Theos-Talk Archives (August 1994 Message tl00004)

This is by Brenda Tucker.

Jerry, I appreciate your comments and hope others might keep their
eyes open regarding Wesak's origin and maybe a large group could
even solve this.

Richard Ihle, I remember some of your work and was even able to
mention an article you wrote for the AT containing your doubts
about reincarnation during an introductory theosophy class.  I've
always enjoyed reading your thoughts and am glad to see your
participation here.  May I ask, since you aren't convinced of
masters or reincarnation, what is it that attracted you to The
Theosophical Society?

In my own case, at first I only wanted to use the library, but then
getting information seemed simpler for members.  I really was just
interested in living as THE YOGA SUTRAS described and came to
realize that other members were also interested in this same
spiritual way of living.  Interest in the writers and various books
and subjects developed through attending events at the Wheaton
headquarters, which I lived near and I eventually became a member
of the staff for which I am thankful and indebted to my dying days.
Most of any organizational work I might attempt is to "keep the
candle burning" so to speak out of gratitude for their taking me
in.  It really helped me to understand what being in touch with
other theosophists could accomplish in terms of life energy.

I hope that the network members will enjoy the following rendition
of "The Zenrin" and if anyone is aware of any history concerning
this popular Zen work, I'd love to hear about it.

While alive be a dead man, thoroughly dead;
And act as you will, and all is good.
>From of old there were not two paths;
"Those who have arrived" all walked the same road.
Nothing whatever is hidden;
x   From of old all is clear as daylight.
The old pine-tree speaks divine wisdom;
The secret bird manifests eternal truth.
There is no place to seek the mind;
It is like the footprints of the birds in the sky.
Above, not a piece of tile to cover the head,
Beneath, not an inch of earth to put one's foot on.
The water before, and the water after,
Now and forever flowing, follow each other.
Sitting quietly, doing nothing,
Spring comes, and the grass grows by itself.
If you do not get it from yourself,
Where will you go for it?
If you wish to know the road up the mountain,
You must ask the man who goes back and forth on it.
Falling mist flies together with the wild ducks.
The waters of Autumn are of one color with the sky.
One word determines the whole world;
One sword pacifies heaven and earth.
If you don't believe, just look at September, look at October!
The yellow leaves falling, falling, to fill both mountain and river.
The wild geese do not intend to cast their reflection;
The water has no mind to receive their image.
Scoop up the water and the moon is in your hands;
Hold the flowers and your clothes are scented with them.
Mountains and rivers, the whole earth -
All manifest forth the essence of being.
The voice of the mountain torrent is from one great tongue;
The lines of the hills, are they not the Pure Body of Buddha?
In the vast inane there is no back or front.
The path of the bird annihilates East and West.
Day after day the sun rises in the East;
Day after day it sets in the West.
Ever onwards to where the waters have an end;
Waiting motionless for when the white clouds shall arise.
Wind subsiding, the flowers still fall;
Bird crying, the mountain silence deepens.
To save life it must be destroyed.
When utterly destroyed, one dwells for the first time in Peace.
Taking up one blade of grass,
Use it as a sixteen-foot Golden Buddha.
Heat does not wait for the sun, to be hot.
Nor wind the moon, to be cool.
Attachment.
If you do not kill HIM,
You will be killed by HIM.
To be conscious of the original mind, the original nature -
Just this is the great disease of Zen!
Ride your horse along the edge of a sword;
Hide yourself in the middle of the flames.
Perceiving the sun in the midst of the rain;
Ladling out clear water from the depths of the fire.
Like a sword that cuts, but cannot cut itself;
Like an eye that sees, but cannot see itself.
You cannot get IT by taking thought;
You cannot seek it by NOT taking thought.
If you meet an enlightened man in the street,
Do not greet him with WORDS, nor with silence.
Meeting, they laugh and laugh -
The forest grove, the many fallen leaves!!!