Guest guest Posted September 29, 2003 Report Share Posted September 29, 2003 There are two kinds of seekers who become interested in truth. One starts looking for scriptures: he may become a great intellectual, he may become a giant, but inside there will be darkness. All his light is borrowed, and a borrowed light is not going to help in the real crises of life. I am reminded of a Christian priest who used to repeat in every sermon Christ's saying, "If somebody slaps you on one cheek, give him the other, too." Everybody liked his sermons, he was quoting such great statements. But in one place a man really stood up and slapped the priest on one of his cheeks. The priest was shocked, because he had just been quoting Jesus. But anyway, to save his face, he gave his other cheek. And that man must have been a real rebellious type; he slapped the other one, too. Now this was too much! The priest jumped at the man and started beating him. And the man said, "What are you doing?" He said, "The scripture stops with the second cheek. Now I am here and you are here: let us decide this." Borrowed scriptures won't help in actual encounters. In life there are everyday realities to be faced. In death the ultimate reality has to be faced. And borrowed knowledge is not going to help at all. The second type of seeker does not go towards the scriptures, but starts searching for a master. These are two different dimensions: one is looking for knowledge, the other is looking for a source which is still alive. One is looking for dead scriptures, the other is looking for a living scripture whose heart is still beating and dancing, in whose eyes you can still see the depth, in whose presence you can see your own potential. This second type is authentically the seeker for truth. The first type is only a seeker for knowledge. You can have tons of knowledge and still you will remain ignorant. The man who has found the master may have to drop all his knowledge so that he can become open and vulnerable to the master's presence, so that he can dance with the master's heart. In this dance there happens a synchronicity, both the hearts slowly settle into the same rhythm. This rhythm is called the transmission. Nothing visible is given -- no teaching, no doctrine -- but invisibly two hearts have started dancing in the same tune. All that the master knows slowly goes on this invisible track and pours into the hearts of the disciples to the point of overflowing. -- From the book 'Dogen The Zen Master' . The New with improved product search Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 30, 2003 Report Share Posted September 30, 2003 Thanks! This offering of both one´s cheeks is very tricky. whoever has tried, will know. what is particularly beautiful in my opinion is the dancing with the Master´s heart. JGD .... The man who has found the master may > have to drop all his knowledge so that he can become > open and vulnerable to the master's presence, so that > he can dance with the master's heart. In this dance > there happens a synchronicity, both the hearts slowly > settle into the same rhythm. This rhythm is called the > transmission. Nothing visible is given -- no teaching, > no doctrine -- but invisibly two hearts have started > dancing in the same tune. All that the master knows > slowly goes on this invisible track and pours into the > hearts of the disciples to the point of overflowing. > > -- From the book 'Dogen The Zen Master' . > > > > The New with improved product search > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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