BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 22

[Rimon]

I should have returned a long time ago and not being so much time idle.

Why sitting? Well... It's truth.

Big gassho

Rimon

[galen]

Hope this does not come across as to zenny, Shawn. I just wanted take the time to thank you for speaking the truth here. Short and very much to the point! To bad you were made to feel some guilt here and then bowing down to that. We all have our way to communicate, and at some level it is our `game or personalities we post through. Your post was ever bit as real and experiential as any others on this thread. Look forward to seeing you out >>>there! Be sure not to do the Zen-Sin by being to zenny.


Gassho

[galen]

Case 21 never ends, yet now comes ...

Case 22 - Ganto's bow and shout

A good one for finishing the year here at Treeleaf, where many folks come and go.

A student, with her own opinions and eye for appraisal, shows up at a Sangha and demands, "Is this place common or special? Is it what I think I want from the Zen I picture? Is it 'Real Zen' or fake Zen, and are the Teachers enlightened as I want 'enlightened' to look or be?"

The Teacher demonstrates Dharma with a Shout ... perhaps a GREAT Wordless Teaching in that Shout or perhaps just a cliche clunker ... and the student bows down, uttering "You are so wonderful, Teacher!" Is the student correct in the appraisal, or even in a position to judge at such an early date? Or perhaps the gesture of bowing is insincere, mere flattery, with fingers crossed behind the back? Even if sincere, flattery is really not called for by any Teacher, especially if the "yes man" kind. Some few students might stay for years, finding value in the Practice there, illumination, a life ... and that is really the only thing needed by a Teacher. But, after a time, some students are disappointed and go away, thinking "there is no True Dharma here". That always breaks the Teacher's heart, who always wishes he could have done better.

For what the Teacher, like an old friend, wants to help any Student find is This which is Common-Holy, Specially Unspecial, fulfilling all desires ... both with what is wanted and what is not. Can one know the Real that sweeps in and sweeps through 'real' or 'fake'? Can the Great Teaching be heard that shouts at the Unbreakable Heart of both the sparkling talks or thrilling moments and the dull or dumb, the Timeless both in the 'time well spent' and so-called 'waste of time'? Can one find that True Way from which there is no way to "go away"? Helping the student find so is the only "compliment" a Teacher requires.

There are two kinds of Sangha or Teacher that, I feel, do a disservice to students. One is a place or person that is too lax, too careless, which fails to provide beneficial opportunities for Practice, or (in some fortunately very few cases) where real abuse and other bad acts occur. But, counter-intuitive as it may seem, a Sangha or Teacher which meets all the student's expectations, golden dreams, ideals and desires too would be a disservice (not to mention unlikely to ever truly appear, at least over the long haul when the rose colored honeymoon is done). Why? Because as with all of this life, all this world, one must come to see through personal judgments of both "sacred" and "ordinary", good and bad, flashy or dull, entertaining or painful, satisfying and disatisfying, true vs. fake ... thus to find a Truth beyond selfish expectations, disappointments, dreams, ideals and failings to meet a mark, thus to find the Mark Always Met. The best Teacher or Community, as strange as it sounds, may be one that ... like the universe ... sometimes inspires and sometimes frustrates, sometimes energizes and sometimes bores, sometimes astounds and sometimes leaves cold ... all so that one might find Astounding Energetic Inspiration even right at the heart of the frustratingly, dully cold.

Our Sangha is a wonderfully imperfect place. Our Teachers here are well-meaning but mediocre clods and fools. No flattery is needed (sincere or insincere ... although anyone appreciates a sincere, kind encouraging word, even Zen Teachers), no criticism welcomed (except the constructive kind to let us do things better). This Place, This Dharma, This Buddha, sits beyond all human weighing and rating.

- Please discuss how this Sangha or any part of Zen Practice sometimes is golden, and sometimes sucks eggs, and whether it is possible to find the Golden Egg.

- I wonder if this presentation of Koan 22 is a "keeper" or a "clunker". Did I do a good job?

Thank you Jundo. This is my first read of your opening to this koan and felt it was one of your best. Short and to the point of trying to find the middle ground. Sometimes you can be rather long with these and seemingly cumbersome. For me, it again touched on my idealistic personality, which you have insinuated in the past, and may be my toughest lesson. It touches close to home with me personally, as it is used on-self the hardest.


Gassho

[galen]

Hi Kojip..... hopefully our little disrupt served a lesson for all; you, me and those who were made to feel discomfort by peering in. Sometimes its more about how we react then the actual act itself. Is not this also about practice, life? It has served me well, with all respect and gratitude, it is time to let go and I thank you for that!


Gassho

[jeff_u]

So, since we simply sit in/as/through-and-through What Is, how can such fail to be Truth?

Gassho, J (having a little fun)

This is a fun case Thanks for spinning my head around!

Reading this reminds me of math. Specifically the debates around the turn of the 19^th century where everyone was obsessed with finding a system that encompassed absolute mathematical truth—given the right starting truths (axioms), they said, we could generate all true mathematical statements. Greatly simplified, it turns out that this is impossible to do. However, studying math or logic even today feels like being asked to categorize every snowflake as beautiful or ugly, or with any other arbitrary dualistic distinction. This is as if Ganto goes to every teacher and categorizes their Dharma as ordinary or holy.

In math and science we like to know what’s true and what isn’t. Separating the wheat from the chaff. In proving a theorem (true statement) you also carve out falsehoods. But these falsehoods are not, not real or meaningless. They are locked in a dance with the truths. They can’t exist separately. One implies the other. They are both Truth.

We get so obsessed with dividing what is from what isn’t we forget that what isn’t is, and what is, isn’t.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cBOyx1sNIcc/Tuhdhy4v-FI/AAAAAAAACbc/PSokwuqJr8A/s1600/mc_escher_fish-boat_tessellation.jpg

What does it mean for something to not be true?

Gassho,
-Jeff

[Jundo]

This is a fun case Thanks for spinning my head around!

Reading this reminds me of math. Specifically the debates around the turn of the 19^th century where everyone was obsessed with finding a system that encompassed absolute mathematical truth—given the right starting truths (axioms), they said, we could generate all true mathematical statements. Greatly simplified, it turns out that this is impossible to do.

In Zen math, 2 + 2 = 4 as any schoolchild knows.

However, 2 + 2 = 2 too, and = 3,4,5.

2 - 2 = 9 all down the line.

2 = 4 = 7 = Buddha Heaven.

And all or any numbers added, divided, subtracted or divided are simply 1 at the start, middle and end.

.00001 = the 10,000 things

1 + 1 =

But don't think of as nothing but Zero.

All the columns always in balance, whatever is put in them.

Something like that.

Gassho, J

[galen]

Thanks for the contemplation here, Jundo and jeff.

[Kaishin]

This Sangha is a real treasure, but one comprising humans who sometimes come together and sometimes push apart. But it's still a treasure. As far as I'm concerned, there would be no Buddhism without Treeleaf. Now, my practice, on the other hand, especially lately feels more like fool's gold than a Treasure. A fallow time. Waiting for the harvest. Need to get on the cushion regularly. No posturing at the gate for me. More like falling asleep under it!


Gassho, Kaishin / Matt

[AlanLa]

Buddhist math, as explained by Jundo above, is way easier for me than algebra

[Taigu]

Galen,

It seems you really like playing teacher and pooring oil on fire.
Could please look into your self? I am sure it would help.

Gassho


Taigu


PS: if may add the following pointer, you have a fine mind and your wisdom ability is quite impressive, much like one of Dogen s students, you could be asked to develop your grand mother mind, embracing and compassionate mind.