Quotes, taken out of context, from
Kobun's Talks, During Denko-e
from a forthcoming book
of Kobun's Talks During Sesshins
edited by Judy Cosgrove
See the Sesshins Info page for more information about sesshins.
Section II: Denko-e Sesshin - Assembly on the Transmission of Light
Chapter One: Light ... "denko," transmission of light ... sometimes externally, sometimes internally.
Sensing the Light Within You ... you touch your body, you feel warmth. Something is burning, and connected with this thing that's burning, there is a light.
Practice Alone ... sometimes it feels fine to be always alone, but most of the time we feel loneliness instead of confidence. It's like, "Nobody knows me and I do not know myself."
Chapter Two: Listen to the Truth ... Long, deep silence, which contains everything in each person, is very important, even though it contains a bundle of problems inside.
Sanchi Manpo and Dokusan ... whole world is waiting and waiting and waiting for you, for your complete, perfect enlightenment.
Even when there are no words, there is teaching. ... To learn how you are is the most direct teaching.
Kyoju ... no separation, directly, you hand something down to another existence.
Chapter Three: Menju, Face-to-Face Transmission ... you are one of two existences, and you meet and receive something, you do not just receive it, you also accept yourself ... It has to be done by yourself before it is done
Dogen Zenji and Menju "menju," ... refers to succession of spirit ... face giving, face receiving ... face giving is to face your own face, with joy, with pleasure, with faith, to actively receive it.
Dogen's Four Stages of Way-Seeking Mind ... Way-seeking mind is thirsty mind, or unfulfilled mind ... Before way-seeking mind appears, intellect guides your existence. the four stages: Arising mind, practice, awakening, nirvana. ...very blind, but it can feel "right way" or "wrong way."
Menju and Way-Seeking Mind ... to put this relation of face-to-face transmission into one's everyday practice. ... With your body you understand, ... If one strives hard and reaches the final destination, one has to find that everyone is already there.
Tozan's Experience of Menju ... putting Tathagata's eye into your eye. You become yourself. It is mutual.
Prostration, Gassho, and Bow ... Prostration is completely without any hestitation or question, even if you have a bundle of doubts and questions, you throw that doubt in front.
Chapter Four: Many Kinds of Transmission ... in the broader sense of menju we are within it
The Origin of Menju ... And to Mahakashyapa, the cognition appeared, "This is my teacher, I am his follower."
Other Traditional Transmissions ... The important thing is what is happening in the people's minds. ... Imagination, even fantastic imagination, cannot reach to the actual experience.
Chapter Five: Menju is Internal ... Menju is the result of unseen communication of abilities. The abilities come first, then menju. ... Menju, real meeting, goes beyond forms
Menju and Two Moons ... Transmission, face to face, body to body, mind to mind, is often called two moons
Seeing the Existence Next to You ... our central concern is to find another existence to meet without any hindrance. ... Wiping away hindrances, you meet with such existences.
Why am I here? ... This basic question which arises from our body and mind is the same question as why Truth exists ... The answer which is acted by you is the real answer to this question.
Chapter Six: Facing the World ... What is important is that you do what you really want to do. ... A new future begins in the present and it has to start, obviously, deep inside of you.
Chapter Seven: Bodhisattva's Vow ... how to see each being in its essential nature, not how it appears and not how it should change ... It is very important not to judge.
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