Feb 17th 2009 Lost coin notes

Takasan was a Zen master on the 8th century. Fortunately, there is enough of his Koans to help us see his development. Daniel wants us to hear this story and try to relate to it. The mind of the 8th century is similar to the mind of today. We might be able to see our own progress through Takasan?s.

To study the realized way is to study the self.  To study the self is to forget the self. Dogan said that to forget the self is to see the whole thing and it is ?to know the 10 000 things?, which meant to have real knowledge.

Takasan lived in the South of China. He was a scholar of Buddhism. He had dedicated many hours learning the sutras. He wanted to learn the Diamond Sutra which was from the words of the historical Buddha. Takasan hears that in the North of China there is a movement teaching Buddhism the fast way. It claims that there is no teachings just seating.  He becomes very angry and self righteous thinking that there is no fast way to learn the real thing. He becomes Mr. Right; he has the mind of the intellectual knowledge.

Although he has study the sutras his knowledge is only with the intellect he has not integrated to his whole being. Takasan joins a caravan to travel to North China to share his point of view with this new school of Buddhism. He carries his books and notes which makes the traveling difficult. On his way he learns that Reiutan , an enlightened  being is the great teacher. 

As he gets closer to the Dragon Lake where Reiutan  lives he stops in a dinner to have some food. A middle age woman student of Reiutan owns the dinner. Takasan lets her know that he is bringing great knowledge; he believes he has the Diamond shoe sutra. The woman sees his arrogance. She plays with the words as she offers to serve him a light meal, which in their language means also to share enlightenment.  She asks him which mind he would use to understand the sutras knowing that the past mind is ungraspable, the present mind is ungraspable, the future mind is ungraspable.

Takasan realizes then that the woman is an advanced student. He heads up to meet Reiutan. This prominent master receives Takasan. Takasan and the master talk all night. Takasan shares the books and the knowledge he has accumulated. Later into the night Reiutan lets Takasan know that a cabin is available for him and that it is time for him to go there. As Takasan is leaving the place of their meeting Reiutan hands him a candle, and right before he closes the door letting Takasan out, he blows the candle leaving Takasan in complete darkness. At that moment Takasan has a deep experience of enlightenment. His understanding has deepening. He makes a fire and burns all the books he has carried in his trip. Takasan looses his self importance. He heads back to South China. He is now in a different stage of development. Daniel will continue the story of Takasan next week.

The sutras where originally from India and they travel everywhere Buddhism developed. Daniel recommended two books. We need to read these books to have the background we need two understand Zen. First book: Roaring Stream ? a collection of all Zen teachers, is a synopsis, short and entertaining. Second book: The Harmonious circle- Gurdchif?s teaching a non academic book.

We are lucky to be Westerners because we receive instruction. In a monastery there is no instruction.

It?s easy to see when others think they know it all. It is harder when we are in it.  Real knowing is deeper. Is like Cortez story when he saw the Pacific ocean he wrote the poem ? Since on a Pick Darian? (sp) He describes it as ungraspable, uncontainable and unknowable. That is similar as the moment we see our true nature. That is what Takasan saw. In the 10 Oxen pictures this stage is in the last 5 pictures ?the sage? where in eastern tradition one does not care about things as much, only realization but with a sense of ease.

Trying hard in a relaxed way can seem contradictory. Daniel wants us to If we are nervous and stressed we become snappy to others. This is a path of excellence through freedom. Is like Don Juan in Castaneda?s books, he is old and bonny and he is ok with all of it.

In the suffi tradition there is a story of a student who knocks at the teacher ?s door. Who?s there ? I?m bla bla bla?. Go away says the teacher.  Six months later a knock at the door ,Who?s there?  Is your student. Go away says the teacher. Student goes away and does self examination.  Six months later there is a knock at the door, who?s there?  ?It?s you? student answers. Come in says the teacher.

Forgetting the self can be when we let the teacher ?s enlightenment pass through our being. Daniel use the analogy of an empty tube (student) connecting with a filled up tube (teacher) and allowing all the contents of the tube flow freely. If we are filled with our own knowledge there won?t be space for any new leanings to get in.



