Blue Cliff Record (Case 9) Chao Chou's Four Gates

[Jundo]

Dear Friends in All Directions,

The POINTER begins with one of the most powerful analogies we have to express the Insight of Zen ... the Clear Mirror. (As a matter of fact, I made it the centerpiece of the little talk during Zazenkai this time, from 57:30 here: LINK) The mirror holds all things without rejection ... the beautiful and ugly, friend and stranger, good and bad, life and death. We are also this mirror, and our heart can recognize all things with equal non-rejection and acceptance. The mirror shines a light which illuminates all of it. Nonetheless, let us choose the beautiful and peaceful, and not the ugly, greedy and violent. We should know the world all these ways at once ...

... holding all, room for all, accepting, all of it just part of the great show, And yet, we should work to see that ugliness is not beauty, charity is not greed, violence is not peace ... and we should choose the better directions. In the mirror "beautiful vs. ugly" VANISHES ... and yet it does not vanish too, so we should distinguish the two, and know that they are NOT the same.

Chao Chou is the name of a Buddhist priest, but also the name of a town where the priest's temple is located. The CASE plays on this double meaning. So, Chao Chou says he is the 4 city gates. New York City is ever changing, yet also remains on solid ground as people, trains, cars, happy times and sad times, peace and violence passes in and out of its streets. However, I get the sense that, like the town, the priest Chao Chou is a still place while people and events pass through and come and go. He is a still and clear being, although scenes and happenings and thoughts pass in and out of his various senses. He is like the clear mirror which is unmoving, as things come and go within it.

The COMMENTARY reminds us again not to take this as just some intellectual idea of formula, but to really pierce this. It pours forth lots of words to remind us not to get caught in words alone. (I just read a passage this morning, in the Hokyoki, in which Master Dogen said that the truth is in both words and the wordless, but we should not be a prisoner of either.)

The COMMENTARY on the VERSE highlights a bird that is "alive or dead," "going in or coming out" a doorway, a hand that is "open or closed." Such distinctions also vanish in the mirror ... yet they remain.

ASSIGNMENT: Propose a new analogy for something that is still, peaceful or welcoming even as it holds scenes of movement, chaos, struggle, differences. Using the analogy, briefly describe some aspect of your own life that is filled with movement or chaos, busyness or struggle, differences and even some tensions, but that is also held within the analogy you pick.

Here is a song, sadly, a few years old, about hope for peace by opening gates in all directions (there are subtitles to turn on).

.

.

Gassho, J
sttlah

[Matt Johnson]

金剛眼 (Kongōgan)

one part of the mirror

https://youtu.be/7coB8DU0xgo?si=Q6Zdza5JYsytNXVC

_/\_
sat/ah
matt

[BikeZen]

ASSIGNMENT: Propose a new analogy for something that is still, peaceful or welcoming even as it holds scenes of movement, chaos, struggle, differences. Using the analogy, briefly describe some aspect of your own life that is filled with movement or chaos, busyness or struggle, differences and even some tensions, but that is also held within the analogy you pick.

Gassho, J
sttlah

In bicycle riding and racing, a group of cyclists is a peloton. When seen from the outside it appears to be a mass of color and sound moving as one entity, like a school of fish. Sometimes all are in unison and sometimes all are moving around inside. However, inside the peloton it can be like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FybT3_utl08&t=73s

I work in a large government agency. Our headquarters building is a glass and metal monstrosity and the agency functions and does its thing. Inside though it's like a bike race. Different divisions, branches, offices all doing different things as part of the daily life of the agency to keep it moving and functioning. As an attorney, I work with many disparate sub-organizations that all have roles in the process. Sometimes they are all in unison moving in one direction, sometimes they are at odds and disagree or are trying to out maneuver others in the process for their own goals. For me, I am one part of the entity doing what I do and that's my work environment with all its chaos etc. but it can also flow smoothly and without disturbance.

Gassho,
Bill
Sat/Lah

[Hoko]

I'm going to go with the analogy of a television set.

Our television screen brings us visions of peace, love, anger, violence, chaos and confusion, heroism and villainy; but at the same time, it's only pixels flashing.

