Bodhi - desire to steal, defeat an enemy, embrace a beauty
Dogen on, "what practice is to be considered most urgent..."
"As for the description of the essential point to be mindful of, what thing must be concentrated upon, what practice is to be considered most urgent, that is as follows.
First is only that the aspiration of joyful longing be earnest. For example, suppose a person has a conscious desire to steal a precious jewel, a desire to defeat an enemy, or a desire to embrace a distinguished beauty; while travelling, abiding, sitting and reclining, in the midst of affairs as the pass, though various different events come up, he goes along seeking an opening, his mind occupied [with his quest]. With his mind so forcefully earnest, there can be no failure of attainment.
In this way, when the aspiration to seek the Way has become sincere, either during the period of sole concentration on sitting, or when dealing with illustrative example of the people of olden times, or when meeting the teacher, when one acts with true aspiration, though [his aim] be high he can hit it, though it be deep he can fish it out.
Unless you arouse a mind comparable to this, how will you accomplish the great task of the Buddha-Way, which cuts of the turning round of birth and death in a single instant of thought? If someone has such a mind, we do not talk about whether he is a stupid and ignorant evil man; he will definitely attain enlightenment."
Shobogenzo-zuimonki II:14, Thomas Cleary
Labels: dogen, enlightenment, zen, zuimonki