SO TO ZEN - Shasta Abbey

100 Sōtō Zenand shortcomings may view the Absolute transcendentally and,basking in the light of Its compassion, be filled with immeasurablejoy. Those who feel impermanence deeply and live eachmoment in truth view the Absolute inwardly and, finding theirOriginal Self, move forward boldly.Even if future religion does not take an attitude of inwardtranscendentalism, the Absolute must be sought inwardly asoneÕs own True Nature, which must always be free from selfishdesire and egoism. In the religion of inward transcendentalismthe bliss of religious Truth and concrete action complementeach other, and while infinite ideals are being sought, selfliberationis obtained and the Original Self is thereby manifested.We believe that in such a religion, life can be given tomorality, hope to mankind, ideals to politics and peace to theworld. We feel convinced that Buddhism is just such a religion.Einstein said that the future religion will be a cosmic religion.This would transcend the concept of a personified God andwould possess neither dogma nor theology. It would includeboth the natural world and the world of thought and would bebased upon a religious feeling arising from the realization thatall existence belongs to an integrated whole.Einstein declared that Buddhism is a representative example.We believe that the religion of the two Ancestors, GreatMasters D‡gen and Keizan, particularly fits this descriptionbecause 1) its ideal is a perfectly integrated Buddhism free