Question 1
Maneesha has asked:
OUR BELOVED MASTER,
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE ONE, MOST SIGNIFICANT ATTRIBUTE A SANNYASIN OF YOURS NEEDS?
My sannyasins don't need, Maneesha, any attribute. My perception of sannyas is to be just yourself. If I say any attribute, I am imposing that attribute on my sannyasins. My sannyas is absolute freedom. With freedom of course a great responsibility comes, but that is not my business.
There is a special event happening in the streets of Jerusalem, and there is great excitement throughout the city. Pontius and Mrs. Pilate are standing on the balcony of the palace, waving to the crowds below. They are watching as Jesus and the procession following him slowly make their way through the streets towards Crucifix Hill.
Suddenly, Jesus stumbles and he and his cross crash to the ground. The procession grinds to a standstill. Slowly, Jesus gets back on his feet, picks up the cross, and carries on.
"Pontius, did you see that?" remarks Mrs. Pilate, out of the corner of her mouth, as she continues waving with a smile plastered on her face.
"Yes, dear," replies Pontius, "I'm afraid he did it again."
"Well, I really don't care who he is," remarks Mrs. Pilate. "If he drops his cross one more time, he is out of the parade!"
In the small hours of the morning, Paddy is crawling along the street on his hands and knees. Suddenly, he notices a large pair of boots in front of him, and looking up, he sees the outline of Police Officer O'Leary.
"What is going on here?" asks the cop.
"I'm just looking for a ten-dollar bill," mumbles Paddy.
"Oh!" says O'Leary, "are you sure you lost it here?"
"Well," slobbers Paddy, "I didn't say I had lost one. I'm just looking."
Luigi gets home to Italy from his holiday in California. He is very depressed, and his friend Alfonso asks him, "What's the matter? You no like-a California?"
"Mama mia!" replies Luigi. "What a nightmare! I go-a to California and stay at the Pope and Pasta Hotel in Palm Springs. In the morning, I go-a to breakfast. I tell-a the waiter, `I want two pissis of toast.' He bring-a me only one piss.
"I say, `I want-a two piss.' He say, `Go to the bathroom.' I say, `You no understand. I wanna piss on the plate.' He say, `You no piss on the plate, you son-of-a-bitch!'
"Later, I have-a lunch. The waitress brings me a knife and a spoon, but no fock. I tell her, `I wanna fock.' She tell me, `Everyone wanna fock.' I say, `You no understand, I wanna fock on the table.' She say, `You no gonna fock on the table, you son-of-a-bitch!'
"So I go-a back to my hotel room, and there are no shits on my bed. I call-a the manager and tell him, `I wanna shit.' He say, `Go to the bathroom.' I say, `You no understand, I wanna shit on my bed.' He say, `You no gonna shit on the bed, you son-of-a-bitch!'
"So, I'm-a finished. I go-a to check out, and the man at the desk say, `Happy holidays, and peace on you.'
"I say, `Piss on you too, you son-of-a-bitch, I go-a home!'"
Now is the time. The air is clean, you have laughed and you are ready.
Nivedano...
(Drumbeat)
(Gibberish)
Nivedano...
(Drumbeat)
Be silent, close your eyes.
Feel your body to be completely frozen.
No movement.
Gather yourself in.
Just like an arrow, move deeper and deeper
within yourself.
Soon you will reach the one-hundred-foot pole
from where begins the journey into space.
Take a jump without looking back.
It is our space, it is our origin.
You are blessed.
This evening is blessed by your being a buddha,
just a pure awareness.
This awareness is your very nature;
you can forget it but you cannot lose it.
It cannot be stolen. It is your very center.
To make it clear, Nivedano...
(Drumbeat)
Relax, but go on entering
deeper and deeper into yourself.
The body remains far away, miles away,
the mind remains miles away.
You are just a silent watchfulness,
a peace that passeth understanding,
a bliss that no word can express.
An experience of eternity and immortality
which will bring you a great feeling
of dance, rejoicings, songs.
