On Apr 17, 2005, at 12:28 PM, Rod Scholl wrote:

> So what is this "only don't know" stuff?
>
> Lol!  Is that a clever joke?  I think you've written a good koan:
>
> The student asks, "what is this only-don't-know stuff?"
> The master replies, "you have written me a letter, asking where you can
> learn to write.  In your next letter describe to me the taste of an
> orange.

Very illuminating, Rod. I would be happy to take credit for the koan, 
but I think koans would better come from someone who understands - like 
the master posing something for the student to ponder - why they 
themselves replied in such a curious manner. This is not to say that 
all teachers understand what and why they say things, but the conundrum 
is usually a pointed stick in the eye of the students dilemma, not a 
blundering into something.

Maybe your addition adds something to the state of knowing/ knowing you 
know/ knowing you don't know/ not knowing what you know simultaneous 
state of perceiving.

As to the Rev. Fujita, I suspect that his 'only-don't-know' is rather a 
difficulty translating a concept into English. Like Dogen's letters, 
they speak to a previous criticism or errant school of Zen pertinent to 
his time, but puzzling to us today.

In the essay he says:

> "In in most other meditation practice, the issues involved take place
> within the sphere of knowing and from beginning to end, these methods
> focus on this sphere.

and

> This beyond-knowing is what the "only don't know" advocates are 
> pointing
> to.

So I think my question is unanswered, and I think he is addressing some 
question or criticism of which his audience, not us, is aware. So the 
other practices... I'm asking... What are these 'most other meditation 
practices' ? and what is this in-opposition school of 'only-don't-know' 
he refers to? Why doesn't he just say "Yoga" and "Zen" for instance? Is 
that what he means here?

  There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in.
__________<http://home.golden.net/~samu>__________



------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> 
Would you Help a Child in need?
It is easier than you think.
Click Here to meet a Child you can help.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/0Z9NuA/I_qJAA/i1hLAA/S27xlB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 

Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right  Action, 
Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration, Right Livelihood 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZenForum/

<*> 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/
 



Reply via email to