BOOK OF EQUNINITY, case 7 with subtitles

[Taigu]

I often relunctantly open my mouth. You have to say something kind of thing. Kobun roshi used to escape from teaching situations.
Words of teachers are given to wash words away, brush thoughts, sweep clouds and hide a white crane in the moon.
Words of teachers are not for necklace making, or just outfits to wear.

Words not to quote. Words to quit our own small and smelly world!!!

These are words striking the very body-bell of IT.
No words is just as good. To remove the posibility to toy away with things is as good
like Buddha on Vulture peak holding a single flower,
like the sound of one hand clapping.

In this Yakusan is second to none, heir of Sekito Kisen, the stone-strong old and fierce lion, he offers an eloquent flesh, blood, bones, marrow to his gaping audience.

You have to investigate the meaning of he, who is he in he sleeps no more?
What is the sound of a real sutra?
What is the real voice of an old monk?

I am often appalled at this chatty mind of mine, at this chatty forum, cosy forum but sometimes too wordy.
Can you express in a few words the virtue of waking up to this?

How many times we loose this wonderful opportunity to shut up? How many times we could just offer a voiceless presence, eloquent voice of being?

Enough said!

gassho



Taigu

[Mp]

How many times we loose this wonderful opportunity to shut up? How many times we could just offer a voiceless presence, eloquent voice of being?

Wonderful, thank you Taigu.

Gassho,
Michael

[Heisoku]

_/\_ _/\_ _/\_

[Koshin]

How many times we loose this wonderful opportunity to shut up? How many times we could just offer a voiceless presence, eloquent voice of being?

Taigu

[Kyonin]

My comment lies on the sound of the wind.

Thank you.

[Al]

Stale, hard bread
melts in the mouth of the quiet monk.

[Hans]

Hello,

thank you for the words that managed to escape.

Gassho,

Hans Chudo Mongen

[RichardH]

I am often appalled at this chatty mind of mine, at this chatty forum, cosy forum but sometimes too wordy.
Can you express in a few words the virtue of waking up to this?

Taigu

Walking away.

[Rich]

When you can't naturally feel upbeat, it can sometimes help to act as if you did.

[RichardH]

....then saying something.

Hi Taigu.... Please forgive but here is more than few words. Chattiness is no problem in offline Sangha... being a quiet presence is straighfoward...and a relief. Here it is not the same... Presumably the ordained students have a forum not visible here where a serious course of study, and close teacher student contact is the way (maybe that's not true.. but it's a reasonable guess). Here on the general board... there is the text/talk board.... there is talk. There are also lots of recorded teaching to see. However the heart and soul of shutting up and being present together is this budding Google+ experience. I hope we can spend a lot more time doing that as a Sangha. In the meantime, this particular talking mule does his best.

Gassho, kojip.

[Risho]

I don't think it's words that is a problem. Just like when beginning Buddhists think it's against Buddhism to think. That's ridiculous. We are rational beings, and that is part of what is so excellent about being human. It's being attached to words and not getting the meaning. We could all become mute and smile at flowers when a teacher points at it, but we'd fall into the same problem of mimicry and parroting. Words are very important; they convey meaning, but again I think we need to understand the meaning and not be so attached to the pointer, finger, etc. Without words, we couldn't understand "without words" just like without pause we couldn't have music.

Gassho,

Risho

[Taigu]

Good guess Kojip.
Risho, I appreciate your words and would like to remind you that my career as a literature and philosophy teacher in the French university, my passion for poetry, my relentless love for the shobogenzo, the work of a man, Dogen, that loved words so much...all these little things don t make me an enemy of the spoken world. What I am pointing out is fairly simple, what matters is where our words arise from. But you can call me stupid, I don t care, you know I care less and less about all those things. I just wish people would take the time to chew and digest things, to sit on them and with them rather than rush up arms with their beleif system as a flamboyant flag.

Anyway, I am sure you understand.

Gassho


Taigu

[Risho]

Oh damn I didn't mean it like that and I in no way think you are stupid.

Gassho

Risho

[Taigu]

It is OK...Almost joking. Don't worry, Risho. I am sure it is not your intention.
I agree with you when it comes to the attachment to words rather than their meaning although...For me, form and essence are one. Whe you pick up the Shobogenzo it is a collection of chapters, it is a file in my ipad. a book in my hands, it is the Buddha's teachings, it is Dogen's thoughts, Dogen's body, my very body-mind...All this together. But what I know for sure it doesn 't sound hollow and vane like some conversations here and there.

Take great care

gassho


Taigu

[Dokan]

Meeting with my teacher,
Craving, thirsting, aching,
Gazing fervently at his finger, my eyes water,
In tearing, I can see the reflection of the moon.

Dokan