Opening the Hand of Thought - Chapter 5

[Theophan]

I've read the chapter two times, and slowly it's starting to make sense to me. I understand now the statement: "Sitting zazen is the universal self sitting alone. At the same time, all things are the content or the scenery of that zazen or self." and the "self selfing the self." I might mark this chapter for another reading later.

Gassho
Theophan
(Sekishi)
Sat Today

[Kyotai]

Still working my way through. Slowly..

Gassho, Kyotai
Sat today

[Tai Shi]

Some Global Thoughts on Uchiyama's book;

First, I will now reread the book,

Second, in a historical sense Uchiyama is not just dealing with small self and Big self. In an overt way he trys to come to grips with Japan's 20th century situation. He mentions the "Holocaust." Japan's part in WWII as Holocaust involved the atomic bombs dropped by the US. There is an attempt to reach out to the West to understand the Why of this. Uchiyama sends disciples to the west to spread the "Good" of Japanese culture. Even today some 71 years after the end of the war, most Japanese do not deal with this part of the Holocaust well. The work force in Japan is drooping as young people chose either not to marry or not to have children, and Japan, remaining in some ways medieval, is not dealing well with change. There are fewer jobs with fewer workers. Uchiyama chooses to retire into a life of contemplation after 10 years as Abbot thus in his words allowing for one more job in Japan. This allows his search for the Big Self to take on Global proportions. I have to reread the book in light if this search for the Big self. I will continue after rereading. Please consider lines by Andrew Marvell--"But at my back I always hear/Times winged chariot "drawing" near, And yonder before us ..vast eternity..." How is Uchiyama facing his own death?

Elgwyn
Tai Chi
sat today
Gassho _/|\_