Too many Questions
Dear Master Nishijima,
1.) Do you think that listening to a Dharma Talk/ Kusen during Zazen is different, or has a better effect, then listening to a Dharma Talk while not sitting Zazen?
2.) Where is the origin of so called Kusen, and why are people who see themselves in the line of Master Dogen use such a method while Master Dogen never mentioned it?
3.)Do you think it is a good idea to hit a Gong/Bell during Zazen, every 5 minutes, to wake people up from their thoughts, like some Zen Groups do?
4.) I would be interessted of your method to run a Dojo. What rules for Kinhin, Dharma Talks, Clothing, Incense, and Ceremonies would you recommend.
5.) Do you think that when there are things in aDojo one didn`t like, it is a challenge for this person to let go his dislikes, for example Kusen, and sit there anyway, so that his dislikes sort of intensivie his Practice, because of letting them go. Or is it better to search for conditions Soto Secwhere those dislikes aren`t present.
6.) Sometimes I think some Zen Masters want to annoy their students, by giving them much discomfort, for example by critcizing them, suddendly chanting long sutras/dharanis during Zazen or give Kusen. Is the right way to life with such Masters to let ones aversions go, or search for another Teacher?
7.) I hope that in the future there will be more Zen Groups who practice in your style!
Thank you very much!
Markus
Dear Markus San,
I am very sorry that I haven't noticed your important questions for rather long time, and my answers for your questions are as follows.
1.) Do you think that listening to a Dharma Talk/ Kusen during Zazen is different, or has a better effect, then listening to a Dharma Talk while not sitting Zazen?
(Gudo 1.) Frankly speaking, a Dharma Talk/ Kusen during Zazen is very wrong habit in Buddhism.
According to Master Dogen's teachings during Zazen we should not speak anything. Therefore the habit to speak anything in Zazen is a serious violence of Master Dogen's teachings.
But at the same time it is very important for us to discuss Buddhist philosophical problems theoretically when we are not doing Zazen, and so we should have time of discussion positively.
2.) Where is the origin of so called Kusen, and why are people who see themselves in the line of Master Dogen use such a method while Master Dogen never mentioned it?
(Gudo 2.) I do not know when Kusen during Zazen has begun in Buddhism, but generally speaking it seems not to be Buddhist, and so Kusen in Zazen should be stopped absolutely.
3.)Do you think it is a good idea to hit a Gong/Bell during Zazen, every 5 minutes, to wake people up from their thoughts, like some Zen Groups do?
(Gudo 3.) Frankly speaking, I think that it is very bad habits to strike bells or wood during Zazen.
4.) I would be interessted of your method to run a Dojo. What rules for Kinhin, Dharma Talks, Clothing, Incense, and Ceremonies would you recommend.
(Gudo 4.) I have never had a method of Kinhin to run a Dojo at all. I usually follow Eihei Shingi solely, and I generally do not follow what were not written in Master Dogen's books.
5.) Do you think that when there are things in aDojo one didn`t like, it is a challenge for this person to let go his dislikes, for example Kusen, and sit there anyway, so that his dislikes sort of intensivie his Practice, because of letting them go. Or is it better to search for conditions where those dislikes aren`t present.
(Gudo 5.) Whether we like or not, it is impossible for us to refuse what we do not like without reason. Therefore it is necessary for us to research the original criteria historically, and we should maintain useful habits as far as possible.
6.) Sometimes I think some Zen Masters want to annoy their students, by giving them much discomfort, for example by critcizing them, suddendly chanting long sutras/dharanis during Zazen or give Kusen. Is the right way to life with such Masters to let ones aversions go, or search for another Teacher?
(Gudo 6.) If a some Master wants to annoy his students, by giving them much discomfort, such strange behavior suggests that the Master can never be a good Master, and so I think that it must be good decision for students to leave the Master.
7.) I hope that in the future there will be more Zen Groups who practice in your style!
(Gudo 7.) Thank you very much for your encouragement to me.
Thank you very much!
Markus
Dear Master Nishijima,
Thank you very much Master Markus!
