BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 40

[Jishin]

Why?

Why!

Gassho, Jishin

[Jundo]

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

Lovely.

I just posted something from Dogen regarding how this world is something of a dream ... yet it is our dream, so we had best dream it well (not turn it into a nightmare!).

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?12359-Real-virtual-Buddhism-or-virtually-real-Buddhism&p=129253#post129253

We can realize Hells or the Pureland here in this world here and now ... depending on how we act.

Yes, there is Such where there is no lack or excess, no hungry mouths to feed, no sickness and death (or birth for that matter) ... yet in this world there is lack and excess, hungry mouths to feed, disease and death. Both ways of seeing Reality are True. So, we had best feed those hungry mouths.

Zen Practice allows one, in its crazy-wise sanity, to experience total acceptance and non-acceptance AT ONCE, AS ONE. Yes there is a realm without suffering ... yes, there is this ordinary Saha world of suffering. Our work as Bodhisattvas is to help the sentient beings ... both by feeding them, offering shelter and medicine in this world as we can ... and also by introducing the Peace and Wholeness of this Realm of Suchness where nothing is ever lacking. A realm where all questions are answered before even being asked ... a realm where "Why do children die of hunger?" is a pressing question ... all as one.

It is not an either/or proposition, and ALL TRUE AS ONE.

So, realize Wholeness on the Zafu ... get up from the Zafu and fill the empty holes as best one can.

Gassho, Jundo

[Kantai]

The answer and the question goes together. Without the question no answer and without the answer no question. However, there is questions that cannot be answered.
In that case we often make up an answer and that´s where religion and philosophy comes from.

What is it? Is it what? What it is.

It is what it is. Is it? WHAT?


Another interesting thing is that the swedish word for presence; närvaro, is made of the words when (när), where (var) and the letter O. So when the two questions -When? and Where? are combined and tied together in an endless cirkel (O) we get Presence, närvaro.

Good night!

Gassho
Kantai

[Jundo]

Hamlet famously said ...

To be, or not to be--that is the question.

But if Shakespeare were a Zenny, he might consider other options! There is also this old Koan (that Dogen seems to have been fond of, as it appears in his own Koan collection the Shinji Shobogenzo) ...

Priest Jianyuan of Tan once accompanied his teacher, Daowu, on a condolence call to a family funeral. When they arrived, Jinyuan tapped the coffin and said, “Is this life, or is this death?”
Daowu said, “I won’t say life, I won’t say death.”
Jianyuan said, “Why won’t you say?”
Daowu said, “I won’t say, I won’t say.”
On their way back Jianyuan said, “You should say it quickly for me, teacher, or I will hit you.”
Daowu said, “Hit me if you will, but I will not say.” Jianyuan hit him.
After returning to the monastery Daowu said to Jianyuan, “You should take leave for a while; I’m afraid if the head monk finds out about this he will make trouble for you.”
After Daowu passed away, Jianyuan went to see Daowu’s successor Shishuang, told him the story, and asked for guidance. Shishuang said, “I won’t say life, I won’t say death.”
Jianyuan said, “Why won’t you say it?”
Shishuang said, “I won’t say, I won’t say.” Jianyuan immediately realized it.

Or as we say at the Blackjack table of life and death, hand after hand ... HIT ME!

Gassho, J

[Kantai]

But I don't want to hit you Jundo!☺

Gassho
Kantai

[Nengyo]

Thank you Jundo! I won't hit you either. When you can't say, you can't say!

Gassho,
Nengyo

[Jishin]

IMHO, if a teacher tries to gift a Koan, refuse the gift, give the teacher 30 blows and go drink tea. If the teacher asks for the meaning of this....I won't say, I won't say.

Gassho, Jishin

[Ongen]

I will go and make a cup of coffee.

Gassho

Vincent

[Rich]

Lisa, thank you for pointing out the noble eightfold path. I can never remember all 8 at once but some kind of action covers everything.
See suffering
See the cause of suffering
Know there is a cessation of suffering
By following the noble 8 fold path.



Kind regards. /\

[Byokan]

How can we find clarity right in and as all of life's many unanswered questions and constant bewilderment?

When I was younger, I searched for Truth and the Ultimate Answers to The Big Questions. I thought that there was no way to let questions like that... just be. I thought we were here to find the answers. After decades of seeking I found myself back where I started, with the N8FP. Originally I thought it was a list of Thou-Shalt’s -- good ideals but not really an answer. Duh. Now I see that following the path answers everything, at the same time that it makes the questions moot. The questions answer themselves before they are even asked. Now I see that my search for Ultimate Truth was a kind of grasping.


Wick asks, “How can you really reach this place where you leave no traces?” I think the N8FP shows a way to live so that we flow with all things, “in natural harmony”. A hundred bull’s-eyes shot with not an arrow lost!


p.s. Rich, I can’t recite the N8FP either. I can recite the names of 13 dwarves, and the formula for a Big Mac, but not the 8F. Ah well.

Gassho,
Lisa

[RichardH]

Now I see that following the path answers everything, at the same time that it makes the questions moot. The questions answer themselves before they are even asked. Now I see that my search for Ultimate Truth was a kind of grasping.

Hi Lisa, I can really relate to what you are saying. By letting go down the bones, the questions are settled at their root. Practice now is more about how I live each day, rather than trying to figure out what life is. It's good to just walk on the ordinary ground, making mistakes, learning, sitting, waking to a fresh face.

Gassho Daizan

[Myoku]

Thank you Jundo,
and every fellow walking the path, and those who not,
Gassho
Myoku

[Myoku]

one more ... Language is initially helpful, it allows me to tell you where you find water when you thirst, it allows to warn, when a tiger approaches. But we made it to chatter, actually creating illusion, we take for real whats said, and create a distance to what is. And we used it to harm. Lets use it to heal, and help, and value it, and be more silent. Sorry for the rambling Gassho & thank you again
Myoku

[Risho]

Hi John H,



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

Gassho?

Risho

[Shugen]

Gassho?

Risho

Gassho!



Shugen