The human mind is inherently free. It neither affirms nor denies. It is not constrained by the conflict of the opposites, like right and wrong or self and others. An awakened mind knows that the dynamic unity between self and others forms part of an integrated whole. Having direct knowledge of this mind brings profound peace. The teachings of the Buddha point the way to acquire this knowledge through direct personal experience. In this intriguing and enlightening collection of stories, three Zen students reflect on their personal journeys and share how their lives subsequently transformed because of the practice. Under the direction of Zen Master Kido Inoue, they share their doubts, their difficulties, their amazement, and the transformations that they experienced in their lives. The ultimate aim of Zen is to break out of the constraints of ego and have direct personal experience of the absolute infinity of our being. It is to awaken to the truth of our nature beyond the ego. In a nutshell, Zen focuses on the essence of mind.
ZAZEN
THE WAY TO AWAKENINGBy KIDO INOUEiUniverse, Inc.
Copyright © 2011 Kido Inoue
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4502-7737-2 Contents
FOREWORD..............................................................................................ixINTRODUCTION: "WHAT IS ZEN?" BY KIDO INOUE............................................................xiMY SEARCH FOR SELF-LIBERATION — BY: HISANORI JYURAKU............................................1DISCOVERING MY DIAMOND LIFE — BY: AZUSA KAKENO..................................................33THE RECORD OF ZEN PRACTICE: A SCIENTIST EXPERIENCE — BY: ATSUNOBU TOMOMATSU.....................83APPENDIX TO THE RECORD OF ZEN: A SCIENTIST EXPERIENCE.................................................147EPILOGUE — AWAKENING TO THE ULTIMATE TRUTH — BY: KIDO INOUE...............................159GLOSSARY OF ZEN BUDDHIST TERMS........................................................................163CONTACT ADDRESS.......................................................................................165
Chapter One
MY SEARCH FOR SELF-LIBERATION
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Hisanori Jyuraku High school teacher / born in 1942
I was forty years old, and a high school teacher, when I first stepped into the Zen temple, Kaizoji, one summer holiday. The students' photography club, to which I was an adviser, had organized a summer workshop at Kaizoji. One of the club members happened to be the daughter of the Zen master who had made the temple available for the workshop. This was how my first encounter with Zen began.
Until that time, not only had I no interest in religion, rather, I believed religion could have a poisoning effect like drugs, inviting anti-social behavior, and misleading people who are incapable of rational thinking. Though my impression of Zen was vague, it did not quite fall into the category of such religions.
Thus, one hot summer night, I sat meditating for the first time in my life with my students in this small Zen temple. I was slightly nervous. Burning incense, combined with the dim candlelight illuminating the Buddha statue, created a religious atmosphere.
Our Roshi, or Zen teacher, looked relatively young, perhaps in his early forties. Wearing luminous white robes overlaid with a diaphanous black robe, he spoke with that fullness of spirit that can come only from someone who knows from personal experience what he is talking about. It was a refreshing experience and left me with a sense of peace, although I could not comprehend many of the things he touched on. They were way beyond what we usually talk about in daily life.
Roshi said, "The whole purpose of zazen is `just sitting'. You focus on your being, just sitting in this very moment. Zazen is a practice to become awakened as your Original Self. It is through this awareness that you see truth, hear truth, and think truth; in other words, you embrace life as it truly is. There is an oneness between your Original Self and truth. The Original Self is free from vanity, malice, hypocrisy, lust and self-pity. This is the path of self-liberation and enlightenment. Since ancient times, thousands of path-seekers have dedicated their lives to finding their Original Self. This search is the most rewarding pursuit there is. Up to now you might not have been fully aware of the Original Self within yourself, but now you can know its presence. Start your practice right this moment. Apply yourself to find this Original Self through becoming one with your breathing. Forget yourself through being totally in the moment."
As Roshi revealed the essence of Zen to me for the first time, I understood far more clearly why I had this vague impression that Zen did not quite fit into the ordinary category of religion. Roshi gave us a technique for sitting, or zazen. "The key to experiencing no-self is to be one with each inhalation and exhalation. If you can do this, you can penetrate the root of all your suffering." Following his instruction, I made an all-out effort to sit.
It dawned on me much later that even though I thought I was doing zazen with determination, my effort was inconsequential. My mind kept spinning with busy thoughts. Time went by extremely slowly because my mind was restless. I tried to concentrate on breathing, but not a single breath was free from thoughts. The restlessness of my mind was not because of zazen it happened all the time in daily life.
After the meditation, I purposely did not set time aside with my students to discuss their impression of zazen, although this would usually be beneficial. But I thought it would be better for them to keep their experiences at the temple to themselves.
A few days later, I visited Kaizoji with my high-school colleague, Mr. Waki, to thank Roshi for his assistance during the workshop. Roshi introduced us to Mr. Kozumi, who also happened to be visiting. Mr. Kozumi sat with a beautiful straight posture, and spoke clearly and confidently about his recent experience of sesshin, an intensive schedule of zazen and physical work. He impressed me as a vivacious, good man. He told us he had only just reached the gateway to Zen; he described the unfolding process of his mind during zazen, the bliss and wonder of being in the moment. "At times I thought I might go mad. Here I was stepping into a totally unknown world all alone. I was visited by delusion after delusion. In the end, I no longer knew who I was. I had no choice but to believe in Roshi's words and keep on trying 'to be one with my breathing.' In my business I almost went bankrupt twice, but I tell you, it was nothing compared with the agony I went through in zazen." Mr. Kozumi was very open about the most trying moments of his practice, so I could see how zazen had demanded that he go beyond his limits. I was enthralled by this insight into Zen practice. It opened up a new world for me.
Mr. Kozumi's sincere respect for Roshi was evident in his every gesture and word, quite different from cosmetic politeness or courtesy. In his forties, he was at the peak of his business career, a competent man with a high social profile. I said to myself, 'What was it that turned Mr. Kozumi on?' If what I was observing was authentic, Roshi must surely have some astounding quality to attract respect from people. Still, I was not sure what was so special about him.
Mr. Kozumi's direct experience of zazen was so convincing that I no longer had any excuse to run away from Zen. So, I made a decision on the spot to practice zazen. As I reflect now, it was Mr. Kozumi's enthusiasm and self-assurance that gave me the courage to overcome my anxiety; without him, I do not think I could have been so decisive. It is wonderful how a personal encounter can act as a catalyst to spark off experiences totally beyond one's imagination.
Roshi said, "If you want zazen for a hobby, you had better go somewhere else. If you come to me, you had better be serious and ready to meditate around the clock."
According to Mr. Kozumi, "The first three days were hell; I wept every day. It was too painful. Frankly I wished someone could have sent me a fake telegram saying that a member of my family had died, and that I needed to leave this place."
These comments made me nervous. Could I endure sesshin? But now that the date was set between the seventeenth and twenty-fourth of August, I did not want to stop halfway. I wanted to...
