Becoming Ordinary: The Five Ranks of Zen Service - Roshi David Blackwell (Jōkai)
Despite the world around us constantly changing, we can remain grounded in the timeless stillness beneath it all.
Roshi David Blackwell walks us through what happens when we transition from years of formal spiritual training back into the texture of ordinary daily life. Reflecting on his own journey after stepping down from a Zen training center, David introduces us to an ancient Tang Dynasty framework known as the "Five Ranks of Merit" or "distinguished service". Rather than focusing solely on mystical realization, David shows us how this time-honored system offers a practical, compassionate roadmap for leading an upright, supportive, and useful life in service of those around us.
As David breaks down these five stages, we get to see how our spiritual journey naturally matures from initial curiosity to ultimate simplicity:
- The Shift: The initial turning of our heart toward practice when we feel a deep need to explore what is most real and important.
- Submission: Radically accepting reality exactly as it is, letting go of our rigid, narrow ideas of self to align with life as it unfolds.
- Achievement: The stage where dedicated practice ripens into genuine insight, wisdom, and an understanding of non-duality.
- Collective Achievement: Expanding our perspective so realization is no longer a private trophy, asking instead how we can help sustain our sangha and serve others.
- Absolute Achievement: Shedding even the conceptual trappings of "enlightenment" to simply return to being our ordinary selves—truly at home in our own skin.
______________
Roshi David is a Soto Zen teacher in the White Plum lineage. He received Dharma Transmission and the lineage name Tenryū Jōkai (天龍浄海) from Charles Tenshin Fletcher Roshi in 2014, and Inka — final seal of approval and independence — in 2022.
Originally from Wales, Roshi David moved to Southern California in 2000 to train full time. His teaching is grounded in traditional Zen forms and woven into the texture of ordinary life. He emphasizes the direct experience of awakening using contemporary language and time-honored methods.
______________
To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/
There you can:
- Donate
- Learn how to participate live
- Find our schedule of upcoming speakers
- Join our mailing list or discussion forum
- Enjoy over 900 recorded talks dating back to 1995
CREDITS
Audio Production: George Hubbard
Producer: Tom Bruein
Music/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter