Samadhi and Zen-

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SAMADHI AND ZEN

 

 

Zen Master Seung Sahn(4) speaks of two stories that illuminate the

dangers of attaching to Samadhi:

 

 

A long time ago in China, during the time of Zen Master Lin Chi,

there was a monk who was very famous for his Samadhi practicing. This

monk, similar to the traditions of digambara, never wore any clothes

and was known as the 'naked monk.' He had mastered many kinds of

Samadhi, had lots of energy, and didn't need to wear clothes even in

winter.

 

 

One day Lin Chi decided to test this monk. He called a student of

his, gave him a set of beautiful clothes, and asked him to present

them to the monk. The student went to the monk and said, 'Ah, you are

wonderful. Your practicing is very strong. So my teacher wants to

give you these beautiful clothes as a present.' The monk kicked away

the clothes and said, 'I don't need these clothes. I have original

clothes, from my parents! Your clothes can only be kept a short time,

then they will wear out. But my original clothes are never broken.

Also, if they become dirty, I just take a shower and they are clean

again. I don't need your clothes!'

 

 

The student went back to Lin Chi and told him what happened. Lin Chi

said, 'You must go to this monk once more and ask him a certain

question.' So the student went to the monk and said, 'Great monk! I

have one question for you. You said you got your original clothes

from your parents.' 'Of course!' said the monk. 'Then I ask you,

before you got these original clothes from your parents, what kind of

clothes did you have?' Upon hearing this, the naked monk went deep

into Samadhi, then into Nirvana and died.

 

 

Everyone was very surprised and sad. But when the monk's body was

cremated, many Sarira appeared, so everyone thought, 'Ah, this was a

great monk.' Sitting on the high rostrum, Lin Chi hit the stand with

his Zen stick and said, 'Form is emptiness, emptiness is form.' He

hit it again, 'No form, no emptiness.' He hit it a third time, 'Form

is form, emptiness is emptiness. Which one is correct?' Nobody

understood. Then the Zen Master shouted 'KATZ!' and said, 'The sky is

blue, the tree is green.' If you cannot answer in one word the

question about your original clothes, then, although you can get

Samadhi and Nirvana, you cannot get freedom from life and death.

 

 

Then the Zen Master stared at the Sarira -- poof! -- they turned to

water. This is magic! They all turned to water and disappeared.

Everyone was surprised. The meaning of this is: if you do Samadhi

practice deeply, then when you die many Sarira will appear. But,

these Sarira will not last long because they represent ,one mind,'

not 'clear mind' which is our original nature. Our original nature

has no life, no death, no coming or going. When the true Dharma

appears, which means form is form, emptiness is emptiness or sky is

blue, tree is green- that energy -BOOM! - will appear, all the Sarira

will turn to water and disappear. Our teaching is substance, truth,

and correct life. Our Zen practicing means attain your true self,

find the correct way, truth, and life. Any style of practice is OK --

even using a Mantra. But, don't be attached to Samadhi -- you

must 'pass' Samadhi. Zen means 'everyday mind,' not special states of

mind. Moment to moment keeping a clear mind is what's important.

 

ENJOY!