2021/11/26

Hakuin Ekaku - Wikipedia

Hakuin Ekaku - Wikipedia

Hakuin Ekaku

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Hakuin Ekaku
Zen-Master-Hakuin-Ekaku-Self-Portrait-1767.png
Hakuin Ekaku, self-portrait (1767)
TitleRōshi
Personal
Bornc. 1686
Diedc. 1769
ReligionBuddhism
SchoolRinzai
Education

Hakuin Ekaku (白隠 慧鶴, January 19, 1686 – January 18, 1769) was one of the most influential figures in Japanese Zen Buddhism. He is regarded as the reviver of the Rinzai school from a moribund period of stagnation, refocusing it on its traditionally rigorous training methods integrating meditation and koan practice.

Biography[edit]

Early years[edit]

Hakuin was born in 1686 in the small village of Hara,[web 1] at the foot of Mount Fuji. His mother was a devout Nichiren Buddhist, and it is likely that her piety was a major influence on his decision to become a Buddhist monk. As a child, Hakuin attended a lecture by a Nichiren monk on the topic of the Eight Hot Hells. This deeply impressed the young Hakuin, and he developed a pressing fear of hell, seeking a way to escape it. He eventually came to the conclusion that it would be necessary to become a monk.

Shōin-ji and Daishō-ji[edit]

At the age of fifteen, he obtained consent from his parents to join the monastic life, and was ordained at the local Zen temple, Shōin-ji. When the head monk at Shōin-ji took ill, Hakuin was sent to a neighboring temple, Daishō-ji, where he served as a novice for three or four years, studying Buddhist texts. While at Daisho-ji, he read the Lotus Sutra, considered by the Nichiren sect to be the king of all Buddhist sutras, and found it disappointing, saying "it consisted of nothing more than simple tales about cause and effect".

Zensō-ji[edit]

At age eighteen, he left Daishō-ji for Zensō-ji, a temple close to Hara.[1] At the age of nineteen, he came across in his studies the story of the Chinese Ch'an master Yantou Quanhuo, who had been brutally murdered by bandits. Hakuin despaired over this story, as it showed that even a great monk could not be saved from a bloody death in this life. How then could he, just a simple monk, hope to be saved from the tortures of hell in the next life? He gave up his goal of becoming an enlightened monk, and not wanting to return home in shame, traveled around studying literature and poetry.[2]

Zuiun-ji[edit]

Travelling with twelve other monks, Hakuin made his way to Zuiun-ji, the residence of Baō Rōjin, a respected scholar but also a tough-minded teacher.[3] While studying with the poet-monk Bao, he had an experience that put him back along the path of monasticism. He saw a number of books piled out in the temple courtyard, books from every school of Buddhism. Struck by the sight of all these volumes of literature, Hakuin prayed to the gods of the Dharma to help him choose a path. He then reached out and took a book; it was a collection of Zen stories from the Ming Dynasty. Inspired by this, he repented and dedicated himself to the practice of Zen.[4]

First awakening[edit]

Eigen-ji[edit]

He again went traveling for two years, settling down at the Eigen-ji temple when he was twenty-three. It was here that Hakuin had his first entrance into enlightenment when he was twenty-four.[5] He locked himself away in a shrine in the temple for seven days, and eventually reached an intense awakening upon hearing the ringing of the temple bell. However, his master refused to acknowledge this enlightenment, and Hakuin left the temple.

Shōju Rōjin[edit]

Hakuin left again, to study for a mere eight months with Shōju Rōjin (Dokyu Etan, 1642–1721).[6] Shoju was an intensely demanding teacher, who hurled insults and blows at Hakuin, in an attempt to free him from his limited understanding and self-centeredness. When asked why he had become a monk, Hakuin said that it was out of terror to fall into hell, to which Shōju replied "You're a self-centered rascal, aren't you!"[7] Shōju assigned him a series of "hard-to-pass" koans. These led to three isolated moments of satori, but it was only eighteen years later that Hakuin really understood what Shōju meant with this.[7]

Hakuin left Shoju after eight months of study,[8] without receiving formal dharma transmission from Shoju Rojin,[9] nor from any other teacher,[web 2] but Hakuin considered himself to be an heir of Shoju Rojin. Today Hakuin is considered to have received dharma transmission from Shoju.[web 3]

Taigi – great doubt[edit]

Hakuin realized that his attainment was incomplete.[10] He was unable to sustain the tranquility of mind of the Zen hall in the midst of daily life.[10] When he was twenty-six he read that "all wise men and eminent priests who lack the Bodhi-mind fall into Hell".[11] This raised a "great doubt" (taigi) in him, since he thought that the formal entrance into monkhood and the daily enactment of rituals was the bodhi-mind.[11] Only with his final awakening, at age 42, did he fully realize what "bodhi-mind" means, namely working for the good of others.[11]

Zen sickness[edit]

Hakuin's early extreme exertions affected his health, and at one point in his young life he fell ill for almost two years, experiencing what would now probably be classified as a nervous breakdown by Western medicine. He called it Zen sickness, and sought the advice of a Taoist cave dwelling hermit named Hakuyu, who prescribed a visualization and breathing practice which eventually relieved his symptoms. From this point on, Hakuin put a great deal of importance on physical strength and health in his Zen practice, and studying Hakuin-style Zen required a great deal of stamina. Hakuin often spoke of strengthening the body by concentrating the spirit, and followed this advice himself. Well into his seventies, he claimed to have more physical strength than he had at age thirty, being able to sit in zazen meditation or chant sutras for an entire day without fatigue. The practices Hakuin learned from Hakuyu are still passed down within the Rinzai school.

