If It Was Good Enough For The Buddhas …

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If It Was Good Enough For The Buddhas …

posted by Jundo Cohen | 9:34am Wednesday May 6, 2009

(BENDOWA XXVI)

In the remaining pages of Bendowa, Master Dogen answers a series of 18 questions about the whys and hows of Zazen …

First, he starts off by saying that Zazen is the gateway to truth, to what the Buddha realized.

Furthermore, Zazen is what all the Buddhas and Ancestors practiced.

So, if it was good enough for all of them, it is probably good enough for us!

But, in fact, did all the Buddhas and Ancestors practice exactly the form of Zazen we practice?

No … and Yes …

_____________________________

Question One & Two:

Now we have heard how high and great is the merit of this zazen. [But] some stupid person mightdoubtingly ask, “There are manygates to the Buddha-Dharma. Why do you solely recommend sitting in Zazen?”

I say: Because it is the authenticgate to the Buddha-Dharma.

[Someone]asks, “Why do you see it as the onlyauthentic gate?”

I say: Great Master Sakyamuni exactly transmitted, as the authentic tradition,this subtle method of grasping the state of truth, and the tathagatas of thethree times [past, present and future] all attained the truth through Zazen.Thus the fact that [Zazen] is the authentic gate has been transmitted andreceived [from one person to another]. Furthermore, [all the ancestors ofIndian and China]all attained the truth through Zazen. Therefore 1am now preaching [Zazen] tohuman beings and gods as the authentic gate..

From: Bendowa – A Talk about Pursuing the Truth – Nishijima-Cross [with some amendments according to Uchiyama]

(remember: recording ends soon after the beginning bells;

a sitting time of 20 to 35 minutes is recommended)

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Comments read comments(5)

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Your Name

posted May 7, 2009 at 6:15 am

good job! The discussion was more rooted than others (i’ve not viewed a lot). Thanx for taking the time to do such things.

Your Name

posted May 7, 2009 at 10:11 am

Gassho,
I really enjoyed this talk. Thank you for making it.

Your Name

posted May 7, 2009 at 7:47 pm

I believe in a true gate to enter towards God.Whether through Zazen
or other ways,truly there is a true gate,it is not visible maybe by
the human eye,it is seen by our spiritual eyes and we need to open
our spiritual eyes to see that gate because things about Spiritual matters needs to deal by Spiritual understanding.

Ken Elkind

posted May 8, 2009 at 4:55 pm

Zazen is to be found with the newly founded One! groovism.net exudes The One pulse. When we unite humanity with The One, we will achieve our purpose, as prophesized. For the correct moments, or a certain amount of time, we are to energize the body of God, who’s image we were created. Perhaps galaxies will need to be aligned, or the coming of our solar system’s position within the Milky Way, will have an evolutionary affect?!?
Groove On