FLOWERS FALL, WEEDS GROW (4) Therefore flowers fall even though we lve the !

wee"s grow even though we "#sl#$e the % &onve'#ng one( self towar" all th#ngs to )arr' out *ra)t#)e( enl#ghten ent #s "elus#on% All th#ngs )o #ng an" )arr'#ng out *ra)t#)e( enl#ghten ent through the self #s real#+at#on% Those who greatl' real#+e "elus#on are ,u""has% Those who are greatl' "elu"e" #n real#+at#on are l#v#ng ,e#ngs% Further ore, there are those who atta#n real#+at#on ,e'on" real#+at#on an" those who are "elu"e" w#th#n "elus#on% O-R L./ES ARE T0E .1TERSE&T.O1 OF SELF A1D ALL T0.1GS To "#s)uss the relat#onsh#* ,etween "elus#on an" enl#ght( en ent an" l#v#ng ,e#ngs an" ,u""has, D2g3n 4en5# "#s)usses the relat#onsh#* ,etween 5#$o, the self, an" ,an*2, all ,e#ngs (,an eans ten thousan", 'r#a", or nu ,erless! *o eans ,e#ngs or th#ngs)% A))or"#ng to D2g3n, "elus#on an" enl#ghten ent l#e onl' w#th#n the relat#onsh#* ,etween self an" others% Delus#on #s not so 3 f#6e" th#ng w#th#n our #n"s that, #f el# #nate", w#ll ,e re*la)e" ,' enl#ghten ent% .n the state ent 7Flowers fal# even though we love the an" w))"s grow even though we "#sl#$e the ,7 7we7 refers to 5#$o (self) an" flow( ers an" wee"s are e6a *les of ,an*o, or the 'r#a" th#ngs% Flowers s# *l' grow, ,loo , an" fal#! wee"s als8 grow, lu6ur#ate, an" w#ther% 1e#ther flowers nor wee"s are #nherentl' goo" or ,a"! the' s# *l' grow an" l#ve% An" 'et we hu 9n ,e#ngs are usuall' not neutral #n our relat#onsh#* to th#ngs% S#n)e we en5o' flowers, we love #t when the' ,loo , an" s#n)e we "oh t l#$e wee"s, we are unha**' when the' a**ear% An" though we love flowers, the' st#ll fal#, an" we feel sa" an" "#sa**o#nte"% As for wee"s, the' grow :u#)$l' an" s*rea", an" we ,e)o e angr'% Wee"#ng #s one of the a#n 5o,s of ;u""h#st *r#ests #n <a*anes) te *les, es*e)#all' #n the su er, an" the wee"s grow so :u#)$l'= .n the #""le of August, <a*anese ;u""h#st te *les have the O(,on )ere( on', wh#)h lasts for a wee$ an" #s one of the#r *r# ar' annual events% ;efore O(,on ,eg#ns, te *le *r#ests have to wee" the groun"s, )lean the ,u#l"#ngs #n the#r te *le )o *oun"s, an" "o an' other )hores #n *re*arat#on for th#s ver' # *ortant event% Wee"#ng #s a a5or tas$, an" ,' the t# e we f#n#sh, new wee"s are alrea"' grow#ng where we ,egan, so we ust start all over aga#n% S#n)e wee"s are stronger than we are, we )an never get r#" of the all, an" th#s so et# es a$es us angr' or sa", 5ust as wor$#ng w#th our "elus#ons )an a$e us frus( trate" or ho*eless% .f we are not a)tuall' "o#ng the wee"#ng, we )an ,e 7o,5e)t#ve7 an" sa' 7wee"s are 5ust wee"s,7 wh#le we )la# to ne#ther l#$e nor "#sl#$e wee"s% >et when we have to "o the wor$ of wee"#ng, #t #s "#f?#)ult to sa' that wee"s are 5ust wee"s% Th#s #s ,e)ause as long as we are al#ve, we e6#st onl' w#th#n relat#onsh#* to ever'th#ng that we en)ounter #n our l#ves% We )annot see th#ngs as o,servers fro outs#"e the worl", as we #ght # ag#ne that Go" "oes% .n se)t#on 4 D2g3n 4en5# #s "#s)uss#ng th#s relat#onsh#* ,etween the self an" all ,e#ngs% 0e #s *o#nt#ng out that we l#$e th#ngs we th#n$ are useful, ean#ngful, or valua,le, ,ut we "#sl#$e or #gnore th#ngs that "o not su#t us% Th#s evaluat#on

o))urs w#th#n the relat#onsh#* ,etween self an" the 'r#a" "har as, ,ut there #s no su)h "#)hoto ' w#th#n the real#t' of the 'r#a" "har as% W#th#n the relat#onsh#* ,etween self an" all ,e#ngs, there #s goo" an" ,a", *os#t#ve an" nega( t#ve, r#ght an" wrong% We "on@t reall' see the 'r#a" "har as as the' are% We th#n$ a,out th#ngs we en)ounter an" na e the , ass#gn value to the , an" *ut the #nto )ategor#es su)h as goo" or ,a", valua,le or worthless, l#$a,le or unl#$a,le% Our l#fe #s a)tuall' f2r e" ,' what we en)ounter ,e)ause we )reate our own worl" of l#$es an" "#sl#$es ,ase" on how we )ategor#+e the th#ngs we eet% W#th#n th#s worl" of l#$es an" "#sl#$es, we "o not *er)e#ve the 'r#a" "har as as the' reall' are% Th#ngs we l#$e an" th#ngs we hate loo$ u)h ,#gger than the' are, an" th#ngs we are not #ntereste" #n ,e)o e s all or #nv#s#,le to us% The worl" we l#ve #n #s the worl" we )reate ,ase" on how our #n" en)ounters the 'r#a" "har as% We )annot *revent our #n" fro )reat#ng our worl" as #t "oes, ,ut #t #s *oss#,le to real#+e that the worl" of our )reat#on "oes not refle)t true real#t'% Ara)t#)#ng w#th th#s real#+at#on an" lett#ng go of r#g#" ,el#ef #n the narrat#ves an" *refer( en)es of our #n"s #s, aga#n, o*en#ng the han" of thought% SELF A1D ALL T0.1GS Th#s relat#onsh#* ,etween self an" all ,e#ngs #s e6*resse" #n the *h#( loso*h' of ever' ;u""h#st tra"#t#on% For e6a *le, earl' ;u""h#st tea)hers use" the twelve sense f#el"s, or 5Bn#sho #n <a*anese, to e6*la#n the relat#onsh#* ,etween self an" all "har as% <Bn#sho was "ef#ne" as the s#6 sense organs (e'e, ear, nose, tongue, ,o"', an" #n") an" the s#6 o,5e)ts of ea)h sense organ (for or )olor, soun", s ell, taste, tou)h, an" o,5e)ts of #n")% Earl' ;u""h#st tea)h#ngs a,out the twelve sense f#el"s e6*la#n that our relat#onsh#* w#th the 'r#a" "harC as #s )reate" through our sense organs an" the#r o,5e)ts% .n other wor"s, we see )olor an" sha*e w#th our e'es, we hear w#th our ears, we s ell w#th our noses, we taste w#th our tongues, an" we sense tou)h w#th our ,o"#es% 7O,5e)ts of #n"7 refers to e or#es, # ages, or )on)e*ts we )an 7see7 or 7hear7 or th#n$ a,out w#thout a)tuall' us#ng our sense organs% So what we *er)e#ve #s a)tuall' a $#n" of st# ulat#on that ha**ens w#th#n our ,o"#es an" #n"s! we "o not "#re)tl' *erC)e#ve the th#ngs ("har as) the selves% <Bha)h#($a#, or the e#ghteen ele ents, was als8 a *art of earl' ;u"("h#st th#n$#ng% The e#ghteen ele ents )ons#ste" of the s#6 sense organs, the s#6 o,5e)ts of ea)h sense organ, an" the s#6 #n"#v#"ual ele ents of )ons)#ousness asso)#ate" w#th ea)h sense organ (ro$u sh#$#)% Th#s tea)h#ng sa's that the eet#ng of a sense organ an" an o,5e)t )auses a )erta#n t'*e of )ons)#ousness to ar#se #n the #n"% E'e()ons)#ousness, for e6a *le, ar#ses fro the eet#ng of the e'e w#th )olor or sha*e, an" taste()ons)#ousness ar#ses when a flavor )onta)ts the tongue% Earl' ;u""h#sts anal'+e" l#fe #n th#s wa' to show that ,e#ngs have no *er anent essen)e su)h as an at an or soul that )an e6#st out( s#"e of the relat#onsh#* ,etween the ,o"'D #n" an" #ts o,5e)ts% The' showe" that our l#ves )ons#st onl' of these e#ghteen ele ents, #n)lu"( #ng nu ,erless relat#onsh#*s ,etween our sense organs, the#r o,5e)ts, an" ea)h sense )ons)#ousness%

The e#ghteen ele ents a**ear #n the 0eart Sutra w#th the wor" u ( ean#ng 7no7) *la)e" ,efore ea)h ele ent% Th#s #s ,e)ause even though earl' ;u""h#sts use" the ele ents to negate the e6#sten)e of at an, the 0eart Sutra negate" even the f#6e" e6#sten)e of the e#ghCteen ele ents% .t showe" that the ele ents als8 have no su,stan)e! the' are 5ust *heno ena% .n th#s wa' the 0eart Sutra g#ves us the ean#ng of e *t#ness% As . ent#one" earl#er, the f#rst two senten)es of Gen52$2an )onta#n tea)h#ngs of earl' ;u""h#s an" the 0eart Sutra% The f#rst senten)e )orres*on"s to the e#ghteen ele ents as taught #n earl' ;u""h#s % The se)on" senten)e negates these ele ents, as the 0eart Sutra "oes, sa'#ng that although the sense organs, the#r o,5e)ts, an" sense )onCs)#ousness e6#st, the' are all a)tuall' e *t'% Th#s #s what Eaha'ana ;u""h#s tea)hes #n or"er to hel* us free ourselves fro atta)h ent to the self an" all o,5e)ts% DFGE1 4E.E<.@S &OEEE1TS Let us aga#n return to D2gens tea)h#ngs on the 0eart Sutra, Ea$a 0ann'a 0ara #tsu% 0ere, 'ou w#ll re)all, D2g3n sa's, The twelve sense fields are twelve instances of prajna paramita. There are eighteen instances of prajna: eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind; sight, sounds, smell, taste, touch, objects of mind; as well as the consciousnesses of eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind. Aga#n, we see that D2g3n e6*resses the tea)h#ng of e *t#ness #n a *os#t#ve wa', )hang#ng the tea)h#ng as #t #s *resente" #n the 0eart Sutra% The 0eart Sutra sa's that the e#ghteen ele ents "on@t e6#st ,e)ause the' are e *t', ,ut D2g3n sa's that the ele ents "o e6#st an" the' are the selves *ra5na% Ara5na eans 7w#s"o wh#)h sees e *t#Cness,7 ,ut *ra5na #s not a fun)t#on of our #n"s ,ut rather the real#t' of ea)h th#ng as #t #s% ;' sa'#ng that the e#ghteen ele ents are #nstan)es of *ra5na, D2g3n #s e6*ress#ng the real#t' of all ,e#ngs wh#)h #n)lu"es ,e#ng an" non,e#ng, for an" e *t#ness% Re)ogn#t#on of th#s real#t' #s the reason D2g3n sa's #n Ea$a 0an(n'a 0ara #tsu, 7For #s noth#ng ,ut for ! e *t#ness #s noth#ng ,ut e *t#ness%7 Aga#n, when we sa' for #s e *t#ness, #n our #n"s there are two th#ngs, for an" e *t#ness, an" we sa' those two th#ngs are one% Th#s #s the wa' we usuall' e6*er#en)e th#ngs #n our "a#l' l#ves% When we see a flower, for e6a *le, the flower #s reall' there an" we a' th#n$, 7Th#s flower #s now #n front of ' e'es% .t #s ver' ,eau( t#ful, ,ut #t w#ll w#ther an" fall so e"a'%7 Although we ,el#eve th#s thought, #n un"en#a,le real#t' as we see the flower there #s onl' the flower ,loo #ng! there #s no fall#ng% ;ut we a' th#n$, 7Th#s flower #s ,loo #ng now ,ut #n the *ast #t was a see", an" #t w#ll fall so e"a' to for see"s for the ne6t generat#on of flowers%7 Or we a' th#n$, 7Th#s flower #s here ,ut #t #s e *t', # *er anent! there #s no f#6e" su,stan)e to th#s .f*wer7 Th#s #s how we th#n$ an" un"erstan" the ;u""has tea)h#ng when we stu"' #t% ;ut what D2g3n tea)hes #s that at the a)tual o ent of #ts ,loo #ng, the flower #s 5ust a flower% 0e "oesn@t sa', 7We shoul" $now that the flower #s e *t',7 ,e)ause the flower #s a)tuall' e *t' even when we "ont

