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19. How to Worship
Buddha.
The author of
Vimalakirtti-nirdeça-sutra well explains our attitude towards Buddha when he
says: "We ask Buddha for nothing. We ask Dharma for nothing. We ask Samgha
for nothing." Nothing we ask of Buddha. No worldly success, no rewards in
the future life, no special blessing. Hwang Pah (O-baku) said: "I simply
worship Buddha. I ask Buddha for nothing. I ask Dharma for nothing., I ask
Samgha for nothing." Then a prince1 questioned him: "You ask
Buddha for nothing. You ask Dharma for
nothing. You ask Samgha for
nothing. What, then, is the use of your worship?" The Prince earned a slap
as an answer to his utilitarian question.1 This incident well
illustrates that worship, as understood by Zen masters, is a pure act of
thanksgiving, or the opening of the grateful heart; in other words, the
disclosing of Enlightened Consciousness. We are living the very life of Buddha,
enjoying His blessing, and holding communion with Him through speech, thought,
and action. The earth is not 'the vale of tears,' but the glorious creation of
Universal Spirit; nor man 'the poor miserable sinner' but the living altar of
Buddha Himself. Whatever we do, we do with grateful heart and pure joy
sanctioned by Enlightened Consciousness; eating, drinking, talking, walking,
and every other work of our daily life are the worship and devotion. We agree
with Margaret Fuller when she says: "Reverence the highest; have patience
with the lowest; let this day's performance of the meanest duty be thy
religion. Are the stars too distant? Pick up the pebble that lies at thy feet,
and from it learn all."
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