BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 49

[Jakugan]

To me the teaching at first seems simple but the more I think about it with my inadequate understanding the more it seems to slip away. Maybe that's the point? There is nothing more to this, I add anything and I have already lost it, caught up in the delusion of my own thought process. Even saying 'just this is' is too much. That is my basic understanding anyway.

Gassho,

Simon.

Sat today

[michaeljc]

He is even now what I am, I am even now not what he is

Right now, I am what he means but cannot be what he means

Too much self

m

Sat 2-day

[AlanLa]

"There's a zen saying that if a student is only as good as his teacher, then the teaching will decline." That's what I took from this koan, although it was from the commentary, so maybe it doesn't count

I teach my students so that they can be better than me. That's what I believe teaching to be about, to advance others beyond myself. I hate when my students just spit back answers that are my words or book words, the stuff they think you want to hear but isn't really honest. I love it when they are honest. I love when they struggle to find their own words. I tell them that if this assignment meant nothing to you, then just say so. Show me some insight or your struggle to find meaning and you will get credit; just recite and you will lose credit. If you honor the struggle with something you will learn from that something. That's what I believe. I had a long talk with one of our graduates on Friday and was just amazed at her awesomeness. She had taken our teaching and incorporated it into her professional practice in wonderful ways. Experiences like that are what teaching is all about it was termendously gratifying because it was so beyond myself.

If I could rewrite this koan I would have it be something like this: At the memorial of my teacher I was asked what he taught me. My answer was that he taught me more than what to do; he taught me how to be what I do, and on his shoulders I gladly stand reaching up. Because that's how I honor my teachers.

[Risho]

Gassho,

Risho
-sattoday

PS -- It's good to see you around the boards Jigen!

[Heisoku]

Hello all. I like Myosha's smile though I can't see it. Makashyapa saw it in a flower. Seeing your true face is the gift of the universe ( no k!).
Gassho
Heisoku
Sat today.

[Risho]

How do you see it?

Gassho,

Risho
-sattoday