Tag Archives: universal truth

From Ego to Eco

Good morning!   Did you see the moon? It’s now the half moon. The new moon cannot illuminate the world. When there are clouds, we cannot see the moon nor the moon can illuminate the world. If we are not interested in the moon, we don’t see it and care about its phases. The full moon is compared to the Buddha mind or heart, full free functioning, brightly illuminating the world.   King Âdassa, Mirror, might have had the mirror-like face, mind, or heart – like the full moon, perfectly round and brilliant, illuminating the world and reflecting reality. He summoned blind people, to feel an animal and report it. They reported it is like a snake, a pillar, a wall, etc., and started fighting for their own truths – all only partial views, unlike his seeing all of this.   Decades ago a taxi driver came here to learn Zazen only a few times and said that he got it 95%. We shouldn’t claim that we got Soto tradition by glancing Dogen interpretations, or Zen tradition by learning some sayings of it, or Buddhist teaching by reading hearsays. As Dogen said, the true Buddha Dharma was transmitted by Bodhidharma with the actual attainment.   Bodhidharma taught it and transmitted to the second patriarch Eka (Huike) Daiosho only after having shown his determination by presenting his severed forearm after waiting in the deep snow. Aspirants for attainment at practice places must show their determinations despite dismissals and after long waiting and at least a week long sitting in Tangaryō (旦過寮, Passersby Dorm).   As you know well, we have all kinds of problems in our world – wars, global warming, mass extinction, etc., all coming from ego, I, Ich, aham. Only seeing the small self, we do not see the whole world, eco. Eco, oikos, home, became essentially economy (oikos+nomos, home economy, domestic economy) and evading ecology (oikos+logos, home truth, universal truth).   That is why we have so many problems and sufferings simply saving private economies, externalizing and excluding the public ecology and global ethic. Last week I talked about Soto, Zen, Buddhist teachings and traditions. Dogen said, “To learn the Awakened Way is to learn the self. To learn the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be verified by all Dharmas…”   … Continue reading

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Penetrating Peace and Primordial Peace

Good morning!   The moon is shining, brightening our world. The Buddha is said to have been awakened by seeing the morning star.   The morning star shows that the bright dawning is coming. We are all in the universal … Continue reading

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Dharma Rain of Amrita, Ambrosia of Immortality

Good morning!   Last evening suddenly thunder and shower started after the long spell of heat wave reaching 108 degrees. It was really compassionate rain for all plants and animals. InJapanthey now have heavy rain. So, we have extreme weathers … Continue reading

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Mirror Moon Mind

Good morning!   We can see the full moon tonight. The full moon Dogen appreciated just before his passing away was the one in this month.   The great difference is expressed by “the moon and a small turtle (tsuki … Continue reading

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Freedom is Fearlessness

Good evening!   Today we had the temperature beyond 100, and got the news that five people died here because of the heat. We will have more casualties due to the heat wave. Where is the place of neither heat … Continue reading

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Abnormal Artifices

Good evening! After the shower we now have cool air and we can sit in comfort, in peace and truth. All living beings inherit all of the past; and all living beings except for humans live in holy relations with … Continue reading

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Harmony – Holiness – Happiness

Good morning! Now we have a beautiful spring morning with abundant greens, beautiful flowers, and birds’ singing. After fifteen billion years of evolution, we experience this kind of beautiful, truthful, and peaceful world with our bodies and brains. But, if … Continue reading

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Holy Happy

Good morning! We could see the bright morning star and hear the busier birds’ chirping on the way here. Now we have the cherry blossoms blooming and the bright candle burning at the altar. On the opposite side of the … Continue reading

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Master Mind

Good morning! We’re having longer days now as we approach the spring equinox. So, when we sit in zazen, we have a peaceful and a pretty bright world. Every day Rui-yan said to himself, and then responded, “Master (???)!” “Yes.” … Continue reading

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Awakening Action

Good evening! Just one day ago we had a storm, tornado, and blackouts. But now we have almost spring-like weather, with the temperature nearly sixty degrees and daffodils ready to bloom soon. Fortunately, we escaped the tornado hit, but we … Continue reading

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