Introducing sange beyond personal confession
"Sange" is the way of repentance. You may call it confession, which may give you some idea of what it is, but I'd like you to forget what you are thinking. The Precepts are not just a personal concern, and neither is repentance.
Defining the dual nature of repentance
So this word, "repentance" is personal, and it is also universal.
Honest observation of the shadow side of human nature
The mistaken view is that human nature is accustomed to being negative, enjoying wrongdoing. To see the suffering of others and enjoy it is a strange thing, but we often unconsciously feel that way.
Repentance as turning point, both personal and universal
At this moment one is turning the direction of one's life. Noticing small wrong deeds of oneself can be repentance, but noticing the great suffering of all living beings is the same. What caused this suffering is realized in that mind.
The sange verse in English
All my ancient wrong actions arising from beginning-less greed, anger and delusion, based on mind, speech and body, all together I now fully avow.
Continuity of life likened to candle flame transmission
It knows there are no gaps in life, which burns as a candle. Even if one burns out, the next one goes. In that way, in our life lineage, everyone is carried.
Repentance as the completion that contains all precepts
Actually, when repentance, self-acknowledgement, is completed, all qualities of Buddha nature, all Precepts, are already accomplished in the existence of our avowal.
Gratitude and repentance as two sides of the same awareness
The relation between the Precepts and the words of avowal is like a person who is always thankful, and is always able to say, "I'm sorry." It is the bright side of things and the shadowy side of things.
On how deepening care brings deepening fear
The more you care for someone or something, the more you are afraid of them or it. Do you notice this? The more you are concerned deeply about some object, and get to know it, the more you feel, "This is getting hard for me."
Kobun's evolving relationship with zazen over decades
My experience with zazen has the same kind of feeling. It was quite easy in the beginning, very tempting and very far away, so I put lots of energy into doing zazen. A deep excitement, I felt. Year after year that excitement faded away and zazen became like an enemy to conquer. Now I cannot do it without giving zazen deep respect.