Buddhist<\/a> practice, imho.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nReading Two Shores of Zen<\/i> I was reminded about how in some lineages, enlightenment is the only thing. Reading a yet-to-be published manuscript from another line, I was reminded how in some lineages, there is no enlightenment. Or nonenlightenment is enlightenment.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nI\u2019ve got a few things to say about this that don\u2019t fit well in this post so I may return to this theme in the near future. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nAnyway, in terms of commemorating Roshi and relying on the teaching, it seems to me that in this regard he had a balanced view.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cOf course, enlightenment is important for us,\u201d Roshi often said, and because it is important he often focused on daily life as an antidote to spiritual intoxication and to encourage the activity of enlightenment, bringing peace and harmony to our little corner of the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIn the context of the rampant spiritual fascination of 70\u2019s and 80\u2019s, this makes sense to me. Maybe if he had lived to this day where enlightenment is mostly poo-poo-ed in Zen circles, he\u2019d emphasize it more.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSo here\u2019s a memorial story about Katagiri Roshi\u2019s attitude toward enlightenment from the first book I wrote and didn\u2019t publish. I searched for the recording of these events but found that none existed. Well, the visiting teacher refused to allow recordings but we recorded nearly everything Roshi ever said.\u00a0 The tape for this talk cut off just before the question below was asked.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nI did check with the person who asked the questions and he remembered it very much like I did.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIn about 1981, Minnesota Zen Center hosted an important teacher, one of the few Americans at the time who had received dharma<\/a> transmission.\u00a0 He and Katagiri-roshi led a workshop together.\u00a0 Our guest was big in body and charisma.\u00a0He walked steadily with his head slightly tilted toward the floor, seemingly pushing the floor like a rolling pin.<\/span><\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\nDuring a discussion period with him, Katagiri-roshi absent, a new student asked, \u201cAre you enlightened?\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The room tensed as if a taboo had been violated. The teacher\u2019s chest seemed to contract.\u00a0 His face flushed.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s a meaningless question,\u201d he snapped, \u201cdon\u2019t ask me such things.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Why be defensive, I wondered?\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The next day it was Katagiri-roshi\u2019s turn to lead the discussion. The visiting teacher was absent.\u00a0 Again, the same man asked, \u201cAre you enlightened?\u201d<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cOh, enlightenment,\u201d said Katagiri-roshi, completely nonplussed.\u00a0 \u201cYou know, one day I was at monastery [Tassajara].\u00a0 So hot.\u00a0 So hot.\u00a0 Almost nobody else came to zazen.\u00a0 Anyway, I went.\u00a0 Sweating.\u00a0 Thinking, \u2018How stupid you are.\u2019 Suddenly, just like Dogen-zenji say, body and mind dropped off completely.\u00a0 Then after a while, \u2018I\u2019 came back.\u00a0 Ahhh!\u00a0 Then I feel as if I am floating up into the sky, thinking, \u2018Now you are a saint.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
With this Katagiri-roshi flung back his head and laughed at himself, as if to say, \u201cHow stupid I am!\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n
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