Moving Through the Three “Karma Doors”

Zen teacher Vanessa Zuisei Goddard on how understanding our gateways to the world—body, speech, and mind—is key in our practice of sila.

THERE’S A HELPFUL formula to keep in mind when considering our actions and their effects on us and the world: what we think is what we say, is how we act, is where we live, is who we are. In other words, how we understand ourselves and the world shapes the self, which shapes the world, which shapes the self. Thus the importance of training our minds, as the Buddha counseled us to do. Thus the need to see clearly how what we think, say, and do affects not just our own lives, but everything we touch. This is why I like to think of sila or morality in terms of clear seeing rather than virtue. Instead of labeling actions as either “good” or “evil,” we can reflect that skillful acts…

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Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's Quarterly (Digital) - 1 Issue, Summer 2024

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