SO TO ZEN - Shasta Abbey

f. What is the Role of Sōtō Zen Practice? 13911) Buddhism is a religion of peace and has never broughtabout a war. When we understand its doctrine of DependentOrigination (J. engi Skt. pat−ccasamuppda) i.e., the karmiccause of suffering and its refusal to admit the existence of anindestructible soul or ego, we naturally turn toward peace.Then will mankind enjoy happiness. S‡t‡ Zen, which receivedthe support of the common people, always avoided any form ofbloodshed and guided the people into the path of culture andpeace.12) Toynbee emphasizes that the creative minority has toundergo a two-sided process of withdrawal and return. Theformer means basically looking inward and finding oneÕs TrueSelf; the latter refers to re-entering society and working forothers. C. G. Jung, the Swiss psychotherapist, puts stress on theformer in his individuation process. Sociologist PitirimSorokin, on the other hand, has focused on creative altruism insocial activity. Toynbee has a good intellectual understandingof withdrawal and return; however, D‡gen emphasized theirunity. This is made clear in his synthesizing of enlightenmentand training: Òoriginal enlightenment and wondrous training.ÓThis is D‡genÕs great contributionÑtraining embraces enlightenmentand enlightenment embraces training. In other words,all of original enlightenment comes with training and all ofwondrous training comes with enlightenment. They are in fact