On to the EIGHTH TALK in Suzuki Roshi's talks on the Sandokai ... "WITHIN LIGHT THERE IS UTTER DARKNESS", pages 111 to 120.

You will probably notice that there is a big cultural difference here, for in the West (and in Christianity) "Darkness" is usually associated with "ignorance" or even "evil" (as in "Force of Darkness" or "Dark Ages"). Well, the meaning in the Sandokai is certainly NOT THAT! :twisted: I assure you (this is not some closeted Satanic lingo here ... though Buddhism gets accused of that ANYWAY in some Christian circles). The opposite meaning really. But some folks can't help but associate "dark" with a negative and shadowy implication, cause we are raised with that association.

Please also try to listen to Zoketsu Norm Fischer on this section ... I think he makes Suzuki Roshi's sometimes opaque talk a bit clearer ...

http://www.everydayzen.org/index.php?It ... io-352-217


Gassho, Jundo