A Shout Out to All of You,
This week, the POINTER seems to be saying something like. you can look for enlightenment up in the heavens, you can look down here on Earth and find all the ordinary beautiful and ugly things of this world shine with light, but most vital is to put it all together and bring it forth in the pivot point which is your life. It is what you do that counts most.
The CASE has a fellow give one of those dramatic, wordless responses ... in this case, shouting in response to the question "Where ya from?"
Sometimes, such wordless actions can be an excellent way to express the aspect of Zen Wisdom beyond words, separate descriptions, things. Others include banging on the floor, clapping one's hands, just raising a fist and the like. In some of his talks in Eihei Koroku, Master Dogen did some of that too. But, throughout the history of Zen there has been the issue of people ... including teachers, and even today ... just going through the motions, doing shouts or gestures ... just as a kind of theatre, maybe without real understanding. At times, it was as if it was just how teachers and monks thought they were supposed to act, so everybody started doing it. Dogen criticized this, such as here in Sansuikyo:
It seems like the teacher here thought this such a case.
On the other hand, there were times when such a heartfelt expression represents some real understanding beyond ordinary expression.
Having a "dragon's head but snake's tail" means something like "started off looking good on the surface, but lacked substance in fact." I believe that "Guest/Host" here refers to the student/the teacher.
I think that the word "to change" in the VERSE COMMENTARY is better rendered as something like "to act."
QUESTIONS:
-- How do you think these old Teachers could tell a real dragon shout from a snake shout?
-- Also, if you were asked by Mu Chou, "After three or four shouts, then what?" what would you respond? Don't hesitate, don't think it over, respond! (REALLY TELL US YOUR FIRST RESPONSE WITHOUT PONDERING THE QUESTION).
.
Gassho, J
stlah
This week, the POINTER seems to be saying something like. you can look for enlightenment up in the heavens, you can look down here on Earth and find all the ordinary beautiful and ugly things of this world shine with light, but most vital is to put it all together and bring it forth in the pivot point which is your life. It is what you do that counts most.
The CASE has a fellow give one of those dramatic, wordless responses ... in this case, shouting in response to the question "Where ya from?"
Sometimes, such wordless actions can be an excellent way to express the aspect of Zen Wisdom beyond words, separate descriptions, things. Others include banging on the floor, clapping one's hands, just raising a fist and the like. In some of his talks in Eihei Koroku, Master Dogen did some of that too. But, throughout the history of Zen there has been the issue of people ... including teachers, and even today ... just going through the motions, doing shouts or gestures ... just as a kind of theatre, maybe without real understanding. At times, it was as if it was just how teachers and monks thought they were supposed to act, so everybody started doing it. Dogen criticized this, such as here in Sansuikyo:
Now, in Great Song China there are careless fellows who form groups; they cannot be set straight by the few true masters. They say that ... any words having to do with logical thought are not buddha ancestors’ Zen words, and that only illogical stories are buddha ancestors’ expressions. In this way they consider Huangbo’s striking with a staff and Linji’s shout as beyond logic and unconcerned with thought; they regard these as words of great enlightenment that precede the arising of form. They say, “Ancient masters used expedient phrases, which are beyond understanding, to slash entangled vines.” Those who say this have never seen a true master, and they have no eye of understanding. They are immature, foolish fellows not even worth discussing.
On the other hand, there were times when such a heartfelt expression represents some real understanding beyond ordinary expression.
Having a "dragon's head but snake's tail" means something like "started off looking good on the surface, but lacked substance in fact." I believe that "Guest/Host" here refers to the student/the teacher.
I think that the word "to change" in the VERSE COMMENTARY is better rendered as something like "to act."
QUESTIONS:
-- How do you think these old Teachers could tell a real dragon shout from a snake shout?
-- Also, if you were asked by Mu Chou, "After three or four shouts, then what?" what would you respond? Don't hesitate, don't think it over, respond! (REALLY TELL US YOUR FIRST RESPONSE WITHOUT PONDERING THE QUESTION).
.
Gassho, J
stlah
Does it feel like it is the shout beyond all shouts? Does it leave everyone else speechless? - and the master probably already had some idea about the student's ability...
)
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