Dogen's question
Dogen, the 13th century zen master, had as his life koan, his own existential question, this:-
As I study both the exoteric and the esoteric schools of Buddhism, they maintain that human beings are endowed with Dharma-nature by birth. If this is the case, why did the Buddhas of all ages—undoubtedly in possession of enlightenment—find it necessary to seek enlightenment and engage in spiritual practice?
Such a question may well seem remote, of little consequence. Yet upon reflection correspondences, parallels and equivalences can be found whatever our life situation.
If nihilists, why not commit suicide?
If atheists, and assuming that when we are dead we are dead, how should we spend our lives when here?
If Universalist Christians, why seek the good now if we are "saved" whatever.
The question - any such question - implies our being serious, a deep commitment, to not waste time on too many frivolities. Dogen lost his father when just two, his mother when just seven. Impermanence, life and death, were his constant companions. Reading his life story, we learn how he made his question his life koan - and found his own answer. His writings are not didactic instructions for us to follow in his exact footsteps, but deep writings that can help us find our own life koan, our own question, and thus our own path, time and place. A life adventure - not being dictated to or turned into automatons by the prevailing spirit of the age, but instead to hear what Carl Jung called the spirit of the depths.
Sadly, many waste their lives on the questions of others. And end up insisting that their answers must be ours. They are thus two steps removed from any degree of authenticity.
As I study both the exoteric and the esoteric schools of Buddhism, they maintain that human beings are endowed with Dharma-nature by birth. If this is the case, why did the Buddhas of all ages—undoubtedly in possession of enlightenment—find it necessary to seek enlightenment and engage in spiritual practice?
Such a question may well seem remote, of little consequence. Yet upon reflection correspondences, parallels and equivalences can be found whatever our life situation.
If nihilists, why not commit suicide?
If atheists, and assuming that when we are dead we are dead, how should we spend our lives when here?
If Universalist Christians, why seek the good now if we are "saved" whatever.
The question - any such question - implies our being serious, a deep commitment, to not waste time on too many frivolities. Dogen lost his father when just two, his mother when just seven. Impermanence, life and death, were his constant companions. Reading his life story, we learn how he made his question his life koan - and found his own answer. His writings are not didactic instructions for us to follow in his exact footsteps, but deep writings that can help us find our own life koan, our own question, and thus our own path, time and place. A life adventure - not being dictated to or turned into automatons by the prevailing spirit of the age, but instead to hear what Carl Jung called the spirit of the depths.
Sadly, many waste their lives on the questions of others. And end up insisting that their answers must be ours. They are thus two steps removed from any degree of authenticity.