sa' so% For D2g3n, when we see a flower an" th#n$, 7Th#s flower #s e *t',7 we se*arate our( selves fro the flower% Ara5na #s not a wa' of th#n$#ng or un"erstan"#ng! #t #s the flower #tself, an" the flower #s reveal#ng a)tual e *t#ness% That #s wh' D2g3n sa's, Form is nothing but form, emptiness is nothing but emptinessone hundred blades of grass, ten thousand things. 7One hun"re" ,la"es of grass, ten thousan" th#ngs7 are ,an*2, or the 'r#a" "har as, th#ngs as the' are w#thout ,e#ng *ro)esse" ,' the th#n$#ng #n"% Our "es#res an" avers#ons an" all the th#ngs ha*C*en#ng w#th#n us an" outs#"e of us are #n real#t' the an#festat#on of one real l#feG ;u""ha( #n" or the ;u""has l#fe% Th#s #s the essage that D2g3n 4en5# "el#vers to us #n Gen52$2an, an" he shows us how to see true real#t' an" how to l#ve our l#ves #n a))or"an)e w#th th#s real#t'% We usuall' th#n$ of the self as su,5e)t an" ,an*2 as o,5e)t% We assu e that the su,5e)t th#n$s a,out an" evaluates the o,5e)t% ;ut th#s )o on wa' of un"erstan"#ng our l#ves #s not ne)essar#l' true% A))or"#ng to the ;u""ha Dhar a, th#s #s not real#t'% The realC#t' #s that the self #s *art of the 'r#a" "har as! we are *art of nature an" the worl"% The 'r#a" "har as are ever'th#ng, #n)lu"#ng the self% When we sa' 7all "har as,7 the self #s alrea"' #n)lu"e"% .f we leave 7all "har as,7 we )annot l#ve% .f f#sh leave the water or ,#r"s leave the s$', the' w#ll "#e% .t #s the sa e w#th us! s$' an" water are ,an*2 an" the self #s l#$e the f#sh an" ,#r"% Th#s #s an # *ortant *o#nt ,e)ause our ,as#) wa' of th#n$#ng #s ,ase" on se*arat#on ,etween su,5e)t an" o,5e)t% We th#n$, 7. a the su,5e)t an" ever'th#ng outs#"e of e #s an o,5e)t%7 ;ut th#s #s not the a)tual truth% Conveying oneself toward all things to carry out practice enlightenment is delusion. !ll things coming and carrying out practice enlightenment through the self is reali"ation. .n th#s senten)e fro Gen52$2an D2g3n 4en5# *resents "ef#n#t#ons of "elus#on an" enl#ghten ent% 7Real#+at#on7 #s a translat#on of s9tor# (H*D) an" 7"elus#on7 #s a translat#on of a'o# ;oth s9tor# an" a'o# e6#st onl' w#th#n the relat#onsh#* ,etween self an" others% A)tuall', 7"elus#on7 #s *ro,a,l' not a goo" translat#on of the <a*a( nese or &h#nese )hara)ter for a'o#, wh#)h #s als8 *ronoun)e" e# ( Ee# #s a *s')holog#)al )on"#t#on )ause" ,' the "elus#on that #s a *ro"u)t of )ons)#ousness% W#th#n )ons)#ousness real#t' #s "#storte"! we "on@t see th#ngs as the' are, an" that #s "elus#on% Ea'o# #s not th#s "elus#on #tself ,ut a *s')holog#)al )on"#t#on )ause" ,' the "elus#on! #t #s a t'*e of )onfus#on )ause" ,' the #na,#l#t' to see th#ngs as the' are% When we "on@t see th#ngs )learl', we )annot a$e goo" 5u"g ents an" are unsure wh#)h wa' to go% So a'o# #s )o *ara,le to ,e#ng lost% The root of the $an5# #s wr#tten an" has the soun" 7 e#I .t loo$s l#$e an #nterse)t#on, *erha*s one #n wh#)h we "on@t $now wh#)h wa' to go% The lower *art of the $an5# eans 7wal$#ng%7 When we wal$, our "est#nat#on shoul" ,e )lear% .f our "est#nat#on #s not )lear, we w#ll ,e)o e lost #n )onfus#on an" an6#et', a$e ,a" "e)#s#ons, an" have an' other *ro,le s% Th#s #s the )on"#t#on of suffer#ng #n sa sara%

.n the )on"#t#on of a'o# we are alwa's un)erta#n, never $now#ng wh#)h wa' to go or wh#)h a)t#on to ta$e% We )l#ng to what we wrongl' ,el#eve #s true of a s#tuat#on an" a)t a))or"#ng to our #sta$en #"eas% As a result, we fall #nto a u)h ore "#ff#)ult )on"#t#on% Th#s #s what D2g3n 4en5# #s sa'#ng #n the senten)e 7&onve'#ng oneself towar" all th#ngs to )arr' out *ra)t#)e(enl#ghten ent #s "elus#on%7 Th#s eans we ta$e our "#storte" #"eas an" "es#res an" ove towar" the worl" tr'#ng to f#n" truth or real#t'% We tr' to see an" )a*ture real#t' w#th our #n"s, a,#l#t#es, w#ll*ower, an" effort! we tr' to ,e)o e )nl#ght( ene" #n or"er to *ut ever'th#ng un"er the )ontrol the selt so that our l#fe #s sta,le an" *ea)eful% Th#s att#tJ"3, a))or"#ng to Dgen, #s "elus#on% !ll things coming and carrying out practice enlightenment through the self is reali"ation. The su,5e)t of *ra)t#)e #s not the *ersonal self ,ut all ,e#ngs% To *ra)t#)e #s to awa$en to the self that #s )onne)te" to all ,e#ngs, or the ten thousan" "har as% D2g3n sa's that these 'r#a" "har as are the selves ;u""ha Dhar a, an" the real#t' of all "har as #s the Dhar a ,o"' of ;u""haKthe "har a$a'aKor ;u""ha #tself% S#n)e we are *art of all "har as, the foun"at#on of our *ra)t#)e ust ,e our awa$en#ng to the real#t' that we are #n"ee" *art of all "har as, or *art of ;u""ha% .n other wor"s, #t #s not . who *ra)t#)e, ,ut rather ;u""ha )arr#es out ;u""has *ra)t#)e through e% .n our +a+en *ra)t#)e an" #n our "a#l' a)t#v#t' of ,o"h#sattva *ra)t#)e, #t #s not a atter of #n"#( v#"ual a)t#ons ,ase" on #n"#v#"ual w#ll*ower an" effort% .t #s rather the 'r#a" "har as, or all ,e#ngs, that )arr' out *ra)t#)e through our #n"#v#"ual ,o"#es an" #n"s% For th#s reason D2g3n taught that +a+en #s not a *ra)t#)e eant to a$e hu 9n ,e#ngs #nto ,u""has! +a+en #s #tself ;u""has *ra)t#)e% D2g3n "ef#ne" ;u""ha as <#n Da#)h#, 7whole great earth%7 Th#s #s an e6*ress#on for the self that #s together w#th all ,e#ngs% >et even though we share th#s )onne)t#on w#th all ,e#ngs, we st#ll th#n$ #n "elu"e", self()entere" wa's% Our thoughts a,out real#t' are u*s#"e "own! we th#n$, 7. a the )enter of the worl"7 or 7These th#ngs are ' *osses( s#ons%7 We often th#n$ that ever'th#ng #n th#s worl" e6#sts #n or"er to a$e us ha**'% Th#s a' ,e the ,as#s for v#ews an" values #n o"ern so)#et', ,ut the tea)h#ngs of the ;u""ha an" D2g3n show us that th#s #s an #nverte" wa' of v#ew#ng th#ngs% Our *ra)t#)e of +a+en ena,les us to see )learl' that we are *art of the worl", *art of nature, an" *art of ;u""ha% .t lets us see that we "on@t nee" to *ersonall' ,e)o e a ,u"( "ha, ,ut rather we nee" to awa$en to the real#t' that fro the ,eg#n( n#ng we are l#v#ng ;u""has l#fe% FLOWERS FALL, WEEDS GROW ;' lett#ng go of our thoughts, of our )ons)#ousness, we a)tual#+e the self that #s )onne)te" w#th all "har as% Th#s #s not the self awa$( en#ngto real#t', ,ut +a+en awa$en#ng to +a+en, Dhar a awa$en#ng to Dhar a, an" ;u""ha awa$en#ng to ;u""ha% 4a+en *ra)t#)es +a+en! #t #s not that a se*arate #n"#v#"ual *ra)t#)es +a+en to ,e)o e enl#ght( ene"% Th#s #s the ean#ng of D2g3n 4en5# s e6*ress#on 7*ra)t#)e an" enl#ghten ent are one%7 .t #s through th#s *ra)t#)e that un#versal

an" #nter*enetrat#ng real#t' ' un"erstan"#ng%

an#fests #tself% Th#s #s the

ean#ng of gen52$2an #n

REAL.4AT.O1 ;E>O1D REAL.4AT.O1 ;-DD0AS A1D L./.1G ;E.1GS .tLs loo$ further #nto the se)t#on we ,egan e6*lor#ng #n #$%&... ' Those who greatly reali"e delusion are buddhas. Those who are greatly deluded in reali"ation are living beings. Furthermore, there are those who attain reali"a(tion beyond reali"ation and those who are deluded within delusion. .n stat#ng that 7those who greatl' real#+e "elus#on are ,u""has7 D2g3n *o#nts to a ,as#) truth of *ra)t#)e% .f we are trul' honest an" s#n)ere w#th ourselves, we w#ll f#n" that no atter how har" we *ra)Ct#)e, our ot#vat#on for *ra)t#)e #s st#ll ,ase" #n so 3 a ount of self( )entere"ness% D2g3n sa#" that those who re)ogn#+e th#s self()entere" ,as#s of the#r *ra)t#)e are ,u""has% Th#s eans that the a)t of trul' see#ng our self()entere"ness #s #tself ;u""ha, an" when we see th#s self()entere"ness we ust ,r#ng re*entan)eH (a,out wh#)h, ore ,elow) #nto our *ra)t#)e to wor$ to free ourselves fro our selt#sh ot#vat#ons% Our *ra)t#)e, the awa$en#ng that allows us to see our own self()entere"ness an" let go of #t, #s ;u""ha% So to awa$en to th#s real#t' of our "elus#on, the real#t' that we are al ost alwa's self( )entere" an" una,le to see the truth of # *er anen)e an" la)$ of #n"e*en"ent e6#sten)e, #s #tself ;u""ha% Th#s #s what D2g3n eans when he sa's that to real#+e "elus#on #s to ,e a ,u""ha% Re*entan)e has ,een *ra)t#)e" throughout the h#stor' of the ;u"C"h#st sangha% On "a's of the full an" new oon (the f#rst "a' an" the f#fteenth "a' of the lunar )alen"ar), on$s gather #n the *ra)t#)e of u*osa"ha (&h%G ,usa! <a*%G fusatsu)% .n the earl' "a's of ;u""h#s , the sangha lea"er re)#te" the on$s@ *re)e*ts on th#s o))as#on, an" an' *art#)#*ant who ha" v#olate" the *re)e*ts a" #tte" "o#ng so ,efore the asse ,l'% Re*entan)e ha" "ee* s#gn#f#)an)e for all Sangha e ( ,ers, s#n)e all ha" a"o*te" the ;u""h#st *re)e*ts as the#r gu#"el#nes for l#v#ng! to v#olate the *re)e*ts was a "ev#at#on fro the#r l#fe vows% When e ,ers real#+e" the' ha" stra'e", the' re*ente" an" returne" to the#r vows% The fusatsu gather#ng st#ll )ont#nues #n an' ;u""h#st tra"#t#ons, an" r'a$u(fusatsu ( o"#f#e" fusatsu) #s st#ll *ra)t#)e" tw#)e a onth #n S2t2 4en onaster#es, although the gather#ng has ,e)o e ver' )ere 8n#9#% .n Eaha'ana ;u""h#s , re*entan)e #s alwa's a *art of *ra)t#)#ng w#th the ,o"h#sattva vows% Our vows are e6*ress#ons of our "eter #( nat#on to wal$ the ,o"h#sattva *ath, an" when we ,e)o e aware that we have stra'e" fro the r#ght tra)$, we offer re*entan)e ,' return#ng to the *ath% Th#s awa$en#ng to the #n)o *leteness of one s *ra)t#)e an" return#ng to one s *ath #s the ean#ng of re*entan)e #n Eaha'ana ;u""h#s % Those who are greatly deluded in reali"ation are living beings.

.t@s essent#al here to re)ogn#+e that ,u""has an" l#v#ng ,e#ngs are not two se*arate grou*s of *eo*le! all ,e#ngs are *art of one un#ver( sal real#t', an" #n th#s sense there #s no se*arat#on ,etween ,u""has an" l#v#ng ,e#ngs% Th#s #s the ean#ng of the *hrase 7no ,u""has an" no l#v#ng ,e#ngs7 #n the se)on" senten)e of Gen52$2an% We *ra)t#)e w#th#n the un#versal real#t' of no se*arat#on, so there #s no se*ara( t#on ,etween us, our *ra)t#)e, an" ;u""ha% .n th#s v#ew of real#t', we a)tuall' are ,u""has% We l#ve as *art of the un#versal real#t' of l#fe, whether we $now #t or not, an" there #s no se*arat#on ,etween self an" other, even though we se*arate the #n our #n"s% 1o atter how self()entere" our #"eas, we alwa's l#ve w#th#n the networ$ of #nter( "e*en"ent or#g#nat#on an" are )onne)te" w#th an" su**orte" ,' all ,e#ngs #n the whole worl"% 71etwor$ of #nter"e*en"ent or#g#nat#on7 #s an e6*ress#on . use to refer to the real#t' of #nter)onne)te"ness% .t #s s# #lar to .n"ras 1et, an analog' use" #n Eaha'ana ;u""h#s #n wh#)h all th#ngs of the un#verse are "e*#)te" as $nots or no"es #n the l# #tless net of real#t'% >et we are )a*a,le of see#ng un#versal real#t' fro another *o#nt of v#ew% Even though we are l#v#ng out un#versal real#t' w#th all l#v#ng ,e#ngs, fro th#s other *o#nt of v#ew we are st#ll self()entere" an" we often lose s#ght of real#t'% Our self( )entere"ness )auses an' *ro,le s for us an" for others, so we ust *ra)t#)e #n or"er to l#ve naturall' an" *ea)efull' #n a))or"an)e w#th real#t'% The "es#re to r#" ourselves of self()entere"ness an" l#ve #n a))or"an)e w#th real#t' g#ves us the energ' to *ra)t#)e +a+en an" stu"' ;u""ha Dhar a% So #n a sense, our "elus#ons, our v#ew that we are se*arate fro un#versal real#t' an" our "es#re to )hange, #s ver' # *ortant ,e)ause #t #s a ot#vat#ng for)e #n our l#ves that ena,les us to *ra)t#)e% .n our +a+en, we let go of our ego()entere" selves an" ,e)o e one w#th the tot9l #nter*enetrat#ng real#t' that #s un#versal real#t', or a,solute real#t'% We )annot see th#s a,solute real#t' as an o,5e)t of our "#s)r# #nat#ng #n"s, ,ut when we let go of our relat#ve, self( )entere" wa' of v#ew#ng th#ngs, we are naturall' a *art of a,solute real#t'% ;e)ause #t #n)lu"es ever'th#ng, th#s a,solute real#t' "oes not e6)lu"e our relat#ve v#ews an" "#s)r# #nat#ng #n"s, #n)lu"#ng our "elu"e" relat#ve v#ews% .f #t "#" not #n)lu"e our relat#ve v#ews, #t woul" not ,e trul' a,solute% So we )annot ,e an o,server of a,solute real#t' ,e)ause we ourselves are *art of the tot9l ove ent of that real#t'% .n the sa e wa' that a *erson )annot ste* ou)s#"e of h#s or her own ,o"' an" o,serve the ,o"' w#th a se*arate set of e'es, we )annot ste* outs#"e of ourselves an" o,serve a,solute real#t'% S#n)e we )annot ta$e an a,solute *os#t#on as #n"#v#"uals, we hol" a )erta#n *os#t#on w#th#n a,solute real#t' as a $ar #) self, a l# #te", #n"#v#"ual self that #s ,orn, l#ves, an" "#es a))or"#ng to )hang#ng )auses an" )on( "#t#ons% Our *o#nt of v#ew #s ,ase" #n th#s $ar #) self, so we see the worl" fro a l# #te" *ers*e)t#ve, a s all *art of a u)h greater realC#t'% Our narrow *ers*e)t#ves as #n"#v#"ual, relat#ve, $ar #) ,e#ngs are the sour)e of our "elus#on%

