though I may not be here with you, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe. In my life, I have done all I can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love, and nonviolence is the more excellent way. Now it is your turn to let freedom ring. May his practice and the practice of the many bodhisattvas in the world inspire our bodhisattva practice during this practice period. Thank you. Great, perfect wisdom, Suchma.

[19:05]

kiteshvara bodhisattva when deeply practicing prajnaparamita clearly saw that all five aggregates are empty and thus relieved all suffering shariputra form does not differ from emptiness emptiness does not differ from form form Itself is emptiness. Emptiness itself forms. Sensations, perceptions, formations, and consciousness are also like this. Shariputra. All dharmas are marked by emptiness. They neither arise nor cease. Are neither defiled nor pure. Neither increase nor decrease. Therefore, given emptiness there is no form no sensation no perception no formation no consciousness no eyes no ears no nose no tongue no body no mind no sight no sound no smell no taste no touch no object of mind no realm of sight no realm of mind consciousness there

[20:41]

There is neither ignorance nor extinction of ignorance, neither old age and death, nor extinction of old age and death. No suffering, no cause, no cessation, no path, no religion, no attainment, with nothing to attain. A boldly suffering lies unprocessed upon And thus the mind is without hindrance, without hindrance. There is no fear far beyond all inverted views. One realizes nirvana. All Buddhas are past, present, and future. Rely on prosya. And thereby. attain and surpass, come the perfect enlightenment, therefore know the Krasyampamita as the great miraculous mantra, the great bright mantra, the supreme mantra, the incomparable

[21:59]

Mantra which removes all suffering and is true, not false. Therefore, we proclaim the Prajnaparamita Mantra, the Mantra that says, Gavte, Gavte, Bhagate, Gvasam, Gavte, Bodhisattva. the boundless compassion and luminous mirror wisdom of the buddhas and ancestors the liberating power of the bodhisattva way is revealed with deep sincerity we enter the fall practice period to actualize this way gratefully we have offered light fragrance and flowers and have chanted the heart of great perfect wisdom sutra We dedicate this merit and virtue to our great original teacher, Shakyamunivada, our first woman ancestor, great teacher, Mahapachapati, our first ancestor in China, great teacher, Bodhidharma, our first ancestor in Japan, great teacher, Ehe Doge.

[23:19]

Our compassionate founder, great teacher, Shogaku Shunryu. All bodhisattva ma sattva. And all beings throughout space and time. May this path of clarity inspire awakening. And benefit all beings. O all bona. Ten Russians, three times. All other ones for peace upon my hearts of love. Wisdom beyond wisdom. Ah, ah, [...] ah.

[24:20]

fall 2020 practice period at Hoshinji Beginner's Mind Temple has begun.

[25:42]

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