Book of equanimity case 5

[RichardH]

Too often I get mired in the study of Zen books or sutras. Too much attention to scholarly tail chasing. In other words, fussing about the finger instead of beholding the moon to which I points.

I need to remember that zazen is the center of practice--everything else is just scaffolding. Not the other way around.

_/\_
Gassho, Kaishin

It was a pretty brutal tactic, but a very powerful facing of "the knower" came with my first teacher , who was a strict character. One evening before practice he gathered us around and just asked.. " Who is Avalokiteshvara?"" Everyone was quiet, so I piped up.. and he just blazed at me, like lasers coming from his eyes.. and screamed... "YOU!! SHUT UP!!!". It felt like being dowsed in water that was freezing cold and boiling hot at the same time.. After when we met in the hallway.. he just gave me the sweetest smile like nothing happened. That kind of tactic is not a good idea, and could really mess with some people, but it was the first time, as a kid, that I truly dropped knowing and just sat.

Gassho, kojip

[Kaishin]

Wow, wild! Thanks for sharing, Kojip!
Gassho, Kaishin

[Ekai]

I have a lot of passions that I truly enjoy doing with the energy to back it up. If I allow it, this can complicate my life. The times when I let go of my expectations and just be with whatever passion I am doing, I feel less overwhelmed. I used to think that I should have only a couple passions to keep things simple, but that's not me. If I take care of my family's needs and wants first while accepting that I am eclectic with many different interests instead of resisting it, that brings me more peace, harmony and less complications. It's about being honest with myself.

Gassho,
Ekai

[Myozan Kodo]

Hi,
I don't know the cost of rice in that place. Hell. I don't even know where that place is.

That said, I don't even know the cost of rice in the Asian Market in Dublin. But I know how to eat it. And when I'm hungry, I do.

Gassho
Myozan

[alan.r]

About 15 bucks for a five pound bag.

[Gary]

To find out the cost of rice in Roryo we have to go there,
To find out the ultimate meaning of the Buddhadharma we have to go there.

[Shokai]

To find out the ultimate meaning of the Buddhadharma we have to go there.

how true !

[andyZ]

Trying to find the ultimate meaning of the Buddhadharma is like trying to find the price of rice in a place that may not even exist. While we can spend all our lives in such pursuits we miss this very moment itself. I lived in NYC some time ago and to this day I check the weather there from time to time. While there's nothing wrong with that activity – it's absolutely useless to my work or my family or my day to day life where I am right now. Unfortunately in this day and age of the Internet it's very easy to find out the actual price of rice in Roryo, Beijing or Antarctica and while it's very interesting and educating it's useless unless you're directly involved in selling/buying rice in those places.

[Myoku]

To find out the ultimate meaning of the Buddhadharma we have to go there.

So true, so true.

Trying to find the ultimate meaning of the Buddhadharma is like trying to find the price of rice in a place that may not even exist.

So true, so true.

Gassho
Myoku, apologizing for this superfluous comment

[Myoshin]

If we don't cherish our opinions and a realization will come, it's mushotoku. When I stop asking what will be the results, what is the sens of, and instead I really practice, so I can see the value of rice, of zezen merits
Gassho

yang Hsin

[alan.r]

Unfortunately in this day and age of the Internet it's very easy to find out the actual price of rice in Roryo, Beijing or Antarctica and while it's very interesting and educating it's useless unless you're directly involved in selling/buying rice in those places.

I don't think it's unfortunate at all. There's nothing wrong with being able to find out the price of rice in Roryo. There's nothing wrong with all this information on the interwebs; we probably get the same amount of information coming at us if we step outside. If a person just constantly looks up rice prices and stuff and neglects family and treats people badly, now maybe that's unfortunate. But looking up the price of rice? Naw. Finding the price of rice in Roryo online and calling it useless is like calling reading a book of fiction useless. Or like saying taking a stroll is useless. What's useful about going on a walk? What's wrong with it again? I think I'd rather be useless, just wandering, no use at all.

To find out the cost of rice in Roryo we have to go there,
To find out the ultimate meaning of the Buddhadharma we have to go there.

Or maybe: not go anywhere.

Also, I meant to say earlier: I think rice is about 15 bucks for 5 pounds at walmart,. Which of course is also where they sell the ultimate meaning of the Buddhadharma, I think.

[Yugen]

A spider descending by a silk thread.

During a Zazenkai a week or so ago I I observed a spider descending from a ceiling beam in the Zendo, on a silk thread that faintly shimmered in a shaft of light. It was descending right over the altar, descending onto the statue of Kannon. I had been searching for some significance or breakthrough in my practice, and saw a spider going about its life as spiders do - Kannon or no Kannon, altar or not, silent practice and aspiring practitioners notwithstanding. Nothing special and life goes on. I will never forget that spider.

Gassho
Yugen

[Risho]

Gasho Yugen.

The more I've really just let this koan be, the more I realize that it's the questioning not the answering that matters. If we have an answer, then that thing is "dead". But everything is alive, living, cannot be contained by our conceptual thinking. Of course we need concepts to function, but there is a completely other side as well, where things are just "screaming" their vivid aliveness. It's not one or the other, it's where they both meet in mid-air. The question, what is the rice in Roryo?, is just a slap in the face to all of what I want answered now.

Is my zazen ok? Is my Kesa ok? Am I normal? On one level, Jundo and Taigu can advise on some points (except the last question, which is a resounding no), but in the end its our practice that must be continual...moment from moment. It is both absolute practice with everything right now and also our personal practice. The answer is not going to be given to us (not that there's an it, but...), we have to keep doing, and doing and doing... It does not end. There is no point; if there was, this practice would be truly Useless, not just useless. At the same time, we must commit to find out for ourselves! It's our job, not anyone else's. No one can do it for us.

What's the meaning of all of this? Who's asking? The ego that likes things wrapped up in nice little digestible packages. That question brought me here right now; it's why I sit. I don't know the answer! Keep on questioning and find out. Even though I don't know the answer does not relieve me of the responsibility of finding out. That's the important thing. Taigu sensei mentions in his latest talk Fukanzazengi 6, "You sit and you THINK you've got it. Wow. You're deluding yourself baby!" I love it

I want answers to my questions. I solve problems for a living, but living life like it is a problem is a pretty shitty way to live frankly. The answer to me is to not settle for some bullshit sound byte self-help answer to this that's going to make me feel good or stress free. This is a question that never ends for the rest of my life.... that keeps on going while I sit within the stressful times or the good times. It doesn't matter... we must practice, we must sit. I'm not being a fundamentalist.. I'm just saying consistently with each other.

Things may be stress free and happy for us, but somewhere far or near, beings are starving, suffering, hurting. What about them? We sit for them too. If I think it's ok because today my zazen was calm, I've lost the point of practice right there.

Sorry for the rambling,

Gassho,

Risho

[Hans]

Hello,

thank you all for such a great collection of very varied and insight-provoking observations.

The grass is always greener on the other side they say,
and they are right.
Drop body and mind,
stop and open.
Deeply entering into this you will see that there is no fence at all,
and that the green is truly the same.
Catch that thief again and again,
who steals green and erects fences.
You.


Gassho,

Hans Chudo Mongen

[Nenka]

The grass is always greener on the other side they say,
and they are right.
Drop body and mind,
stop and open.
Deeply entering into this you will see that there is no fence at all,
and that the green is truly the same.
Catch that thief again and again,
who steals green and erects fences.
You.


Gassho,

Hans Chudo Mongen

Jen