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Main Index
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are feeling every day.
One anecdote about Tozan:
WHEN TOZAN WAS WITH NANSEN, another great master, ONE OF BASO'S DISCIPLES... Baso is the ultimate as far as Zen is concerned. NANSEN OBSERVED THE ANNIVERSARY OF BASO'S DEATH AND SAID TO THE ASSEMBLY, "WILL BASO COME BACK TO US?"
TOZAN SAID, "IF THERE IS COMPANY FIT FOR HIM, HE WILL!"
NANSEN APPRECIATED THE ANSWER VERY MUCH.
... Because the words -- Buddha or Bodhidharma or Nansen or Baso -- are just names of the forms. They all represent the same space; and whenever there are people who are ready to receive, they suddenly descend there.
I have received many letters saying that in the meditations a strange feeling happens -- as if something is descending, a deep silence from beyond, heavy, almost tangible. In that silence Baso is present, Buddha is present. When you are absent all the awakened ones are present to you. Then this assembly becomes an eternal phenomenon.
We have been here always and always. Once in a while you forget who you are, but it is immaterial: Sooner or later you recognize again, sooner or later you again see your crystal clear being.
Neither time matters, nor space, you are the one who never comes and never goes, the one who simply is.
THIS!
WHEN TOZAN WAS STUDYING WITH ISAN, HE ASKED ISAN ABOUT CHU KUKUSHI'S "SERMONS BY INSENTIENT CREATURES."
ISAN SAID, "SERMONS BY INSENTIENT CREATURES ARE GIVEN HERE FOR US TOO, BUT FEW CAN HEAR THEM."
Do you hear the bamboos? These are the sermons referred to, sermons from insentient beings. Once you are silent, even roses start speaking to you.
(THE WIND IS BLOWING AND THE BAMBOOS START COMMENTING WITH THEIR CREAKING.)
Do you hear the loud speaking of the bamboos?
The deeper your silence, the louder you will be able to hear it.
TOZAN SAID, "I AM NOT YET CERTAIN ABOUT THEM, WOULD YOU PLEASE TEACH ME?"
ISAN SAID NOTHING, BUT RAISED HIS STICK STRAIGHT UP.
TOZAN SAID, "I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. WOULD YOU EXPLAIN IT TO ME?"
ISAN SAID, "I WOULD NEVER TELL YOU ABOUT THIS WITH THE MOUTH GIVEN TO ME BY MY PARENTS!"
THIS WAS HIS WAY OF
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