Four Boundless Vows

Jordan McConnell plays the Four Boundless Vows on a new guitar—or maybe an old one? It has a distinctive sound worth a listen. Recorded December 5th, 2021. 3 minutes.

A beautiful version of the 4 Boundless Vows for 2 harmonizing voices. It blooms! Thanks to Rose Joseph & her friend Delfine. As recorded during Jon Joseph’s Monday evening talk on September 20th, 2021.

John Tarrant’s welcome and introduction to a special program on The Four Boundless Vows and the Bodhisattva path. We are each in the true temple; it’s always happening here, and everyone holds it. Meditation and opening words: the beauty of practice and of the path, the way we teach through stories in Zen, and inclusion of the Daoist view that “the world does fine on its own.” Excerpt from the Sunday session recorded August 1, 2021.

Part 3: I vow to walk through every wisdom gate. Jon Joseph talks about the 3rd of the 4 Vows, and asks, What is a wisdom gate? How do we walk through? The impossibility of the vow, the impossibility of our lives—this is exactly where we should be. The endless nature of unfolding and of always-appearing wisdom gates. What is my part in the world? By becoming a koan, or a vow, we set up a resonance with it, and begin to soak in it—not separate! Excerpt from the Sunday session on August 1, 2021.

Part 2: I vow to set endless heartache to rest. Tess talks about the 2nd of the 4 Vows, the richness of heartache, and how we are drenched in tenderness and love for the world. Fearing drowning, we put up walls: “This shouldn’t be happening.” Seeing the endlessness of it allows it to move through, trusting the great river which carries us along. Setting heartache to rest is setting a kind of certainty to rest. Excerpt from the Sunday session on August 1, 2021.

Part 1, “I vow to wake all the beings of the world.” Allison Atwill introduces the 1st of the 4 Vows, noticing the grandeur and awe of an impossible task. One’s own room expanding outwards, vow as a prayer in service of awakening. How to save all beings? By including them, now. That which has already been born, allow it to be here and find its place. Excerpt from the Sunday session on August 1, 2021.

On practice and path: become the Way, and illumination is always with you. A dive into the sources, history, and meaning of the 4 Great Bodhisattva Vows; how PZI teachers and students work with them towards the ceremony of Refuge and taking up the path. Each teacher takes up one of the Vows. Teachers chant and intone Vows in English and Sino-Japanese; Michael Wilding recites, Jordan McConnell singing and on guitar. Complete session recorded August 1, 2021.

Jordan McConnell on guitar and vocals, playing a variation on PZI’s Four Boundless Vows. From a Sunday Meditation & Talk with Allison Atwill & Tess Beasley, as recorded May 30, 2021. PZI Zen Online.

Jordan McConnell sings and plays the Four Boundless Vows with Amaryllis Fletcher on bells and violin. As recorded April 7, 2021.

PZI Fall Sesshin: Jordan McConnell’s beautiful rendition of the the Four Boundless Vows. As recorded October 2, 2020.

Audio: A gift from musician Ryan McCoy to PZI. Ryan’s rendition of the Four Boundless Vows, guitar and vocals. Thank you, Ryan!

A gift to us all from Jordan McConnell, on guitar and vocals: His version of PZI’s Four Boundless Vows, recorded in his studio, without the anomalies of zoom! Thank you, Jordan.

Audio: Sutra Service Saturday June 27th. Amaryllis Fletcher Cantor, Ryan McCoy: All Buddhas, Cross on Over and Jordan McConnell singsus out with the Four Boundless Vows.

Audio excerpt: Sesshin closing music, four bondless vows announced by Cantor Amaryllis Fletcher and sung by Ryan McCoy.

Audio: Original PZI version of The Four Boundless Vows – All Buddhas, All Beings, One Body. Written and performed by Richie Dominguez.

Thanks to our wonderful Winter Sesshin 2020 Sutra Band: Jordan McConnell on Guitar & Bagpipes, Cantor Amaryllis Fletcher, Violin & Bells, Geoff Taylor on drum.