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SEPPO REJECTS A MONK 鐵笛倒吹 七十三
If you find the answer and rush to tell your teacher why are you surprised when he turns away from you, saying that is yesterday’s answer. If you want to impress your teacher paint the answer on the surface of the raging river or accept scorn with equanimity. A reflection on case 73 of the…
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YOKUSAN’S LECTURE 鐵笛倒吹 六十三
If you go to a lecture and listen carefully will you become wise? If you go to a hundred lectures are you a hundred times wiser? Where did the teacher find wisdom, did he sit in endless lectures. Watch him most carefully is he not wise with sleeping, and when eating, when he walks to…
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ECHU EXPELS A DISCIPLE 鐵笛倒吹 語十三
If you come upon Echu napping do not disturb him but retreat to the zendo or walk in the small garden where enlightenment may be found. If the search is successful leave quickly, tell no one, for it is very fragile and the tongue is sharper than the sword and infinitely more deadly. A reflection…
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YAKUSAN SOLVES A PROBLEM 鐵笛倒吹 三十三
If you want to ask of the path, do so, only without breaking the silence of the zendo. Seek the answer in a library without books, take sustenance from an empty bowl. Bodhi is a glittering gem that cannot be seen that cannot be held— do not stumble over it. A reflection on Case 33…
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3 TANKA
Antphonal songs Mockingbirds greet the morning Great Blue Herons stare imagining their voices night sweetly welcome the dawn The great temple bell awaits the morning, the monk, its daily purpose cast deep within the metal always verging on release Smoke of incense too prostrates itself to Buddha soon a morning breeze promises enlightenment or the…
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SEPPO CUTS TREES 鐵笛倒吹 二十三
Will you spend all of your time sharpening the blade or will you use it on the tree and if you strike the pith what will you say then? To speak of the sap flowing freely from the wound of the axe is utter foolishness it has no taste on the finger better to feel…
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WHERE WISDOM CANNOT REACH 正法眼蔵 語十七
The wealthy man has an ornate cup, the working man a very simple one. The poor farmer, nurturing the tea plants, has no cup and all, but for each of them the tea is the same. What is it that you taste? A reflection on Case 57 of the Shobogenzo (Dogen’s True Dhama Eye) For…
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RINZAI’S ENLIGHTENMENT 正法眼蔵 二十七
If you ask your question you will find an answer but ask another and the stick will respond each time. If you seek another teacher will you change the question or the answer, and does it matter. Take up the stick, who will you strike, your teacher or yourself, and is there any real difference?…
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KEEPING FOCUS
It is of little surprise that we find this a dizzying world, for we always try to look forward, but since the future is often vague, we try and keep one eye on the past to understand what our other eye is poorly seeing. The mind does not care to be pulled in two directions…
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QUESTIONING THE BUDDHA 無門關 三十二
Sit in utter stillness, turn away from words, let non-words wash over you, and give them no hold. The shadow of the whip will dance toward you like a cloudless sky blue and not blue – take to hoof and gallop. A reflection on case 32 of the Mumonkan (Gateless Gate) For Something Different, a…
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an old writer and his words 