To Shine One Corner of the World
A student who
had just concluded a thirty-day
zazen retreat with two enthusiastic dharma pals
asked Suzuki Roshi how to maintain the
extraordinary state of mind
he’d attained.
“Concentrate on your
breathing and it will go away,”
Suzuki said.
The fun of roaming free
is endless, hard to exhaust. When tired
I sit on a mossy bank, unaware of the cold sun falling
in my love for the cool of the breeze in the pines. Deer descend
to drink of the valley streams; monkeys arrive to pick of
the mountain fruits. What I originally valued were
freedom and quietude; why should
I require that people
know of me?
Those who are steadfastly balanced, humble,
and in harmony with the Sage inherit
everything under the sun.
This is a time of great power and clarity for you. By conscientiously following the path of proper principles, you have come into partnership with the Higher Power and enjoy the influence of the Creative everywhere in your life. If you remain modest and balanced now, you will come into possession of prosperity and success.
The I Ching indicates here that you increased your personal power by purifying your thoughts, actions, and attitudes. When you have done this long enough so that service of the true and good becomes your only goal in life, you come into complete harmony with the universe. As a result, you begin to have a far-reaching influence, shining on others as the sun shines on everything under the heavens. Because your power is so great, it is especially important to maintain correct attitudes and behavior now.
Having attained a high position, you are wise to remain modest and generous toward others. Remember that it is the Higher Power who gives you your strength. Do not make the mistake of becoming proud, disdainful of others, or convinced of your ability to control events. By leaving the Sage in charge, withdrawing from all inferior influences, and promoting the good wherever possible, you remain gracefully balanced and in harmony with the universe. Your peace of mind becomes permanent, and in this way you come into possession of success and prosperity.
from The I Ching, or Book of Changes
Hexagram 14, Ta Yu / Possession in Great Measure
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In times past
there was a monk who asked
an old adept, “The world is so hot, I don’t know
where to escape.” The old adept said, “Escape into a
boiling cauldron, into the coals of a furnace.
The multitude of sufferings cannot
reach there.”
This is my
own prescription for
getting results.
Haven’t you
read the ancient worthy’s saying?
“The white clouds are clear and still, and the rivers
flow into the blue sea. The myriad things are
originally peaceful, but people
make trouble for
themselves.”
After all,
this statement is completely
accurate and true. If you know what it means
as soon as you hear it mentioned, you can use it to pass
through birth and death to freedom and no longer be obstructed
by the psycho-physical nexus. You will be like a bird getting
out of a cage — independent and free. With a single
stroke you put a stop to all other actions and
talk, and you no longer fall into
secondary views.