Gudo Wafu Nishijima
1.) Do you think that listening to a Dharma Talk/ Kusen during Zazen is different, or has a better effect, then listening to a Dharma Talk while not sitting Zazen?
2.) Where is the origin of so called Kusen, and why are people who see themselves in the line of Master Dogen use such a method while Master Dogen never mentioned it?
3.)Do you think it is a good idea to hit a Gong/Bell during Zazen, every 5 minutes, to wake people up from their thoughts, like some Zen Groups do?
4.) I would be interessted of your method to run a Dojo. What rules for Kinhin, Dharma Talks, Clothing, Incense, and Ceremonies would you recommend.
5.) Do you think that when there are things in aDojo one didn`t like, it is a challenge for this person to let go his dislikes, for example Kusen, and sit there anyway, so that his dislikes sort of intensivie his Practice, because of letting them go. Or is it better to search for conditions Soto Secwhere those dislikes aren`t present.
6.) Sometimes I think some Zen Masters want to annoy their students, by giving them much discomfort, for example by critcizing them, suddendly chanting long sutras/dharanis during Zazen or give Kusen. Is the right way to life with such Masters to let ones aversions go, or search for another Teacher?
7.) I hope that in the future there will be more Zen Groups who practice in your style!
Thank you very much!
Markus
Dear Markus San,
I am very sorry that I haven't noticed your important questions for rather long time, and my answers for your questions are as follows.
1.) Do you think that listening to a Dharma Talk/ Kusen during Zazen is different, or has a better effect, then listening to a Dharma Talk while not sitting Zazen?
(Gudo 1.) Frankly speaking, a Dharma Talk/ Kusen during Zazen is very wrong habit in Buddhism.
According to Master Dogen's teachings during Zazen we should not speak anything. Therefore the habit to speak anything in Zazen is a serious violence of Master Dogen's teachings.
But at the same time it is very important for us to discuss Buddhist philosophical problems theoretically when we are not doing Zazen, and so we should have time of discussion positively.
2.) Where is the origin of so called Kusen, and why are people who see themselves in the line of Master Dogen use such a method while Master Dogen never mentioned it?
(Gudo 2.) I do not know when Kusen during Zazen has begun in Buddhism, but generally speaking it seems not to be Buddhist, and so Kusen in Zazen should be stopped absolutely.
3.)Do you think it is a good idea to hit a Gong/Bell during Zazen, every 5 minutes, to wake people up from their thoughts, like some Zen Groups do?
(Gudo 3.) Frankly speaking, I think that it is very bad habits to strike bells or wood during Zazen.
4.) I would be interessted of your method to run a Dojo. What rules for Kinhin, Dharma Talks, Clothing, Incense, and Ceremonies would you recommend.
(Gudo 4.) I have never had a method of Kinhin to run a Dojo at all. I usually follow Eihei Shingi solely, and I generally do not follow what were not written in Master Dogen's books.
5.) Do you think that when there are things in aDojo one didn`t like, it is a challenge for this person to let go his dislikes, for example Kusen, and sit there anyway, so that his dislikes sort of intensivie his Practice, because of letting them go. Or is it better to search for conditions where those dislikes aren`t present.
(Gudo 5.) Whether we like or not, it is impossible for us to refuse what we do not like without reason. Therefore it is necessary for us to research the original criteria historically, and we should maintain useful habits as far as possible.
6.) Sometimes I think some Zen Masters want to annoy their students, by giving them much discomfort, for example by critcizing them, suddendly chanting long sutras/dharanis during Zazen or give Kusen. Is the right way to life with such Masters to let ones aversions go, or search for another Teacher?
(Gudo 6.) If a some Master wants to annoy his students, by giving them much discomfort, such strange behavior suggests that the Master can never be a good Master, and so I think that it must be good decision for students to leave the Master.
7.) I hope that in the future there will be more Zen Groups who practice in your style!
(Gudo 7.) Thank you very much for your encouragement to me.
Thank you very much!
Markus
Dear Master Nishijima,
Thank you very much Master Markus!
Gudo Wafu Nishijima
posted by element | 4:46 PM
1 Comments:
Master Nishijima,
Thank You very much for your answers!
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