Even your silence will become a song
and your no-movement will become a dance.
Those who have known this source
have become pure love, compassion, consciousness, purity.
This is your ultimate nature.
Life is only a school to bring you to this ultimate nature. Those who remain unfortunately unaware of this grandeur of your being, this Everest of your consciousness, are really pitiable.
Feel this moment and the silence of it because you have to carry it with you twenty-four hours.
On this path there is no specific period for meditation. The whole life has to become meditation. Sitting, standing, walking; waking, sleeping, meditation continues just like a thread in a garland of flowers. It does not show up but it is there, the connecting link of each flower.
All your actions, gestures, are just like flowers, but a consciousness should run through all of them. Only then the garland is a garland; otherwise it is just a heap of flowers.
Let your life be a garland with a consciousness connecting every action, every movement, every mood, and it will bring a total transformation. You will be a new man.
Each meditation will take away something false from you and will bring some new, fresh quality.
Slowly slowly a day comes when your whole life becomes the life of a buddha.
It is not far away,
it is always within your reach.
Nivedano...
(Drumbeat)
Come back. But bring with you
the silence, the experience.
Sit down for a few minutes like a buddha.
This is your nature.
As Daio said, REMEMBER, REMEMBER!
He was referring to this experience of meditation:
REMEMBER, REMEMBER!
In twenty-four hours,
whatever you are doing it does not matter,
your remembrance should remain a continuity.
Okay, Maneesha?
Yes, Beloved Master.
Can we celebrate the gathering of the buddhas?
Next: Chapter 2: Go like an arrow
Energy Enhancement Enlightened Texts Zen The Language of Existence
Chapters
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 1: Remember, remember!
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 1: Remember, remember!, DAIO ONCE SAID TO A MONK: THE PEAK EXPERIENCE, THE FINAL ACT -- AS SOON AS YOU TRY TO PURSUE IT IN THOUGHT, THERE ARE WHITE CLOUDS FOR A THOUSAND MILES. BUT EVEN IF YOU GO BACK UPON SEEING THE MONASTERY FLAGPOLE AT A DISTANCE, OR HEAD OFF FREELY UPON SEEING A BECKONING HAND, THIS IS STILL ONLY HALF THE ISSUE; IT IS NOT YET THE STRATEGIC ACTION OF THE WHOLE CAPABILITY at energyenhancement.org
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 1: Remember, remember!, Question 1
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 1: Remember, remember!, Question 1, DAIO ONCE SAID TO A MONK: THE PEAK EXPERIENCE, THE FINAL ACT -- AS SOON AS YOU TRY TO PURSUE IT IN THOUGHT, THERE ARE WHITE CLOUDS FOR A THOUSAND MILES. BUT EVEN IF YOU GO BACK UPON SEEING THE MONASTERY FLAGPOLE AT A DISTANCE, OR HEAD OFF FREELY UPON SEEING A BECKONING HAND, THIS IS STILL ONLY HALF THE ISSUE; IT IS NOT YET THE STRATEGIC ACTION OF THE WHOLE CAPABILITY at energyenhancement.org
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 2: Go like an arrow
