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Thread: Twirling

  1. #1

    Twirling

    In Shobogenzo Udonge, Dogen writes something like this:

    This being so, because the World-honored Gautama is now put- ting his body into flowers and has shrouded his body in space, we call being able to grasp nostrils, and call having grasped space, “the twirling of flowers.” Twirling flowers are twirled by eyes, twirled by mind-consciousness, twirled by nostrils, and twirled by flowers twirling. In general, the mountains, rivers, and the earth; the sun and moon, the wind and rain; people, ani- mals, grass, and trees—the miscellaneous things of the present displaying themselves here and there—are just the twirling of the uḍumbara flower. Living-and-dying and going-and-coming are also a miscellany of flowers and the brightness of flowers. Our learning in practice like this in the present is the continuing process of twirling flowers.
    Twirling, dynamic and playful twirling of the Wheel
    Toying with a flower of Vulture Peak
    Buddha turns and twirls reality as is
    From the most distant galaxy
    To the very color of your eyes.
    Twisted twirling vines
    Treasure trail to tramp
    One, two, three, four
    Flowers don't make Spring
    Spring cannot be painted
    But risen
    But in being
    It soaks the bones with
    Subtle fragrance
    It cannot
    Even be seen
    Whirling away
    As ourselves

    Three pai

    Taigu
    Last edited by Taigu; 01-13-2014 at 01:17 AM.

  2. #2

  3. #3
    Hello,

    Smiling.

    Thank you.


    Gassho,
    Myosha
    "Recognize suffering, remove suffering." - Shakyamuni Buddha when asked, "Uhm . . .what?"

  4. #4
    Please forgive me and my ignorance but I just can't seem to make sense of it nor do I understand the metaphor. If possible Taigu, can you give me a bit of an explanation on the meaning.

    My utmost gratefulness

    Gassho
    Victor

  5. #5
    Hi Victor,

    Thank you for your request and taking the time to read this.

    Why don't you read Udonge and Baike both in volume 3 of Mike Cross and Nishijima translation?
    Why don't you stop to get it with your head?
    Why not giving up this idea that this a metaphor than one can explain?

    You see, here, we don"t ( at least I don't) explain metaphor, we put them into practice.
    this text of Dogen and my clumsy poetry are talking about the timeless transmission between Bouddha and Mahakashyapa on Vulture Peak. It happens now. Here and now where you stand! There is nothing to explain. OPEN YOUR EYES!!!

    gassho

    Taigu

  6. #6
    What Taigu says about metaphor reminds me of Ryokan's words:

    With no-mind, blossoms invite the butterfly;
    With no-mind, the butterfly visits the blossoms.
    When the flower blooms, the butterfly comes;
    When the butterfly comes, the flower blooms.......
    Ryokan
    Thank you Taigu
    Gassho
    Taikyo

  7. #7
    Thanks a lot for this, Taigu, your poetry always amazes me!

    @Victor:
    Zen is more about finding out for oneself. Our teachers help us with this endeavour.
    This is contrary to the Western way of teaching.

    These teachings are beyond words, as IT is beyond words and the thinking mind. It's all practice, dancing and poetry...

    Gassho,

    Timo/Daitetsu
    no thing needs to be added

  8. #8
    Hello Victor,

    there is, as Timo says. dancing and poetry in Zen but I can understand that you feel you might be helped by some pointers.
    Taigu's guiding towards the source (the inspiration in a sense) is a good place to start.

    I was afraid of Shobogenzo - even to begin reading the text - when I first joined here. As Taigu and Jundo teach - open your heart rather than your mind to the words - the mind will eventually follow from its own accord.

    from Shobogenzo : On the Udumbara Blossom


    'The Udumbara blossom signifies the natural opening up of one's heart'


    Beautiful don't you think?




    Willow

  9. #9
    Thank you, Taigu!

    Pulled by the nostrils. Much like the ring in the nose of the Ox.

