I wanted to share an OP on Joshu but wasn't 100% sure where I wanted to go with it, but in my last post, ewk gave a little nudge that I thought was a great idea. Thanks to the grumpy old dharma brother, I submit my little study up to your collective awls and chisels.
Cases addressing common misconceptions about Zen held by people who haven't studied Zhaozhou.
Here are the three I've chosen:
A monk asked, "What is the Dharmakaya?" Joshu said, "The Nirmanakaya." The monk said "I'm not asking about the Nirmanakaya." Joshu replied, "Just pay attention to the Nirmanakaya."
Note: The Dharmakaya: The universal aspect of the three bodies of the Buddha. The Nirmanakaya: The material world of changing forms.
A monk asks, "What is the Dharma?" The master said, "Ch'ih-ch'ih she-she."
Note: A saying in China during Taoist new year ceremonies to drive out evil spirits. Where is the evil spirit? Why is he driving it out?
A monk asked Joshu, "How can great difficulties be avoided?" The master said, "Well come!"
Note: Great difficulties aren't to be avoided. People who haven't really studied Zen think it's an escape from difficulty and the mundane.
Cases which most directly challenge modern students of Zhaozhou
A monk asked "During the twenty-four hours, how is mind put to use?" The master replied, "You are used by the twenty-four hours, I use the twenty-four hours. Which of these 'times' are you talking about?"
Note: You think you aren't used by the hours? Does the morning alarm clock make a liar out of you?
A monk asked, "What is an imbecile?" The master said "I'm not as good as you." The monk said, "I'm not trying to be anything." Joshu said, "Why are you an imbecile?"
Note: "I'm not trying to be anything" sounds a lot like something you'd hear here in the forum.
"What about it when the hermit Timu took hold of Shan-tsai's hand and an ethereal Buddha appeared to him?" a monk asked. The master took hold of his hand and said, "What do you see?"
Note: I don't want to know your answer.
Cases which are most likely to be misunderstood, or not understood at all.
A monk asked, "What is the depth of the deep?" Joshu replied, "What depth of the deep should I talk about, the 7 of 7, or the 8 of 8?"
Note: I don't understand it.
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.' Joshu removed his sandals and, placing them on his head, walked out.
Note: Seems to me that this is not to be understood.
A monk asked, "The solitary moon in the sky, from where does its light emanate?" The master said, "From where does the moon emanate?"
Note: You can't say you understand where the moon emanates from.
Submitted November 21, 2019 at 08:31PM by NorthStarIV https://ift.tt/2O5zXYt
No comments:
Post a Comment