Dear All,
We are at the top of page 75 (from right before the Dr. Hee-jin Kim quote) to the middle of page 78 (ending with the paragraph about gold statues).
In this section, we will look at Dogen's writing style and two aspects of his teachings.
First, the use of the "over the top" superlative in Dogen's writing style. He was not subtle, even though conveying very beautiful and subtle teachings. Dogen meant that Zazen is the universe and the kitchen sink, the cat's meow, and he pulled no punches in the images with which he said so.
Second, our path from beginning to end is already Buddha, already enlightenment, and nothing can change that fact ... yet realizing that fact changes everything.
Third, Zazen transcends all dichotomies.
Just a reminder that the point of these exercises is to get a bit of a feel for Dogen, and to get into his head, by mimicking his writing style a bit. (It is actually a way to get a handle on Dogen that I don't think I have seen taught elsewhere, but I feel really works with a writer with such a unique manner of expression.)
Here are some simple exercises to get a feel for this:
Exercise 1 - Add three truly wonderful and grandiose descriptions of Zazen, be creative. The superlatives do not need to be strictly about Buddhism (e.g., "To knock a homerun out of the Buddha's ball park is to be sitting in the lotus posture"):
To transcend all realms of the universe at once, to live a greatly honored life within the house of the Buddhas and Ancestors, is to be sitting in the lotus posture. To tread over the heads of followers of wrong paths and the legions pursuing evil ways, to become a true person in the inner sanctum of the Buddhas and Ancestors, this is sitting in the lotus posture. To transcend the extremes of the highest supremacy of the Buddhas and Ancestors is just this one truth. To [SUPERLATIVE 1] is to be sitting in the lotus posture. To [SUPERLATIVE 2], to [SUPERLATIVE 3] is to be sitting in the lotus posture. Thus, this is the only practice that the Buddhas and Ancestors practice, and there is no other thing to do.
Exercise 2 - Give an example of a action or task we must accomplish, yet phrase it so that all is always already Buddha (so nothing really to accomplish). For example:
- Mowing the lawn is Buddha, every blade of grass is Buddha, thus there is nothing to cut to trim down Buddha. Nevertheless, we keep mowing.
- The infield and outfield is Buddha, every base, bat and ball is Buddha, thus there is no "home base" to reach to get to Buddha. Nevertheless, we keep playing ball.
Make your own.
Exercise 3 - Add a dichotomy and an unanswerable philosophical question or dilemma to the following of your own choosing, e.g., "Is Zazen black or white? Is it finite or infinite?"
Remember, post you own (no grades, everybody does great!) before reading what others have done.
Gassho, Jundo
STLah
We are at the top of page 75 (from right before the Dr. Hee-jin Kim quote) to the middle of page 78 (ending with the paragraph about gold statues).
In this section, we will look at Dogen's writing style and two aspects of his teachings.
First, the use of the "over the top" superlative in Dogen's writing style. He was not subtle, even though conveying very beautiful and subtle teachings. Dogen meant that Zazen is the universe and the kitchen sink, the cat's meow, and he pulled no punches in the images with which he said so.
Second, our path from beginning to end is already Buddha, already enlightenment, and nothing can change that fact ... yet realizing that fact changes everything.
Third, Zazen transcends all dichotomies.
Just a reminder that the point of these exercises is to get a bit of a feel for Dogen, and to get into his head, by mimicking his writing style a bit. (It is actually a way to get a handle on Dogen that I don't think I have seen taught elsewhere, but I feel really works with a writer with such a unique manner of expression.)
Here are some simple exercises to get a feel for this:
Exercise 1 - Add three truly wonderful and grandiose descriptions of Zazen, be creative. The superlatives do not need to be strictly about Buddhism (e.g., "To knock a homerun out of the Buddha's ball park is to be sitting in the lotus posture"):
To transcend all realms of the universe at once, to live a greatly honored life within the house of the Buddhas and Ancestors, is to be sitting in the lotus posture. To tread over the heads of followers of wrong paths and the legions pursuing evil ways, to become a true person in the inner sanctum of the Buddhas and Ancestors, this is sitting in the lotus posture. To transcend the extremes of the highest supremacy of the Buddhas and Ancestors is just this one truth. To [SUPERLATIVE 1] is to be sitting in the lotus posture. To [SUPERLATIVE 2], to [SUPERLATIVE 3] is to be sitting in the lotus posture. Thus, this is the only practice that the Buddhas and Ancestors practice, and there is no other thing to do.
Exercise 2 - Give an example of a action or task we must accomplish, yet phrase it so that all is always already Buddha (so nothing really to accomplish). For example:
- Mowing the lawn is Buddha, every blade of grass is Buddha, thus there is nothing to cut to trim down Buddha. Nevertheless, we keep mowing.
- The infield and outfield is Buddha, every base, bat and ball is Buddha, thus there is no "home base" to reach to get to Buddha. Nevertheless, we keep playing ball.
Make your own.
Exercise 3 - Add a dichotomy and an unanswerable philosophical question or dilemma to the following of your own choosing, e.g., "Is Zazen black or white? Is it finite or infinite?"
We inquire and explore whether, in the moment of our sitting, all realms are vertical. Or are they horizontal? In the moment of our sitting, what is this sitting itself? Is it a somersault? Is it a state of vigorous and lively activity? Is it thinking? Is it not thinking? Is it making something? Is it not making something? Are we sitting inside of sitting? Is it sitting inside of bodymind? Are we sitting having dropped away “inside of sitting,” “inside of bodymind,” and so on? Is it [Dichotomy 1]? Is it [philosophical dilemma]? We should inquire and explore thousands, tens of thousands, of points such as these.
Remember, post you own (no grades, everybody does great!) before reading what others have done.
Gassho, Jundo
STLah
Comment