Suppose a person denotes your lineage and your teacher as Buddhism unrelated to Zen, because there are several quotations from Zen patriarchs denouncing seated meditation. Would you be fine admitting that your lineage has moved away from Zen and if not, how would you respond?
The description of a food item on a dinner menu does not dictate the flavor of the dish.
What text, personal experience, quote from a master, or story from zen lore best reflects your understanding of the essence of zen?
Nansen saw the monks of the eastern and western halls fighting over a cat. He seized the cat and told the monks: `If any of you say a good word, you can save the cat.' No one answered. So Nansen boldly cut the cat in two pieces.
That evening Joshu returned and Nansen told him about this. Joshu removed his sandals and, placing them on his head, walked out.
Nansen said: `If you had been there, you could have saved the cat.'
Had Joshu been there, He would have enforced the edict oppositely. Joshua snatches the sword And Nansen begs for his life.
What do you suggest as a course of action for a student wading through a "dharma low-tide"? What do you do when it's like pulling teeth to read, bow, chant, or sit?
Don't sit.
-I am a practitioner of Zen who will answer any and all questions.
Submitted June 27, 2017 at 09:23AM by SurtrDotU http://ift.tt/2th5QUC
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