Though we are "elu"e" as #n"#v#"ual $ar #) ,e#ngs, we are st#ll l#v#ng w#th#n the a,solute, un#versal real#t' that #s ;u""ha Dhar a, an" even though we are l#v#ng w#th#n th#s un#versal real#t', we are st#ll "elu"e" as #n"#v#"ual $ar #) selves% Th#s #s the real#t' of hu 9n l#fe% .n other wor"s, we are "elu"e" w#th#n real#+at#on, an" #n *ra)t#)e we real#+e, or awa$en to, the real#t' that we are "elu"e"! we are therefore not "e)e#ve" ,' our "elus#on% >et the 7su,5e)t7 that *ra)t#)es Dhar a #s not th#s #n"#v#"ual $ar #) self, #t #s not the 7H7! #t #s rather un#versal real#t' that #s #tself *ra)t#)#ng an" an#fest#ng real#t'% Th#s sh#ft #n the 7su,5e)t7 of *ra)t#)e fro the #n"#v#"ual to un#versal real#t' #s essen( t#al to D2g3n 4en5# s tea)h#ng #n Gen52$2an% Furthermore, there are those who attain reali"ation beyond reali"ation... There are so 3 *eo*le who real#+e real#t' w#th#n *ra)t#)e an" go ,e'on"% .n Sh2,2gen+2 Da#go (Great Real#+at#on), D2g3n 4en5# wr#tesG Therefore we should study the reality that no sentient or insentient beings are without )nowledge from the time of birth. *hen there is innate )nowledge, there is innate reali"ation, innate verification, and innate practice. Thus, the buddha ancestors, being already the good trainers+ of beings, have been respectfully considered as, &the men of' innate reali"ation., This is because they are born hold(ing reali"ation. They are people with innate reali"ation being filled with great reali"ation. They are thus because they study holding reali"ation. Therefore, we reali"e great reali"ation by holding the triple world, reali"e great real(i"ation by holding the hundreds of glasses, reali"e great reali"ation by holding the four great elements, reali"e great reali"ation by holding the buddha ancestors, and reali"e great reali"ation by holding reality #)-an%. !ll these are holding great reali"ation and further reali"ing great real(i"ation. The very moment to do this is just now.. 0ere D2g3n sa's that all ,e#ngs are ,orn w#th#n the networ$ of #nter"e*en"ent or#g#nat#on that #s #tself great real#+at#on, that #s #tself *ra5na% ;u""ha(an)estors an" all of us are ,orn, l#ve, an" "#e w#th#n th#s great real#+at#on% Our *ra)t#)e #s to real#+e great real#+at#on w#th#n th#s great real#+at#on, o ent ,' o ent! or *erha*s #t #s ,etter to sa' that great real#+at#on real#+es great real#+at#on through our *ra)Ct#)e% Th#s #s what D2g3n 4en5# eant #n sa'#ng that there are those who atta#n real#+at#on ,e'on" real#+at#on% ... and those who are deluded within delusion. D2g3n als8 wr#tes a,out th#s "elus#on w#th#n "elus#on #n Sh2,2gen+2 Me#se#( sansho$u (Soun"s of /alle' Strea s, &olors of Eounta#ns)G /eople nowadays rarely see) genuine reality. Therefore, though they are deficient in practice with their bodies and deficient in reali"ation with their minds, they see) the praise of others, wanting others to say that their practice and their understanding are e0ual. This is e1actly what is called delusion within delusion. 2ou should immediately abandon such mista)en thin)ing.

Th#s #s the ean#ng of D2g3n 4en5#@s e6*ress#on 7"elus#on w#th#n "elus#on%7 Mven though we are ,orn, l#ve, an" "#e #n the #"st of great real#+at#on ("a#go), w#th#n our #n"s we )reate our own *#)tures of the worl" an" our own value s'ste s, an" we *ursue onl' the values that we have )reate" w#th#n our own s'ste s% We a' )ult#vate, for e6a *le, our re*utat#on as a s#n)ere an" v#rtuous *ra)t#t#oner, #nstea" of s# *l' *ra)t#)#ng s#n)erel' an" nurtur#ng our v#rtues% .n our #n"s we are a,le to )reate a ver' )o *l#)ate" fantas' of who we are, a fan( tas' #n wh#)h we usuall' )ons#"er ourselves heroes or hero#nes% >et #n true real#t', the relat#onsh#* ,etween the self an" all th#ngs #s a"e u* of nu ,erless )on"#t#ons, an" these )on"#t#ons are, as ' tea)her -)h#'a a R2sh# sa#", s# *l' the s)ener' of our l#ves% So #t #s ost # *ortant as *ra)t#t#oners of the ,o"h#sattva *ath to $ee* awa$en#ng to th#s real#t' that e6#sts, ,efore we fa,r#)ate an' fantas' a,out #t w#th#n our #n"s% ;-DD0A A&T-AL.4.1G ;-DD0A W.T0O-T T0.1M.1G SO #3% *hen buddhas are truly buddhas they don4t need to perceive they are buddhas; however, they are enlightened buddhas and they continue actuali"ing buddha. 5n seeing color and hearing sound with body and mind, although we perceive them intimately, &the perception' is not li)e reflections in a mirror or the moon in water. *hen one side is illuminated, the other is dar). 7When ,u""has are trul' ,u""has7 eans that when we are a)tuall' *ra)t#)#ng an" l#v#ng as a *art of #nter*enetrat#ng real#t', we )annot see that we are reall' l#v#ng out a,solute real#t'% Th#s #s so ,e)ause when we are l#v#ng #n har on' w#th a,solute real#t', there #s no se*a( rat#on ,etween a,solute real#t' an" us% When we trul' *ra)t#)e, there #s no se*arat#on ,etween su,5e)t an" o,5e)t or ,etween the self an" all ,e#ngs% &on"#t#ons #n the worl" )reate the #n"#v#"ual, an" the #n"#v#"ual )reates )on"#t#ons #n the worl"% The worl" an" #n"#v#"uals are wor$#ng together as one tot9l real#t', so we )annot see 7self7 as su,5e)t an" 7the worl"7 as o,5e)t% There #s no wa' to 5u"ge a s#tua( t#on or a *erson as goo" or ,a" fro the *ers*e)t#ve of tot9l real#t', ,e)ause 7goo"7 an" 7,a"7 are ter s that onl' have relevan)e when we se*arate real#t' #nto su,5e)t an" o,5e)t% 0owever, as #n"#v#"uals l#v#ng w#th#n tot9l real#t', we "o see ourCselves as su,5e)t an" v#ew th#ngs outs#"e us as o,5e)ts% We )ont#nuall' 5u"ge, a)t, an" )hoose a))or"#ng to our *referen)es an" the )on"#( t#ons of our env#ron ent% As #n"#v#"uals, we see th#ngs as goo" or ,a", an" we )hoose the goo" an" avo#" the ,a"% To "o th#s, we )reate a )o*' of real#t' to gu#"e our #n"s, although we st#ll )ont#nue l#v#ng w#th#n a,solute real#t', ,e'on" thought% Our thoughts a,out real#t' are l#$e an atlas of the earth% An atlas shows us a l#$eness of the earth, ,ut #t #s not *oss#,le to a$e an atlas that *erfe)tl' re*resents the earth% Th#s #s so ,e)ause the earth has three "# ens#ons an" the sheet of *a*er on wh#)h the atlas #s a"e has onl' two "# ens#ons% Thus the s#+e, sha*e, or "#re)t#onal re*resentat#on of the earth ust ,e "#sCtorte" to a$e an atlas% On so 3 atlases, for e6a *le, Greenlan" #s ,#gger than 1orth A er#)a%

.n the sa e wa', a hu 9n ,e#ng s ent9# *#)ture of the worl" )anCnot ,e a *erfe)t )o*' of real#t'% W#th#n th#s ent9# a* there are th#ngs we th#n$ are goo", useful, or valua,le, su)h as flowers, an" there are other th#ngs we th#n$ are ,a", useless, or worthless, su)h as wee"s% -suall' we ta$e #t for grante" that the fa,r#)ate" *#)ture of the worl" #n our #n"s #s the worl" #tself% We th#n$ 7 ' s'ste of values #s r#ght an" others values are "#storte"%7 Th#s #s our ,as#) "elus#on% Th#s "elus#on, wh#)h a' ,e )alle" #gnoran)e, )auses an' *ro,le s when we en)ounter *eo*le w#th "#fferent s'ste s of value an" "#ffer( ent v#ews of the worl"% . ,el#eve th#s #s the real#t' of the hu 9n )onC"#t#on that >oga)ara ;u""h#st *h#loso*hers a""resse" #n *ro*os#ng that ever'th#ng we e6*er#en)e #s )ons)#ousness onl'% .n +a+en, our *ra)t#)e #s to let go of our fa,r#)ate" ent9# a*, to o*en the han" of thought, an" there,' s#t "own on the groun" of real#t'% Th#n$#ng )an onl' *ro"u)e a "#storte" ent9# )o*' of the worl", an" th#s )o*' #s ,ase" on $ar #) e6*er#en)es% ;ut when we let go of thought, we un"erstan" that the )o*' #n our #n"s #s not real#t' #tself% Then we no longer have to ,l#n"l' trust our thoughts an" we )an #nstea" #n:u#re further #nto the nature of real#t'% Our +a+en #s not a etho" of )orre)t#ng the "#stort#on of our 7)on( )e*tual a*s%7 .nstea" we 5ust let go of the a* an" s#t "own on the earth of real#t'% Lett#ng go #s, on the one han", the )o *lete re5e)t#on of an' thought ,ase" on our l# #te" $ar #) e6*er#en)es% >et on the other han", lett#ng go #s the a))e*tan)e of all thoughts as ere se)re( t#ons of the #n" an" ele ents of an #n)o *lete a* of real#t'% We 5ust let thoughts )o e u* an" we 5ust let the go awa'% We ne#ther negate an'th#ng nor aff#r an'th#ng #n +a+en% We )an "o th#s ,e)ause we are s# *l' s#tt#ng fa)#ng the wall w#thout an' of the "#re)t #ntera)( t#ons we nor all' have w#th other *eo*le, ,e#ngs, an" o,5e)ts% So our +a+en *ra)t#)e ,oth goes ,e'on" an" 'et #n)lu"es the )o *lete re5e)Ct#on an" the )o *lete a))e*tan)e of thought% When we s#t fa)#ng the wall #n +a+en there #s no se*arat#on ,etween su,5e)t an" o,5e)t, 'et an' th#ngs st#ll )o e u* #n the #n"% We often th#n$ of so eth#ng an" then start to #ntera)t w#th our thoughts as o,5e)ts% ;ut #n +a+en, w#th onl' the wall #n front of us, #t #s eas' to see that thoughts are #llus#ons% Th#s #s so ,e)ause when we let go, those thoughts an" 5u"g ents "#sa**ear, leav#ng onl' the wall% Th#s #s an # *ortant *o#nt #n our *ra)t#)e of +a+en! #t #s "ro**#ng ofF,o"' an" #n"% >et # e"#atel' thoughts )o e ,a)$ #n our s#tt#ng, so our *ra)t#)e #s s# *l' to )ont#nue to let go of whatever )o es u*% When thoughts, 5u"g ents, or evaluat#ons ar#se #n +a+en an" we engage w#th the , there #s se*arat#on ,etween su,5e)t an" o,5e)t% When we let go of thought, su,5e)t an" o,5e)t are one! there #s no one to evaluate an" noth#ng to re)e#ve evaluat#on% At that t# e onl' an#( fest#ng real#t' e6#sts, an" an#fest#ng real#t' #n)lu"es our "elus#ons% When we s#t #n the u*r#ght *osture, $ee*#ng the e'es o*en, ,reath#ng through the nose, an" lett#ng go of thoughts, real#t' an#fests #tself% Th#s #s gen52$2an (a)tual#+at#on of real#t')%

.n our "a#l' l#ves, however, we )annot s# *l' $ee* lett#ng go of thought #n th#s wa'% .n or"er to l#ve we ust a$e )ho#)es us#ng our #n)o *lete )on)e*tual a*s of the worl", an" to a$e )ho#)es we ust "#st#ngu#sh *os#t#ve fro negat#ve% >et the *ra)t#)e of +a+en )an hel* us un"erstan" that our *#)tures of the worl" an" our values are ,#ase" an" #n)o *lete, an" th#s un"erstan"#ng allows us to ,e fle6( #,le% ;e#ng fle6#,le eans that we )an l#sten to others@ o*#n#ons $now( #ng that the#r ,#ases are s# *l' "#fferent fro ours, a))or"#ng to the )#r)u stan)es an" )on"#t#ons of the#r #n"#v#"ual l#ves% When we *ra)Ct#)e #n th#s wa' our v#ew ,roa"ens an" we ,e)o e ,etter at wor$#ng #n har on' w#th others% ;' )ont#nuall' stu"'#ng the nature of real#t', of the Dhar a #n #ts un#versal sense, an" ,' awa$en#ng to our ,#ases, we $ee* wor$#ng to )orre)t our "#storte" v#ews% Th#s #s how lett#ng go of thought #n +a+en #nfor s *ra)t#)e #n our "a#l' l#ves% Whether *ra)t#)#ng #n "a#l' l#fe or +a+en, there #s no wa' to )on( )e#ve of ,e#ng a ,u""ha or ,e#ng enl#ghtene"% There #s no wa' we )an 5u"ge ourselves ,e)ause we )annot ste* outs#"e of ourselves #nto o,5e)t#v#t'% Th#s #s so ,e)ause there #s no se*arat#on ,etween su,5e)t an" o,5e)t #n the a)tual#+at#on of real#t'% So w#thout worr'#ng a,out ,e)o #ng a ,u""ha or atta#n#ng enl#ghten ent, we 5ust $ee* tr'#ng to settle ourselves ore "ee*l' #nto # easura,le real#t'% 4a+en #tself #s th#s # easura,le real#t' that #s the foun"at#on for our *ra)t#)e #n the +en"o an" #n "a#l' l#fe% .n +a+en we "ont gras* or engage an'th#ng! we 5ust are as we are, that s all% Through the *ra)t#)e of sh#$anta+a, we s# *l' s#t w#thout "o#ng an'th#ng, an" there #s no wa' to 5u"ge whether the +a+en . s#t to"a' #s goo" or the +a+en . sat 'ester"a' was ,a"% Whether the #n" #s ,us' or )al , we 5ust $ee* lett#ng go of whatever )o es u*% We $ee* the sa e *osture through all ent9# )on"#t#ons w#thout ,e#ng *ulle" th#s wa' or that, so there #s no goo" or ,a" +a+en% 4a+en #s alwa's +a+en% Ea#nta#n#ng the +a+en *osture through all )on"#t#ons #s a ver' # *ortant *art of our *ra)t#)e% Mee*#ng th#s *osture #s, as D2g3n sa's #n Fu$an+a+eng#, 7the Dhar a(gate of *ea)) an" 5o'N that #s #)s)- real#+at#on, the a)tual#+at#on of real#t' #n *ra)t#)e% >et #f w) )l#ng to favora,le )on"#t#ons an" tr' to avo#" "#0#)ult )on"#t#ons, we )reate the )')le of suffer#ng, of sa sara, w#th#n our +a+en *ra)t#)e% Th#s )')le a' ,eg#n #f we see to su))ee" #n a$#ng our +a+en *leasura,le% Although su)h su))ess #n#t#all' a$es us ha**', sooner or later )on"#( t#ons )hange an" our su))ess "#sa**ears, a$#ng us #sera,le% .f we $ee* struggl#ng, our +a+en ,e)o es a )')le of 7trans #grat#on,7 sh#ft( #ng ,etween real s of ha**#ness an" #ser', an" our *ra)t#)e #s then no longer ;u""has *ra)t#)e% *hen buddhas are truly buddhas they don4t need to per(ceive they are buddhas; however, they are enlightened buddhas and they continue actuali"ing buddha. Th#s senten)e eans that we )annot 5u"ge whether we are ,u"C"has or not ,e)ause true real#t' #s ,e'on" su)h 5u"g ents% St#ll, the s# ultaneous e6#sten)e of #n"#v#"ual#t' an" un#versal#t' #n our l#ves #s the truth of our e6#sten)e% Th#s

