BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 48

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  • Jundo
    Treeleaf Founder and Priest
    • Apr 2006
    • 41694

    BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 48

    Case 47 never ends, yet now comes ...

    Case 48: Vimalakirt's Nonduality

    The Book of Equanimity contains the first-ever complete English language commentary on one of the most beloved classic collections of Zen teaching stories (koans), making them vividly relevant to spiritual seekers and Zen students in the twenty-first century. Continually emphasizing koans as effective tools to discover and experience the deepest truths of our being, Wick brings the art of the koan to life for those who want to practice wisdom in their daily lives. The koan collection Wick explores here is highly esteemed as both literature and training material in the Zen tradition, in which koan-study is one of two paths a practitioner might take. This collection is used for training in many Zen centers in the Americas and in Europe but has never before been available with commentary from a contemporary Zen master. Wick's Book of Equanimity includes new translations of the preface, main case and verse for each koan, and modern commentaries on the koans by Wick himself.


    What can be said about this Koan. Here is my comment:
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    And yet, true Nonduality includes this ...



    and this ...



    and this ...



    and these words too ...



    ... when properly heard.

    - Any big questions in your life totally dissolve by silence? Do you know how to speak words filled with silence?

    Please say something or just stay silent.


    Gassho, J

    SatToday!
    Last edited by Jundo; 12-14-2014, 05:18 AM.
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE
  • Myosha
    Member
    • Mar 2013
    • 2974

    #2
    Holding life is as good as nothing.

    (Warning: this is a personal opinion and in no way should be shared as the universal joy of receiving your child directly after birth.)

    Or not.


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

    Comment

    • Byokan
      Senior Priest-in-Training
      • Apr 2014
      • 4282

      #3
      See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence;
      see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...


      - Mother Teresa
      Gassho
      Lisa
      sat today
      展道 渺寛 Tendō Byōkan
      Please take my words with a big grain of salt. I know nothing. Wisdom is only found in our whole-hearted practice together.

      Comment

      • Kyonin
        Dharma Transmitted Priest
        • Oct 2010
        • 6754

        #4
        All questions find an answer when I just sit and pay attention to the Silence.

        After a while it all makes sense and there's no need to seek any longer.

        Zazen.

        Gassho,

        Kyonin
        #SatToday
        Hondō Kyōnin
        奔道 協忍

        Comment

        • RichardH
          Member
          • Nov 2011
          • 2800

          #5
          inspiration from thin air

          self same

          gone before it came


          Gassho
          Daizan

          sat today

          Comment

          • Risho
            Member
            • May 2010
            • 3178

            #6
            What is nonduality? If it is beyond knowing or not knowing, silence or sound, how do we know it?

            Gassho

            Risho
            Email: risho.treeleaf@gmail.com

            Comment

            • Jundo
              Treeleaf Founder and Priest
              • Apr 2006
              • 41694

              #7
              Originally posted by Risho
              What is nonduality? If it is beyond knowing or not knowing, silence or sound, how do we know it?

              Gassho

              Risho
              Is that a question? Is that a declaration!

              Replace some of those ? with !. That is how Dogen often used "interrogative" words to step through silence and sound.

              WHAT'S WHAT
              . Today's talk (WHAT) was presented (WHEN) during our August Zazenkai (WHERE) at Treeleaf Sangha by (WHO) Jundo ... 4-Hour AUGUST ZAZENKAI (http://www.treeleaf.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4069) ... and (HOW) riffs on this WHY Koan from the Book of Serenity ... WHY indeed! Sometimes what appears a QUESTION is truly


              Gassho, J
              ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

              Comment

              • Risho
                Member
                • May 2010
                • 3178

                #8
                Ok I know this is about silence, but if I'm silent I'm not really being silent like Vimalakirti; I'm just imitating his response and really just being silent out of ignorance. This koan got me because it showed how I'm looking for an answer impatiently.

                At first I was asking to get an answer... some "point", then when you asked back, I realized it just has to be asked.... If that makes any sense.

                Gassho,

                Risho
                -sattoday
                Email: risho.treeleaf@gmail.com

                Comment

                • Jika
                  Member
                  • Jun 2014
                  • 1336

                  #9
                  What gets me is the "speak words filled with silence" task.
                  Before and beyond words, there are no and all questions, no and all answers, ends without beginning meet.
                  It just does not make sense to ask, because there is noone asking someone a question.
                  But once "I" try to speak , it is like a flower growing everywhere in everything, but you can't put it in a vase.
                  Beautiful, but weird.

                  Gassho,
                  Danny
                  #sattoday

                  This sounds so stupid.
                  Last edited by Jika; 12-17-2014, 04:02 PM.
                  治 Ji
                  花 Ka

                  Comment

                  • Byokan
                    Senior Priest-in-Training
                    • Apr 2014
                    • 4282

                    #10
                    Hi Danny,

                    I’m a big fan of this kind of stupid. I’m new to koans, but I think the last thing you want to do is come up with some big smart answer. I really struggle to turn my analyzing mind off with a koan, and just feel into it. It puts you in a very vulnerable position, and then trying to share your experience with others by posting can feel like being overly exposed. I want to write “This sounds so stupid” every time I post on Treeleaf! But this is the beauty of Sangha... I’m starting to trust you guys to let me say something beautiful, but weird, and maybe stupid.

                    I’ve learned in my old age that if I’m in a situation where I feel kind of stupid, and don’t know the right words to use, and have no idea what comes next... I’m probably learning something. I used to avoid situations like that, because it was uncomfortable, but now I’m more willing to allow it and enjoy it. Maybe this is the beginning of beginners mind.


                    Sorry, this really does sound so stupid! Words are usually inferior to silence. Nice flower.

                    Gassho
                    Lisa
                    sat today
                    展道 渺寛 Tendō Byōkan
                    Please take my words with a big grain of salt. I know nothing. Wisdom is only found in our whole-hearted practice together.

                    Comment

                    • Meishin
                      Member
                      • May 2014
                      • 891

                      #11
                      and nice weeds.

                      Gassho
                      John
                      sat today

                      Comment

                      • Jika
                        Member
                        • Jun 2014
                        • 1336

                        #12
                        Thank you, Lisa. For trusting and saying.
                        Yes, John, but I did not delete
                        - so the flower's in the weed.

                        Gassho,
                        Danny
                        #sattoday
                        治 Ji
                        花 Ka

                        Comment

                        • Jundo
                          Treeleaf Founder and Priest
                          • Apr 2006
                          • 41694

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Danny B
                          What gets me is the "speak words filled with silence" task.
                          Before and beyond words, there are no and all questions, no and all answers, ends without beginning meet.
                          It just does not make sense to ask, because there is noone asking someone a question.
                          But once "I" try to speak , it is like a flower growing everywhere in everything, but you can't put it in a vase.
                          Beautiful, but weird.

                          Gassho,
                          Danny
                          #sattoday

                          This sounds so stupid.
                          Weird but so beautiful.

                          Gassho, J

                          SatToday
                          ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

                          Comment

                          • Heisoku
                            Member
                            • Jun 2010
                            • 1338

                            #14
                            The silent moon in a silent dewdrop!

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

                            Comment

                            • Ongen
                              Member
                              • Jan 2014
                              • 786

                              #15
                              Nice flower indeed, Lisa. Thank you
                              Gassho
                              Vincent


                              Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
                              Ongen (音源) - Sound Source

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