BOOK OF EQUANIMITY- case 26

[Jishin]

How would you go beyond? How would you not dwell? How do you put up with this mad path that asks you to give up everything in exchange of a big heap of nothing you don't even look as being your own? How do you enjoy being fooled again and again and loosing so much?

“we only see or grasp as far as the power of our eye of study and practice can see.” - Dogen

Gassho,

John

[Ed]

How would you go beyond? How would you not dwell? How do you put up with this mad path that asks you to give up everything in exchange of a big heap of nothing you don't even look as being your own? How do you enjoy being fooled again and again and loosing so much?

Take refuge in the Buddha
take refuge in the Dharma
take refuge in the Sangha

That is to say, practice steadily with no expectations no goals. Just do it with constancy.
In gassho.

[Myozan Kodo]

I was there for the momentous event
Of the rose petal falling. I witnessed with amazement
The shower that came from nowhere. I alone saw
The wave break, having traversed the broad Atlantic.
Here and here and here stands the culmination of all things.
It is always present, not a hair's breath away,
Self-evident to the true man of no rank.
It is neither under your nose nor within your field of vision,
It is your nose itself, your true eye looking.
There is no hand that grasps itself, struggle though it may.
There is no mirror to see ourselves, from each and every way.
This mountain holds innumerable mysteries,
And it's lake reflection, swaying with a landing swan,
Stands never still. There is no stepping out of things.

[Risho]

I don't want to sound like a self-help book... but I feel it's like instead of ignoring or trying to push away what's going on, or trying to grasp for something we want, we just sort of live now. Whatever happens one should act accordingly... adapting as necessary, without the grasping or reviling. There is no canned answer, as it constantly changes. The one moment I think I have it, I've already lost it.. time to just be with.. to just be.

Glad to hear you are getting better Taigu!

Gassho,

Risho

Edit: I felt silly typing that like some robot. I fail the vows all the time. I forget about my vow to save all sentient beings when things don't go my way. Every day I lose my temper or get afraid for things I want or don't want. I see that behavior. So that is the practice, and that's what keeps me coming back. I don't think that can ever be mastered...life can ever be mastered. I think the interesting part about this practice is that no matter how hard things can seem, and I make them harder than they usually are by my likes/dislikes, it's all about just showing up every day and not backing down.

[AlanLa]

I like the push it down/push it up interplay in this koan. It's like the two sides on the no-sided zen coin. Push it down and the snow lion recedes into emptiness. But there really is a lion there, so you better push it up, too, or else he will eat you!

[Heisoku]

I would like to signpost a wonderful set of postings by Jordan on G+. He is linking to a series of translations by Mike Cross on Mining Asvaghosa's Gold. The latest one is titled 'Towards the Ending What Ought to be Ended'. It is a wonderful teaching about ending those influences that pollute the mind or faults that cause suffering, including the idea that thoughts should be ended in zazen. Pushing beyond.

[Rich]

Practicing in a relaxed manner allows sustainability. Dogen mentions the joy and ease of just sitting. Whether dwelling or not dwelling practice continues.

Taking myself too seriously (dwelling) created a problem.

[MyoHo]

Where does the moonlight end and the heron begin? Where does the bowl end and the snow begin?
Without the one, there is not the other. We cannot deny they are there, but if we acnolege them, we fall into duality.

Aaaaaaarrrggggggg! Being a Zen student can drive one *&^&* mad, lol

See? now agrivation begins, dualism and suffering begins.

Let's go sit shikantaza and then and be the heron in the moonlight and the silver bowl filled with snow. Because there is nothing more to it. Butifull no?

E.

[Daitetsu]

How would you go beyond? How would you not dwell? How do you put up with this mad path that asks you to give up everything in exchange of a big heap of nothing you don't even look as being your own? How do you enjoy being fooled again and again and loosing so much?

I cannot lose what I've never had.

Gassho,

Timo

[Kokuu]

Words from the Tibetan Shangpa tradition:

So close you can't see it.
So deep you can't fathom it.
So simple you can't believe it.
So good you can't accept it.

Always seeking to go beyond, how long will I continue to split heaven and earth?

Andy

[Oheso]

(in our tradition we say that) Winter does not become Spring, as every Now has its own Past and Future, yet, pushing beyond sequiturs, each April breeds its lilacs and March rains produce umbrella sellers on the sidewalks of New York.

At just the point where the circumference is closed, the circle yawns.

[santosh]

Life has made such a mockery of plans. Got to drop the unnecessary cribbing, cynicism.
They'll just cloud over knowing that the adjusted plan is not far from hand.
Some times you might want to break out of your own plans too. Who knows what I am doing?

Gassho,
Santosh.

[MyoHo]

So, what are you palnning to do?

Gassho

Enkyo

[Kaishin]

I'm okay being fooled; I don't feel foolish. I don't even realize what I don't realize. A lot to be sure. But I can ride a bicycle.
Gassho, Kaishin

[Shogen]

"How would you go beyond? How would you not dwell? How do you put up with this mad path that asks you to give up everything in exchange of a big heap of nothing you don't even look as being your own? How do you enjoy being fooled again and again and loosing so much?" .... Taigu

"Allowing." Without expectation who can be fooled? Gassho, Shogen