Volume 2, Track 6
When the 13th century Zen Master and founder of Soto Zen in Japan, Dogen Zenji, took a dipper full of water from the river, he poured half of it back before drinking. This symbolic gesture was probably not understood by many of the monks. But what is wrong with returning to you that which was originally yours. This is the very essence of Zen teaching.
When I visited Dogen’s Temple, Eiheiji, in the mountains north of Shirakawa, I got up at 3:30 in the morning to sit sazen with the monks. It was cold. I was amazed to find that the other visitors were sleeping late and being shown movies about Zen in the afternoon. Dogen must have been turning over in his grave to find that his strict temple had become almost a hotel.
I reported this state of affairs to Zen Master Joshu Sasaki and his comment was, “In 50 years, there won’t be any Zen in Japan.” “Roshi, it won’t take that long,” I replied, thinking of all the discount appliance stores on the side streets of Kyoto, south of Shijo or Fourth Street. What time does busy Japan have for contemplation now?
A good friend of mine, a top executive at Dai-Ichi Kangyo, the world’s largest bank [at the time], rides a train almost an hour for Kamakura each morning to get to his desk at eight, and works until nine or 10 at night before doing a little drinking to relax the tension, prior to taking a train home. This is his schedule, six days a week, with the facial twitch and lines of worry he showed, I thought he was about 60, but it turned out he was in his late 30s. Where is there now time for meditation in Japan, or the urge for it in such a life?
I’ll close by simply telling you a remark that was made to me once when I visited the Zen Master Shunryu Suzuki in the mountains near Carmel [California] at the zendo called Tassajara. It was late in the day, and the sun was going down. There was snow on the road, and I was driving an old car, so I was anxious to leave while it was still light. When the master invited me to enter an ofuro, the Japanese ritual bath with him, I answered that I had better leave while there was still a little sunlight. “The Moon gives light, too” was his surprising rejoinder. Gentleness and strength together epitomize the true Zen Master.
It’s my hope that these stories awaken something that is within all of us, and that the Moon brings you light, too.
To listen to Justin reading Spiritual Stories of the East, click here.