The absolute heart of the matter, from one of my all-time favorite Zen masters, the great Ikkyu:
Why…?
The Big Question in Athens
The True Mystic View
Fearless Effort
Reply to a Reader: “Watch Your Step!”
Question:
Dear Sunim,
Tomorrow I will be going into my first four week summer Kyol Che at PZC. Do you have any words of encouragement I can take with me?
Sincerely
[ name withheld ]
( dharma name withheld )
Reply:
“Thus, the Buddha named ten specific sources whose knowledge should not be immediately viewed as truthful without further investigation to avoid fallacies:
Oral history
Traditions
News sources
Scriptures or other official texts
Suppositional reasoning
Philosophical dogmatism
Common sense
One’s own opinions
Experts
Authorities or one’s own teacher.”
Remember this, keep your Great Doubt, and you’re all good. Best wishes!
Red in Tooth and Claw, Indeed
What is particularly gripping about this extraordinary nano-video is the reaction of the herd to the sudden snatching. All of their consciousnesses riveted — from fear to all-consuming absorption in this loss. Even more so is the super-shocked mother, suddenly thieved of all that nurturing and investment, in an instant.
