Up a Tree

Art by Mark Morse

Gateless Gate, Case 5

Kyogen said, “Its like a man up in a tree, hanging from a branch with his mouth; his hands can’t grasp a bough, his feet won’t reach one. Under the tree there is another man, who asks him the meaning of Bodhidharma’s coming from the west. If he doesn’t answer, he evades his duty. If he answers, he will lose his life. What should he do?

What does it mean to be up the tree like the person Kyogen is speaking about? If we respond to the question we will fall and probably die. However, if we do not speak, we ignore the questioner and fail in our responsibility to the Dharma. Does this seem like an absurd dilemma the Master has created for us? Perhaps, and yet it can be understood in such a way that it’s remarkably relevant to our lives today. Continue reading

Reaching for the Pillow

Blue Cliff Record, Case 89

Yunyan asked Daowu, “How does the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion use so many hands and eyes?”

Daowu said, “It’s just like a person in the middle of the night reaching in search of a pillow.”

Yunyan said, “I understand.”

Daowu said, “How do you understand it?

Yunyan said, “All over the body are hands and eyes.”

Daowu said, “What you said is all right, but it’s only eighty percent of it.”

Yunyan said, “I’m like this, elder brother. How do you understand it?”

Daowu said, “Throughout the body are hands and eyes.”

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Ordinary Mind

Gateless Gate, Case 19

Joshu asked Nansen, “What is the Way?”

“Ordinary mind is the Way,” Nansen replied.

“Shall I try to seek after it?” Joshu asked.

“If you try for it, you will become separated from it,” responded Nansen.

How can I know the Way unless I try for it?” persisted Joshu.

Nansen said, “The Way is not a matter of knowing or not knowing. Knowing is delusion; not knowing is confusion. When you have really reached the true Way beyond doubt, you will find it as vast and boundless as outer space. How can it be talked about on the level of right and wrong?”

With those words, Joshu came to a sudden realization.

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Chopping Wood

It is a cold morning in late January. Since wood is the only source of heat I use at this time of year I need to grab my hat and coat and head out to the woodpile in order to warm my home. As I feel the cool air I pause momentarily, realizing my relationship to the cold, the warmth of the fire and the wood. It is a relationship as old as the first humans who gathered by a fire to keep safe and ward off the chill of the night. Now, as then, if I don’t go out and return with my sling of wood, it will be a long cold day. In this simple relationship, my actions have a direct and immediate consequence.

Yet this is a relationship that we in much of the Western world sought to eliminate in the last century, when we brought central heat into our homes. No effort need be expended. No pause to acknowledge of our relationship to the world. Just a spin of the thermostat and the inconvenience of experiencing cold is eliminated. No wonder we respond like petulant children when our link to the blandness of perpetual comfort, the global oil pipeline is threatened. Continue reading

Meeting the Neighbors

This weekend I met our new neighbors. I recently purchased 10 acres of mature forest land on the slopes of a small mountain in northeastern Vermont. The property is fairly remote, being off grid and on a road that is not plowed in winter. There are only a few buildings along the three miles of the road that is drivable during the summer and fall and most of those are seasonal camps. Only two households reside here year-round.

My son Matt, his partner Angie, and my grandson Jacob were there with me, unloading the supplies to build a tent platform when neighbor Ron and his wife stopped their truck to say hello and inquire about our goings on. We learned that people here aren’t just friendly and curious; they’re also concerned about the well-being of one another and the area, so Ron was checking us out. We told Ron who we were and chatted for a few minutes, when he told us about some other neighbors. Three or four black bears have been seen in this area regularly over the past year. While I had presumed that this area had bears, I was delighted by this confirmation. We had already found an abundance of moose droppings on the property, so we knew that they are a regular presence. Now the prospect of an occasional bear sighting increased the sense that being on this land presented a wonderful opportunity. Continue reading

Joshu’s Oak Tree

I wanted share something with a seasonal theme, given that spring is almost here. I realize that the spring equinox passed several weeks ago; a day on which the season undoubtedly arrived somewhere, perhaps in Maryland or New Jersey. However those of us who have endured the last few weeks punctuated with spells of cool, damp, weather, giving us frequent downpours of frigid rain and flooding the rivers, know that here in Maine spring has not arrived; we are mired in “mud season.” So, I thought that it would be a good time to look at a koan with a pleasant taste of nature to lift our spirits.

