Originally Posted by
Byokan
Hi All,
Jundo, thank you for this, it was very helpful in approaching this snake. I find this koan to be very joyful. It feels to me as a moment of shared understanding between two dharma friends, and even a playful celebration of the Dharma. Most times I just kind of 'feel into' koans, but for some reason I felt like looking at this one line by line. Apologies for the length of this, you certainly can just read the very last line down there at the end and skip everything in between, I wouldn't blame you one bit. Here’s how I kind of generally understand their words. This is a vast over-simplification but here goes:
How about when a student proceeds on the trail?
What happens when one sets out upon the path of practice?
The dead snake hits the great road.
You will come upon Emptiness. You will meet your True Self. There’s nothing else out there.
I advise you not to bump into it.
Try to refrain from making distinctions.
When it’s bumped into, then what?
What happens when we meet our true selves?
You lose your life!
Realizing the truth of No-Self is losing your life.
When it’s not bumped into, then what?
What if we don’t meet our true self?
There’s no place to dodge to.
Sorry, you can’t avoid it. It is everywhere and everywhen.
At that very moment, then what?
What happens when this truth is realized?
It has been lost.
It -- you -- truth -- Emptiness -- cannot be located. In the moment it is realized it expands and contains everything. All and Nothing manifest simultaneously with no separation.
I wonder where it’s gone.
This wondering is chasing It with words and ideas and thoughts.
The grass is so deep there’s no place to seek.
Thoughts and concepts like weeds springing up all over.
Shield yourself Osho! Then you’ll be alright!
Hey, look out, we’re doing it right now, trying to capture it in words!
Your poison is equal to mine!
You’re a pretty smart cookie.
I like to think these two monks end this conversation laughing together!
I know it’s very silly to try to do a line-by-line reading for something that cannot really be pinned down that way. What they’re talking about is so alive and present. As piercing and acute as a snake bite. Strange and wonderful indeed! I haven’t even begun to capture it. Oh well, I’m happy to fail and make a fool of myself.
I’m actually very moved by this verse and think it fits in nicely with the main case. It’s poetry so I may not make much sense, but I will share with you how I feel this:
The ferryman in darkness turns the rudder.
The lone boat at night turns its bow.
We are the ferrymen of our boats. No one turns the rudder but ourselves. We all must constantly maintain a right direction. This puts me in mind of vow and repentance. Constantly re-orienting. Not toward some goal we can see; we may not even be able to see just where we’re headed. Our compass only shows the direction, the way, not a destination. We have to have faith in the compass. Trust in the Buddha, Dharma, Sangha. Sincere practice moves us in the right direction.
The snow of both banks’ reed flowers intermingle.
I’m envisioning white reed flowers that look like snow. The two banks seem to represent duality. This speaks to me of illusion and delusion.
Smoky waters veil the autumn of one river.
I picture a misty haze over the water... Where is the dividing line between the mist and the water? They are one of course. The water comes forward as the mist, the mist drips back into the water. Maybe smoky waters are ignorance that keeps us from seeing clearly, seeing the true state of things.
Wind power helping the sail; going without poling.
We steer our boat carefully, but we can also relax and allow it to move forward and flow naturally with the wind and the current. We don’t need to force our way. Let our boat become one with the river.
Flute notes calling the moon; sailing down to Paradise.
Who is playing this flute? I like to think, on this night, maybe no one. Flutes are made of reeds... We know it is autumn... The reeds will be drying out... Maybe the flute music is just the wind blowing in the reeds. Just nature taking its course and everything doing what it does. This is the music that calls the moon. Maybe the moon is enlightenment, maybe it is just the beautiful moon over the river on a quiet and peaceful night. Paradise.
Okay, thank you for reading all this if you made it this far. Too many words for something that is beyond words. I really appreciate everyone sharing their thoughts and insights here, it’s very helpful.
Gassho
Byōkan
sat today