truth #s #tself 7;u""ha )onstantl' an#fest#ng ;u""ha,7 an" when we awa$en to th#s truth o ent ,' o ent, ;u""ha #s an#fest% We )annot sa' that an' of us as #n"#v#"Cuals are ,u""has ,e)ause we are l#v#ng ,e#ngs who are #nter"e*en"ent w#th all ,e#ngs an" g#ven l#fe ,' all ,e#ngs% 1o one )an truthfull' sa' 7. have ,e)o e a ,u""ha7 ,e)ause there #s no su)h th#ng as an #n"e( *en"ent 7.7 that )an "o th#ngs outs#"e of #ts )onne)t#on to others% >et when we *la)e ourselves on the groun" of real#t', lett#ng go of our #n"#v#"ual#t' w#th#n *ra)t#)e, our *ra)t#)e an#fests ;u""ha% 0owever, although we are l#v#ng w#th#n ;u""has l#fe an" our *ra)Ct#)e )an an#fest ;u""ha, we are st#ll "elu"e" ,e#ngs an" we ourselves )reate the )')le of suffer#ng #n sa sara% Th#s #s, as -)h#'a a Rsh# sa#", the s)ener' of our l#ves% We ust therefore a))e*t that we are "elu"e" so that we )an *ra)t#)e w#th the real#t' of our l#ves% T0E EOO1 .1 WATER #s%& . . . ' 5n seeing color and hearing sound with body and mind, although we perceive them intimately, &the perception' is not li)e reflections in a mirror or the moon in water. -suall' we th#n$ we see th#ngs #n the sa e wa' that a #rror refle)ts an # age of an o,5e)t% We th#n$ the o,5e)t #s refle)te" #n our e'es an" that our e'es see the o,5e)t% >et 7see#ng )olor an" hear#ng soun"s w#th ,o"' an" #n"7 eans that our l#ves an" our ,o"#es "o not fun)( t#on #n su)h a "#s5o#nte" wa'% .t #s reall' true that we see th#ngs not onl' w#th our e'es an" hear th#ngs not onl' w#th our ears% The whole ,o"' an" #n" are #nvolve" #n the a)t#v#t#es of see#ng o,5e)ts, hear#ng soun"s, s ell#ng fragran)es, tast#ng flavors, an" feel#ng sensat#ons% When hav#ng a eal, for e6a *le, all our senses are engage"% We see the foo" s )olor an" sha*e w#th the e'es, s ell an" taste the foo", an" even hear the soun" of our ,#t#ng an" )hew#ng% When we swal( low, we e6*er#en)e sat#sfa)t#on #n feel#ng the foo" ove "own the throat unt#l #t settles #n the sto a)h% We a' th#n$ of how "el#)#ous the foo" #s an" e6*er#en)e grat#tu"e for those who *re*are" the eal, an" we a' th#n$ a**re)#at#vel' of the # easura,le wor$ that was #nvolve" #n grow#ng, harvest#ng, an" trans*ort#ng the foo"% These e6*er#en)es of the eal are not s# *l' "#s)rete *ro"u)ts of #n"#v#"ual sense organs an" the#r se*arate o,5e)ts! we e6*er#en)e a eal engag( #ng the ent#re ,o"' an" #n"% The analog#es of a #rror an" #ts refle)t#on, an" the oon s refle)( t#on #n water, #llustrate the un#t' of the self an" all th#ngs% Th#s #s one of two wa's that D2g3n uses these # ages #n Gen52$2an% .n the *res( ent #nstan)e he #s sa'#ng that a #rror an" refle)t#ng water are not se*arate fro the o,5e)ts whose # ages the' refle)t% .n other wor"s, there #s no se*arat#on ,etween the *erson who e6*er#en)es an" the o,5e)ts that are e6*er#en)e"% The su,5e)t of e6*er#en)e, the o,5e)t of e6*er#en)e, an" the e6*er#en)e #tself are all trul' one real#t'% . re e ,er an e6*er#en)e when the un#t' of su,5e)t an" o,5e)t ,e)a e ver' a**arent to e% . l#ve" #n Eassa)husetts fro HOPQ to HORH wor$#ng to esta,l#sh

a s all 4en )o un#t' w#th two of ' Dhar a ,rothers% We ha" ,ought a,out s#6 a)res of lan" #n a woo"e" ar)a #n western Eassa)husetts, an" our )on"#t#ons wer) so *r# #t#ve that w) "#"n@t even have water when we f#rst ove" there% F#rst we ,u#lt a s all house where we sat +a+en, sle*t, )oo$e", an" l#ve", an" s#n)e w) ha" no outs#"e f#nan)#al su**ort, we ha" to wor$ to su**ort ourselves% When we got *art(t# e 5o,s #n a tofu fa)tor' a few 'ears atter ov#ng #nto the house, our e *lo'er regularl' gave us leftover *#e)es of tofu that were too s all to sell% We ate tofu al ost ever' "a' an" #t ,e)a e our a#n sour)e of *rote#n% One "a' when . was sho**#ng at a natural foo" store w#th a *ra)t#t#oner fro our +en"o, we saw a *oster that rea",7 We are what we eat%7 .n res*onse . sa#", 7.f that #s so, we are tofu=7 Of )ourse, the s#gn was sa'#ng that s#n)e our health "e*en"s u*on eat#ng wholeso e foo"s, we shoul" eat #n a health' wa'% ;ut later . "#seovere" that the Ger 9n ater#al#st *h#loso*her Lu"w#g An"reas Feuer,a)h (HRS4(PT) was the author of th#s sa'#ng% &o #ng fro a ater#al#st, . th#n$ the *hrase 7we are what we eat7 #ght ,e a er#t#( )#s of the sa'#ng foun" #n the ;#,le uEan "oes not l#ve ,' ,rea" alone%7 Th#s well($nown &hr#st#an sa'#ng eans that *eo*le nee" s*#r#tual nour#sh ent fro the wor" of Go" #n a""#t#on to *h's#)al nour#sh ent% So . th#n$ Feuer,a)h was sa'#ng that *eo*le a)tuall' "o not nee" 7s*#r#tual nour#sh ent7 ,e)ause hu 9n l#fe "e*en"s solel' on ater#al )on"#t#ons su)h as foo"% For Feuer,a)h, 7we are what we eat7 # *l#e" that hu 9n ,e#ngs are )o *r#se" solel' of *h's#)al ele ents% .n ;u""h#st tea)h#ngs, 7we are what we eat7 has a "ee* ean#ng% When . hol" a glass of water, for e6a *le, the water #s there an" . a here% ;ut, won"rousl' enough, when . "r#n$ the water #t ,e)o es *art of e% When . ,reathe, *art of the a#r ,e)o es *art of e% We are what we eat, "r#n$, ,reathe, hear, s ell, taste, an" see% There #s no 7 e7 that e6#sts other than the th#ngs that a$e u* ' ,o"' an" #n"% We are #nt# atel' )onne)te" to th#ngs #n our env#ron ent, so u)h so that the' are a)tuall' *art of us% We are all the th#ngs that we e6*er#en)e! we are )reate" ,' the % W#thout th#s relat#onsh#* w#th all th#ngs, we )oul" not e6#st even for one o ent% .n real#t'U.U, 7'ou,7 an" all other ,e#ngs "o not e6#st at all! onl' relat#onsh#*s an" #ntera)t#ons e6#st% Even fro a )onvent#onal *ers*e)t#ve, #n"#v#"uals ust l#ve w#th#n a )o un#t' #n or"er to surv#ve% Our a,#l#t' to th#n$, use language, an" a$e "e)#s#ons are all g#fts re)e#ve" fro the )o un#t' an" )ulture #n wh#)h we were ,orn an" e"u)ate"% We are )reate" ,' the worl" an" ,' so)#et', an" we )olle)t#vel' )reate so)#et' an" #nfluen)e the worl"% The worl" an" the self are trul' one th#ng% When we fun)( t#on har on#ousl' as a *art of th#s networ$ of all th#ngs, as *art of # easura,le or un#versal real#t', our #n"#v#"ual l#ves ,e)o e health' an" wholeso e% >et we are )a*a,le of fun)t#on#ng #n a wa' that #s not health' an" not #n a))or" w#th the well(,e#ng of un#versal real#t'% .n fa)t, hu 9n so)#et' )an have the sa e relat#onsh#* to th#s earth that )an)erous )ells have to the#r host% &an)er #s a *ara"o6#)a# *heno enon% Although )an)erous )ells are *art of a host ,o"', the' "o not follow the "#re)( t#ves of that ,o"'% .f not su))essfull' treate", the )an)er

grows of #ts own a))or" unt#l the ,o"' "#es, an" when the ,o"' "#es the )an)er "#es% H th#n$ that )#v#l#+at#on, )reate" out of hu an#t' s "es#re for ha*( *#ness an" *ros*er#t', has ,egun to fun)t#on #n nature as )an)erous )ells fun)t#on #n the ,o"'% Although hu 9n ,e#ngs are *art of nature, the' have *ro"u)e" a so)#et' that has ,egun to grow out of har on' w#th nature% Th#s "#shar on' #s a result of the atte *t to an#*ulate the natural worl" #nto )onfor #ng to the agen"a of hu 9n "es#res% We have $#lle" nu ,erless l#v#ng ,e#ngs an" "estro'e" huge *arts of natural e)os'ste s #n or"er to ,u#l" )#t#es, an" we )all th#s 7"evelo*( ent%7 We have regar"e" hu 9n ,e#ngs as the asters of nature, an" our so)#et#es have struggle" har" to a$e th#s worl" a 7,etter7 *la)e for us% -nt#l . was a teenager at least, the ,as#) essage fro the <a*a( nese e"u)at#onal s'ste an" fro <a*anese so)#et' #n gener9l was a We are a$#ng the worl" ,etter w#th the use of s)#ent#f#) $nowle"ge an" te)hnolog'7 ;ut eventuall' *eo*le ,egan to see that s)#en)e an" te)hnolog' use" #n the serv#)e of hu 9n "es#res have )ause" an' *ro,le s for *eo*le an" for the natural worl"% We on)e thought that the hu 9n ra)e was the ost # *ortant *art of a worl" #n wh#)h ever'th#ng ,elongs to us, 'et #n truth we are 5ust a t#n' *art of natur)% 0u 9n ,e#ngs have f#nall' ,egun to real#+e that we w#ll *er#sh #f the natural env#ron ent *er#shes, 5ust as )an)er )ells "#e when the#r host "#es% We have ,egun to see that we share one l#fe w#th nature an" w#th all ,e#ngs% .n th#s wa', so)#et' #s awa$en#ng to the real#t' of #nter"e*en"ent or#g#nat#on, the truth that the ;u""ha taught% ;' )orre)t#ng our #nverte" v#ews of the worl" we )an l#ve naturall' an" wholeso el' #n har on' w#th all ,e#ngs% Th#s #s the 7r#ght v#ew7 that the ;u""ha s*o$e of #n the e#ghtfol" no,le *ath% For D2g3n, +a+en #s the *#votal *o#nt #n our *ra)t#)e of re)t#f'#ng our #nverte" v#ews% 0e saw that root#ng our v#ews #n the real#t' of +a+en allows our v#ews to ,e)o e roote" #n the awareness of #nter"e*en"en)e, ena,l#ng us to l#ve #n a))or"an)e w#th real#t'% Th#s #s a ver' s# *le 'et *rofoun" an" en"less *ra)t#)e% D2g3n "eser#,es th#s real#t' of #nter"e*en"en)e #n Gen52$2an% 0e sa's that to )onve' the self towar" all th#ngs an" to tr' to )ontrol th#ngs #s to ,e "elu"e"% .f we *ra)t#)e to ,e)o e a great *erson, for e6a *le, we a' f#n" ourselves )o *et#ng w#th others an" even us#ng our $nowle"ge of the ;u""has tea)h#ngs to a**ear su*er#or% .n th#s )ase we en" u* s# *l' # *os#ng our own l# #te", self( )entere" )on( )e*ts of *ra)t#)e onto the worl" aroun" us% ;ut when we "ro* our self()entere" ot#vat#ons an" allow all th#ngs to )o e towar" us to )arr' out *ra)t#)e, that #s real#+at#on% Th#s eans that we )annot *ra)Ct#)e ,' ourselves! the su,5e)t of *ra)t#)e #s not one *art#)ular *erson, #t #s all th#ngs )arr'#ng out *ra)t#)eDreal#+at#on through the #n"#v#"Cual s ,o"' an" #n"% Th#s #s "ro**#ng off ,o"' an" #n"% Dro**#ng off ,o"' an" #n" eans we *art#)#*ate w#th the whole un#verse as #t *ra)t#)es through our #n"#v#"ual ,o"#es an" #n"s% We "on@t *ra)t#)e #n"#v#"uall' to # *rove ourselves! rather, we settle "own *ea)efull' w#th#n the networ$ of #nter"e*en"ent or#g#nat#on an" allow the un#( versal l#fe for)e to *ra)t#)e through us for all ,e#ngs% *hen one side is illuminated, the other is dar).

