SAUNDARANANDA 13.27: Where Integrity Comes From

shiilanaac chiilam ity uktaM
shiilanaM sevanaad api
sevanaM tan nideshaac ca
nidesshash ca tad-aashrayaat

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13.27
Integrity is so called
because it comes from repeated practice;

Repeated practice comes from devotion;

Devotion to a thing comes from direction in it,

And direction from submitting to that direction.

COMMENT:
Shiila is of course one of the six paaramitaa or "transcendent virtues" to which followers of the Buddha traditionally aspire.

The dictionary definition of shiila includes both the neutral sense of "way of living or acting , practice , conduct , tendency , character"; and the more affirmative sense of "good character, moral conduct, integrity, morality, piety, virtue."

The first line of this verse confirms that the Buddha had the latter sense in mind; that is, the sense of integrity (shiila) as a virtue realised through repeated practice (shiilana). I am sorry that the common root of the two Sanskrit words has been lost in translation, but I could not see a way around it.

In view of Master Dogen's exhortation, in his rules for sitting-dhyaana, "to naturally become one piece," it seems to me that integrity is a worthy aim for a non-Buddhist Zen bastard to aspire to -- even when the incessant grumbling of his furrowed heart gives away how weak his practice is.

I chose "repeated practice" over "constant practice" as a translation of shiilana, because trying to keep something going continually easily leads to fixing, whereas following the natural waves and cycles of the mind seems to work better. As an old surfer friend of mine once told me, "Everything goes in waves."

On the subject of submitting to a teacher's direction, much could be written. But it might all be pointless pontification, so on this occasion I won't bother.

EH Johnston:
Discipline is so-called from its disciplining, disciplining comes from habitual repetition, habitual repetition from keen desire for a thing and keen desire from dependence on it.

Linda Covill:
It is said that moral self-restraint comes from moral self-restraining, moral self-restraining comes from practice, practice comes from instruction, and instruction comes from seeking it.

VOCABULARY:
shiilanaat = ablative of shiilana: n. repeated practice , constant study
shiilam (nom.): good conduct, integrity
iti: " ... " ; thus
ukta: said, called

shiilanam (nom): n. repeated practice
sevanaat = ablative of sevana: n. the act of frequenting or resorting to; devotion or addiction to , fondness for , indulgence in , practise or employment of
api: and, also

sevanam (nom.): devotion
tat: that, it
nideshaat = ablative of nidesha: order, command, direction
ca: and

nideshaH (nom.): order, command, direction
ca: and
tat: that, it
aashrayaat = ablative of aashraya: m. that to which anything is annexed or with which anything is closely connected or on which anything depends or rests ; a recipient , the person or thing in which any quality or article is inherent or retained or received ; seat , resting-place ; dwelling , asylum , place of refuge , shelter ; depending on , having recourse to ; help , assistance , protection