Question 1
Maneesha has asked:
OUR BELOVED MASTER,
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"?
Maneesha, you are right. Zen has nothing to give to you, but has something to take away -- your personality, your mask, your false identities. Zen has to rip you away, so that only the existence, pure existence remains unpolluted in you. It does not bother about philosophizing. Its concern is experiencing, its concern is existential. That's why I have called it "the language of existence." All other languages are man's languages -- for purposes of the mediocre and for purposes of the marketplace. Zen is not a marketplace phenomenon. It needs a tremendous courage to enter into one's own existence, leaving everything that one values so much.
It does not want you to renounce the world, it simply wants you to renounce yourself, and just let the existence express and radiate through you. The Zen master, or buddha, does not speak, he only allows existence to sing its song. The buddha is just a flute, a bamboo with holes. Existence can sing any song that it wants; the flute does not interfere. The flute allows existence to commune with those who are capable of listening to the music that is flowing through it.
Rinzai has been a very serious trip. My understanding of Zen is that it is full of laughter and giggles. It is not a serious concern at all.
History records many examples of people in restaurants who have found flies in their soup. Professor Dingleberry, a world famous authority, has run a survey on the international situation; his findings are revealing.
In America, if a diner finds a fly in his soup, he sends the dish back and complains to the manager.
In English restaurants, the fly is carefully removed between finger and thumb, placed on the table, and then politely ignored for the rest of the meal.
In France, the fly-finder consumes the soup, but pushes the fly to the side of the plate.
In Scotland, the fly is lifted forcibly out of the soup and squeezed over the plate, then dropped to the ground and trodden into the carpet.
The Chinese consume the fly with one swallow, and then wash it down with the soup.
In Jewish restaurants, particularly in New York, the diner immediately sends for the manager and complains, "Is this all I get, just one fly?"
Captain Cartwright Num-Nuts, the astute commander of the latest electronic miracle battleship, the U.S.S. Turkey Shoot, proudly scans the horizon for smoke. He is standing on the deck of his observation tower, on board ship.
The Turkey Shoot is floating a few miles from the coast of Florida, and Num-Nuts has just commanded the destruction of a mysterious aircraft flying too nearby.
What he does not know is that he has just shot down the latest multi-billion dollar American rocket launched to explore Mars.
Captain Num-Nuts strides proudly up and down the deck, sniffing the salt air and whistling the Turkey Shoot battle song, to celebrate his uncanny marksmanship.
Suddenly, an aide comes running up to the captain. "Here is a special message from the admiral, sir," reports the sailor.
"Read it to me, my son," says Num-Nuts, puffing out his chest, and gazing towards the horizon.
"But, sir," says the sailor, "it is addressed to you personally."
"Just read it to me," snaps back Captain Num-Nuts.
The sailor reads, "Of all the blundering, stupid, idiotic morons, you take the cake!"
Captain Num-Nuts shifts his gaze to the sailor and pauses. Then he says, "Have that decoded at once!"
Luscious Miss Willing starts her new job as a waitress in the Goatburger Cafe.
She approaches a table where Kowalski and Zabriski are sitting after just finishing their meal. She leans over and, cleaning away the plates, asks, "What would you gentlemen like for dessert?"
"Uh, I would like raisin cake," stammers Zabriski, noticing her full, white breasts.
"Okay," she says, turning to Kowalski and leaning all the way over, exposing her beautiful tits. "And is yours raisin, too?"
"Well," says Kowalski, looking down at the napkin on his lap. "Yup, mine is raisin' too!"
Now, Nivedano...
(Drumbeat)
(Gibberish)
Nivedano...
(Drumbeat)
Be silent. Close your eyes.
Feel your body to be completely frozen.
Gather all your energy inwards.
Look, almost like an arrow,
searching deep for your center of being,
because your center of being is also
the center of the universe.
One who knows it becomes a buddha.
Deeper and deeper...
This moment is precious. You are very close to your own being and to the being of the universe. Realizing it is going to transform your whole life.
Without any fear... because it is your own territory, it is your own space. Nobody can enter here. It has been waiting for you for millions of lives. Just penetrate it and you will find the greatest blessing showering on you.
To make it more clear, Nivedano...
(Drumbeat)
Relax, let go of the body and the mind. You are just a watcher. The mind may be creating some dust, the body may be feeling uncomfortable. You are simply a watcher.
Don't get identified, because this body will change, this mind will change. A thousand times they have already changed. Only this watcher is your treasure, which always remains... eternity to eternity.
Lao Tzu calls it Tao.
Buddha calls it Dhamma.
Whatever the name,
this is your pure existence.
It opens the doors of all the mysteries -- mysteries that you can feel, but you cannot say; mysteries that you can sing, you can dance, you can live, but you cannot say. This is the world of Zen, and experiencing existence is its language.
Blessed is this evening.
You have all disappeared into an oceanic love,
into an oceanic consciousness,
dissolving your thin boundaries.
Remember this universal experience twenty-four hours, just like an undercurrent. Remain a buddha -- walking or sitting, sleeping or waking.
Nivedano...
(Drumbeat)
Now you can come back, but come back not the same as you had gone in.
Come back much more solid,
much more integrated,
much more centered,
and then sit silently for a few moments
as a buddha.
Okay, Maneesha?
Yes, Beloved Master.
Can we celebrate the gathering of ten thousand buddhas?
Yes, Beloved Master.
THE END
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