The Moons reflected in all Waters are one.

     This verse belongs to the Song of Enlightenment written by Yoka Genkaku. It is considered a fundamental text in Zen studies. One of the basic themes in the poem is the relationship between Buddha-nature and Self-nature. An also, I risk to say, between phenomenon and numinous. This is when Aristotle and Plato hold hands. Aristotle mostly inspired the scientific way of thinking while Plato gave some theoretical ground for religious philosophy to rely upon. 

However, Yoka Genkaku in the song of Enlightenment does not concern itself with separation and categories as western philosophy usually does. The preferred approach of zen is to find communion among all beings, animate and inanimate, through our commonalities. 

The ultimate meaning of the concept of “Emptiness” in Buddhism is that all beings are empty of identity, because we are all together one sole being. Before the 20^th century, this was mostly a philosophical subject. With advent of Quantum physics Emptiness became a scientific certainty. Religion and science found a common ground. Belief and faith can be replaced by appreciation as it always being the attempt of zen practice. When a zen practitioner bows to the Buddha statue, the intent is actually to bow to the Buddha nature present in all individual selves. 

Phenomena do not occur independent from each other. Individuality is just a conceptual tool to study and deal with the all-embracing, interconnected and interdependent reality. The reflection in the water, all the myriad beings, is just perceived as individuals due to the limitations of our human perception. Separation is an illusion. As every piece of knowledge, that realization brings us freedom but also bring us responsibility. It can set us free from loneliness and isolation. However, it also brings the inescapable necessity of seeing your neighbor as yourself. Therefore, you better love your neighbor as yourself as Jesus said.

You're Alone

                Photo credits: Dvids

               The verses above seem to be pregnant with a beautiful double meaning. It may be impossible to figure out what Han San really said in the original Chinese. However, this translation done by J.P.Seaton in his book Cold Mountain Poems give the reader much to think and, mainly, to feel.

               What does the “within” refer to in this case? Is the verse saying that everything within Earth is alone? Or is the verse saying one is alone and have all within oneself? Since it is written in poetic language, plus, being a pre-zen Buddhist poem, I would not be surprised if the verse had both meanings at the same time.

               We are all alone. Nobody can live other’s journey. However, we are all together in journeying individually. At the same time, all the individual journeys compose the only one journey that exists, the journey of the whole Universe. And, as parts of the Universe, each one of us, all beings, is the entire Universe.            

               By the way he is the full translation:

Green water in the stream in the pass,

white water rising the clear-welling spring…

Han Shan’s moon’s a flower, white as well…

So the darkest secret, the spirit by itself illumines

gaze into the emptiness, to the ends of Earth…

You’re alone, with all within…

(Poem XXXIII, pg. 49)

I don't think; therefore I'm not.

This is a short sentence, but pregnant with a lot of meanings, it seems. Once more I borrowed a phrase from Sean Murphy’s “One Bird One Stone”, page, 94. It is suh spectacular book.

               The picture on the card is a black & white version of a photo found at the Buddhist Center webpage. The amazing sculpture was made by Sukhi Barber. You can see many of his other works and also her bio here.

               In my blogs, i only speak as a poet. My quest in life is to speak and live to the full extension that being a poet may allow one to do. Therefore, here i speak as a poet.

Katagiri Roshi’s quote above refers to the well unknown and over beaten Descartes’ quote “I think; therefore I am.” These days the prevalent way of being in society is in the most intimate tune with Descartes’ thought. It seems to me that the implicit suggestion of Descartes is that humans mainly experience life through thinking. The problem is that we can overemphasize the importance of thinking to the point that we confuse thought with Reality. One may even reach the point in which one thinks that one is what oneself thinks. As the last sentence shows, many times thinking can make life more complicated. Most of our limitations and suffering come through a dangerous mix of misguided thoughts and toxic emotions. That happens because thinking gives power. However, many times power causes isolation and aversion to change. That is very much against Reality that is whole interconnected and in constant change. 

               Katagiri suggestion is anti-philosophical: Do not think. Do not let yourself be limited by your own thoughts because thoughts are not Reality. Therefore, what you think you are is not real. Katagiri Roshi is saying that we can be free of the worst prison of all; the prison we most love and call home, the tower prison of “I”. Identity is made of thought. The only way of escape that prison is to let go of attachment to thoughts. Once we realize we are not what we think, and let go of attachment to overthinking, we realize the freedom that we have been all along.