From the Mumonkan, Case 37:
A monk asked Joshu in all earnestness. “What is the meaning of the patriarch’s coming from the west?”

Joshu said, “The oak tree there in the garden.”

And from the Book of Serenity, Case 47:
A monk asked Zhaozhou, “What is the living meaning of Chan Buddhism?”

Zhaozhou said, “The cypress tree in the yard.”

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A Stalk of Grass

When the Master was about to die, the head monk asked him, “Your Reverence, a hundred years from now where will you be?” “I shall be a water buffalo at the foot of the hill,” said the Master. “Will it be alright for me to follow you?” asked the head monk. “If you follow me, you must hold a stalk of grass in your mouth,” was Puyuan’s reply.

Puyuan is Nanquan Puyuan. This encounter appears in the Entangling Vines or the Shumon Kattoshu, in the biographical sketch on Nanquan. I find the monk’s question rather curious, why is he asking the Master where he will be a hundred years after his death? Perhaps the question is just what it appears to be, the monk simply wants to learn what the Master believes will happen after death. Nanquan’s response is even more curious. “I shall be a water buffalo at the foot of the hill.” Is he answering the monk’s question as to where he will be long after his death? Continue reading

Coyote Enters the Garden

It was deep in the dark and quiet hours as the third watch of the night was approaching. The venerable monk Subhuti looked about the garden. All of the assemblage was asleep, except for the World Honored One who was in a deep state of communion, where he offered his teaching to the gods of the many worlds. Subhuti smiled and prepared for his own rest. Here in Anathapindink’s garden in Jeta Grove in the city of Shravasti, monks and nuns from all over India were gathered to hear the teachings of the Great Teacher, Shakyamuni. As usual, the rounds of questioning had continued well into the evening, as all of the 1250 gathered here thirsted for the knowledge of the Buddha’s Path. Now the fragrance of the garden’s flowers drifted across the unconscious host.

Subhuti’s head had no more than touched the ground, when he was startled upright by a tremendous clamor. Looking into the shadows at the entrance of the garden, he saw a strange figure staggering among the sleeping bodies. Whoever this clumsy being was, they knocked against body after sleeping body, alternately kicking the sleeper and stumbling forward toward the next unconscious form. Those being kicked jumped up frightened out of their comfortable sleep. Continue reading

Why Do We Practice Zazen?

Oh the zazen of the Mahayana!
To this the highest praise!
Devotion, repentance, training,
the many paramitas—
all have their source in zazen.

From “Song of Zazen,” by Hakuin Zenji

Why is it that we practice zazen? I would like to begin to examine that question in a short series of talks. While this question may appear basic, in fact it goes deep into the very core of our practice. We all have times when zazen is difficult. Sometimes we are beset with physical pain. Sometimes our minds are unsettled and we feel that we would rather be anywhere else, doing almost anything else. There are times when we do not see any changes occurring as a result of our practice and become frustrated, wondering if all this is really worthwhile. There are times of just plain boredom, when we realize that the jikido has fallen asleep or perhaps fallen into a deep coma, leaving us in zazen posture for eternity. Continue reading

Coyote

After each of the assembled bodhisattvas-mahasattvas had come forward to pay homage to the World Honored One, it was time for the animals who were also gathered there to do likewise. One by one they came forward, prostrating before the high seat of the Beloved Teacher and leaving the gifts they had brought. Four legged, winged ones, finned ones and creepy crawlies were all there. The procession went on for three days, as all sentient beings even the grasses the tree people and the stone people had a representative there. Each came forward in turn, prostrating themselves and leaving their simple gifts.

When the seemingly endless procession had ended, the Venerable Subhuti came forward to dismiss the assemblage so that Shakyamuni could enter a state of rest. “Wait,” Shakyamuni spoke. “Among all of the being who have gathered here, one is missing, Coyote.” All those gathered turned about looking for the missing creature. Suddenly a gasp arose from the bodhisattvas-mahasattvas and the representatives of the sentient beings. There in the back stood Coyote, distractedly urinating on the wall. Continue reading