Another school shooting today, other violence in this news.
One of the most easily misunderstood of Koans is 'Nansen Kills the Cat.'
Here is how I take it: The "Sword of Wisdom" in Mahayana Buddhism actually makes the separate things of the world one when it "uncuts." It is the opposite of a worldly sword. The monks, in fighting over the cat, are the ones who had already mentally divided it. There was unlikely to have been any literal killing celebrated by Buddhist priests who take a vow to avoid violence, not to mention all the Karmic ramifications. Instead, Nansen actually brought wholeness and the cat back to life by ending the monk's arguing and divisive thoughts, and returning to Wholeness and the Absolute. No cat was harmed, in either the relative or the absolute sense. The "shoes on the head" at the end is a traditional gesture of mourning at Chinese funerals, showing that Joshu got the message.
Pretty simple. The ASPCA certifies that no animal was actually harmed in the making of this Teachin
Manjushri with the "Sword of Wisdom" as found in many Zazen Halls
I realized this week that there is some commonality between this Koan and the current, very violent, anti-gun anti-racism video "This Is America." Both use an image of violence to make what is actually an anti-violence statement about coming together, and are supposed to shock us out of complacency. A Koan is just a dance too. The video's lyrics are also about people filled with desire these days (for money, buying stuff, sex) and only caring about that. Very Buddhist stuff.
It is not just about the USA, but about any place where there is violence and division.
I was inspired to play "This Is America" as our "Heart Sutra" during our Ceremony for Zazenkai today (about 6:00 mark), and then the short talk was about the Killing the Cat Koan if you find the time (from about 54:30). I also connected to Solomon threatening to cut the baby in two in order to find where the real love is found. Before the Ceremony, I explained that our practice is not just to sit in Peace, putting the ugliness aside. We must also look right at, and through, the violence to find the Wisdom and Compassion at its swirling center. Hate is no other than Emptiness, Emptiness just precisely Hate.
The rest of our weekly Zazenkai is here ...
Gassho, J
SatTodayLAH
PS - I am writing a book with a theoretical physicist and, of course, we have one section when this is mentioned together with Schrödinger's cat. In both one might say that the cat is alive and dead. Arguing, like the monks did, is the pellet of poison that kills the cat in the box. :-)
One of the most easily misunderstood of Koans is 'Nansen Kills the Cat.'
Nanchuan (Nansen) saw the monks of the eastern and western halls fighting over a cat. Seizing the cat, he told the monks: “If any of you can say a word of Zen, you will save the cat.” No one answered. Nanchuan cut the cat in two. That evening Zhaozho (Joshu) returned to the monastery and Nanchuan told him what had happened. Zhaozho removed his sandals, placed them on his head, and walked out. Nanchuan said: “If you had been there, you would have saved the cat.”
Pretty simple. The ASPCA certifies that no animal was actually harmed in the making of this Teachin
Manjushri with the "Sword of Wisdom" as found in many Zazen Halls
I realized this week that there is some commonality between this Koan and the current, very violent, anti-gun anti-racism video "This Is America." Both use an image of violence to make what is actually an anti-violence statement about coming together, and are supposed to shock us out of complacency. A Koan is just a dance too. The video's lyrics are also about people filled with desire these days (for money, buying stuff, sex) and only caring about that. Very Buddhist stuff.
It is not just about the USA, but about any place where there is violence and division.
I was inspired to play "This Is America" as our "Heart Sutra" during our Ceremony for Zazenkai today (about 6:00 mark), and then the short talk was about the Killing the Cat Koan if you find the time (from about 54:30). I also connected to Solomon threatening to cut the baby in two in order to find where the real love is found. Before the Ceremony, I explained that our practice is not just to sit in Peace, putting the ugliness aside. We must also look right at, and through, the violence to find the Wisdom and Compassion at its swirling center. Hate is no other than Emptiness, Emptiness just precisely Hate.
The rest of our weekly Zazenkai is here ...
Gassho, J
SatTodayLAH
PS - I am writing a book with a theoretical physicist and, of course, we have one section when this is mentioned together with Schrödinger's cat. In both one might say that the cat is alive and dead. Arguing, like the monks did, is the pellet of poison that kills the cat in the box. :-)
). I would have never guessed today that "This is America" and Manjushri would have helped me better understand this Koan. Thank you Jundo for taking the time to help us understand this Koan and Zen through things like the "This is America" music video. I will never look at the music video or song the same again.
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