In Zen Buddhism, the Three Pillars or Three Essentials of Practice are Great Faith, Great Doubt, and Great Determination (or Perseverance). They work in harmony like three legs of a stool providing balance on the path of awakening. Great Faith is having trust in this path, trust that awakening is possible and trust in your true nature – your Buddha nature. Great Doubt is the examination of reality and the nature of self which arises when faith is present. It is the deep inquiry into our assumptions while remaining curious and open to the mystery. Great Determination is the steadfast resolve to continue practice no matter what the obstacles or the doubt. It is tapping into our well of spiritual discipline, strength, and courage, meeting challenges with unwavering commitment.

Great Determination
by Reishin Denise Leong

Bodhidharma, the first Chinese Patriarch, spent three years traveling from India to China where he eventually sat in a cave for nine years meditating. Legend has it that after seven years of wall-gazing, he fell asleep. Infuriated by his lack of discipline, he cut off his eyelids to stay awake. Huike, who eventually became the second Chinese Patriarch, stood outside Bodhidharma’s cave in the snow up to his waist overnight and then cut off his left arm to show his resolve to be Bodhidharma’s student.

Great Determination.

And, gratefully, we don’t do that here.

Still, Great Determination plays a vital role in our practice when the going gets tough, when we doubt ourselves, or when fear arises. What helps us be steadfast in our determination to practice the Dharma is to remember our intention for practice– whether it is to relieve the suffering of all beings, to be more compassionate, to find equanimity, or whatever reason brought you to Zen.

Our intention is a polestar that reflects our aspirations and guides us toward them. When our purpose is clear, research shows our resilience improves. This helps carry us through the challenges, and then with awareness and mindfulness, we learn and grow from the experiences. Perhaps we realize the truth of the dharma, have epiphanies, see the end of suffering, or do something we never dreamed possible.

And so the wonderful cycle begins … 

We have an motivation for our practice, are determined, see the outcomes, learn, grow, and dip in more deeply each time because our intention becomes more important than our fears or the obstacles. Our determination grows as does our strength, courage, resilience, and resolve.

“I can’t go on, I’ll go on.” 
– last line of The Unnamable by Samuel Beckett

“Some days I just don’t want to get up early to get to the zendo. Then I get up.”
– Manju Bill Frackelton to his young student Reishin (who still has both arms)

Over time, Great Determination can evolve into our embodiment of the Dharma, and with unwavering commitment, with nary a thought, becomes how we show up in this world. 

We get up. We go on.

For further exploration

Faith, Doubt, Determination – John Pulleyn (podcast – 50:56; transcript available)

Three Essentials of Zen Practice – Ryoshin Hoshi (28:17)

Great Determination: Three Essentials of Zen – Zuisei Goddard

Three Essential of Zen Practice – Koun Yamada