Guest guest Posted June 1, 2006 Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 The familiar self-portrait of Hakuin (1686-1769) is illustrative of the intentional projection on the part of a Zen master of the image of the clown. Hakuin does not sketch himself in the idealized form of an enlightened one, or even in the realistic image of an austere zenji, but as a bald, fat, cross-eyed and hunch-backed old man. The poem Hakuin inscribed above the portrait comments: In the realm of the thousand buddhas He is hated by the thousand buddhas; Among the crowd of demons He is detested by the crowd of demons. He crushes the silent-illumination heretics of today, And massacres the heterodox blind monks of this generation. This filthy blind old shavepate Adds more foulness [ugliness] still to foulness. A similar portrait by a disciple, bearing the same poem, depicts Hakuin as looking almost sheepishly, with pursed lips, out of the corner of his eyes -- through all of which, however, one can detect the sagacious twinkle of one who was not easily fooled by sanctimony and pretension. The figure of the clown which stands out here in relation to the person of the master emerges just as clearly in the various tales of Zen monks at the point of death. The classic instance is that of Teng Yinfeng who, when he was about to die, asked, " I have seen monks die sitting and lying, but have any died standing? " " Yes, some, " was the reply. " How about upside down? " " Never have we seen such a thing! " Whereupon Teng stood on his head and died. When it was time to carry him to the funeral pyre he remained upside-down, to the wonder of those who came to view the remains, and the consternation of those who would dispose of them. Finally his younger sister, a nun, came and, grumbling at him, said, " When you were alive you took no notice of laws and customs, and even now that you are dead you are making a nuisance of yourself! " With that she poked him with her finger, felling him with a thud, and the procession carried him away to the crematorium. [16] In this way Teng, assuming what, from the remarks of his sister, was the not unfamiliar role of the clown, expressed his achievement of spiritual freedom, his liberation from a desperate clinging to life and anxiety over self, and therefore his transcendence of the problem of death. There is here an element of both a promethean laughter in the face of death and a comic freedom within the larger freedom of enlightenment. The realization of an authentic liberation, as in so much of the Zen tradition, is attested by humor, and the symbol of that liberation is the paradoxical figure of the clown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2006 Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 Nisargadatta , " roberibus111 " <Roberibus111 wrote: >The > poem Hakuin inscribed above the portrait comments: > > In the realm of the thousand buddhas > He is hated by the thousand buddhas; > Among the crowd of demons > He is detested by the crowd of demons. > He crushes the silent-illumination heretics of today, > And massacres the heterodox blind monks of this generation. > This filthy blind old shavepate > Adds more foulness [ugliness] still to foulness. Nice!!!! -- Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2006 Report Share Posted June 1, 2006 Nisargadatta , " dan330033 " <dan330033 wrote: > > Nisargadatta , " roberibus111 " <Roberibus111@> > wrote: > >The > > poem Hakuin inscribed above the portrait comments: > > > > In the realm of the thousand buddhas > > He is hated by the thousand buddhas; > > Among the crowd of demons > > He is detested by the crowd of demons. > > He crushes the silent-illumination heretics of today, > > And massacres the heterodox blind monks of this generation. > > This filthy blind old shavepate > > Adds more foulness [ugliness] still to foulness. > > Nice!!!! > > -- Dan Thank you Dan...I just put it on the board....we all need to thank Hakuin....he's the master.....I'm just another awed reader. ........bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 Nisargadatta , " dan330033 " <dan330033 wrote: > > Nisargadatta , " roberibus111 " <Roberibus111@> > wrote: > >The > > poem Hakuin inscribed above the portrait comments: > > > > In the realm of the thousand buddhas > > He is hated by the thousand buddhas; > > Among the crowd of demons > > He is detested by the crowd of demons. > > He crushes the silent-illumination heretics of today, > > And massacres the heterodox blind monks of this generation. > > This filthy blind old shavepate > > Adds more foulness [ugliness] still to foulness. > > Nice!!!! > > -- Dan > Does it occur to you, Dan, that perhaps Bob identifies with that character, and that therein he finds his license for coarse and abusive conduct on this list? Just a thought. But if so, not-so-nice, in my view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 Nisargadatta , " pliantheart " <pliantheart wrote: > > Nisargadatta , " dan330033 " <dan330033@> wrote: > > > > Nisargadatta , " roberibus111 " <Roberibus111@> > > wrote: > > >The > > > poem Hakuin inscribed above the portrait comments: > > > > > > In the realm of the thousand buddhas > > > He is hated by the thousand buddhas; > > > Among the crowd of demons > > > He is detested by the crowd of demons. > > > He crushes the silent-illumination heretics of today, > > > And massacres the heterodox blind monks of this generation. > > > This filthy blind old shavepate > > > Adds more foulness [ugliness] still to foulness. > > > > Nice!!!! > > > > -- Dan > > > > Does it occur to you, Dan, that perhaps Bob identifies > with that character, and that therein he finds his > license for coarse and abusive conduct on this list? > > Just a thought. > > But if so, not-so-nice, in my view. Does it occur to you, Dan that