Defining the essence of face-to-face transmission
What is very important about "menju" is that when you are one of two existences, and you meet and receive something, you do not just receive it, you also accept yourself. Menju is acceptance of self, through acceptance of another.
Transmission as encounter with the real, compared to facing death
To see a real face in the mirror of nothing is using the sharpest and most merciless sword, like facing death. It's so fine, you don't feel it going through. Transmission is like this. It has to be done by yourself before it is done.
On the nature of prostration and face-to-face encounter
The person you are facing is light touching you.
Narrating the historic meeting of Dogen and Rujing
Taking the formal entrance to the Dharma Hall, where the small figure waited, Dogen bowed on the floor 100 times, to Tiantong Rujing, who transmitted the Dharma to him, saying, "Last night Manjusuri Bodhisattva appeared to tell me this would happen. Welcome!"
Dogen and Rujing establishing their relationship
He asked, "May I come to you anytime, taking off all masks, may I come with my bare existence?" Rujing replied, "From now on, without the limitation of time, day or night, with robe or without robe, I will not hesitate to meet with you, who ask for a path. Like a grandfather and grandson, no formality."
The essential nature of menju from Dogen's record
This record tells us that the great way to Buddha Patriarch is only in face giving, face receiving. There is nothing else, nothing more, nothing less. This face giving is to face your own face, with joy, with pleasure, with faith, to actively receive it.
Describing the arising of way-seeking mind through analogy
Way-seeking mind is thirsty mind, or unfulfilled mind, needing something, like the beggar. You cannot do anything but follow it.
How way-seeking mind navigates toward the right meeting
The right student, right teacher, right situation, right conditions, are all created by way-seeking mind. Way-seeking mind is very blind, but it can feel "right way" or "wrong way." It is not intellect. You feel it.
Dogen's image for readiness before transmission
Dogen described it, "Song of bamboo is beautiful but it doesn't appear alone. It is waiting to meet with the spring wind."
Teaching on prostration as expression of menju
Prostration is completely without any hesitation or question, even if you have a bundle of doubts and questions, you throw that doubt in front. Prostration is a very profound practice, and it is as important as your sitting practice.
Explaining gassho as mutual recognition, self meeting self
One hand alone doesn't feel anything. This hand feels this hand, this hand feels this hand, all at the same time.