Karma is Clear

A mid-winter melt is winding down here today, although it melted enough snow to block Bodhi and my path earlier.

Speaking of which, a practitioner requested something from Dogen about karma and rebirth so I dipped into Dogen’s Extensive Record to see what I could see. First, let me again profusely praise this very important work, essential for students of Soto Zen, in my view, and encourage you all to buy it right away.

Second, a couple general thoughts, then third I’ll offer you a brief Dharma Hall Discourse (#62) and finally a few words about that.

In the Extensive Record, at least the first four volumes, Dogen discusses cause and effect four times (no mention there of rebirth but there is elsewhere so don’t go ajumpin’ to conclusions) and each time it is in context of the Wild Fox koan (click here if you really want that beast to raise its head). That points to the complexity and subtlety of the issue. I’ve been chewing on this one for many years and can attest to how it continues to unfold.

Another point is that “cause and effect” really should often be translated “karma” because karma is not just cause and effect but action + intention. You can have cause and effect, like flowers falling, without karma. Karma is high-powered cause and effect.

Maybe that’s a niggly point but maybe not. If we are to understand what the Zen ancestors are talking about in careful detail (and our lives), then we ought to look at the teaching (and our lives) with careful detail, right? Otherwise we might just wantonly project our sloppy selves onto so-called “it.” That’s the “how we do one thing is how we do everything” rule.

And now, here’s Dogen:

After relating the story of Baizhang and the wild fox, [Dogen] said: I had mistakenly thought that the barbarian’s beard was red, but surprisingly there is a red bearded barbarian. Not falling into [causality] or not ignoring [causality], cause and effect brings more cause and effect. Do all of you want to know causes and understand effects or not? [Dogen] raised his whisk and said: Look, look. Cause and effect are clear. [Dogen] put down his whisk and got down from his seat.

Comments:
Sentence 1: The issue with the beard is simple. You have to get upside down to deeply appreciate karma.
Sentence 2: Karma rolls on whether you think you can be free from it or whether you think you ought to pay attention.
Sentence 3: If you want to realize the great mystery, look carefully at karma/cause and effect.
Sentence 4 and 5: It ain’t unfolding anywhere else. Open your mouth and it fills it.
Sentence 6: moveon.org