0ere D2g3n 4en5# # s "#s)uss#ng enl#ghten ent an" "elus#on a))or"#ng to the relat#onsh#* ,etween the self an" all th#ngs% The self #s not se*arate fro all ,e#ngs, the 'r#a" "har as% The self #s a *art of all ,e#ngs% Ea)h of us #s l#v#ng together w#th all th#ngs w#th#n the networ$ of #nter"e*en"ent or#g#nat#on, an" there #s no se*arate self that e6#sts outs#"e th#s networ$% Although th#s #s the ,as#) real#t' of our l#ves, we usuall' "on@t see #t% We )reate a *ersonal *#)ture of the worl" that #s ,ase" on our l# #te" l#fe e6*er#en)es an" other )on"#t#ons that o,s)ure our o,5e)t#v#t'% To ta$e our own *ersonal *#)ture of the worl" as true real#t' #s "elus#on% .t #s "elus#on ,e)ause our *ersonal v#ews *la)e us at the )enter of the un#verse as the all(# *ortant su,5e)t, an" treat th#ngs 7other7 than us as o,5e)ts to ,e an#*ulate"% Fro th#s v#ew we "es#re th#ngs we th#n$ w#ll a$e us ha**' an" sat#sf#e", an" we *ush awa' th#ngs we 5u"ge as #nfer#or an" un"es#ra,le% >et #n the real#t' of ;u""has l#fe, we are )onne)te" w#th an" su*( *orte" ,' all th#ngs% The self #s not the su,5e)t of real#t' an" other th#ngs are not #ts o,5e)ts! we are #n fa)t one w#th all th#ngs #n the ent#re un#verse, an" th#s real#t' #s #tself enl#ghten ent% Enl#ghten ent #s not so eth#ng we )an *ossess or e6*er#en)e% We )annot, ,e)ause of a )erta#n e6*er#en)e that ha**ene" un"er )erta#n )on"#t#ons, sa', 7. a an enl#ghtene" *erson%7 .f we 5u"ge an e6*er#en)e an" sa' -. ha" an enl#ghten ent e6*er#en)e,7 we have alrea"' se*arate" 7l7 fro the real#t' of all th#ngs, when #n fa)t there #s no 7enl#ghten ent7 that #s se*arate fro th#s real#t'% Rather than str#v#ng for a *art#)ular e6*eCr#en)e or goal, we shoul" s# *l' $ee* *ra)t#)#ng w#thout 5u"g )n) or eva#uat#on% Th#s eans a**roa)h#ng all that we "o w#thout selhsh "es#re, w#thout even the "es#re for enl#ghten ent! to *ra)t#)e #n th#s wa' #s to an#fest un#versal real#t'% Th#s #s "#tf?)ult, of )ours), ,))aus) even when we are hel*#ng others or a$#ng sa)r#f#)es tor the , w) )an usuall' f#n", #f w) s)ar)h our hearts an" #n"# "))*l' )nough, an ego()entere" ot#vat#on for our a)t#v#t'% Th#s #s true even #n our +a+en *ra)t#)e% What )o *l#)ate" ,e#ngs we are= .t #s # *oss#,le to a$e s# *le 5u"g ents a,out the ego)entr#)#t' of our a)t#ons% >et as the ;u""has )h#l"ren *ra)t#)#ng w#th our ,o"h#sattva vows, we ust $ee* tr'( #ng to hel* others an" to free ourselves of self#shness% Tr' as we a', however, we w#ll never ,e a,le to "e)lare, 71ow . a )o *letel' free fro self#sh "es#res%7 All we )an "o #s to tr' #n ea)h o ent, whatever we are "o#ng, to *ra)t#)e the ;u""ha Wa'! we 5ust $ee* o*en#ng the han" of thought an" )ont#nu#ng to *ra)t#)e% There #s no t# e when one )an sa', 7H@ f#n#she"Know . have f#nall' rea)he" the level of an enl#ghtene" *erson%7 As D2g3n 4en5# sa's, our *ra)t#)e #s en"less% Fro one *ers*e)t#ve, we are alwa's l#v#ng w#th#n the enl#ghten( ent of ;u""ha% Fro another *ers*e)t#ve, no atter how har" or how long we *ra)t#)e #n th#s l#fet# e, we w#ll st#ll ,e l# #te" #n"#v#"u( als% The real#t' of these two s# ultaneousl' true *ers*e)t#ves #s trul' won"rous% At all t# es we have the *otent#al to a)t w#th e#ther ag( nan# #t' or ego)entr#)#t', to "o e#ther r#ght or wrong% ;oth ;u""ha an" "e ons are l#v#ng w#th#n us, so we nee" to l#ve our l#ves o ent ,' o ent, ,e#ng le" ,' vow an" re*entan)e%

7When one s#"e #s #llu #nate", the other #s "ar$7 eans that we are l#v#ng as a *art of the ent#ret' of all th#ngs% We )an refer to th#s ent#re real#t' as 7self7 (5#$o), or we )an )all #t 7all th#ngs7 V,an*2)% When we see real#t' as a whole, we see that the self #n)lu"es the whole worl" ,e)ause #t #s )onne)te" w#th all th#ngs (th#s v#ew )an als8 ,e e6*resse" ,' sa'#ng the self "oes not e6#st)% We )an use e#ther 7self7 or 7all th#ngs7 to na e real#t' ,e)ause when we sa' 7selfT all th#ngs are #n)lu"e" #n that 7self an" when we sa' 7all th#ngs,7 the self #s #n)lu"e" #n that 7all th#ngs%7 .n ;u""h#s , th#s one tot9l real#t' )an ,e v#ewe" fro two s#"esG real#t' as a )olle)t#on of nu ,erless #n"#v#"ual th#ngs (relat#ve truth), an" real#t' as one un#versal ent#ret' )onta#n#ng no #n"#v#"ual#t' (a,solute truth)% Fro th#s *ers*e)t#ve, our l#ves are at on)e ,oth #n"#v#"ual an" un#versal% So 7when one s#"e #s #llu #nate", the other #s "ar$7 eans that when we sa' 7selfT although 7all ,e#ngs7 are #n)lu"e", 7all ,e#ngs7 are #n the "ar$ an" "o not a**ear #n our #n"s an" s*ee)h% When we sa' 7all th#ngs,7 7self7 #s st#ll there ,ut #t #s #n the "ar$ an" so #t "oes not a**ear #n our #n"s an" s*ee)h% When the self #s #llu #nate", all th#ngs are #n the "ar$, an" when all th#ngs are #llu #nate", the self #s #n the "ar$% Th#s #s the wa' D2g3n 4en5# e6*resses th#s won"rous real#t' of #nter"e*en"ent or#g#nat#on%

DROPPING OFF BODY AND MIND

#6% To study the 7uddha *ay is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be verified by all things. To be verified by all things is to let the body and mind of the self and the body and mind of others drop o8F. There is a trace of reali"ation that cannot be grasped. *e endlessly e1press the ungraspable trace of reali"ation. To ST-D> T0E ;-DD0A WA> .S TO ST-D> T0E SELF Th#s #s the ost essent#al *o#nt #n the tea)h#ngs of ,oth Sha$'a un# ;u""ha an" D2g3n 4en5#% .n the Dha a*a"a, <L one of the earl#est ;u""h#st s)r#*tures, the ;u""ha sa#", 7The self #s the onl' foun"at#on of the self%74 ;ut what "oes th#s reall' eanI When so eone sa's, 7. stu"' the ;u""ha Wa',7 that *erson l#$el' th#n$s that he or she, one )erta#n #n"#v#"ual, stu"#es so 3 o,5e)t#ve th#ng )alle" wthe ;u""ha Wa'%7 .n th#s )ase 7.7 #s the su,5e)t an" 7the ;u""ha Wa'7 #s the o,5e)t! th#s *erson )alle" 7.7 wants to un"erstan" an" *ossess 7#t%7 Th#s #s our )o on un"erstan"#ng of 7. stu"' #t%U The or#g#n9l <a*anese wor" translate" as 7stu"'7 #n these senten)es #s narau (AE)% 1arau or?g#nate" fro the wor" nareru (t?tl9) wh#)h eans 7to get a))usto e" to,N 7to ,e)o e fa #l#ar w#th,7 ato g)t use" to,7 or 7to ,e)o e #nt# ate w#th%7 So narau refers to or) than s# *l' the #ntelle)tual stu"' of so eth#ng% The &h#nese )hara)ter for narau #s The u**er *art of th#s $an5# (WW) #s the s' ,ol for the w#ngs of a ,#r", an" the lower *art (S) eans 7self%7 So narau eans to stu"' so eth#ng #n the wa' a ,a,' ,#r" 7stu"#es7 fl'#ng w#th #ts *arents% Fro ,#rth a ,a,' ,#r" *ossesses the *otent#al to fl', ,ut #t ust wat)h #ts *arents to

learn how to a)tuCall' *erfor the a)t#on of fl'#ng% The ,a,' wat)hes an" tr#es aga#n an" aga#n unt#l f#nall' #t )an fl' l#$e #ts *arents% Th#s #s the or#g#n9l ean#ng of 7to stu"'7 as #t #s use" #n D2g3n s 7to stu"' the self%7 Th#s t'*e of stu"' #s not s# *l' an #ntelle)tual stu"', although of )ourse hu 9n ,e#ngs "o use the #ntelle)t #n the *ro)ess of learn#ng% ;ut the a))u ulat#on of $nowle"ge alone #s not enough to allow us to learn to fl'Kthat #s, not enough for us to l#ve trul' an" genu#nel'% .n the sa e wa' that fl'#ng #s the essent#al a)t#v#t' that ena,les a ,#r" to ,e a ,#r" (e6)e*t for ,#r"s su)h as *engu#ns or ostr#)hes), stu"'#ng the self #s the essent#al a)t#v#t' that allows us hu 9n ,e#ngs to ,e hu 9n% A hu 9n ,e#ng #s a l#v#ng ,e#ng who nee"s to stu"' the self #n or"er to thoroughl' ,e)o e hu 9n% When we stu"' the self #n th#s wa', we )annot see ourselves as the o,5e)t of our stu"'! we ust rather 7l#ve out7 our selves% We ust *ra)t#)e w#th our ent#re ,o"' an" #n"! an" #ntelle)tual #nvest#ga( t#on, though # *ortant, #s onl' a s all *art of th#s stu"'% Even when we sa', 7. stu"' the ;u""ha Wa',7 there #s st#ll a su,5e)t an" an o,5e)t that are se*arate% ;ut th#s #s a #sta$en wa' of th#n$#ng an" a ,as#) *ro,le that $ee*s us hu 9n ,e#ngs fro see#ng real#t' as #t a)tuall' #s% When we trul' *ra)t#)e the ;u""ha Wa' or stu"' the self, there #s no se*arat#on ,etween 7.,7 7the self,7 7the ;u""ha Wa',7 7stu"',7 an" 7*ra)t#)e%7 When we genu#nel' stu"' the self, 7.7 #s the self, an" there #s no 7.7 a*art fro the a)t#v#t' of stu"'#ng% Su,5e)t, o,5e)t, an" a)t#v#t' are )o *letel' one th#ng% >et when we th#n$ or s*ea$, we use )on)e*ts an" we ust therefore sa', 7. stu"' the selfT or 7. stu"' the ;u""ha Wa'%7 So the # *ortant *o#nt #s that we shoul" 5ust stu"' an" 5ust *ra)t#)e% W#th#n the a)t#on of 5ust *ra)t#)#ng an" 5ust stu"'#ng, ,oth 7the self7 an" 7the ;u""ha Wa'7 are an#feste"% Mee* stu"'#ng, *ra)t#)#ng, an#fest#ng% Th#s #s what D2g3n 4en5# eant when he wrote #n se)t#on QG *hen buddhas are truly buddhas they don4t need to per(ceive they are buddhas; however, they are enlightened buddhas and they continue actuali"ing buddha. .t wor$s w#th#n the s*here of our "a#l' l#ves to sa', 7. "r#n$ water7! th#s #s how we )o un#)ate w#th others% When . sa', 7. want to "r#n$ a )u* of water,7 . have e6*resse" what . want an" so eone a' ,r#ng a )u* of water% There #s no *ro,le w#th th#s )o un#)at#on on the groun" of )onvent#onal l#fe w#th#n so)#et'% ;ut when we s*ea$ #n ter s of ;u""ha Dhar a, #t "oes not wor$% Th#s #s ,e)ause to realC#+e ;u""ha Dhar a we ust go ,e'on" wor"s, )on)e*ts, language, an" log#) #n or"er to ,e free fro the *ro,le of se*arat#on ,etween su,5e)t, o,5e)t, an" a)t#v#t'% ;ut th#s "oes not ean that we ust sto* th#n$#ng an" see th#ngs #n so 3 unusual an" 'ster#ous wa'% .n other wor"s, the real#t' of our l#fe #s a ver' o,v#ous an" or"#nar' th#ng, ,ut on)e we start to tal$ a,out th#s real#t' we lose #ts true, v#v#", an" # e"#ate nature% .n our *ra)t#)e we 5ust s#t w#th our ,o"#es an" #n"s #n the +en"o, an" we a# to *ra)t#)e the ;u""ha Wa' #n our a)t#v#t#es outs#"e the +en"o as well% .n *ra)t#)#ng the ;u""ha Wa' there #s no se*arat#on ,etween the self that #s stu"'#ng the self an" the self that #s stu"#e" ,' the self! self #s stu"'#ng the self, an" the a)t of

