SO TO ZEN - Shasta Abbey

70 Sōtō Zenour own experience. We must enable them to know the joy thatcomes from a knowledge of the Dharma and the bliss thatcomes from the practice of meditation. It is absolutely essentialto have a personal character like that of Great Master Keizan inorder to carry out this mission. To regard all people with warmaffection, to become the friend of the common people, to enterthe realm of the ideal together with them and to share oneÕs joywith othersÑthese are the characteristics of the true man ofreligion. The S‡t‡ School believes that it is able to fulfill itsbasic mission because of the stern, father-like character ofD‡gen and the compassionate mother-like character of Keizan.The foundation of the S‡t‡ School was laid by D‡gen. Keizandeserves the credit for shaping the monastic priesthood andbroadening the social outlook of the school. The monasticpriesthood developed because the foundation set by D‡gen wascoupled with maintenance by Keizan.In summary, we may say that although there was nodifference in the basic spirit of the two Ancestors, they didpossess distinct personalities. This was revealed in many ways:the deep philosophy of D‡gen contrasted with the clear explanationsof it by Keizan, the select few who were the disciples ofD‡gen compared with the multitude who benefitted fromKeizan. D‡genÕs religious life was characterized by sternness,whereas that of Keizan showed a magnanimous attitude whichembraced all people. The former established the school while