The Buddha's Last Sermon

 

Back in 1985, I purchased a book titled “Zen Master Dōgen: An Introduction with Selected Writings.”  Translation and commentary by Yuho Yokoi with Daizen Victoria.  Weatherhill, 1984.  Later, I read Moon in a Dewdrop and other translations and commentary by Kazuaki Tanahashi about Master Dōgen, the founder of Soto Zen Buddhism in Japan.  These authors brought Dōgen to California for me ... a real Dharma treasure.    

“The quality of our life depends on what seeds we water in our consciousness.”
-  Thich Nhat Hanh 

I watered the seeds of wisdom from Dōgen for many years, tended to my garden of life, and reaped many fruits.  I maintained correct remembrance of Dōgen's contributions.  

 

One of the sermons by Zen Master Dōgen (1200-1253 CE), was “The Eight Aspects of Enlightenment” (Hachi Dainin-gaku), written the year Dogen died.  In this lecture, Dōgen tells the story of the last sermon spoken by the Buddha Shakyamuni before he died around 400 BCE.    

Here is an abbreviated version of Dogen’s sermon:

 

“The various Buddha’s have all been enlightened persons.  Their enlightenment is designated hachi dainin-gaku because it has eight important aspects, the comprehension of which lead to Nirvana.  It was the Buddha Shakyamuni himself who, in his last sermon on the eve of his death, clarified these eight aspects.

The firs [important aspect] is freedom from greed.  This means to forsake the five desires.  Be a person of few wants.

The second is satisfaction.  This means to be satisfied with whatever one has. 

The third is to enjoy quiet.  This means to lead a solitary life, separated from all worldly disturbances.

The fourth is right speech, considered speech, avoidance of gossip and useless discussions. 

The fifth is diligence.  The means to do good single-heartedly and continuously.  If you are diligent in your practice of the Way, it will not be difficult for you to realize enlightenment. 

The sixth is correct remembrance.  This is also called the preservation of correct remembrance, the word “preservation” signifying the comprehension of the Law.

The seventh is the practice of samadhi.  Samadhi means to reside in the Truth, in an undisturbed state of mind.

The eight is the practice of Wisdom.  Wisdom stems from enlightenment, which is the result of having practiced the Law that one has heard and thought about. 

A person who possesses true Wisdom is like a stalwart ship sailing across the ocean of old age, sickness, and death; like a bright lamp dispelling the darkness of delusion; like a good medicine for all those who are sick; and like a sharp axe used to cut down the tree of illusion.  The Wisdom resulting from having heard, thought about, and practiced the Law can thus be used to increase your merit in the Way.  If a person has come into possession of the light of Wisdom, he has the power to see the Truth with his naked eyes.  Such is the nature of Wisdom.”

“These, then, are the eight important aspects of enlightenment.  Each of these aspects has eight different functions, for a total of sixty-four functions in all.  In a broader sense, however, these eight actually have an infinite number of functions, the figure sixty-four being merely an abbreviated form of the latter.  The Buddha Shakyamuni spoke the preceding, his last teaching on the essence of Mahayana, around midnight on February 15^th.  Thereafter, he said nothing more, being silent until his death.” 

Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness: Walking the Buddha's Path  By Bhante Henepola Gunaratana.  Boston, Wisdom Publications, 2001.  Index, reading list, 268 pages.  ISBN: 0861711769.  VSCL, 6/2005.  A thorough explanation of Right or Skillful Understanding, Thinking, Speech, Action, Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness, and Concentration.  A rational ethical system.