Case 42 from the Denkoroku

excerpt from:
Right There Where You're Standing
A Dharma Talk by
Zenkei Blanche Hartman

Quote:

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As they stand together in the Dharma Hall, the attendant opens for the Master this venerable patchwork robe. The old sage turns and whispers,

"What is really going on beneath this ragged robe?"

The successor, deeply prepared for the transmission of light, remains poised in silence. Intensely, the master continues to whisper,

"To study and practice the Buddha way without reaching what is beneath the robe creates the greatest pain. Please ask me the question."

The successor repeats the sage's words,

"What is really going on beneath this robe?"

With almost no sound, the Zen Master responds,

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Quote:

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Immediately the successor awakens, places the ceremonial robe over the shoulders of his master, and performs three prostrations of gratitude, abundant tears soaking his own upper robe.

Master: "You have now greatly awakened, but can you express it?"

Successor: "Yes."

Master: "What is going on beneath this robe of transmission?"

Successor: "Deep intimacy."

Master: "And even deeper intimacy."

What is this intimacy? It begins with yourself...becoming completely intimate with yourself. Through this intimacy with yourself, the possibility of being intimate with another arises. Because he was so intimate with himself, Suzuki Roshi could meet me completely when I bowed to him, and jump up and bow back to me, before I even knew it. When I was remembering that moment, I had this deep pain, wondering, will I ever be able to meet anyone as completely as he met me?

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http://www.intrex.net/chzg/Hartman2.htm

G,W

Here Zenkei Blanche Hartman mentions "intimacy with the self."

I don't think this fully gets to the point. Where does Shunryu end and the sky begin? There is no self to be intimate with in the first place. When Shunryu speaks, the sky speaks. Nothing to call your own.

G,W

Good point. That "suchness in the moment" has a feeling of intimacy about it, for sure.
Nice way to describe it!