He Won’t Say

It’s been a busy couple days here. Our new puppy, black lab Bodhi, requires attention reminiscent of a human baby, kids are with me almost full time during the summer, work with the schools keeps expanding, and today the galley copy of Keep Me In Your Heart for Awhile: The Haunting Zen of Dainin Katagiri arrived and Wisdom wants any changes in two weeks.

I just came in from sitting on the deck in the cooling evening with dog at my feet, kids on various forms of media, and school work waiting while I took a final look at part of what will be the book.

I’ve been working intermittently on writing a book for six years, I think. This is really my second book. The first one was so bad that I couldn’t find a publisher! And now I’m grateful that I didn’t.

Frankly, I think this is a pretty good book! If one person reads it and gets inspired to really practice Zen, it’ll be a success in my view. Wisdom might have other feelings.

The story that came up in my last post that I didn’t share (and has been haunting me ever since) could have made a good introduction to a chapter for Keep Me in Your Heart. I’m not going to write a long commentary (so relax) – at least not tonight. Instead, I’ll give you the story and if anybody in the blog-o-verse would like to write a comment (or the definitive comment), please do:

Once Katagiri-roshi gave a dharma talk about the Avalokiteshvara chapter of the Lotus Sutra during which he repeated many times, like the Sutra, that if we mindfully call upon Avalokiteshvara, s/he would respond.

Here’s an excerpt with my favorite verse about judges:

Unblemished, serene radiance,
Benevolent sun, dispelling all gloom,
Avalokiteshvara can subdue the wind and fire of woes,
Clearly illuminating all the world.

The precepts of compassion roar like thunder,
The kind heart is wondrous as great clouds,
Pouring dharma rain of sweet dew, Quenching all flames of troubling passion.

In disputes before judges,
Or fearful in the midst of battle,
By mindfully invoking Avalokiteshvara’s power
all hostilities will be dispersed.

At the end of his talk, Roshi asked, “Do you have questions?”

I asked, “Do you believe that Avalokiteshvara is a being outside of ourselves that will come and help us?”

Roshi responded, “Mindfully invoking Avalokiteshvara’s power.”

“But Roshi,” I persisted, “do you believe that Avalokiteshvara is a being outside of yourself?”

Roshi responded, “Mindfully invoking Avalokiteshvara’s power.”

“I hear that, but do you believe that Avalokiteshvara is a being outside of yourself?”

At that point one of Roshi’s other priests intervened, “Dosho, he won’t say, he won’t say.”

That’s the story. What do you say (or do)?