Master
Zendo says, ‘We can barely detect pleasure in the six realms; only grievances are heard.’ (Jozengi, On the Meditative
Good). When hearing these words, at first it seems rather world-weary. However
this is just the reality of human life. If you regard human life as pleasurable
and relentlessly pursue happiness in it you are just a bungler who leads a
befuddled life. The ancient word says it well,
‘Human
life is impermanent.
When
you delve into this fact deeply enough,
the
spring of the other shore arises.’
It
is only those who realise the bitterness of human life, and know how dreadfully
unbearable life is, who will come to learn Buddhism seriously in all honesty.
Those
who are not mindful of death and are not pursuing Nirvana will not ‘perceive’
Buddha’s mind. Those who taste the bitterness of karma will accede to the
awareness that the Primal Vow does not forsake this miserable person that I am
and that it exists for me alone.
For
people who live a down-trodden and miserable life to encounter the Great
Compassion which willingly saves me as I am (konomama) under all circumstances… what could be expressed besides
thankfulness and unworthiness.
By
Zuiken Sensei
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