Kigen Dogen Zenji

On the subject of the Buddha image

One should do good by stealth, then one will never fail to find divine favor and receive apparent profit. Even if it is made of mud, wood or clay, a Buddhist image should be worshiped. If it is made of yellow paper and it's axle is painted Chinese red, a sutra scroll should be paid homage to. The form of a Buddhist, even if he has the impudence to violate the commandments, should be looked up to. If you believe in the commandments and pay respect to them you will never fail to receive divine favor. If you are impolite to a monk who is so impudent as to violate the commandments, and are careless of a sutra scroll because it is of a cheap make, you will surely be visited with punishment. Owing to the respectable doctrine that Shakyamuni Buddha left behind, the Buddhist image, the sutra scroll and the priest deserve piety, gratitude and charity in the heavenly as well as the earthly world. So, if you worship them, you shall be divinely favored and if you do not, you will be punished. Anything that has the form of the three sacred treasures should be held in reverence. It is a fatal mistake for a Zen Priest to take to an evil course on the pretext that he need not lead a virtuous life and accumulate pious acts. According to the long-established regulations he has never been permitted to take an evil course.

Rev.Tan-hasia T'ien-jan is reported to have burned a Buddhist image made of wood and warmed himself at it's fire. It seems an evil deed but it is a shift of moral culture. According to the record of his conduct he observed the proprieties in all his movements, as if always receiving an honored guest. In sitting down for a while he made it a rule to cross his legs, as in Zazen, and in standing, to clasp his hands on his chest in due form. He made a great point of protecting the common property of the monastery and never failed to render help to those who were diligent in ascetic exercises. He made much of even a little good. His everyday conduct was so magnificent that the record of it has been kept as a model to Zen Buddhist. According to my experience, all other virtuous masters and enlightened Patriarchs observed the commandments and never neglected the four cardinal actions, setting a high value on a little good. I have never heard any enlightened Patriarchs neglect the deeds of charity.

Therefore, the followers of Buddhism should not make light of the deeds of charity if they intend to follow the examples of Patriarchs, but be convinced exclusively of the way of Buddhism. The principals that Patriarchs have advocated will never fail to bring together various kinds of good. Once you have personally realized that all things exist in Buddhism, evil is nothing but evil and has nothing to do with Buddhism, while good is good itself and is related to Buddhism. It will be seen from the preceding that you cannot but pay homage to anything with the form of the three sacred treasures.

Rev. Kigen Dogen