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 2: Go like an arrow, HAKUIN SAID: THE STUDY OF ZEN IS LIKE DRILLING WOOD TO GET FIRE. THE WISEST COURSE IS TO FORGE STRAIGHT AHEAD WITHOUT STOPPING. IF YOU REST AT THE FIRST SIGN OF HEAT, AND THEN AGAIN AS SOON AS THE FIRST WISP OF SMOKE ARISES, EVEN THOUGH YOU DRILL FOR THREE ASAMKHYEYE KALPAS, YOU WILL NEVER SEE A SPARK OF FIRE. MY NATIVE PLACE IS CLOSE TO THE SEASHORE, BARELY A FEW HUNDRED PACES FROM THE BEACH. SUPPOSE A MAN OF MY VILLAGE IS CONCERNED BECAUSE HE DOES NOT KNOW THE FLAVOR OF SEA WATER, AND WANTS TO GO AND TASTE IT FOR HIMSELF. IF HE TURNS BACK AFTER HAVING TAKEN ONLY A FEW STEPS, OR EVEN IF HE RETURNS AFTER HAVING TAKEN A HUNDRED STEPS, IN EITHER CASE WHEN WILL HE EVER KNOW THE OCEAN'S BITTER, SALTY TASTE? at energyenhancement.org
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 2: Go like an arrow, Question 1
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 2: Go like an arrow, Question 1, HAKUIN SAID, 'THE WISEST COURSE IS TO FORGE STRAIGHT AHEAD WITHOUT STOPPING.' BUT IF WE KNEW WHERE STRAIGHT AHEAD WAS, WOULD WE NEED TO WALK IT? at energyenhancement.org
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 2: Go like an arrow, Question 2
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 2: Go like an arrow, Question 2, IS NOT OUR UNCERTAINTY, OUR GROPING, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DISCOVER FOR OURSELVES WHAT IS STRAIGHT AHEAD AND WHAT IS GOING OFF TRACK? at energyenhancement.org
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 2: Go like an arrow
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 3: Seek nothing outside
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 3: Seek nothing outside, FOLLOWERS OF THE TAO, SAID RINZAI, THIS MOUNTAIN MONK'S VIEW DOES NOT DIFFER FROM THAT OF SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA. IN ALL THE VARIETY OF OUR DAILY ACTIVITIES, IS THERE ANYTHING LACKING? THE SPIRITUAL LIGHT MANIFESTING THROUGH THE SIX SENSES HAS NEVER BEEN INTERRUPTED. HE WHO IS ABLE TO PERCEIVE IT IN THIS MANNER CAN BE AN UNCONCERNED MAN FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE at energyenhancement.org
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 3: Seek nothing outside, Question 1
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 3: Seek nothing outside, Question 1, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT NIRVANA, OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT OUR MINDS DO NOT KNOW, IT IS EASY ENOUGH TO LISTEN WITHOUT THE MIND -- JUST ALLOWING YOUR WORDS TO FILTER THROUGH OUR CONSCIOUSNESS, TO USE YOUR WORDS TO MEDITATE. HOWEVER, WHEN YOU SPEAK ON AN ISSUE THAT MIGHT AFFECT OUR DAILY LIFE, IT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO LISTEN WITHOUT ENGAGING THE MIND. FOR EXAMPLE, APPARENTLY, THE OTHER NIGHT SOME OF US HEARD YOU ENDORSE DRUGS; SOME OF US HEARD YOU SAY THEY WERE OF NO HELP FOR SEEKERS. IF WE USE OUR MIND AT ALL IN LISTENING TO YOU, HAVE WE MISSED THE POINT OF SITTING HERE? at energyenhancement.org
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 3: Seek nothing outside, Question 2
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 3: Seek nothing outside, Question 2, SOMETIMES DURING MEDITATION THERE IS THE SENSATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS ARISING AND EXPANDING. IS THAT THE SAME PHENOMENON THAT IS INVOLVED IN WATCHING? at energyenhancement.org
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 4: Beyond life-and-death
