Content

Certain Situation

SUCH DETACHMENT FROM EVERYTHING IS WHAT MASTER RINZAI CALLED “THE COMPLETE TAKING AWAY OF BOTH, OF MAN AND SITUATION.”

What is the difference between you and the other person? – A certain situation. You were born into a different family; that is a situation. You were educated in a different school; that is a situation. What is the difference between man and man, man and woman? – Just a situation.

Rinzai is saying, THE COMPLETE TAKING AWAY OF BOTH, MAN AND SITUATION. HERE IS EXPERIENCED ABSOLUTE NOT-NESS. He is not using the word ‘nothingness’ because you misunderstand it. To emphasize that it is not nothingness, he says it is simply not-ness, it is pure emptiness.

SINCE SELF AND OBJECT ALLOW THEMSELVES TO COME TO NOTHING.

Everything comes to relax into nothing, and then arises, rejuvenated, back into some manifestation. The way Zen looks at the world, it does not make anybody feel guilty; neither does it make anybody feel superior. The source is the same, the game is the same. Of course, different players have to play from different sides.

Another Zen master: HE SEES ONLY THE WINDING OF THE STREAM AND THE TWISTING OF THE PATH. HE DOES NOT KNOW THAT ALREADY HE IS IN THE LAND OF THE IMMORTALS.

A tremendously significant statement. You see only misery and suffering – all non-essentials. You don’t see that on this very earth, immortal buddhas have moved, lived, loved. You don’t see the heights that human consciousness has reached many, many times. You remain confined to very small things.

At least once in a day, you have to reach the heights. And don’t get lost; come back down to the marketplace. My whole message is: Touch the heights of consciousness and bring those heights to the marketplace.

Another Zen saying: FOR TEN YEARS I COULD NOT RETURN; NOW I HAVE FORGOTTEN THE ROAD BY WHICH I CAME.

He is saying that he has reached his origins. It took ten years to find it, and now he has forgotten the road, how to come back – THE ROAD BY WHICH I CAME.

Please, don’t you do that!

There is not much distance between you as you are and as your original being is. The difference is so slight – just a drum beat, a hit on your head, anything can bring you back.

This Zen master who remained for ten years and could not come back must have been searching alone, without a master. Otherwise the master gives you a certain rope; he does not allow you to go beyond that. He gives you a taste of your being – that is enough – and a remembrance of it. He takes you through the rose garden and the fragrance of the roses hangs around your clothes. That much is enough. You know who you are and your actions express your sincerity, your every gesture becomes a buddha gesture. Just two minutes are enough to reach the origin of your being.