Enlightenment Unfolds: The Essential Teachings of Zen Master Dogen by Tanahashi Kazuaki

Author:Tanahashi, Kazuaki [Tanahashi, Kazuaki]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
Published: 2013-09-02T22:00:00+00:00

NANYUE, Priest Huairang, Zen Master Dahui, went to study with Huineng, the Sixth Ancestor, and was his attendant for fifteen years.

He received the way and the craft, just like receiving a vessel of water from another. Such an example from olden times should be longed for.

There must have been a lot of hardship during the wind and frost of those fifteen years. In spite of it Nanyue single-heartedly pursued his investigation. This is a mirror for later generations. Without charcoal in the cold stove, he slept alone in an empty hall. Without lamplight on summer evenings, he sat at a window by himself. Not having one piece of knowledge or a half of understanding, he reached the place of no effort, going beyond study. This is no other than continuous practice. As Nanyue had subtly abandoned greed for name and love for gain, he simply accumulated the power of continuous practice day by day. You should not forget the meaning of this. His statement to Huineng, “Speaking about it won’t hit the mark,” is his continuous practice of eight years.2 Such continuous practice is rare throughout past and present, aspired to by those who are wise and by those who are not.

Xiangyan, Zen Master Zhixian, cultivated the way with Guishan. When Xiangyan tried to come up with one phrase of understanding, he could not utter it even after trying several times. In anguish, he burned his sūtras and books of commentary, and for many years he took up the practice of serving meals. Later he climbed up Mt. Wudang to visit the remains of National Teacher Nanyang and built a retreat hut there. One day when he was sweeping the path, a pebble flew up and struck a bamboo. At the crack he was suddenly enlightened.

Later he became abbot of Xiangyan Monastery and maintained the practice of one bowl and one robe. He lived his life discreetly in this monastery of extraordinary rocks and clear springs, and rarely left the mountain. Many spots where he practiced are still there.

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