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| Suzuki Roshi (1904-1971) |
Remember ... Suzuki Roshi is a Soto Zen monk and teacher who was among those who brought Zen Buddhism to the western world. He founded Tassajara Zen Mountain Center in 1967 and became a well known teacher and author. I am restudying a chapter in his book Not Always So. It starts on page 16 ... Jumping off the 100-Foot Pole.
I must admit to having an ongoing fascination with this metaphor of leaping from the pole. What does it mean, really?
The following Roshi quote may be helpful. To set it up, I will tell you the scenario he used in explaining this concept: His wife is calling him into the kitchen for breakfast with the wooden clappers ... he is in the moment ... at the top of the pole ... perhaps, doing something he thinks is important. When he doesn't answer, he doesn't jump off (into the next moment). He says this creates problems. In this instance, his wife may be mad because he didn't answer and he is angry because he was interrupted.
"So the secret is just to say "Yes!" and jump off
from here. Then there
is no problem. It means
to be yourself in the present moment, always
yourself, without sticking to an old self. You
forget all about yourself
and are refreshed. You
are a new self, and before that self becomes an
old self, you say "Yes!" and you walk to the kitchen
for breakfast. So
the point on each moment is to
forget the point and extend your
practice.
As Dogen Zenzi says, 'To study Buddhism is to
study yourself. To study yourself is to forget
yourself on each moment.' Then everything will
come and help you. Everything will assure your
enlightenment."
There is so much more to understanding mindfulness. However, this chapter in the book Not Always So is so very helpful in explaining how we get stuck in a thought. But you know Buddhism, one must keep going back again and again to be reminded. The studying and the practice are endless.
Thank you, Suzuki Roshi, for this teaching.
And thank YOU for being here.
As Dogen Zenzi says, 'To study Buddhism is to
study yourself. To study yourself is to forget
yourself on each moment.' Then everything will
come and help you. Everything will assure your
enlightenment."
There is so much more to understanding mindfulness. However, this chapter in the book Not Always So is so very helpful in explaining how we get stuck in a thought. But you know Buddhism, one must keep going back again and again to be reminded. The studying and the practice are endless.
Points of the chapter
"Things are continuously growing or changing ... "
"To be flexible, not sticking to anything."
"Forget this moment and grow into the next."
"To forget about the top of the pole is to be where you are right now."
Thank you, Suzuki Roshi, for this teaching.
And thank YOU for being here.
