{"id":606,"date":"2009-03-09T10:16:50","date_gmt":"2009-03-09T10:16:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/treeleafzen\/2009\/03\/ambition-bendowa-viii.html"},"modified":"2009-03-09T10:16:50","modified_gmt":"2009-03-09T10:16:50","slug":"ambition-bendowa-viii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/treeleafzen\/2009\/03\/ambition-bendowa-viii.html","title":{"rendered":"Great Ambition (Bendowa VIII)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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One might think that, in attaining the realization that he attained in China, Master Dogen would drop all thought of ambition, goals, something he needed to achieve in life. However, as the below section of Bendowa shows, he sure came back to Japan with some great ambitions to teach and spread the Dharma. <\/i> <\/p>\n

How can one have ambitions from a Zen perspective if, as we often say, we should drop all goals, preferences and ambitions?
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Well, one perspective is that, in our Zen Practice, we can both<\/i> have ambitions while dropping ambitions, both at once<\/i>. Non-Zen folks might think you have to be X or Y (either “ambitious” or not), but we are XY (or non-XY) at once! No problem!<\/p>\n

The result can then be, for example, that we work very hard for our goals while, at the same time, we totally embrace however our goals turn out, win or lose (for we drop all thought of “win” or “lose” … even while shooting for a “win”!)<\/p>\n

We also learn to moderate our ambitions, not become their prisoner. Ourself worth does not hang in the balance of how they turn out (for we are not captives of the “self”). Certainly, Buddhism teaches, life is not about seeking fame, nor material wealth beyond our basic needs. <\/p>\n

However, some ambitions are necessary in this world. Even the cook in the temple must have an ambition to feed all the monks in his charge each day, likewise we all have ambitions to feed our families, clothe and house them, perhaps run a business or engage in charity that will leave this world a somewhat better place. Those are all fine ambitions.

<\/span><\/i>For there is a difference between ambition and profit seeking for personal benefit, and ambition and wealth in order to do good.
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