    Gassho,
    William/Juki
    "First you have to give up." Tyler Durden

  10. #10
    Mp
    Guest
    Beautiful Taigu, thank you! Spring comes, grass grows, all by itself. =)

    Gassho
    Shingen

  11. #11
    Quote Originally Posted by Taigu View Post
    this text of Dogen and my clumsy poetry are talking about the timeless transmission between Bouddha and Mahakashyapa on Vulture Peak. It happens now. Here and now where you stand!
    Nothing clumsy about it... it's all fresh and crispy

    Thank you, Taigu.

    Gassho

    Vincent
    Ongen (音源) - Sound Source

  12. #12
    Hi Taigu,

    Thank you very much for getting back to me. I will definitely find and read what you suggested.

    I appreciate the pointer.

    Gassho
    Victor

    Quote Originally Posted by Daitetsu View Post
    Thanks a lot for this, Taigu, your poetry always amazes me!

    @Victor:
    Zen is more about finding out for oneself. Our teachers help us with this endeavour.
    This is contrary to the Western way of teaching.

    These teachings are beyond words, as IT is beyond words and the thinking mind. It's all practice, dancing and poetry...

    Gassho,

    Timo/Daitetsu
    Quote Originally Posted by willow View Post
    Hello Victor,

    there is, as Timo says. dancing and poetry in Zen but I can understand that you feel you might be helped by some pointers.
    Taigu's guiding towards the source (the inspiration in a sense) is a good place to start.

    I was afraid of Shobogenzo - even to begin reading the text - when I first joined here. As Taigu and Jundo teach - open your heart rather than your mind to the words - the mind will eventually follow from its own accord.

    from Shobogenzo : On the Udumbara Blossom


    'The Udumbara blossom signifies the natural opening up of one's heart'


    Beautiful don't you think?




    Willow
    I also appreciate both of your help and sharing of the understanding of the practice.

    Gassho
    Victor.

  13. #13
    Taigu,
    That was beautiful. Thank you!

    Gassho,
    Entai / Bill

    泰 Entai (Bill)
    "this is not a dress rehearsal"

  14. #14
    Kyotai
    Guest
    Your not alone Victor. My block-like brain does not seem to compute the simplest of poetry.

    Gassho

    Shawn

  15. #15
    Pulled, kicking and screaming; but eventually we let go to join the dance. TWIRLING LIKE A FLOWER OPENING ITS HEART
    _/\_

    Sent from my Note 2 using Tapatalk4
    合掌,生開
    gassho, Shokai

    仁道 生開 / Jindo Shokai

    "Open to life in a benevolent way"

    https://sarushinzendo.wordpress.com/

  16. #16
    Twirling and twirling;
    When the cyclone stops spinning,
    Where does the wind go?

  17. #17
    Read with your hear.

    See with your butt.

    Listen with your hands.

    But feel with your soul.

    Thank you, Taigu.

    Gassho,

    Kyonin
    Hondō Kyōnin
    奔道 協忍

  18. #18
    Quote Originally Posted by zen_rook View Post
    Your not alone Victor. My block-like brain does not seem to compute the simplest of poetry.

    Gassho

    Shawn
    Yes, I am too very dense when it gets to poetry . Could be one reason why I struggled in poetry literature course.

    Gassho
    Victor

  19. #19
    Joyo
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by zen_rook View Post
    Your not alone Victor. My block-like brain does not seem to compute the simplest of poetry.

    Gassho

    Shawn
    Um, yeah, count me in there too please. It does get a bit easier, in time, though.

    Gassho,
    Joyo

  20. #20
    It does; something clicks. Just relax and enjoy the perseverance of practice

    gassho, Shokai
    合掌,生開
    gassho, Shokai

    仁道 生開 / Jindo Shokai

    "Open to life in a benevolent way"

    https://sarushinzendo.wordpress.com/

  21. #21
    This moment. These flowers.
    Gassho
    Myozan

  22. #22
    Very lovely, Taigu. Just as it is. C:

    Gassho
    Javier

  23. #23
    Gassho.
    Heisoku 平 息
    Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home. (Basho)

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