The Solidarity Sutra

Scholar and Soto Zen Buddhist priest Duncan Ryuken Williams shares his Solidarity Sutra for the coronavirus age.

Duncan Ryuken Williams
30 March 2020
Photo by Saffu.

Thus have we heard
At a time when physical distancing is required, yet social solidarity is so needed
The Great Physician Buddha offers medicine to alleviate the hurts of our world:

A net of jewels
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀each a precious being
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀an infinite mirror to see ourselves

Interlinked is the rising wall of suffering
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
interlinked are the efforts to surmount walls
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀interlinked we turn the wheel of the Dharma

Turning views to see things clearly
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀turning hearts to know that we are not alone

Like a lotus flower blossoms above muddy water
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀drawing nutrients from darkest despair
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀discovering freedom in the midst of constraints

Solidarity bodhisattvas recite the mantra:

衆生無辺誓願度
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀SHUJŌ MUHEN SEIGAN DO
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀“Beings are innumerable/we vow to liberate all”

煩悩無尽誓願断
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀BONNŌ MUJIN SEIGAN DAN
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀“Delusions are inexhaustible/we vow to eliminate them all”

法門無量誓願学
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀HŌMON MURYŌ SEIGAN GAKU
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀“Dharma gates are boundless/we vow to study them all.”

仏道無上誓願成
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀BUTSUDŌ MUJŌ SEIGAN JŌ
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀“Buddha’s path is unsurpassable/we vow to actualize it.”

Duncan Ryuken Williams

Duncan Ryuken Williams

Duncan Ryuken Williams is the author of American Sutra: A Story of Faith and Freedom in the Second World War and director of the Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture at the University of Southern California.