No one wore the gold
embroidered kesa except Jita Maitreya, who was supposed to be the last disciple
to attain enlightenment. He was something like this bodhisattva in his former
life. He was called "desirous of glory". And Buddha was very glad
that he wore the kesa, but maybe because of that, he received that kind of juki,
that he would be the last buddha.
This is interesting, you know. Buddha was glad that he was not so good. If I were Shakyamuni Buddha, I would have been very angry, maybe. I would not be happy to see that one of the disciples was not so good, treading the wrong path. But Buddha was very patient, and he was very glad. He thought, "eventually he will attain enlightenment."
I think this is why Dogen Zenji says all of us will eventually attain enlightenment. It is no use expecting attainment. Sooner or later everyone will attain enlightenment because we have Buddha nature. As a Buddhist, we must have this kind of big mind and big scale of practice. It is not a matter of today or tomorrow, or this year or next year. -------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 68-02-00-F as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC
This is interesting, you know. Buddha was glad that he was not so good. If I were Shakyamuni Buddha, I would have been very angry, maybe. I would not be happy to see that one of the disciples was not so good, treading the wrong path. But Buddha was very patient, and he was very glad. He thought, "eventually he will attain enlightenment."
I think this is why Dogen Zenji says all of us will eventually attain enlightenment. It is no use expecting attainment. Sooner or later everyone will attain enlightenment because we have Buddha nature. As a Buddhist, we must have this kind of big mind and big scale of practice. It is not a matter of today or tomorrow, or this year or next year. -------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 68-02-00-F as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC