5/20 TRANSMISSION of the LIGHT: to Danxia

[BrianW]

Re: 5/20 TRANSMISSION of the LIGHT: to Danxia

I enjoy both books, but Cook as well as Hixon frustrates me a bit at times...quite a few twists and turns. Funny some say Dogen's writing is frustrating and despite its complexity, I don't get the feeling of frustration....perhaps frustration is good. The moon in Hixon worked for me, but I'm a sucker for the moon anyway.

I sometimes describe Dogen as a Jazzman who was play beautiful variations, but the same beautiful tunes, of "traditional" Caodong teachings and doctrines of "Silent Illumination" in China, and prior Masters in our line such as the great Hongzhi. Dogen, in his music, brought the "old standards" to life, showing new facets, but the same song is there. An excellent book on the topic ...

Ah yes I read "Cultivating the Empty Field" and can some of the basis of Dogen's thinking.....the same tunes, but he just seemed to have taken them to an entirely new level.

Gassho,
BrianW/Jisen