Dogen

Once again, confused. I understand it is delusion to start from the self and try to understand all things. If self is confused….as I currently am after reading this week’s Buddhism readings…I will get no where.

Also, it talks about “studying self…forgetting self…being enlightened by all things…drop off our own body and mind and others’ bodies and minds too…no trace of enlightenment remains…and this no-trace continues endlessly.” I don’t get this. I see how it makes sense to get our eyes off ourselves and others, but if there is no trace of enlightenment, how do you know it’s there? If enlightenment is a good thing, why should there be no trace of it?

“Life doesn’t become death, so life is called the Unborn. Death is called the Undying.” That didn’t make sense. Why not just call then the Born and the Dead? This is a much different look at things than I’ve ever heard. I’ve always considered death to be a part of life, but this reading says life and death are each complete in themselves. Recognize things at the stage they are at.

The birds and fish use a little water or sky when they need a little, or a lot when they need a lot. “Thus they use all of it at every moment?” What? It seems when they use a little they are only using a little…not all of it at every moment.

The end of the reading talked about a monk asking a zen master why he used a fan since the wind is permanent and reaches everywhere. The monk didn’t clarify. I wish he would have. I still don’t get it. With all due respect to any Buddhists out there, I don’t think I’m meant to be a Buddhist. Unless I wanted to be a confused Buddhist…then I’d be right on target.