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Dogen says something like The walking of the mountain is satori. Satori is not an object and not something we can obtain. You continue to exhort us to work hard to break through. Isn't this a contradiction?
October 29, 2020, 3:15 pm
If we do not look at the correct words easily a misunderstanding may
occur. If we understand this line by Dogen word by word, then we may believe
that he is talking about satori. If that were the case, there are many people
going for a hike into the mountains these days, and did they all experience
satori? In the news you can read that people climbing Mount Everest leave piles
of garbage behind. You someone who has experience satori act in such a way? How
about yourself, can you look back at an experience of satori while walking in
the mountains?
Dogen Zenji teaches us that Satori cannot be a mental idea. We need to
use our whole body, we need to let go of all extraneous thoughts, mind and body
both need to be purified. Yet only repeating satori satori will not get you to
this experience either. The mind needs to become pure and clear, or else
nothing will happen. Once we have purified our mind, we can use our whole
being, mind and body, and from there the deep wish to work for society with
love will arise. Satori is not an idea but the experience that we can love all
in society equally, and this experience brings forth the vigor to work for the
wellbeing of all. This does not work from ego or from self satisfaction. If you
do not see this reality of the experience then the words of Dogen can be easily
misunderstood.