When Caoshan took leave of Dongshan, Dongshan asked, "Where are you going?" Caoshan replied, "To an unchanging place." Dongshan retorted, "If it is an unchanging place, how could there be any going?" Caoshan replied, "The going is also unchanging."
Were these not realized people? You make thought one extreme and nonthinking another extreme; you make the unspoken outside of the spoken—even if you understand the unspoken clearly, as soon as words are spoken they block you.
Why not study Zen in this way—walk, stand, sit, and recline all day long without ever walking, standing, sitting, or reclining.
Sometimes seekers come here, utter a phrase, and clap their hands; how does this amount to an understanding beyond dualistic extremes?
You should think in this way: "Clearly I am in the midst of birth and death; how can I get free of birth and death?" Don't say this itself is It, that you basically have no birth or death. It is not realized by your uttering this statement.
There are those who hear someone say there is no birth and death, and immediately say, "Right! There is originally no birth or death!" If you make your interpretation in this way, it will be impossible to understand.
Since it does not admit of rationalization and contrived understanding, and does not admit of being explained away, how can you work on it? An ancient said, "I only use what you bring me to point out an entryway to you." Take Care.
Zen is a matter of life and death. That it is life changing is a minor side affect.
I've been on a killing spree. Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.
Submitted September 11, 2020 at 03:57PM by sje397 https://ift.tt/32lsOKN
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