BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 40

[Jundo]

Case 39 never ends, yet now comes ...

Case 40: Ummon's White and Black

http://books.google.co.jp/books?id=ijhXoKc95nUC&pg=PA40&lpg=PA40&dq=Case+40:+Ummon%27s+White+and+Black&source=bl&ots=C_Sgdmr-vp&sig=muG7Lt6qjvtlgKn7zOC0OIusy54&hl=en&sa=X&ei=VL6MU-GRKI6E8gXf9IKYDA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Case%2040%3A%20Ummon's%20White%20and%20Black&f=false

In life we have so many questions. We long for clear answers, black and white.

But here, Ummon is asking for an answer ... with seemingly no question asked. Or perhaps EVERY question ever to be asked is being asked, but demanding no answer! Kempo answers with a question, something like "Have You Seen Your True Face Where All Is Answered?". Ummon answers by saying that to answer in words would hide that face, and that would be no good answer. Kempo responds with "Is That So?" ... another question, but maybe to be heard as "THIS IS SO! THAT IS SO! SO SO SO!" ...

I heard a Chinese Chan Teacher, in answer to a question, describe yesterday how Zen has two main approaches ... the "Koan Introspection Zazen" folks who go deeply and powerfully into a question (such as "Who Are You?" or "What Is The Sound Of One Hand Clapping?") until the question just implodes, and the questioner too ... and Silent Illumination/Shikantaza folks who drop the questions and the questioner ... and how all such roads lead to the same placeless place where there is no question, yet all questions of life endlessly arise. THE SOUND OF WHO AND WHAT ARE YOU!!!!

To this any question and no question ... I would answer YES! YES! YES! and NO! NO! NO! ALL AT ONCE! I would answer silently while in words, with that which is each and all both and yet beyond "YES vs. NO"!

ABOUT ALL THESE ENDLESS QUESTIONS THERE IS NO QUESTION!

Master Dogen had a wonderful way of turning interrogative words ... WHO? WHAT? WHY? ... into declarations and affirmations ... WHO! WHAT! WHY!

A monk asked Master Kaku of Roya,
"If the essential state is pure and clear, then why do mountains, rivers and the great earth arise??"

Kaku said,
"If the essential state is pure and clear, then why do mountains, rivers and the great earth arise!!"

Why Indeed!

Here's an old talk explaining WHY! and WHEREFORE! and WHAT'S WHAT! Please have a listen, and all your non-questions will be non-answered!

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?8810-SIT-A-LONG-with-JUNDO-WHAT-S-WHAT

How can we find Clarity right in and as all of life's many unanswered questions and constant bewilderment? HOW INDEED! It is like a mirror, crystal clear, in which all questions are reflected. It is like opening a fist, and letting all the questions open and untangle. It is like being at a crossroads with the future unknown, what will happen just a mysterious outcome of possibilities ... yet perfectly at home right there and with whatever comes. Is sometimes dropping the question the best answer? Is sometimes letting the question just be a question also a good answer? Zen folks have a wonderful way of being clear and confident right at the heart of dilemma and doubt.

Here is today's question:

What do you answer?

Furthermore, who is asking and answering what? .... WHO!! WHAT!!

Any Question? ANY QUESTION!!

Gassho, J

[Byokan]

Here is todays question!!!


_____________________


Apology to the Sangha:


Ok, the sound you hear is me giggling in the back row. Before we get all serious and deep, I have to tell you that I laughed out loud when I read Wick’s explanation about Kohaku and Kohoku. I instantly visualized them as Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny. Daffy thinks he’s so smart and clever, always working some angle, but Bugs is always one step ahead, and laughing at the both of them. I consider Bugs to be one of the great Zen Masters -- if you haven’t watched (the old) Looney Tunes in a while, give ‘em a re-watch and see how awakened he is Anyway, please forgive my disruption.


Now. I will try to get serious with this koan study.

Gassho,
Lisa

[Jundo]

Hi Lisa,

Someone bothered to splice the great Koan repartee of Master Bugs and Master Daffy ... "Is It Duck Season or Is It Rabbit Season?" ... into a 10 hour loop which, by the way, might be set to repeat in endless loops ... all ending on the brink of life and death! Watch a few minutes, jumping in here and there, and one will see ...

Is It Duck Season? Is it Rabbit Season? YES! NO! WHAT WAS THE QUESTION!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3GE-DrE3eE

Gassho, J

PS - By the way, beware of Gurus with all the answers ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QtQKj3p0mQ

[RichardH]

That video has made my day. Favorite video posting..ever.

Gassho, Daffy with the spinning bill.

[Mp]

Oh Jundo ... your explanation is just brilliant! Thank you. =)

Gassho
Shingen

[Jundo]

Oh Jundo ... your explanation is just brilliant! Thank you. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Is that a question?

Gassho, J

[Jishin]

Case 39 never ends, yet now comes ...

Case 40: Ummon's White and Black


Here is today's question:

What do you answer?

What do you answer! That's what you answer! That's what you answer? That! That? That's what? That's what! Got it? Got it! Whatever! Whatever? Whatever! Quiet! Quiet? Quiet! Quiet? Bah! Bah? Bah!

Furthermore, who is asking and answering what? .... WHO!! WHAT!!

Who is asking and answering what!

Any Question? ANY QUESTION!!

No! No? NO! No what? Who knows?

Who is on first? Who is on first! Who? Who!


Gasho, Jishin

[Mp]

Is that a question?

Gassho, J

Hmmm, can brilliance be questioned, or is it just brilliant? =)

Gassho
Shingen

[Jundo]

Hmmm, can brilliance be questioned, or is it just brilliant? =)

Gassho
Shingen

Wrong answer.

Gassho, J

[Mp]

Wrong answer.

Gassho, J

Hhmm, I tired. =( Guess I will just go sit. =)

Gassho
Shingen

[Jundo]

Hhmm, I tired. =( Guess I will just go sit. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Right answer.

Gassho, J

[Mp]

Right answer.

Gassho, J

=)

Gassho
Shingen

[Myosha]

Don't know.





Gassho,
Myosha

[Meishin]

Time between deaths of people who die from hunger: 3.6 seconds. Why?

Gassho,
John

[Byokan]

Hi John H,

Is sometimes dropping the question the best answer? Is sometimes letting the question just be a question also a good answer?

Our clever Zen wordplay can feel really unsatisfying when applied to questions like this. Obviously there is an answer, and it is greed, corruption, and apathy; we all know the world produces enough food for everyone, and it is only people that block the supply chain. That’s another thread I guess. The bigger question behind this question, I think, is why is there suffering?


I think one way to let this question be a question, is to focus on action. I think this is when we get off the zafu and act in the world. Because even if you knew the ultimate “why,” it still would not solve the problem. Buddha has a prescription for suffering... the 8-fold path seems to work pretty well.


My answer to big questions like these -- why is there Suffering? Violence? Injustice? -- is this: instead of going in circles asking “why,” try going in circles of action. Feed your family, then feed your friends, then look at your neighbors, then volunteer or donate to a food bank, then look at the situation in your schools, then your city, then your state, always working outward to a wider circle. In the small circle, you might leave a bag of groceries at the old lady’s house down the street. If you ever do work up to the bigger circle, you might be writing letters, getting politically active, helping educate people about what’s going on. All you can do is all you can do, and we don’t all have time to lobby Congress, or travel to faraway countries with the Peace Corps. Just start close to you and do what you can. Walk the 8-fold path. For me, that’s the best I can do with questions like these.

Bah! Too many words, I know.

Gassho,
Lisa