Being

from JoeUser Forums
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,

As a Zen teacher, I have only one teaching: be who you are and be it completely. Yet, this is not so simple as it might seem. There is no becoming in this being. Just being. There is no conception in this being, just being. In order to be who we are, we must know who we are intimately and with great certainty and be willing to be it now.

I can tell you all day long that you are Buddha. You might believe me, then again, more likely not. Such a mystery, this.

I can tell you to practice the paramitas, those six gates of deepest wisdom, but that will not get you there.

Nothing I can do or say will help you.

Only you facing yourself alone will do.

When you sit and face the wall, burning away delusion, greeting everything there is, then you will know. As your eye opens you will know that you already knew. There is nothing special about anything, and if there is, that special is false. There is just this before our heart and mind.

Now, take the next step.

Be well.
religion
1,210 views 2 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
I am me, and this can not be any other way. If I were something other than me, then that I who was not me, would no longer be considered "I".
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
First days of spring…..blue sky, bright sun.
Everything is gradually becoming fresh and green.
Carrying my bowl, I walk slowly to the village.
The children, surprised to see me,
Joyfully crowd about, bringing
my begging trip to an end by the temple gate.
I place my bowl on top of a white rock and
Hang my sack from the branch of a tree.
Here we play with the wild grasses and throw a ball.
For a time, I play catch while the children sing;
Then it’s my turn.

Playing like this, here and there, I have forgotten the time.
Passers-by point and laugh at me, asking,
“What is the reason for such foolishness?”
No answer I give, only a deep bow;
Even if I replied, they would not understand.
Look around! There is nothing besides this.

-Ryōkan
  

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