stu"'#ng #s als8 the self% There #s no su)h th#ng as a self that #s se*arate fro our a)t#v#t'% D2g3n 4en5# "ef#ne" th#s self as 5#5u'u(+an a#, a ter that Sawa$# M" R8sh# "es)r#,e" as 7self self#ng@ the self%7Q To #llustrate th#s *o#nt we )an th#n$ of the relat#onsh#* ,etween a runner an" the a)t of runn#ng% When we th#n$ of th#s, we real#+e that no runn)r #s se*arate fro the a)t of runn#ng! a runner an" runn#ng are the sa e th#ng% .f the runner ,e)o es se*arate fro runn#ng, then the runner #s not runn#ng% .f th#s #s the )ase, the runner )an no longer ,e )alle" a runner s#n)e a runner #s "ef#ne" as 7one who runs%7 The great an)#ent .n"#9n aster 1agar5una *resente" th#s e6a *le as *art of h#s #llustrat#on of e *t#ness an" the negat#on of a f#6e", *er( anent, fun"a ental essen)e that 7owns7 the ,o"' an" #n"% Runn#ng as well as s#tt#ng, eat#ng, "r#n$#ng, an" ,reath#ng are ver' or"#nar' th#ngs% ;ut when we sa', 7There #s no T other than runn#ng7 or 7runn#ng w#thout a runner,7 we th#n$ we are "#s)uss#ng so eth#ng 'ster#ous% ;ut th#s v#ew of the tea)h#ngs of *eo*le su)h as 1agarC5una or D2g3n #s #sta$en% These tea)hers are tr'#ng to e6*ress a ver' or"#nar' th#ng #n a trul' real#st#) wa' w#thout fa,r#)at#on% To "o th#s the' use wor"s that negate the selves #n a wa' that reveals the real#t' ,e'on" our thoughts% When we *ra)t#)e the ;u""ha Wa', there #s no self, no ;u""ha Wa', an" no others% Th#s #s ,e)ause self, ;u""ha Wa', an" others wor$ together as one% What we )all 7our a)t#ons7 are a)tuall' the wor$ "one ,' ,oth self an" other ,e#ngs an" o,5e)ts% For e6a *le, when a *erson "r#ves a )ar, the *erson th#n$s 7he7 as su,5e)t "r#ves 7the )ar7 as o,5e)t% ;ut #n real#t' we )annot "r#ve w#thout the )ar! we )an onl' ,e)o e a "r#ver or ,e "r#ven w#th the a#" of the )ar, an" the )ar )an onl' e6*ress #ts full fun)t#on as a veh#)le of trans*ortat#on when so eone "r#ves #t% Our )ars a?fe)t us ,oth *s')holog#)all' an" ater#all' as well% We w#ll "r#ve "#fferent )ars #n "#fferent wa's, for e6a *le, "e*en"#ng u*on the st'le or :ual#t' of the )ar% The feel#ngs an" att#tJ"3 of a *erson "r#v#ng a )hea* ol" tru)$ )arr'#ng a loa" of 5un$ w#ll l#$el' ,e totall' "#fferent fro the feel#ngs an" att#tJ"3 that *erson w#ll have "r#v#ng a lu6ur#ous new )ar )arr'#ng a /.A% A )ar )an als8 *rov#"e us w#th the a,#l#t' to travel :u#)$l' an" )onven#entl', 'et #f #t ,rea$s "own, we a' have to a$e ore effort than usual to get where we nee" to go% Re*a#r, fuel, an" #nsuran)e )osts )an e6ert an a""e" f#nan)#al stress on our l#ves an" )an even feel ,ur"enso e% So #n a sense the )ar own us an" sha*es us as u)h as we own an" )ontrol #t, an" the a)t#on of "r#v#ng )an a)tuall' ,e an#feste" onl' ,' a *erson an" a )ar wor$#ng together% Th#s real#t' of utual #nfluen)e an" #nter)onne)te"ness #s true not onl' for a 7s*e)#al7 *ra)t#)e "one ,' a grou* of *eo*le )alle" 7;u""h#sts7! #n truth th#s #s the wa' all ,e#ngs are wor$#ng w#th#n the )#r)le of #nter"e*en"ent or#g#nat#on% The ;u""ha Wa' #n)lu"es ,oth self an" o,5e)ts% The ;u""ha Wa' #n)lu"es ,oth *eo*le s#tt#ng an" the s#tt#ng the' "o% The' are a)tuall' one th#ng% Th#s #s ver' "#ff#)ult to e6*la#n, 'et #t #s an o,v#ous real#t' of our l#ves% Th#s real#t' #s not so 3 s*e)#al state or )on"#t#on that #s onl' a))o *l#she" ,' so()alle" 7enl#ghtene"7 *eo*le% Even when we "on@t real#+e #t, self, a)t#on, an" o,5e)t are wor$#ng together as one real#t', so we "on@t nee" to tra#n ourselves to a$e the #nto

one th#ng #n our #n"s% .f self, a)t#on, an" o,5e)t were reall' three se*arate th#ngs, the' )oul" not ,e)o e one% The truth #s that the' are alwa's one realC#t', regar"less of what we "o or th#n$% To study the self is to forget the self. When we stu"' ourselves as the ;u""ha Wa', we f#n" that there #s no self that #s se*arate fro others ,e)ause the self #s )onne)te" w#th all ,e#ngs% We see that the self "oes not reall' e6#st% .t #s, as the D#a on" Sutra sa's, l#$e a "rea , a *hanto , a ,u,,le, a sha"ow, a "ro* of "ew, or a flash of l#ghtn#ng% The self #s e *t' #n #ts self(,e#ng, so we ust forget the self% Even the self that #s stu"'#ng the ;u""ha Wa' shoul" ,e forgott3n! the self forgets the self #n stu"'#ng the self% Th#s #s what we "o #n our +a+en when we o*en the han" of thought% .n +a+en, we let go of ever'th#ng that )o es u* fro the self, #n)lu"#ng all thoughts, feel#ngs, an" e ot#ons% We let go of trul' ever'th#ng, #n)lu"#ng ,oth our self#sh #"eas an" our un"erstan"#ng of the Dhar a% 4a+en, or 5ust s#tt#ng (sh#$anta+a), #s fro one *ers*e)t#ve the )o *lete negat#on of the l# #te", )on"#t#one", $ar #) self that l#ves ,e#ng le" aroun" ,' #ts own "es#res% >et fro another *ers*e)t#ve, w#th#n th#s lett#ng go, ever'th#ng #s a))e*te" an" noth#ng #s negate"! #n +a+en ever'th#ng #s 5ust as #t #s% Lett#ng go of thought #s not $#ll#ng thought! thoughts )o e u* o ent ,' o ent, ,ut we 5ust let the go% Thoughts are there, ,ut #n our +a+en we "on@t th#n$, we 5ust s#t% W#th#n 5ust s#tt#ng ever'th#ng #s 5ust as #t #s% 1oth#ng #s negate" an" noth#ng #s aff#r e"% Th#s 5ust s#tt#ng #s the *ra5na (w#s"o ) that sees e *t#ness w#thout the se*arat#on of su,5e)t an" o,5e)t% 4a+en #s not a $#n" of etho" of )onte *lat#on through wh#)h 7.7 (su,5e)t) see 7e *t?r#3s#s7 (o,5e)t)! rather the *ra)t#)e of 5ust s#tt#ng #s #tself *ra5na% Th#s #s wh' D2g3n 4en5# sa#" #n Sh2,2gen+2 4an a#(o(+an a#, 7S#tt#ng #s #tself ;u""ha Dhar a,7 an" #n Sh2,2gen+2 4u# on$#, a re)or" of D2g3n s #nforC 9l tal$s *resente" to h#s asse ,l' at M2sh25#, 7S#tt#ng #s #tself the true for of the self%7 To forget the self is to be verified by all things. 7To ,e ver#f#e" ,' all th#ngs7 has the sa e ean#ng as 7all th#ngs )o #ng an" )arr'#ng out *ra)t#)e(enl#ghten ent through the self%7 ;' genu#nel' 5ust s#tt#ng, we root our whole ,e#ng #n the groun" of #nter"e*en"ent or#g#nat#on% Sh#$anta+a, +a+en as D2g3n 4en5# tea)hes #t, #s a un#:ue *ra)t#)eK even )o *are" to other e"#tat#on *ra)t#)es w#th#n the var#ous tra( "#t#ons of ;u""h#s % When *ra)t#)#ng sh#$anta+a, we "o noth#ng ,ut s#t w#th the whole ,o"' an" #n"% We "o noth#ng w#th the #n", so th#s #s not a)tuall' a e"#tat#on *ra)t#)e% .n th#s +a+en we "on@t *ra)Ct#)e w#th a antra or )onte *late an'th#ng% We "on@t )ount or wat)h the ,reath% We "on@t tr' to )on)entrate the #n" on an' *art#)ular o,5e)t or use an' other e"#tat#on te)hn#:ues! we reall' 5ust s#t w#th ,oth ,o"' an" #n"% W#th the e'es o*en, we s# *l' s#t #n an u*r#ght *osture an" ,reathe "ee*l', :u#etl', an" s oothl' through the nose an" fro the a,"o en% When we s#t #n th#s *osture, even though we are st#ll, the v#ta# organs )ont#nue to fun)t#on! the heart $ee*s ,eat#ng an" the sto a)h $ee*s "#gest#ng% Ea)h an" ever' organ #n our ,o"' )ont#nues wor$#ng #n +a+en, an" there #s no reason that

our ,ra#ns shoul" sto* wor$#ng when we s#t% <ust as the fun)t#on of a th'ro#" glan" #s to se)rete hor ones, the fun)t#on of a ,ra#n #s to se)rete thoughts, so thoughts well u* #n the #n" o ent ,' o ent% >et our *ra)t#)e #n +a+en #s to refra#n fro "o#ng an'th#ng w#th these thoughts! we 5ust let ever'th#ng )o e u* freel' an" we let ever'th#ng go freel'% We "on@t gras* an'th#ng! we "on@t tr' to )ontrol an'th#ng% We 5ust s#t% S#tt#ng +a+en #s a ver' s# *le *ra)t#)e, ,ut s# *le "oes not ne)es( sar#l' ean eas'% >et #t #s a ver' "ee* *ra)t#)e% .n +a+en we a))o *l#sh noth#ng! as Sawa$# M2"2 R2sh# sa#", +a+en #s goo" for noth#ng% ;ut +a+en #s #tself ;u""ha Dhar a, an" when we refra#n fro 7"o#ng7 #n th#s *ra)t#)e, the self #s #llu #nate" an" ver#f#e" ,' all th#ngs% Sh#$an( ta+a #s not a *ra)t#)e )arr#e" out ,' the #n"#v#"ual% .t #s, rather, a *ra)Ct#)e #n wh#)h we let go of the #n"#v#"ual $ar #) self that #s )onstantl' see$#ng to sat#sf' #ts own "es#res% .n +a+en the true self, the self that #s one w#th the ent#re un#verse, #s an#fest% DROAA.1G OFF ;OD> A1D E.1D To be verified by all things is to let the body and mind of the self and the body and mind of others drop off. 7Dro**#ng off ,o"' an" #n"7 #s a translat#on of sh#n5#n("atsura$u (X,Bl?lSS)% Th#s #s a $e' wor" #n D2g3n 4en5# s tea)h#ngs% Th#s e6*res( s#on was or#g#nall' use" #n the tea)h#ngs of D2g3n s tea)her, T#antong Ru5#ng (<a*%G Ten"2 1'o52)% .n 02$'2$# (Re)or" #n the 02$'2 Era), D2gen@s *ersonal re)or" of h#s )onversat#ons w#th 4en Easter Ru5#ng at T#antong Eonaster', sh#n5#n("atsura$u #s a fre:uent to*#) of "#s( )uss#on ,etween D2g3n 4en5# an" h#s tea)her% 0ere #s one of those "#s)uss#onsG 9ujing said, ,:an"en6 is dropping off body and mind. *e don4t use incense burning, ma)ing prostrations, nembutsu #reciting the 7uddhas name%, the practice of repentance, or reading sutras. *e only engage in just sitting., ;-g<n as)ed, ,*hat is dropping off body and mind=, 9ujing said, ,;ropping off body and mind is "a"en. *hen we just practice "a"en, we part from the five desires and remove the five coverings., ;-g<n as)ed, ,5f we part from the five desires and remove the five coverings, we follow the same teachings as those of the teaching schools and are therefore the same as practitioners of the >ahayana and of the ?inayana., 9ujing said, ,The descendants of the ancestor &7odhi dharma' should not disli)e the teachings of the >ahayana and ?inayana. 5f a practitioner is against the sacred teach(ings of the Tathagata, how can such a person be the descen dant of buddhas and ancestors=, ;-g<n as)ed, ,5n recent times, som< s)eptical people say that the three poisonous minds are themselves 7ud(dha ;harma and that the five desires are themselves the *ay of the !ncestors. They say eliminating them is e0ual to ma)ing preferences and therefore the same as ?inayana practice.,

