Zen Tumult
Dogen Sangha International is a virtual Buddhist community created by Master Gudo Wafu Nishijima, an 87 year old Japanese monk. He gives advice to reader submitted questions recently, and previously he wrote about Buddhist philosophy and zazen. Sensei Nishijima recently appointed his successor. There was some grumbling in the community. It turns out the new leader writes for soft-core porn site Suicide Girls (soft core porn possible on last two links). The old Master responded.
Master Dogen quoted a Chinese poem, which was composed by a Chinese man called Cho Setsu, who was a mandarin in the Chinese Government. The poem says;
Brightness is serenely illuminating the whole sands-of-ganges world.
All souls, common and sacred, are my family.
When not one image appears the total body manifests itself.
If the six sense organs are slightly moved [the mind] is covered with clouds.
By eliminating disturbances we redouble the disease.
To approach the Truth intentionally is also wrong.
In following worldly circumstances there are no hindrance.
Nirvana, and living-and-dying, are just flowers in space.
zen posted by: dan @ 07 Aug 2007 0:03