| |
is an existential approach -- not theoretical, not philosophical.
MASTER OTSU, COMMENTING ON THIS EMPTYING OF THE HEART, SAID:
THE HEART BECOMES EMPTY, THE SITUATION QUIET, AND THE BODY JUST AS IT IS.
Everything remains the same, nothing changes. This does not mean that the man who has approached the very origin of existence becomes somebody special. Everything remains the same. But on the other hand, everything starts looking different. Now he can see the beauty of the flower that you cannot see. His eyes are so fresh that he can see the beauty of a sunset that you cannot see. Your eyes are so full of dust, you are hardly able to see. You cannot penetrate to the very origin of a flower.
But a man who knows his origin knows the origin of everything. He never makes any judgment. This is a great contribution to human consciousness: not to make judgments. That is a very low kind of morality, a very low kind of religion, which goes on making judgments about good and bad.
In Zen everything is, as it is, a manifestation of the cosmic soul. It has to be loved and respected. It does not matter what the manifestation is doing. What matters is that the man who is a thief or a murderer is also coming from the same source as you are, and he will be going to the same source as you are.
So behind the curtain you will find great saints sharing experiences with great sinners. On the stage it is one thing; behind the stage it is totally different. And once you have touched the origin of things, you have gone behind the stage. On the stage it is all acting. On the stage it is simply drama. Behind the stage it is pure silence, nothingness. A rest, a relaxation -- everything has moved into total tranquility.
WHEN SOMEONE SUCCEEDS IN REACHING THIS POINT, THE MIRROR OF HIS HEART SHINES CLEARLY AND HIS NATURE OPENS WIDE AND CLEAR. HE LEAVES ERROR AND DOES NOT ATTACH HIMSELF TO TRUTH.
These are great statements. The day you understand them as your experience, you will dance with joy.
Master Otsu is saying that the moment a person enters into the origin of things, he leaves all dualities behind: truth and untruth, love and hate.
|
|
|