Kodo Sawaki on Satori

[Jundo]

"He is in such a hurry that he starts to run inside the train that is carrying him home." That's a keeper.

Gassho
ST-lah
Shoki

For the one quote, I would perhaps just remind dear Sawaki Roshi: This runner may realize that train is already home, always has been, even as it (life) keeps moving forward. The train moving is the runner's just running and moving, the runner in "practice-enlightenment" training! Our practice is to keep it moving in a good direction, and on the rails. 　

Gassho, J

STLah

[Jundo]

What is the difference between satori and kensho?
Dave
SAT/LAH

Well, this depends who is being asked, and how they use these terms. The Japanese verb "satoru" simply means to know (profoundly), to understand. "Kensho" means to see the nature/essence." So, really the same. Any awareness of the softening or dropping of the self/other divide is so, whether in a moment or more subtly deep in the bones.

However, in some Rinzai and mixed Soto-Rinzai lineages, "Kensho" often means a one off momentary experience of the complete and timeless interpenetration and inter-identity of all things and every thing. They can be very deep or light as a glimpse, and we sometimes can have such momentless moments in Shikantaza Zazen too.

However, both for the Rinzai folks and the Soto, such momentary experiences are not the stopping point, as we must continue to live gently and in awareness on the moving train of life, keeping it in a good direction and on the rails!

(sorry to run long)

Gassho, J

STLah

[Shonin]

Dave
SAT/LAH

[Shujin]

Thank you for sharing, Jundo. Kodo Sawaki seems to have the wonderful, grandparent quality of being harsh yet caring. There are precious few like him in our lives.

Gassho,
Shujin

st.

[Nengei]

We don't experience satori because of our practice. The "practice" itself IS satori. Each single step we make is the goal.

I am filled with gratitude for these teachings. The process is the goal.

Gassho,
Nengei
Sat today. LAH.

[Jundo]

By the way, I am sure as pie that there is a missing word in the last quote, and there should be a "no" ... so I put it back in:

Buddhism is boundless. Unless you understand this boundlessness, you won't understand Buddhism. By the way, when we talk about “understanding” or “not understanding” we completely miss the point of boundlessness. That is why there can be [no] illusion outside of satori, and no satori outside of illusion.

However, it really does not matter for sometimes one is only aware of the relative, sometimes there is only the absolute, sometimes one or the other is stronger, sometimes these perfectly identi-penetrate, and sometimes all idea of bother just drops away.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Suuko]

It was such a great teaching. It reminds me of a comic on Master Dogen where the latter mentioned that Sitting is enlightenment and he was very unpopular because of it at that time.

Gassho,
Sat today
Lah,
Guish.

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[Tairin]

To practice the Buddha way means: The Buddha way - put into practice.

Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Gram]

In Zazen I notice that which is Always and Aready here . . .

Gassho

Gram

Satoday

[Kaishin]

Trying to become a buddha by doing zazen reminds me of someone who is in a hurry to get back home: He is in such a hurry that he starts to run inside the train that is carrying him home.

This one struck me. What a great metaphor, and reminded me of another train reference that I bookmarked in the new "Discovering the True Self" book. I find it to be a comforting thought:

All-knowing wisdom is to realize that there are no cracks through which we will slip from Buddhahood. The night train carries us even when we are asleep.

-satToday

[Kyōsen]

Very kind of him to express this so clearly, directly, and thoroughly.

There is nothing to attain, and there is no non-attainment.

Gassho
Kyōsen
Sat|LAH