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I am researching a Japanese phrase 性癖 used by a Japanese teacher from late 1800 beginning 1900. I was wondering how you would see this from a traditional Japanese zen perspective
March 15, 2021, 1:26 pm
SHOHEKI
Humans have habits, even if you say that you do not have
any habits, than that is your habit. Anything of form has its particular habit.
Zen is about awakening to wisdom which is not being influenced by the form. As
the Sixth Patriarch said: “Zen is the name of Mind, and Mind is the body of
Zen.”
Mind is of no form, yet when this mind of no form perceives
a mountain, a flower, then it is this
mind which brings forth this world. This is what is most important.
Rinzai put it this way: “There is a true person of no
rank coming in and out of our face.”
This mind of no form experiences the world through our
senses. Yet as soon as we explain and describe, it is not that actual
experience anymore.
Shoheki is not about explanation, all understanding
needs to be let go of, and there you find zen.