9ujing said, ,5f we don4t eliminate the three poisonous minds and the five desires, we are the same as the non 7uddhists in the country of @ing 7imbisara and his son !jatasattu &during the time of :ha)yamuni 7uddha'. For the descendants of buddhas and ancestors, removing even one of the five coverings or one of the five desires is of great benefit; it is meeting the buddhas and ancestors., 0ere Ru5#ng sa's that 7san+en #s "ro**#ng off ,o"' an" #n"7 an" 7"ro**#ng off ,o"' an" #n" #s +a+en%7 0e als8 sa's that #n "ro**#ng off ,o"' an" #n", we are free" fro the f#ve "es#res an" el# #nate the f#ve )over#ngs% The f#ve "es#res are "es#res that ar#se #n the #n" as a result of )onta)t w#th o,5e)ts of the f#ve sense organs% When we see, hear, s ell, taste, or tou)h an o,5e)t, we a' en5o' the sensat#on an" "es#re ore of #t! th#s #s atta)h ent% Or #f the sensat#on #s un*leasant our "es#re #s to avo#" #t, an" s#n)e th#s often #s # *oss#,le, we ,e)o e frustrate" or angr'% So we )an see that the f#ve "es#res are the sour)e of gree" as well as the sour)e of anger% The f#ve )over#ngs are h#n"ran)es that *revent the #n" fro fun)( t#on#ng #n a health' wa'% These f#ve )over#ngs of the #n" are gree", anger (hatre"), slee*#ness or "ullness, "#stra)t#on, an" "ou,t%P The f#ve "es#res an" f#ve )over#ngs were or#g#nall' "#s)usse" as o,sta)les to e"( #tat#on #n the Da#)h#"oron (Eaha*ra5na*ara #ta(sastra), 1agar5unas )o entar' on the Eaha*ra5na*ara #ta Sutra% T#anta# 4h#'# (<a*%G Ten"a# &h#g#), the great *h#loso*her of the &h#nese T#anta# (Ten"a#) s)hool, als8 ent#one" the #n h#s e"#tat#on anual, Ea$ash#$an (&h%G Eohe+h#guan) (Larger ;oo$ of Sha atha an" /#*assana)%R 4h#'# sa#" that *ra)t#t#oners shoul" *art fro the f#ve "es#res an" el# #nate the f#ve )over#ngs #n a e"#tat#on *ra)t#)e )alle" sh#$an (sha atha an" v#*assana, 7sto**#ng7 an" 7see#ng7)% As . ent#one" #n )ha*ter H, D2g3n 4en5# was or#g#nall' or"a#ne" as a Ten"a# on$ #n <a*an% 0e was fa #l#ar w#th the tea)h#ngs an" e"#tat#on *ra)t#)e of the Ten"a# tra"#t#on, an" he ,egan to *ra)t#)e 4en ,e)ause he was not sat#sf#e" w#th Ten"a# *ra)t#)e% So we see that #n th#s )onversat#on D2g3n was :uest#on#ng Ru5#ng to see #f 4en tea)h#ngs a,out the f#ve )over#ngs an" f#ve "es#res "#ffere" fro Ten"a# tea)h#ngs% -nt#l th#s )onversat#on D2g3n ha" ,een loo$#ng for tea)h#ngs that "#ffere" fro those of the Ten"a# s)hool, 'et here Ru5#ng sa's that +a+en *ra)t#)e shoul" not "#f( fer fro the ;u""has tea)h#ngs that were re)or"e" #n the sutras an" s'ste at#+e" #n the *h#loso*h#)al tea)h#ng s)hools% 9ujing and ;-g<n continued their conversation on this topic as follows: 9ujing said, ,The descendants of the buddhas and ances tors first eliminate the five coverings and then remove the si1 coverings. The si1 coverings consist of the five coverings plus the covering of ignorance. Aven if a practitioner only eliminates the covering of ignorance, that practitioner will be freed of the other five coverings. Aven if a practitioner eliminates the five coverings, if ignorance is not removed, the practitioner has not yet reached the practice of the buddhas and ancestors., ;-g<n immediately offered a prostration and e1pressed gratitude for this teaching. /iacing his hands in shashu= he said, ,Bntil today, 5 have not heard of

an instruction such as the one you have just given me, teacher. Alders, e1pe rienced teachers, mon)s, and ;harma brothers here do not at all )now of this teaching; they have never spo)en in this way. Today it is my good fortune to have received your great compassion through teachings that 5 have never before heard. This good fortune is a result of my connec tions to the ;harma in previous lives. !nd yet 5 would li)e to as) you another 0uestion; is there any secret method one can use to remove the five coverings or the si1 coverings=, The teacher smiled and said, ,To what practice have you been devoting your entire energy= That practice is noth(ing other than the ;harma that removes the si1 coverings. The buddhas and ancestors have not set up classifications in practice. They directly show us and singularly transmit the way to depart from the five desires and si1 coverings and the way to be free from the five desires. /utting one4s effort into the practice of just sitting and dropping off body and mind is the way to depart from the five coverings and the five desires. This is the only method of being free from them; there is absolutely none other. ?ow can there be anything that falls into two or three=, Th#s #s T#antong Ru5#ng s e6*lanat#on of "ro**#ng off ,o"' an" #n" (%sh#n5#n( "atsura$u), an" to un"erstan" th#s ter , we shoul" stu"' h#s tea)h#ngs s#n)e he or#g#nate" the e6*ress#on% A))or"#ng to Ru5#ng, "ro**#ng off ,o"' an" #n" #s free"o fro the s#6 )overC#ngs, wh#)h ,as#)all' are the sa e as the three *o#sonous #n"s% The three *o#sonous #n"s are the )ause of trans #grat#on #n sa sara, an" #n +a+en we let go of the three *o#sonous #n"s% Th#s #s wh' D2g3n 4en5# sa#" that +a+en #s not a *ra)t#)e of hu 9n ,e#ngs! #t #s the *ra)Ct#)e of ,u""has% .n h#s #nstru)t#on to D2g3n, Ru5#ng als8 sa's that 7the ,u""has an" an)estors have not set u* )lass#f#)at#ons #n *ra)t#)e7 an" that there #s noth#ng 7that falls #nto two or three%7 These sa'#ngs are fro Ten"a# tea)h#ngs that or#g#nate" #n the Lotus Sutra% .n the Lotus Sutra we rea"G 5n the buddha lands within the ten directions There is only the ;harma of Cne Dehicle, Eeither a second nor a third, A1cept the s)illful teachings of the 7uddha.FG Th#s eans that #n real#t', there are no su)h )lass#f#)at#ons as the three veh#)les (shrava$a, *rat'e$a,u""ha, an" ,o"h#sattva)! the' are s# *l' tentat#ve s$#llful eans% Ru5#ng uses these e6*ress#ons to show that h#s +a+en *ra)t#)e #s not one of th3 three e6*e"#ent eans ,ut #s the *ra)t#)e of the Dhar a of One(/eh#)le% D2g3n e)hoes th#s tea)h( #ng #n Sh2,2gen+2 4u# on$#G :itting itself is the practice of the 7uddha. :itting itself is non doing. 5t is nothing but the true form of the :elf. !part from sitting, there is nothing to see) as the 7uddha ;harma. .n 02$'2$#, D2g3n re)or"e" one "ro**#ng off ,o"' an" #n"G ore )onversat#on w#th h#s tea)her )on)ern#ng

9ujing said, ,The "a"en of arhatsFF and pratye)abuddhasu is free of attachment yet it lac)s great compassion. Their "a"en is therefore different from the "a"en of the buddhas and ancestors; the "a"en of buddhas and ancestors places primary importance on great compassion and the vow to save all living beings. Eon 7uddhist practitioners in 5ndia alsH practice "a"en, yet they have the three sic)nesses, namely attachment, mista)en views, and arrogance. There(fore, their "a"en is different from the "a"en of the bud(dhas and ancestors. :rava)asF. alsH practice "a"en, and yet their compassion is wea) because they don4t penetrate the true reality of all beings with wisdom. They practice only to improve themselves and in so doing cut off the seeds of 7uddha. Therefore, their "a"en is alsH different from the "a"en of the buddhas and ancestors. 5n buddhas4 and ancestors4 "a"en, they wish to gather all 7uddha ;harma from the time they first arouse bodhi mind. 7uddhas and ancestors do not forget or abandon living beings in their "a"en; they offer a heart of compassion even to an insect. 7uddhas and ancestors vow to save all living beings and dedicate all the merit of their practice to all living beings. They therefore practice "a"en within the world of desire,F$ yet even within the world of desire they have the best con nection with this Iambudvipa.F3 7uddhas and ancestors practice many virtues generation after generation and allow their minds to be fle1ible., ;-g<n made a prostration and then as)ed, ,*hat docs 4allowing the mind to be fle1ible4 mean=, 9ujing said, ,!fArming the dropping off body and mi nd of the buddhas and ancestors is the fle1ible mind. This is called the mind seal of the buddhas and ancestors., ;-g<n made si1 prostrations. Th#s #s D2gen@s *ersonal re)or" of these )onversat#ons% Tra"#t#onall', #t #s sa#" that D2g3n 4en5# ha" an enl#ghten )nt e6*er#en)e when Ru5#ng, s)ol"#ng a on$ who was s#tt#ng n)6t to D2g3n, sa#", 74a+en #s "ro**#ng off ,o"' an" #n"% Wh' are 'ou 5ust slee*#ngI7 Th#s stor' or#g#nall' a**eare" #n D2gen@s ,#ogra*h' as *art of Me#+an <o$#n 4en5#@s Den$2ro$u (Trans #ss#on of L#ght)% To"a' so 3 D2g3n s)holars, su)h as Sug#o Gen'B of >a agu)h# -n#vers#t' an" .sh## ShB"2 of Mo a+awa -n#vers#t', th#n$ Me#+an #nvente" th#s stor'% Otherw#se, the' sa', D2gens )r#t#)#s of *ra)Ct#)e a# e" at atta#n#ng $ensho ,e)o es a )ontra"#)t#on to h#s own *ra)t#)e e6*er#en)e% Arofessor .sh## has sa#" that the f#)t#t#ous stor' of D2gens enl#ghten ent e6*er#en)e has )ause" ore #sun"erstan"( #ngof D2gens tea)h#ngs than an' other fa,r#)ate" *ort#on of D2gens ,#ogra*h'% D2g3n 4en5# h# self never wrote of a "ef#n#t#ve enl#ghtCen ent e6*er#en)e #n an' of h#s wr#t#ngs% .n h#s le)ture on ;en"2wa (Tal$ on the Wholehearte" Ara)t#)e of the Wa') *u,l#she" #n E#he#( 5#s aga+#n3 Sansh2 #n <ul' HOOO, Su+u$# Ma$u+en R2sh# agree" w#th Arofessor Sug#o an" Arofessor .sh##G 7.n the )ase of D2g3n 4en5#, h#s rel#g#ous e6*er#en)e #s not atta#n#ng so 3 su""en an" s*e)#al *s')hoClog#)al s9tor# e6*er#en)e% D2g3n never tal$e" a,out su)h an e6*er#Cen)e #n Sh2,2gen+2% .n h#s tea)h#ngs, real#+at#on #s a "ee*

awareness of the fa)t that the e6#sten)e of the self #s not a *ersonal *ossess#on of the self%7 . agree w#th these s)holars ,e)ause . th#n$ #t #s ,est to trust D2g3n s own a))ount of h#s )onversat#ons w#th Ru5#ng )on)ern#ng "ro**#ng off ,o"' an" #n", rather than g#ve author#t' to an a))ount a**ar( entl' #nvente" after D2g3n "#e"% .n h#s )onversat#ons w#th D2g3n, Ru5#ng sa#", 7San+en #s "ro**#ng off ,o"' an" #n"7 an" 7"ro**#ng off ,o"' an" #n" #s +a+en%7 .n other wor"s, "ro**#ng off ,o"' an" #n" #s not so 3 s*e)#al *s'C)holog#)al )on"#t#on result#ng fro +a+en *ra)t#)e! rather, +a+en #s #tself "ro**#ng off ,o"' an" #n"% A,out th#rt' 'ears ago when . was a stu"ent at Mo a+awa -n#vers#t', Ta$asa$# <#$#"2 ra#se" a :ues( t#on a,out D2gens un"erstan"#ng of "ro**#ng off ,o"' an" #n", or sh#n5#n( "atsura$u% .n h#s ,oo$ Mo,utsu no Eane,# (. #tat#on ot An)#ent ;u""has), Dr% Ta$asa$# suggeste" that D2g3n *oss#,#' #s( un"erstoo" the &h#nese e6*ress#on that Ru5#ng use" #n h#s fa ous )onversat#ons w#th D2g3n% 0e suggeste" that Ru5#ng sa#" 7"ro**#ng off #n" "Yst7 (ZLZ.[\#]^) rather than 7"ro**#ng off ,o"' an" #n"7 gg 0lg an" that D2g3n #sun"erstoo" Ru5#ngs wor"s ,e)aus) ,oth *hrases are *ronoun)e" 000 Other who#ars "#sagree, argu#ng that although the )hara)ter )o ,#nat#ons *l an" 0l ar) ea)h *ronoun)e" sh#n5#nf the' are *ronoun)e" w#th "#fferCent tones #n &h#nese, an" D2g3n woul" therefore not have )onfuse" the % Ev thought #s that #f D2g3n 4en5# ha" hear" Ru5#ng use the e6*ress#on onl' on)e, as he "#" #n the f#)t#t#ous stor' that a**ears #n Den$2ro$u, #t #ght ,e *oss#,le that he #sun"erstoo"% ;ut a))or"( #ng to 0'2$'2$#, wr#tten ,' D2g3n h# self, D2g3n "#s)usse" the e6*ress#on sh#n5#n("atsura$u w#th Ru5#ng at least three t# es% We $now fro 0'2$'2$# that D2g3n use" the e6*ress#on #n s*ea$#ng to Ru5#ng, an" #t see s )erta#n that Ru5#ng woul" have )orre)te" D2g3n #f he ha" a"e a #sta$e #n #ts *ronun)#at#on% For these reasons, . "on@t th#n$ #t #s *oss#,le that D2g3n a"e su)h a #sta$e #n un"er(stan"#ng these $e' wor"s% Let us ta$e a )loser loo$ at th#s e6*ress#on, sh#n5#n("atsura$u, that #s so w#"el' "#s)usse" as an essent#al *o#nt #n D2gen@s tea)h#ngs% The l#teral ean#ng of the &h#nese )hara)ter "atsu ((]_) #s 7to ta$e off7 or 7slough ofF,7 an" ra$u eans 7to "ro* off,7 7)ast off,7 or 7fal# "own%7 The s)holar &arl ;#elefel"t translates th#s e6*ress#on as 7slough ofF ,o"' an" #n",7 e *has#+#ng the f#rst half of the )o *oun", "atsu The translat#ons 7"ro**#ng off ,o"' an" #n"7 an" 7)ast( #ng off,o"' an" #n"7 e *has#+e the se)on" half of the )o *oun", ra$u (`?)% ;ut what "oes sh#n5#n("atsura$u reall' ean for us #n our *ra)t#)eI Throughout our l#ves, fro the t# e we are ,orn unt#l we "#e, we wear so 3 $#n" of )loth#ng% &loth#ngg#ves an #n"#)at#on of so)#al )lass an" o))u*at#on, an" #t a' )o un#)ate )ultural an" rel#g#ous ,a)$( groun"% Eon$s wear on$s@ ro,es, an e *eror wears regal gar ents, far ers wear far )lothes, an" sol"#ers wear un#for s a))or"#ng to the#r ran$% R#)h *eo*le wear lu6ur#ous gar ents an" *oor *eo*le wear #ne6*ens#ve ones% &h#nese *eo*le wear &h#nese )lothes, the <a*( anese wear <a*anese )lothes, A er#)ans "ress l#$e A er#)ans% When we see *eo*le s )loth#ng, we see who those *eo*le are #n so)#et'%

