I found your enclosed quotation a particularly helpful reminder not to get into the mindset of pass/fail regarding spiritual practice. The key is long-term persistence, and not to be distracted by day to day feelings and experiences.
--- In [email protected], "Curt Steinmetz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > In a dharma talk contained in the book "Golden Wind", Eido Shimano Roshi uses the terms > "honbun" and "shusho". I am wondering if anyone on this list has any other references for > these terms - or any kind of "literal" or "metaphorical" definitions to add to what Eido > Roshi has to say. > > Here is an extended excerpt (it's taken from his talk on case 73 from the Blue Cliff Record > "Baso, Chizo, Ekai"): > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > The transmission of the dharma does not require any written documents. The only > important matter is to understand the real nature of the universe. In order to do this, it > will be helpful to understand the distinction between "honbun" and "shusho". Unless these > are clearly distinguished, only confusion arises. We have no perfect English equivalent for > these words, but perhaps "fundamental" or "essential" will do for "honbun". For "shusho", > perhaps we can translate it as "existential" or "ever-changing. > > I will use the wind to illustrate the difference between "honbun" and "shusho". Whether the > wind is a fragrant spring wind, or a cold winter wind, or just a gentle wind, after all, the > iwind is merely a movement of air. Metaphorically speaking, "honbun" (fundamental) refers > to this air and "shusho" (existential) is the changing condition of the wind. > > Our True Nature, our Endless Dimension Universal Nature, was never created and can > never be destroyed, as far as "honbun" goes. > > In the realm of "honbun", there is no loss, no gain, no birth, no death, no good, no evil, no > small, no large. But as far as "shusho" is concerned, as you can see, there is strong and > weak, coming and going, deep and shallow. Thus in our zazen we often feel different > conditions. > > Sometimes we thing, "Today's zazen is not as good as yesterday's." Or, "I feel guilty > because my zazen is not as good as it should be." Or, "I am very pleased that I have > entered some sound samadhi." > > Most of us are fooled by these thoughts. We are controlled by ever- changing conditions. > We become slaves of conditions. Realization of Mu (True Nature) means to realize the fact > that the fundamental My nature is far beyond good and bad, deep or shallow. This is > "honbun". > ------------------[ end of excerpt] > > - Curt > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/zAINmC/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/S27xlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today! Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
