Dogen and Time

[Ishin]

I seem to recall some threads or a talk about Dogen and time. Can anyone direct me to this?

In a recent sitting, not that I was seeking this, it just happened, and I had a very odd clear feeling of the feeling that there is only NOW. I am sure I am the only one who sometimes sits and in the background has the thought "how much longer?". During this sit there was none of that.. it just dissipated into Now, now now.

NOW, I am wondering about Dogen's thoughts on time. Anyone else's is welcome also, if you have a minute.

Gassho
Ishin
Sat Today/lah

[Mp]

I seem to recall some threads or a talk about Dogen and time. Can anyone direct me to this?

In a recent sitting, not that I was seeking this, it just happened, and I had a very odd clear feeling of the feeling that there is only NOW. I am sure I am the only one who sometimes sits and in the background has the thought "how much longer?". During this sit there was none of that.. it just dissipated into Now, now now.

NOW, I am wondering about Dogen's thoughts on time. Anyone else's is welcome also, if you have a minute.

Gassho
Ishin
Sat Today/lah

Hey there Ishin,

Was this the one you were talking about?

Dogen Time: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...-On-Dogen-Time

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Ishin]

Hey there Ishin,

Was this the one you were talking about?

Dogen Time: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...-On-Dogen-Time

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

That's it! Thank you Sir!

Gassho
Ishin
Sat today/lah

[Jishin]

Hi,

http://www.thezensite.com/ZenEssays/DogenStudies/Dogen_Meets_Postmodernist.html

Word came to the scholar Tokuzan that in the south of China an Enlightened Buddhist teacher had realized a new truth about the Diamond Sutra. True scholar that Tokuzan was, he packed up all his books and commentaries on the Diamond Sutra (over 300 pounds of them) and left immediately to take the long journey to hear first-hand this new teaching. On the way he paused at a wayside rest stop and fell into a conversation with an independent businesswoman selling rice cakes.
He asked her, "What is your business?"
"I sell rice cakes," she replied.
"Will you sell me a rice cake?"
"What do you want to buy a rice cake for?" [She was an independent businesswoman.]
"To refresh my mind," said Tokuzan.
The old woman took a look at Tokuzan's 300-pound load of books. "What is all that you are carrying?"
"Haven't you heard? I am the King of the Diamond Sutra. I have mastered the Diamond Sutra. There is no part of it that I do not understand. This load I am carrying is commentaries on the Diamond Sutra."
"Could I ask you a question?"
"Of course."
"I have heard it said in the Diamond Sutra that past mind cannot be grasped, present mind cannot be grasped, and future mind cannot be grasped. Which mind do you now intend to refresh with my rice cakes? If you can tell me, I will sell you a rice cake. If not, I will not sell you my rice cakes."
Tokuzan was dumbfounded and could not find an appropriate response.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Jundo]

"I have heard it said in the Diamond Sutra that past mind cannot be grasped, present mind cannot be grasped, and future mind cannot be grasped. Which mind do you now intend to refresh with my rice cakes? If you can tell me, I will sell you a rice cake. If not, I will not sell you my rice cakes."
Tokuzan was dumbfounded and could not find an appropriate response.

Yes, good old story from long ago.

Just to repeat, all of Dogen's many "being-time" perspective(s) and non-perspectives are not meant as philosophy, but as experiences that are each and all freeing. They are also not really original to Dogen, but found throughout Zen, Hua-yan and other Mahayana Buddhist teachings.

One small example:

As one experiences that all time pours into this moment, what can be lacking from this moment?

Another:

As one experiences that the past (such as a rough childhood like Dogen had) is just gone and now a memory, one can respect that past, learn from it and let it go at once, moving toward the future. Likewise, the future will just be the future, and we can allow it to be even as we work for some good future. Dogen did that too.

Dogen might say that there is a time to eat rice cakes, a time to not eat rice cakes, that all time pours in and out of eating or not eating rice cakes, and no time at all too.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Ishin]

Yes, good old story from long ago.

Just to repeat, all of Dogen's many "being-time" perspective(s) and non-perspectives are not meant as philosophy, but as experiences that are each and all freeing. They are also not really original to Dogen, but found throughout Zen, Hua-yan and other Mahayana Buddhist teachings.

Dogen might say that there is a time to eat rice cakes, a time to not eat rice cakes, that all time pours in and out of eating or not eating rice cakes, and no time at all too.

Gassho, J

STLah

Yes!

Gassho
Ishin
Sat/lah