We wear other $#n"s of )loth#ng% So)#al *os#t#on an" status are t'*es of )loth#ng that "ef#ne us% We wear the )loth#ng of *overt', wealth, or the #""le )lass! we wear the )loth#ng of o))u*at#ons su)h as "o)tor, law'er, e)han#), *r#est, stu"ent, tea)her% ;ut when we s#t fa)#ng the wall an" let go of thought, #n)lu"#ng )o *ar#ng ourselves w#th others, we ta$e off all th#s )loth#ng% .n +a+en . a not a <a*a( nese ;u""h#st *r#est! . a ne#ther <a*anese nor A er#)an% .n +a+en we are ne#ther r#)h nor *oor, ne#ther ;u""h#st nor &hr#st#an% The ter s <a*anese, A er#)an, r a"h#st, &hr#st#an, an, an" 7wo an7 are onl' relevant when we )o *are ourselves w#th others% When . )o *are 'self w#th A er#)ans, . a <a*anese, ,ut ,efore . $new of *eo*le who weren@t <a*anese . "#"n@t $now that . was <a*aCnese% When we 5ust s#t fa)#ng the wall #n +a+en, we are ne#ther "elu"e" l#v#ng ,e#ngs nor enl#ghtene" ,u""has! we are ne#ther al#ve nor "ea"! we are 5ust as we are% That s #t% .n +a+en we ta$e off all of our )loth#ng an" ,e)o e the na$e" self% We have an' "#fferent e6*er#en)es "ur#ng the )ourse of our l#ves, an" #n the *ro)ess of e6*er#en)#ng these ,#ll#ons of th#ngs we )reate a self(# age% We )o e to )ons#"er ourselves as )a*a,le or #n)a*a,le, su*er#or or #nfer#or, r#)h or *oor, honest or "#shonest% We "ef#ne our(selves #n th#s wa' an" hol" on to #"eas of who we are! we )reate the $ar #) self% ;ut when we s#t #n +a+en, we let go of all of these self( # ages% When we o*en the han" of thought, these )on)e*ts "ro* off an" the ,o"' an" #n" are release" fro $ar #) ,#n"#ngs% Th#s #s what "atsura$u eans% As Ru5#ng sa#", we are then release" fro the f#ve "es#res an" the s#6 )over#ngs% .n +a+en we are not *ulle" aroun" ,' the o,5e)ts of our th#n$#ng or e ot#ons, so we are release" fro the three *o#sonous #n"s that ,#n" us to sa sara% Th#s 5ust s#tt#ng #n +a+en #s #tself the *ra)t#)e of n#rvana% . a a ;u""h#st *r#est an" . a als8 ' w#fe s hus,an" an" ' )h#l"ren@s father% When . a w#th ' fa #l', . a a father, so . *la' the role of a father% When . g#ve a le)ture, . a a tea)her so . "o ' ,est to tal$ a,out D2g3n 4en5# s tea)h#ngs #n an un"erstan"a,l) wa', though . "on@t $now #f# su))ee"% These roles ar) l#$e )loth#ng H *ut on #n "#fferent s#tuat#ons, an" . "ef#ne who . a a))or"#ng to the ro$ H a "o#ng ' ,est to ful?#ll at the t# e% ;ut when H s#t Y) g the w"-, 0l argu#ng that although the )hara)ter )o ,#nat#ons *S an" are ea)h *ronoun)e" sh#n5#n, the' are *ronoun)e" w#th "#ffer( ent tones #n &h#nese, an" D2g3n woul" therefore not have )onf##se" the % E' thought #s that #f D2g3n 4en5# ha" hear" Ru5#ng use the e6*ress#on onl' on)e, as he "#" #n the f#)t#t#ous stor' that a**ears #n Den$2ro$u, #t #ght ,e *oss#,le that he #sun"erstoo"% ;ut a))or"( #ng to 0'2$'2$#, wr#tten ,' D2g3n h# self, D2g3n "#s)usse" the e6*ress#on sh#n5#n( "atsura$u w#th Ru5#ng at least three t# es% We $now fro 0'2$'2$# that D2g3n use" the e6*ress#on #n s*ea$#ng to Ru5#ng, an" #t see s )erta#n that Ru5#ng woul" have )orre)te" D2g3n #f he ha" a"e a #sta$e #n #ts *ronun)#at#on% For these reasons, . "on@t th#n$ #t #s *oss#,le that D2g3n a"e su)h a #sta$e #n un"er( stan"#ng these $e' wor"s% Let us ta$e a )loser loo$ at th#s e6*ress#on, sh#n5#n("atsura$u, that #s so w#"el' "#s)usse" as an essent#al *o#nt #n D2gens tea)h#ngs% The l#teral ean#ng of the &h#nese )hara)ter "atsu (=]^) #s 7to ta$e off7 or 7slough off,7 an" ra$u (]^) eans

7to "ro* off,7 7)ast off,7 or 7fall "own%7 The s)holar &arl ;#elefel"t translates th#s e6*ress#on as 7slough off ,o"' an" #n",7 e *has#+#ng the f#rst half of the )o *oun", "atsu (\?)% The translat#ons 7"ro**#ng off ,o"' an" #n"7 an" 7)ast( #ng off ,o"' an" #n"7 e *has#+e the se)on" half of the )o *oun", ra$u (Ia)% ;ut what "oes sh#n5#n("atsura$u reall' ean for us #n our *ra)t#)eI Throughout our l#ves, fro the t# e we are ,orn unt#l we "#e, w) wear so 3 $#n" of )loth#ng% &loth#ng g#ves an #n"#)at#on of so)#al )lass an" o))u*at#on, an" #t a' )o un#)ate )ultural an" rel#g#ous ,a)$( groun"% Eon$s wear on$s@ ro,es, an e *eror wears regal gar ents, far ers wear far )lothes, an" sol"#ers wear un#for s a))or"#ng to the#r ran$% R#)h *eo*le wear lu6ur#ous gar ents an" *oor *eo*le wear #ne6*ens#ve ones% &h#nese *eo*le wear &h#nese )lothes, the <a*( anese wear <a*anese )lothes, A er#)ans "ress l#$e A er#)ans% When we see *eo*le s )loth#ng, we see who those *eo*le are #n so)#et'% We wear other $#n"s of )loth#ng% So)#al *os#t#on an" status are t'*es of )loth#ng that "ef#ne us% We wear the )loth#ng of *overt', wealth, or the #""le )lass! we wear the )loth#ng of o))u*at#ons su)h as "o)tor, law'er, e)han#), *r#est, stu"ent, tea)her% ;ut when we s#t fa)#ng the wall an" let go of thought, #n)lu"#ng )o *ar#ng ourselves w#th others, we ta$e off all th#s )loth#ng% .n +a+en . a not a <a*aCnese ;u""h#st *r#est! . a ne#ther <a*anese nor A er#)an% .n +a+en we are ne#ther r#)h nor *oor, ne#ther ;u""h#st nor &hr#st#an% The ter s <a*anese, A er#)an, ou""h#st, &hr#st#an, an, an" 7wo an7 are onl' relevant when we )o *are ourselves w#th others% When . )o *are 'self w#th A er#)ans, . a <a*anese, ,ut ,efore . $new of *eo*le who weren@t <a*anese . "#"n@t $now that . was <a*aCnese% When we 5ust s#t fa)#ng the wall #n +a+en, we are ne#ther "elu"e" l#v#ng ,e#ngs nor enl#ghtene" ,u""has! we are ne#ther al#ve nor "ea"! we are 5ust as we are% That s #t% .n +a+en we ta$e off all of our )loth#ng an" ,e)o e the na$e" self% We have an' "#fferent e6*er#en)es "ur#ng the )ourse of our l#ves, an" #n the *ro)ess of e6*er#en)#ng these ,#ll#ons of th#ngs we )reate a self(# age% We )o e to )ons#"er ourselves as )a*a,le or #n)a*a,le, su*er#or or #nfer#or, r#)h or *oor, honest or "#shonest% We "ef#ne ourCselves #n th#s wa' an" hol" on to #"eas of who we are! we )reate the $ar #) self% ;ut when we s#t #n +a+en, we let go of all of these self( # ages% When we o*en the han" of thought, these )on)e*ts "ro* off an" the ,o"' an" #n" are release" fro $ar #) ,#n"#ngs% Th#s #s what "atsura$u eans% As Ru5#ng sa#", we are then release" fro the f#ve "es#res an" the s#6 )over#ngs% .n +a+en we are not *ulle" aroun" ,' the o,5e)ts of our th#n$#ng or e ot#ons, so we are release" fro the three *o#sonous #n"s that ,#n" us to sa sara% Th#s 5ust s#tt#ng #n +a+en #s #tself the *ra)t#)e of n#rvana% . a a ;u""h#st *r#est an" . a als8 ' w#fe s hus,an" an" ' )h#l"ren@s father% When . a w#th ' fa #l', . a a father, so H *la' the role of a father% When . g#ve a le)tur), . a a tea)her so H "o ' ,est to tal$ a,out D2g3n 4en5# s tea)h#ngs #n an un")rstan"a,#) wa', though . "on@t $now #f# su))ee"% These roles ar) l#$e )loth#ng H *u) on #n "#fferent s#tuat#ons, an" . "ef#ne who . a a))or"#ng to the ro$ . a "o#ng ' ,est to fulf#ll at the t# e% ;ut when H s#t fa)#ng the WA.L . *; ne#ther a father nor a ;u""h#st *r#est% At that t# ) . a noth#ng% . a e *t'%

. a 5ust who . a % Th#s #s l#,erat#on fro ' $ar #) l#fe, Th#s "oes not ' +a+en *ra)t#)e #s ne)essar#l' eas' or *a#n( less, of )ourse%

ean that

So D2gens state ent 7To ,e ver#f#e" ,' all th#ngs #s to let the ,o"' an" #n" of the self an" the ,o"' an" #n" of others "ro* off7 s# C*l' eans that #n +a+en the se*arat#on ,etween self an" others falls awa', #s "ro**e" off% 4a+en reveals the tot9l real#t' of #nter"e*en"ent or#g#nat#on% When we let go of thought, we settle our whole ,e#ng #nto #nter*enetrat#ng real#t'% Th#s #s how we are ver#f#e" ,' all ,e#ngs% There is a trace of reali"ation that cannot be grasped. The or#g#n9l e6*ress#on D2g3n 4en5# uses for 7)annot ,e gras*e"7 #s $'u$atsu% M'u eans to ,e at rest, not wor$#ng, not #n a)t#on% Matsu eans to sto*% 7Tra)e of real#+at#on7 an" $'u$atsu are #n )ontra"#)( t#on to ea)h other% M'u$atsu eans to ,e tra)eless, so all tra)e of enl#ghten ent #s at rest an" has sto**e" e6#st#ng% 7There #s a tra)e of real#+at#on that )annot ,e gras*e"7 eans that there #s a 7tra)eless tra)e7 of real#+at#on% 0ere D2g3n #s sa'#ng ,oth that 7there #s7 an" 7there #s not7 a tra)e of real#+at#on% .n other wor"s, as soon as we gras* th#s real#+at#on, we #ss #t% .nstea" we ust 5ust $ee* *ra)t#)#ng w#thCout gras*#ng an' tra)e of real#+at#on% .f one th#n$s, 71ow . a ver#f#e" ,' all th#ngs,7 one has alrea"' #sse" real#+at#on% <ust *ra)t#)e, then the tra)e #s there an" 'et #t #sn@t there% Th#s tra)e of real#+at#on #s l#$e the tra)e of ,#r"s fl'#ng an" f#sh sw# #ng% .t #s there ,ut we )annot see or gras* #t% .f we tr' to gras* #t we #ss #t, ,ut when we o*en the han" of thought, #t #s there% D2g3n als8 wrote a,out th#s tra)eless tra)e #n Sh2,2gen+8 >u#,utsu('o,utsu (Onl' ;u""ha Together w#th ;u""ha)G !gain, when a bird flies in the s)y, beasts do not even dream of finding or following its trace. :ince they do not )now that there is such a thing, they cannot even imagine this. ?owever, a bird can see traces of hundreds and thou sands of small birds having passed in floc)s, or traces of so many lines of large birds having flown south or north. Those traces may be even more evident than the carriage trac)s left on a road or the hoofprints of a horse seen in the grass. 5n this way, a bird sees birds4 traces. 7uddhas are li)e this. 2ou may wonder how many lifetimes buddhas have been practicing. 7uddhas, large or small, although they are countless, all )now their own traces; you never )now a buddha4s trace when you are not a buddha. 2ou may wonder why you do not )now. The reason is that while buddhas see these traces with a buddha4s eye, those who are not buddhas do not have a buddha4s eye, and they just notice the 7uddha4s attributes. !ll who do not )now should search out the trace of the 7uddha4s path. 5f you find footprints, you should investi gate whether they are the 7uddha4s. Bpon being investi gated, the 7uddha4s trace is )nown, and whether it is long or short, shallow or deep, is alsH )nown. To illuminate your trace is accomplished by studying the 7uddha4s trace. !ccomplishing this is 7uddha ;harma.F6

An" 4en Easter L#n5# (<a*%G R#n+a#) sa#"G 5f bodhisattvas, even those who have completed the ten stages of mind practice, were all to see) for the traces of such a follower of the *ay, they could never find them. Therefore the heavenly beings rejoice, the gods of the earth stand guard with their legs, and the buddhas of the ten directions sing his praise. *hy= 7ecause this man of the *ay who is now listening to the ;harma acts in f man ne r that leaves no traces,FJ .n 4en tea)h#ngs su)h as th#s :uote fro L#n5#, 7tra)es7 refers to atta)h ent to one s own a)t#ons, an" 7leav#ng no tra)es7 #s generall' regar"e" as a *os#t#ve th#ng% ;ut D2g3n 4en5# s usage of 7tra)e7 "#ffers fro that )o onl' foun" #n 4en tea)h#ngs% 0e "#" sa', as L#n)h# "#", that one shoul" s# *l' $ee* *ra)t#)#ng w#thout self(atta)h ent, leav#ng no v#s#,le tra)es% ;ut a))or"#ng to D2g3n, the tra)e of *ra)Ct#)e that leaves no v#s#,le tra)e )an ,e seen ,' other ,o"h#sattvas who share our as*#rat#on, 5ust as the *ath of *ass#ng ,#r"s )an later ,e seen ,' other ,#r"s of the sa e $#n"% *e endlessly e1press this ungraspable trace of reali"ation. .n +a+en an" #n all the a)t#v#t#es of our "a#l' l#ves, our *ra)t#)e #s to tr' to e6*ress th#s tra)eless tra)e of real#+at#on an" the real#t' of #nter"e*en"ent or#g#nat#on% Th#s #s the *o#nt of D2g3n 4en5# s tea)h( #ng #n Gen52$2an% When we *ra)t#)e #n or"er to e6*ress real#t', we )an see that *ra)t#)e an" real#+at#on are one% W#thout *ra)t#)e there #s no su)h th#ng as enl#ghten ent, although we usuall' th#n$ *ra)t#)e #s one th#ng an" enl#ghten ent #s another% We usuall' a**roa)h *ra)Ct#)e as the eans an" enl#ghten ent as the rewar", ,ut real#+at#on #s onl' an#feste" w#th#n the *ro)ess of *ra)t#)e, o ent ,' o ent%