If someone were to ask, “How does a Zen master point to the truth?” It might be better to ask, “What is the truth?” If the truth is beyond words as Zen believes, it is not too difficult to conclude that realizing the truth is not going to be easy! Zen, will always show us the most difficult way!
Of course the burden to realize the truth the Zen master points to, let’s call it “Mind,” rests mainly on the student’s shoulders. For the teacher who has realized such a Mind (you could even call it Buddha Mind), they can only hit at it, maybe by asking a very profound question of the student, “What moves your hands and feet?” This question, by the way, I have taken from the book, The Zen Teachings of Bodhidharma, which is translated by Red Pine. It is a very good question because it puts the truth right in front of the student’s face. But what can we as the student do?
Try as we might and being honest we can only say, “I don’t know!” Sure, we can make a lot of guesses trying to be clever. But what if the Zen master tells us that none of our answers are the right answer. In that case, we are going to have to dig much deeper to realize Mind’s light.
If we are really interested; not just curious about realizing what moves our hands and feet, we might want to join this teacher’s saṃgha or community of seekers if he or she will have us. Or we could go off on our own. Maybe build a small cabin or live in a small trailer in the woods for a few months and look within. Again, we might want to join another saṃgha that teaches Zen through seated meditation or zazen.
The decision is really ours. Given our own previous karma, we might not be up to the task of knowing, exactly, what moves our hands and feet by which we walk home and wash the dishes. In fact, the more we think about it the more difficult the task becomes. Or maybe we don’t have enough faith that there is this light of Mind. It just might be easier to do zazen—that should suffice. Maybe just doing zazen is the truth. That seems to be what Dōgen Zenji is saying. But then what if he is wrong?
Adasatala points skillfully to the fundamental non-existence of error: will sentients use their Buddha nature to listen?
Posted by: n. yeti | March 25, 2018 at 10:29 AM
Each ounce of it is like a blow with the staff from Dayu.
Posted by: Adasatala | March 23, 2018 at 03:09 PM
Adasatala: Nothing like madhupāyāsaṁ!
Posted by: thezennist | March 23, 2018 at 01:36 PM
Also, the sad state of confusion which results from not having enough faith that there is this light of Mind, is in a cruel way a display of that same light of Mind as well, LOL. So called ignorance or laick of faith, or whichever predicament, doesn't negate this light of Mind, but rather just displays it's miraculous wish fulfilling nature in that condition as well. There's no escaping it or not understanding it. Not understanding the light of Mind is the light of Mind. There is no hiding it. We're deceived into thinking that it is hidden because of the belief that there's only this "not understanding", which is a foolish and one-sided view, since a state of not understanding cannot manifest of it's own accord. Not understanding is also due to the compassionate nature of the Light of Mind. There is however a lacking of a certain intimate element, and that lacking is the source of our miserable state, which in my opinion is the true mystery.
What is the intimate gift that one girl gave Shakyamuni? And how can one teach that intimacy? The sutras sure tried their best, LOL.
Posted by: Adasatala | March 22, 2018 at 05:47 PM
There's been so much silliness since that Prince way back when left that palace. Moving our hands and feet is such fun! Like blowing soap bubbles in the wind. A wish-fulfilling gem! Getting more intimate with said gem however, in a dream-like but lucid state during either sleep or meditation, is so fucking kick-ass. Seven billion radiating golden buddhas filling empty space and vibrating in unison as a huge sun-like sphere emerges and shines with golden rays of healing and awe inspiring beauty. But from where? Words and letters? LOL, we're such nonsensical creatures. Every single mental action equals to reciting the sutras in the end. Every single little thing within consciousness is a blessing of Mind. Every single little thing is a wish fulfilled without the source ever drying up. Spending a life without entering the sangha is a waste of a life indeed. I've cried over this so many times. I love you, you old bastard. Hope you're doing well.
Posted by: Adasatala | March 22, 2018 at 04:52 PM