perhaps Bob doesn't give a shit what Bill's " view " is regarding a great zen Master and some of the best poetic writing ever entrusted to the world, as suggested by some of the best minds and hearts that have ever graced our planet. And to not try and drag you into a morass of merde developed by Bill, who identifies himself with poetry, and fancies himself as that which he is not, but rather shows as much talent at the poetic as Hakuin's shit stick, Bob will just now speak directly to the cretin who would so like to draw you in and onto his side, as he is incapable of acting like a man.. Bill.......Bob for one doesn't care what Bill finds nice or not-so- nice in his 'view' of whatever the hell he thinks about when he's got his tutu tied in a twist. What do you call the above conduct asshole? Just because you use sissified language because you identify with Oprah (harpo backwards and in drag)...your intent and willful clapperclaw, modified by your supposed tender wording is as foul as it gets buddy. What gives Billy Boy the licence to do that.......you are a sooty acting creep who tries to hide the fact that he's shooting peas through his little peashooter from the back of the room because you haven't got the intestinal fortitude of a gutless worm. No matter how you try to cut it guy...it's a two way street, and what's moving down the lane from your direction is as abusive and coarse as anything coming from my direction. And if it's the language that bothers you..Fuck you....too bad...grow up....and get off my fucking case or I'm going to cock the other barrel....and that one's not shooting small time like this.... stop it Bill! ......bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 Nisargadatta , " pliantheart " <pliantheart wrote: > > Nisargadatta , " dan330033 " <dan330033@> wrote: > > > > Nisargadatta , " roberibus111 " <Roberibus111@> > > wrote: > > >The > > > poem Hakuin inscribed above the portrait comments: > > > > > > In the realm of the thousand buddhas > > > He is hated by the thousand buddhas; > > > Among the crowd of demons > > > He is detested by the crowd of demons. > > > He crushes the silent-illumination heretics of today, > > > And massacres the heterodox blind monks of this generation. > > > This filthy blind old shavepate > > > Adds more foulness [ugliness] still to foulness. > > > > Nice!!!! > > > > -- Dan > > > > Does it occur to you, Dan, that perhaps Bob identifies > with that character, and that therein he finds his > license for coarse and abusive conduct on this list? > > Just a thought. > > But if so, not-so-nice, in my view. Bill -- I just took it as a poem that expressed the author's sense of truth-of-being. " The truth I express offends the buddhas and demons. " Why? Because it doesn't accord with any expectations. It is as is, and isn't part of a community understanding, isn't Buddhist or Hindu or Christian, and doesn't support the monks who believe in silent illumination, nor the monks who consider themselves expressing a unique expression of their own. This truth is not dependent on any validation from another, nor does it fit with any image -- neither traditional nor nontraditional. I like the poem a lot - it spoke to me. So, I thanked Bob for posting it -- simple as that. I had no thought about what Bob identifies with or doesn't, nor how extensive his posting on this list has been, nor how that amount of posting, and the tone of some of it, has apparently affected others on this list. That's my honest response to your question. -- Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2006 Report Share Posted June 3, 2006 Nisargadatta , " dan330033 " <dan330033 wrote: > > Nisargadatta , " pliantheart " <pliantheart@> > wrote: > > > > Nisargadatta , " dan330033 " <dan330033@> wrote: > > > > > > Nisargadatta , " roberibus111 " <Roberibus111@> > > > wrote: > > > >The > > > > poem Hakuin inscribed above the portrait comments: > > > > > > > > In the realm of the thousand buddhas > > > > He is hated by the thousand buddhas; > > > > Among the crowd of demons > > > > He is detested by the crowd of demons. > > > > He crushes the silent-illumination heretics of today, > > > > And massacres the heterodox blind monks of this generation. > > > > This filthy blind old shavepate > > > > Adds more foulness [ugliness] still to foulness. > > > > > > Nice!!!! > > > > > > -- Dan > > > > > > > Does it occur to you, Dan, that perhaps Bob identifies > > with that character, and that therein he finds his > > license for coarse and abusive conduct on this list? > > > > Just a thought. > > > > But if so, not-so-nice, in my view. > > Bill -- > > I just took it as a poem that expressed the author's sense of > truth-of-being. " The truth I express offends the buddhas and demons. " > Why? Because it doesn't accord with any expectations. It is as is, > and isn't part of a community understanding, isn't Buddhist or Hindu > or Christian, and doesn't support the monks who believe in silent > illumination, nor the monks who consider themselves expressing a > unique expression of their own. > > This truth is not dependent on any validation from another, nor does > it fit with any image -- neither traditional nor nontraditional. > > I like the poem a lot - it spoke to me. > > So, I thanked Bob for posting it -- simple as that. > > I had no thought about what Bob identifies with or doesn't, nor how > extensive his posting on this list has been, nor how that amount of > posting, and the tone of some of it, has apparently affected others on > this list. > > That's my honest response to your question. > > -- Dan > sometimes I give way to sheer capricious impulse that you should manage such a cogent reply to that... quite impressive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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