Endless Giving

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Endless Giving

December 31, 2007

There is a popular Zen saying:
“Less is more…”, but an opposite is also true “More is less…”

More, more, more… never enough… cup is never full!

A friend who has been living in this culture entire life shared with me, that most of people before they commit themselves to any process ask this question: “What can I get from this?” or “What is here for me?”

This, of course, is true when one is thinking about Zen practice, and even while practicing.

Another old friend, who is also Zen teacher and a very wise woman, believes that the true Zen practice and transmission of Dharma is very difficult in the West, since students consider practice as another self-improvement…

Tangen Harada Roshi, an abbot of Bukkoku-ji clearly understood these entrapments of minds of Western Zen students.
Thus, while he was much younger, in his temple in Japan, nobody had any power to decide anything. Now he is in his eighties so some people have responsibility, and atmosphere in temple is not the same anymore.
But still nobody has a chance for Zen carrier and nobody thinks in terms of making “progress” in practice. Everyone is struggling trough entire life with one koan MU.
Tangen Roshi does not give certificates and no special privileges to anyone.

When you are in his temple, the only purpose it to practice. Do not expect anything but rather to give everything, and give it all.

Tangen Roshi himself is an embodiment of such giving. Over the years I did hear many stories about him from my old Polish friends, who are his students. I also was very lucky to go to Japan twice and witness this spirit myself.

In last Rohatsu sesshin, which I attended at Dai Bosatsu I did notice something, which made me reflect on how much our teachers give to us. This is a very emotional matter to write about…
Sesshin was very big and Eido Roshi extended dokusan time to maximum, to accommodate as many as possible. But this means sitting in dokusan room for hours… It must be hard for an older man… And than, right after there is a lunch, again sitting…
One day as we were walking from dining room back to zendo with bowls, I turned my had while Roshi was making his way upstairs to his quarters. It was clear to me that he was struggling. This seen has stayed with me…

Coming home I was awaiting some news from Japan. I knew that the same week my friends were in Rohatsu sesshin in Bukkokuji…

Here is what was in news:
“The fall Ango ended with a two day takuhatsu, followed by a very fine Rohatsu sesshin. The Roshi sama, as usual, gave the sesshin his all, despite his age. It's amazing and inspiring to see him descend the zendo stairs, leaning on the railing as he goes, and yet ready to see everyone in dokusan a short time later. He really "walks the walk". What a rare being!”

Zendo in Bukkoku-ji is on the first floor. As I was there it was hard for me go up and down many times a day during sesshin. There is no kinhin in zendo but they have 20 minutes breaks in-between rounds. Everyone makes this stairs-walk three dozen times a day or more…
Dokusan time lasts more than three hours while Tangen Roshi see all, close to 60, sesshin participants in one dokusan.

Is there any way to repay the depth of gratitude we owe?

Do you live and practice to get? Or do you live and practice to give it all?

Ekyo's Blog