When a dog appears on the screen, our own dogs will leap off the couch and bark at them!
Unlike our pets, we know the dog isn't real.
But at the same time, it is a real dog.

Depending on how invested I am in the show that I'm watching I will feel sadness, anger, excitement or joy; but at the same time, it's only pixels flashing.
When I switch off the screen, the television becomes just another furnishing in the room.
Turn it back on and the show resumes...

The news brings scenes of tragedy; how invested will I allow myself to become?
Something upsetting appears. Do I allow anger to arise? Scenes of war, natural disaster and violence.
Can I acknowledge that "it's OK" even when it's truly tragic and not OK?

We live in Wisconsin which is one of six "swing states" that may decide the upcoming election.
This means that we are currently being bombarded with campaign ads from both sides.
They all sing the same refrain: "if we allow XXX to get elected it will spell disaster for our country!"
Sometimes the show we're watching is sponsored by these ads and we can't skip them!
Can I sit there and watch them without judgement?
Can I wait patiently for them to end; pay them no nevermind?

Each day as I navigate my life I encounter many things: fences, tiles, walls and pebbles. Mountains and rivers; sun, moon and stars.
Visions of peace, love, anger, violence, chaos and confusion, heroism and villainy.
All life is our temple!

What is Hoko? 720! 1080p! 4K! 8K!

Gassho,
Hoko,

ST/LAH

[Onsho]

Fine craftsmanship.

Flawless danish furniture, ming vases, perfectly woven textiles, a clean window. The final product stands before you in its beauty. Its been the focus for so long, a work in progress. The most intimately know object. To quote TNH "looking deeply" this inanimate object reflects the craftsmans moods, challenges, frustrations, doubts, debts and sorrows. Holding it all without judgment. Im a career window cleaner, the glass and your work reflects everything you bring to it. Its best to get out of your own way and just bring whatever beauty you can find to your canvas, whatever it may be.

Gassho
Onshō (peaceful craftsman)
satlah

[Ramine]

It makes me think of a snow storm, not a blizzard, just your regular snowfall. All is peaceful and noises are dampened by the snow. The air is crisp and fresh. The snow takes everything in, the cars, the misery, the children playing, the muddy roads, the homeless, the people walking, they all remain as they are. They are all embraced but distinct and yet held together. And the snow remains as it is.
I think life is constantly like this. At work things are difficult, but like the snow, I can embrace the situation yet remain distinct from it. At home life is busier and needs more attention since my mother has moved in. It can all be embraced with equanimity. Life happens and we are it and it is us. We interflow.

Ramine
Sat and Lah

[Tairin]

I’ve thought quite a bit about how to answer this.

One of my passions is music. I love to play music and tend towards playing improvised, unscripted music. I am fortunate to be able to play with a group fairly regularly. The music we play could be considered noise music (yes that is a thing). With very little (or no) discussion we start playing. Usually one person starts us off and others will come in on their own time and contribute. The sound can be quite loud and chaotic at times. But at other times (possibly within the same piece) things might quiet down and some space develops. The music can almost veer toward ambiance. Playing this way really requires a lot of attention to what others are doing, selectively playing with or against. Visually I describe it as being like a rollercoaster with peaks and valleys, sharp turns, slow climbs, quick descents. As a musician, this is very challenging and at the same time there is a weird peace, almost like being in the eye of a hurricane. There is also a flow and an acceptance of what is right now. There is no point showing up with preconceived ideas. You don’t have to be concerned with anything that was just played and you also have no idea what will happen next. There is only now, this note, this pause, this moment.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Matt Johnson]

I’ve thought quite a bit about how to answer this.

One of my passions is music. I love to play music and tend towards playing improvised, unscripted music. I am fortunate to be able to play with a group fairly regularly. The music we play could be considered noise music (yes that is a thing). With very little (or no) discussion we start playing. Usually one person starts us off and others will come in on their own time and contribute. The sound can be quite loud and chaotic at times. But at other times (possibly within the same piece) things might quiet down and some space develops. The music can almost veer toward ambiance. Playing this way really requires a lot of attention to what others are doing, selectively playing with or against. Visually I describe it as being like a rollercoaster with peaks and valleys, sharp turns, slow climbs, quick descents. As a musician, this is very challenging and at the same time there is a weird peace, almost like being in the eye of a hurricane. There is also a flow and an acceptance of what is right now. There is no point showing up with preconceived ideas. You don’t have to be concerned with anything that was just played and you also have no idea what will happen next. There is only now, this note, this pause, this moment.