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 4: Beyond life-and-death, BUKKO SAID: THE WAY OUT OF LIFE-AND-DEATH IS NOT SOME SPECIAL TECHNIQUE; THE ESSENTIAL THING IS TO SEE THROUGH TO THE ROOT OF LIFE-AND-DEATH. THAT ROOT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT FELL FROM HEAVEN OR SPRANG UP FROM EARTH. IT IS AT THE CENTER OF THE FUNCTIONING OF EVERY MAN, LIVING WITH HIS LIFE, DYING WITH HIS DEATH, BECOMING A BUDDHA, MAKING A PATRIARCH. THESE ARE ALL IN DEPENDENCE OF IT, AND ONE WHO GOES INTO ZEN HAS TO PIERCE AND BREAK THROUGH TO THIS THING at energyenhancement.org
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 4: Beyond life-and-death, Question 1
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 4: Beyond life-and-death, Question 1, I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED: LAST NIGHT WHEN YOU WERE SPEAKING OF THE SENSES, AS TRADITIONALLY CLASSIFIED, YOU DID NOT MENTION THE EIGHTH SENSE, THE SENSE OF HUMOR. WHAT HAPPENED? at energyenhancement.org
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 4: Beyond life-and-death
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 5: The gateway of the buddhas
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 5: The gateway of the buddhas, TOREI SAID: IF YOU WANT TO BE FREE FROM THIS WORLD OF SUFFERING, FIRST YOU MUST CONTEMPLATE IMPERMANENCE. THOSE WHO ARE BORN MUST INEVITABLY DIE. EVEN THE YOUNG ARE NOT EXEMPT; EVEN THE STRONG ARE IN DANGER. EVEN A LONG LIFE DOES NOT LAST MORE THAN EIGHTY YEARS OR SO. IF YOU DON'T ANNIHILATE THE NATURE OF AFFLICTIONS SOMEHOW, AND ARRIVE ON THE PATH OF LIBERATION, EVEN IF YOU ASCEND TO THE RANK OF SOVEREIGN OF A NATION, GREAT MINISTER, DEITY, SPIRIT, OR WIZARD, IT IS STILL EVANESCENT AS LIGHTNING AND MORNING DEW, LASTING ONLY FOR A WHILE at energyenhancement.org
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 5: The gateway of the buddhas, Question 1
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 5: The gateway of the buddhas, Question 1, CAN IT HELP TO CONTEMPLATE ON A CONCEPT? IF THE CONCEPT IS JUST ONE'S INTELLECTUAL UNDERSTANDING, OR SOMEONE ELSE'S INSIGHT, WHAT IS THE VALUE? AND EVEN IF IT IS OUT OF ONE'S OWN INSIGHT, WHAT IS THE POINT? -- IF YOU HAVE KNOWN IT, YOU HAVE KNOWN IT at energyenhancement.org
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 6: Be a rare person
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 6: Be a rare person, A MONK ASKED BANKEI, 'THE ANCESTRAL TEACHERS SINCE ANCIENT TIMES WERE GREATLY ENLIGHTENED THROUGH DIFFICULT AND PAINFUL PRACTICES. I HAVE HEARD THAT YOU, TOO, ACCOMPLISHED THE GREAT TEACHING THROUGH VARIOUS DIFFICULT PRACTICES. BUT FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME, WHO DON'T CULTIVATE PRACTICE, AND ARE NOT ENLIGHTENED, JUST REALIZING THAT MY VERY STATE IS THE UNBORN, ENLIGHTENED NO-MIND DOES NOT REALLY SETTLE ANYTHING.' at energyenhancement.org
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 6: Be a rare person, Question 1
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 6: Be a rare person, Question 1, I HAVE MET SOMEONE WITH ENLIGHTENED EYES WHO DOES NOT JUST BRING US WATER TO DRINK, BUT SHOWERS US WITH IT. AND YET, AND YET.... ARE WE SO NEUROTIC, SO COMPLEX, SO FAR REMOVED FROM INNOCENCE, THAT WE CAN ONLY RECEIVE THAT FOR WHICH WE HAVE SUFFERED? at energyenhancement.org
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 6: Be a rare person
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 7: Now you have it
