Allow Zen’s satori to reveal its truth to you. Don’t try to impose your interpretation upon it.
Yes, this sounds easy enough. But the more we look into what this means for us, we want something to rest on, some kind of terra firma. But there is nothing there for us to rest on, not even doing a lot of zazen. It gives one the illusion of getting close to satori. Still, it ends up becoming a dead-end. Koans are even a dead-end which are only meant to wear out the intellect which uses thought as its main tool.
But what is happening with these dead-ends is we are being positioned in a certain way. First of all, the search has to be within. Our true nature or if you prefer, pure Mind, can only be found within the deepest recesses of our being. Zazen doesn’t go far enough; neither do koans. Also, don’t look for clever or witty answers. You’re just deluding yourself.
I found myself, one day realizing that I had to go into retreat to look for this pure Mind. Even in the solitude of my retreat, I was being further positioned to accept the fact that I could fail. In fact, I even admitted to my self almost three months into my retreat, that I could neither understand the idea of pure Mind nor find it within the deepest recesses of my being. I knew the taste of doubt, if not failure, and also realized my inability to find pure Mind.
So think about this. You’re now between a rock and a hard place with no place to go. The last thing you must give up is trying to impose your interpretation upon what pure Mind or your true nature is. Zen, has finally positioned you where it wants you. You're finally open. You live waiting for a great mystery to enter and don't even know you are doing it. You learn this after satori.
The last thing you must give up is trying to impose your interpretation upon what pure Mind or your true nature is.
I need to hear this over and over again. Maybe someday I will really hear it.
Posted by: Ted | July 24, 2018 at 10:12 AM