Introduction to Zen Training by Omori Sogen

Author:Omori Sogen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing

SIT HARD AND SIT A GREAT DEAL

A certain man wrote that Zen does not count for much, that it means to free one’s own mind from all attachments and keep it in a free state. But, he went on, because Zen priests in general make sitting their only aim, their minds become inert and distorted. Zen must therefore make a new start by returning to the original teachings of the Sixth Patriarch Eno (Hui-neng).

Indeed, I have no objection to these statements. What the writer says is certainly true. I quite agree with him except when he writes, “Zen priests make sitting their only aim.” This is questionable. First of all, I really doubt whether Zen monks these days are that earnestly devoted to just sitting in meditation. In addition, if it is wrong to make “only sitting” one’s objective, I think those in the Soto sect of Zen Buddhism who strive for sitting only for the sake of sitting in their discipline will take strong exception to that contention.

Besides that I must say something in my own defense for I have been encouraging beginning students to sit hard and sit a great deal. Contrary to what the above writer says, I have always insisted that it is because students of Zen do not sit enough that their minds have become so inert and distorted and they cannot reach the realm of freedom.

I quite agree with the above writer’s contention that “we must make a new start by returning to the original teachings of the Sixth Patriarch.” However, I wonder if the above writer does not denounce meditation for the sake of meditation on the basis of his arbitrary interpretation of the Sixth Patriarch’s teaching that only seeing one’s original self-nature is to be discussed, and not liberation by means of samadhi. Is it really true that the Sixth Patriarch did not sit in meditation? It is questionable that he did not meditate at all. It is nevertheless beyond our knowledge, for neither the above writer nor I have ever seen the Sixth Patriarch.

It is certain that the Dan-gyo (The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch), while encouraging many things, does not say to spare as much time as possible to sit in meditation. However, Ui Hakujyu, in his Daini Zenshu Shi Kenkyu61 treats this problem in light of the older edition of the Platform Sutra excavated in Tun-huang along with other Tun-huang manuscripts. It is clear today that before Eno became a disciple of the Fifth Patriarch he must have been well cultivated in the way of harmonizing his mind. In short, the Sixth Patriarch contends that Zen aims at helping the individual see his original self-nature and know his true self. The individual should not become attached to zazen in form alone, but by no means does he propose to do away with zazen. It is inconceivable that there has ever been a Zen sect which taught not to do zazen or a Zen Master who prohibited it.

However, zazen

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