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 7: Now you have it, TOZAN SAID: THE TEACHING OF THUSNESS HAS BEEN INTIMATELY COMMUNICATED BY BUDDHAS AND PATRIARCHS. NOW YOU HAVE IT, SO KEEP IT WELL. FILLING A SILVER BOWL WITH SNOW, HIDING A HERON IN THE MOONLIGHT -- WHEN YOU ARRAY THEM, THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. WHEN YOU MIX THEM, YOU KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. THE MEANING IS NOT IN THE WORDS, YET IT RESPONDS TO THE INQUIRING IMPULSE. IF YOU ARE EXCITED, IT BECOMES A PITFALL; IF YOU MISS IT, YOU FALL INTO RETROSPECTIVE HESITATION at energyenhancement.org
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 7: Now you have it, Question 1
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 7: Now you have it, Question 1, THOSE DIAMOND THUNDERBOLTS YOU HURTLE AROUND YOU WHEN YOU DANCE WITH US EACH EVENING -- AT THE RATE WE'RE GOING, SOMEONE COULD BE KNOCKED CONSCIOUS! BUT PLEASE, DON'T STOP! at energyenhancement.org
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 8: Please, settle for no-self
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 8: Please, settle for no-self, BUKKO SAID: IT MAY BE ASKED, HOW IS THE SELF TO BE APPROACHED? BY LOOKING INTO IT THROUGH THIS SORT OF INQUIRY: FORTY YEARS AGO, WHERE DID IT COME FROM; AND A HUNDRED YEARS HENCE, WHERE WILL IT HAVE GONE TO? AND RIGHT NOW, WHO IS THE PERSON WHO IS MAKING THE INQUIRY? THAT TRUE FACE WHICH WAS BEFORE FATHER AND MOTHER WERE BORN, WHERE IS IT RIGHT NOW? WHEN SUDDENLY ONE DAY THE LIGHT OF LIFE, NOW SO BRILLIANT, WILL BE WITHDRAWN, WHERE DOES IT GO TO? at energyenhancement.org
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 8: Please, settle for no-self, Question 1
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 8: Please, settle for no-self, Question 1, LATELY I HAVE FELT AWARE THAT WE ARE JUST BIG VACUUMS, EMPTINESSES, WALKING AROUND WITH A FACADE OF PERSONALITY THAT DOES THINGS AND THINKS THOUGHTS. BUT BUKKO TALKS OF 'APPROACHING THE SELF.' IS THE SELF ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT SENSE OF EMPTINESS? ARE THE QUESTIONS JUST A MEANS TO DISCOVER THERE IS NO SELF? at energyenhancement.org
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 8: Please, settle for no-self
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 9: Lovers of tao
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 9: Lovers of tao, RINZAI SAID: FOLLOWERS OF THE TAO, I AM TALKING ONLY ABOUT THAT WHICH IS DISTINCTLY SOLITARY AND BRIGHT, AND IS LISTENING TO MY EXPOUNDING OF THE DHARMA. THIS ONE KNOWS NO OBSTRUCTIONS AND IS OMNIPRESENT IN THE THREE WORLDS OF EXISTENCE IN THE TEN DIRECTIONS OF SPACE. IT CAN FREELY AND COMFORTABLY ENTER ALL THE DIFFERENT STATES, WITHOUT BEING INFECTED BY THEM. IN THE SHORTEST INSTANT, IT WILL PENETRATE DEEPLY INTO THE DHARMA-DHATU WHERE IT WILL TALK ABOUT BUDDHAS, WHEN MEETING BUDDHAS; ABOUT PATRIARCHS, WHEN MEETING PATRIARCHS; ABOUT ARHATS, WHEN MEETING ARHATS, AND ABOUT HUNGRY GHOSTS, WHEN MEETING HUNGRY GHOSTS at energyenhancement.org
- Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 9: Lovers of tao, Question 1
Talks on Zen, The Language of Existence Chapter 9: Lovers of tao, Question 1, LANGUAGE IS USUALLY ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION OR TRANSFER OF IDEAS; AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF MOST RELIGIONS SEEMS TO BE THAT ONE DOES NOT NEED TO BE GIVEN SOMETHING. HOWEVER, ZEN IS DIFFERENT IN THAT IT APPEARS TO BE SAYING ONE ONLY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ONE ALREADY HAS. IS THIS WHY YOU HAVE CALLED ZEN 'THE LANGUAGE OF EXISTENCE'? at energyenhancement.org