{"id":398,"date":"2009-01-22T17:00:08","date_gmt":"2009-01-22T17:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/onecity\/2009\/01\/hardcore-dharma-is-and-is-not-and-therefore-also-is.html"},"modified":"2009-01-22T17:00:08","modified_gmt":"2009-01-22T17:00:08","slug":"hardcore-dharma-is-and-is-not-and-therefore-also-is","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/onecity\/2009\/01\/hardcore-dharma-is-and-is-not-and-therefore-also-is.html","title":{"rendered":"Hardcore Dharma Is. And Is Not. And Therefore Also Is."},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cSometimes we talk about our clothing; sometimes we talk about our body.\u00a0 But neither body nor clothing is actually we ourselves.\u00a0 We ourselves are the big activity.\u00a0 We are just expressing the smallest particle of the big activity,that is all.\u00a0 So it is all right to talk about ourselves, but actually there is no need to do so.\u00a0 Before we open our moths, we are already expressing the big existence, including ourselves.\u00a0 So the purpose of talking about ourselves is to correct the misunderstanding we have when we are attached to any particular temporal form or color of the big activity.\u00a0 It is necessary to talk about what our body is and what our activity is so that we may not make any mistake about them, so to talk about ourselves is actually to forget about ourselves.
\nDogen-zenji said, \u201cTo study Buddhism is to study ourselves.\u00a0 To study ourselves is to forget ourselves.\u201d\u00a0 When you become attached to a temporal expression of your true nature, it is necessary to talk about Buddhism, or else you will think the temporal expression is it.\u00a0 But this particular expression of it is not it.\u00a0 And yet at the same time it is it.\u00a0 For a while this is it, for the smallest particle of time this is it.\u00a0 But it is not always so: the very next instant it is not so, thus this is not it.\u00a0 So that you will realize this fact, it is necessary to study Buddhism.\u00a0 But the purpose of studying Buddhism is to study ourselves and to forget ourselves.\u00a0 When we forget ourselves, we actually are the true activity of the big existence, or reality itself.\u00a0 When we realize this fact, there is no problem whatsoever in this world, and we can enjoy our life without feeling any difficulties.\u00a0 The purpose of our practice is to be aware of this fact.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

– Shunryu Suzuki \u2013 from Hardcore Dharma’s January 16th 2009 reading selection of Zen Mind Beginner\u2019s Mind<\/em>.
\nDear Shunryu Suzuki,
\nI surrender.\u00a0 I know that the reason you lead me through these rhetorical hoops is to express the inexpressible.\u00a0 I admit that I am the smallest particle of the biggest activity and I admit that any grasp of comprehension that I hold on to from your words is actually a reinforcement of my small-mind.\u00a0 Because there\u2019s nothing to hold on to, not even comprehension of concepts.\u00a0 Therefore I understand that the minute I think I understand I don\u2019t understand.\u00a0 And the minute it is written down it becomes even less of what it is.\u00a0 Check.
\nI am going to get a coffee now.
\nPeace out,
\nTF
\nhttp:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9JITltzJd9U<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cSometimes we talk about our clothing; sometimes we talk about our body.\u00a0 But neither body nor clothing is actually we ourselves.\u00a0 We ourselves are the big activity.\u00a0 We are just expressing the smallest particle of the big activity,that is all.\u00a0 So it is all right to talk about ourselves, but actually there is no need…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":190,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-arts-and-media"],"yoast_head":"\nHardcore Dharma Is. And Is Not. 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