From my early days of listening to noise in the 90s.

https://youtu.be/VgTawxV0H4I?si=lUayeV-YXykvI566

I would like to hear your stuff sometime!

-/\-
sta/ah
Matt

[ZenJay]

The first thing that came to my mind was car racing. Combustion, fumes, announcers, noise, crowds, the sun baking it all, tires being ripped apart on the track, drivers hyper focusing to stay on the track, one wrong move and it’s disaster… everyone racing, passing, pushing to be the best and make it to the finish line first… and yet, when all the drivers are locked in there is almost a gracefulness to it. A dance of diesel… a sense of everything in its place as it is. Just drive.

I work in mattress sales. Everyone burning fuel to race around for 10 hours a day, racing, passing, pushing to make it to the end of the month as first place in the rankings. Everyone hyper focused on making sales and building up their paychecks for the week. One wrong word, one wrong look, and it’s disaster. “Can I have your card?”… and yet, we are helping others to find healing and rest at the most peaceful time of their day. Amidst the chaos of the sales floor; among all the noise, movement, racing, phone calls, delivery issues, and pressure to perform from management, we bring comfort, peace, healing, and sanctuary to your life (or pain suffering and frustration if we crash the fitting process, which is why we have to focus on the person in front of us and not worry about what the other salespeople are doing. Just stay in your own lane!) Doing our own dance of diesel (polyurethane foam is a petroleum product- an aspect I struggle with in regard to doing no harm as this affects the environment) we find it’s not about winning the race, but about those lives we’ve touched in a positive way along the drive. Just help.

Gassho,
Jay

Sat/lah today

[Tai Do]

Driving in life's infinite highway... The vehicle witnesses scenes and people, beings and facts, action and stillness inside and outside. Some come in and share the vehicle with me, then get out e others come... One day, I will also leave the vehicle... But who am I? The vehicle, the driver or the passenger? All or nothing?
Gassho,
Tai Do
Satlah

[Tai Do]

The gates of the town are our sense doors. The phenomena we perceive pass and go and are just reflected in the mind mirror.
Gassho,
Tai Do
Satlah

[Meishin]

Lifting weights. There are many small movements, any of which can spell disaster or a sprint forward. It is necessary to focus on those movements without distraction, all the while maintaining a mental image of the completed lift. None of this by itself amounts to "lifting weights." Yet all of this amounts to "lifting weights." Without attention to the small movements, there would be no "lifting weights." Without maintaining a vision of the completed lift, there would be no lifting weights."

In all of it, the little self seems to disappear for a bit, only to return abruptly with the final gasp. Wow! What just happened?

Gassho
Meishin
stlah

[Anthony]

ASSIGNMENT: Propose a new analogy for something that is still, peaceful or welcoming even as it holds scenes of movement, chaos, struggle, differences. Using the analogy, briefly describe some aspect of your own life that is filled with movement or chaos, busyness or struggle, differences and even some tensions, but that is also held within the analogy you pick.

Sorry for going a bit long with this one.

When you're flying in a plane and you get close to landing, you can see the breadth of the city. Countless little cars driving in straight lines along endless highways (at least here in America). It's beautiful and I really get a sense of awe like "Wow, look how beautiful this thing we built is." Of course, if you look closer (at ground level) things are not so beautiful. Cars crash, people get hurt, road rage explodes. Still with the right perspective, like from a plane high above, it seems so peaceful.

In my life, this reminds me of my relationship with my wife. At a high level, we are one unit, facing the world together like the perfect highways of cars you see from the plane. Of course, at home we may bicker and we may fight. Sometimes one of us may say something that hurts the other in anger, like the cars crashing and drivers honking at one another. Even so, the love is not lost and that sense of oneness, as viewed from the sky, remains.

Gassho,
Anthony
satlah