Gaininglessness

In the Tenzo Kyokun (Instructions for the Cook), Zen Master Dogen asks rhetorically, "Is there anything of greater value than realization of what the Way is?  Is there any time more precious than the time of realization of the Way?"

Commenting on this passage, translator Daitsu Thomas Wright reminds us that these words must be understood in the context of mushotoku, that is, that there is nothing to be gained.  Enlightenment is not the sort of thing that becomes some sort of a plus in our life, such as a new car, or some wider knowledge, or relief from physical or mental distress. Enlightenment, Daitsu reminds us, should be understood to be completely tied to practice.

In this regard, Dogen says in the Shobogenzo Zuimonki that, "Once you have entered the Buddha-Way, you should practice the various activities just for the sake of the buddha-dharma.  Do not think of gaining anything in return.  All teachings, Buddhist or non-Buddhist, exhort us to be free from the expectation of gaining a reward (Book 1, Chapter 9)."

Interestingly, the word "Way" (Do in Japanese, Dao in Chinese) in the term "Buddha-Way" is a translation of the Sanskrit words marga or bodhi.  Marga is the path along which we should walk (practice) to become a Buddha, and bodhi is awareness or enlightenment.  So "Buddha-Way" has two meanings combined - the way leading to enlightenment and the Buddha's enlightenment itself.  Contemporary Zen teacher Shohaku Okumura points out that the Buddha Way is therefore the path we should walk in our daily activities in the direction of the Buddha, while each one of those activities is nothing other than a manifestation of the Buddha's enlightenment.  

This is the meaning of Dogen's expression "practice and enlightenment are one."  Enlightenment is not something gained or acquired as a result of practice, and as long as we seek some sort of reward or outcome, we are not practicing the Buddha Way.