Head priest at Shōin-ji[edit]

After another several years of travel, at age 31 Hakuin returned to Shoin-ji, the temple where he had been ordained. He was soon installed as head priest, a capacity in which he would serve for the next half-century. When he was installed as head priest of Shōin-ji in 1718, he had the title of Dai-ichiza, "First Monk":[12]

It was the minimum rank required by government regulation for those installed as temple priests and seems to have been little more than a matter of paying a fee and registering Hakuin as the incumbent of Shōin-ji.[12]

It was around this time that he adopted the name "Hakuin", which means "concealed in white", referring to the state of being hidden in the clouds and snow of mount Fuji.[13]

Final awakening[edit]

Although Hakuin had several "satori experiences", he did not feel free, and was unable to integrate his realization into his ordinary life.[14] At age 41, he experienced a final and total awakening, while reading the Lotus Sutra, the sutra that he had disregarded as a young student. He realized that the Bodhi-mind means working for the good of every sentient being:[15]

It was the chapter on parables, where the Buddha cautions his disciple Shariputra against savoring the joys of personal enlightenment, and reveals to him the truth of the Bodhisattva's mission, which is to continue practice beyond enlightenment, teaching and helping others until all beings have attained salvation.[14]

He wrote of this experience, saying "suddenly I penetrated to the perfect, true, ultimate meaning of the Lotus". This event marked a turning point in Hakuin's life. He dedicated the rest of his life to helping others achieve liberation.[14][15]

Practicing the bodhi-mind[edit]

Scroll calligraphy by Hakuin Ekaku (depicts Bodhidharma). Caption: Jikishi ninshin, Kensho jobutsu: "Direct pointing at the mind of man, seeing one's nature and becoming Buddha."

He would spend the next forty years teaching at Shoin-ji, writing, and giving lectures. At first there were only a few monks there, but soon word spread, and Zen students began to come from all over the country to study with Hakuin. Eventually, an entire community of monks had built up in Hara and the surrounding areas, and Hakuin's students numbered in the hundreds. He eventually would certify over eighty disciples as successors.

Is that so?[edit]

A well-known anecdote took place in this period:

A beautiful Japanese girl whose parents owned a food store lived near Hakuin. One day, without any warning, her parents discovered she was pregnant. This made her parents angry. She would not confess who the man was, but after much harassment at last named Hakuin.

In great anger the parents went to the master. "Is that so?" was all he would say. After the child was born it was brought to Hakuin. By this time he had lost his reputation, which did not trouble him, but he took very good care of the child. He obtained milk from his neighbors and everything else the child needed by takuhatsu.[a]

A year later the girl could stand it no longer. She told her parents the truth - the real father of the child was a young man who worked in the fish market.

The mother and father of the girl at once went to Hakuin to ask forgiveness, to apologize at length, and to get the child back.

Hakuin smiled and willingly yielded the child, saying: "Is that so? It's good to hear this baby has his/her father."[17]

Death[edit]

At the age of 83, Hakuin died in Hara, the same village in which he was born and which he had transformed into a center of Zen teaching.

Teachings[edit]

Daruma by Hakuin

Post-satori practice[edit]

Hakuin saw "deep compassion and commitment to help all sentient beings everywhere"[18] as an indispensable part of the Buddhist path to awakening. Hakuin emphasized the need for "post-satori training",[19][20] purifying the mind of karmic tendencies and

[W]hipping forward the wheel of the Four Universal Vows, pledging yourself to benefit and save all sentient beings while striving every minute of your life to practice the great Dharma giving.[20]

The insight in the need of arousing bodhicitta formed Hakuin's final awakening:

What is to be valued above all else is the practice that comes after satori is achieved. What is that practice? It is the practice that puts the Mind of Enlightenment first and foremost.
[At] my forty-first year, [...] I at long last penetrated into the heart of this great matter. Suddenly, unexpectedly, I saw it — it was as clear as if it were right there in the hollow of my hand. What is the Mind of Enlightenment? It is, I realized, a matter of doing good — benefiting others by giving them the gift of the Dharma teaching.[20]

Koan practice[edit]

Hakuin deeply believed that the most effective way for a student to achieve insight was through extensive meditation on a koan. Only with incessant investigation of his koan will a student be able to become one with the koan, and attain enlightenment. The psychological pressure and doubt that comes when one struggles with a koan is meant to create tension that leads to awakening. Hakuin called this the "great doubt", writing, "At the bottom of great doubt lies great awakening. If you doubt fully, you will awaken fully".[21]

Hakuin used a fivefold classification system:[22]
1. Hosshin, dharma-body koans, are used to awaken the first insight into sunyata.[22] They reveal the dharmakaya, or Fundamental.[23] They introduce "the undifferentiated and the unconditional".[24]
2. Kikan, dynamic action koans, help to understand the phenomenal world as seen from the awakened point of view;[25] Where hosshin koans represent tai, substance, kikan koans represent yu, function.[26]
3. Gonsen, explication of word koans, aid to the understanding of the recorded sayings of the old masters.[27] They show how the Fundamental, though not depending on words, is nevertheless expressed in words, without getting stuck to words.[clarification needed][28]
4. Hachi Nanto, eight "difficult to pass" koans.[29] There are various explanations for this category, one being that these koans cut off clinging to the previous attainment. They create another Great Doubt, which shatters the self attained through satori[30] It is uncertain which are exactly those eight koans.[31] Hori gives various sources, which altogether give ten hachi nanto koans.[32]
5. Goi jujukin koans, the Five Ranks of Tozan and the Ten Grave Precepts.[33][29]

Hakuin's emphasis on koan practice had a strong influence in the Japanese Rinzai-school. In the system developed by his followers, students are assigned koans by their teacher and then meditate on them. Once they have broken through, they must demonstrate their insight in private interview with the teacher. If the teacher feels the student has indeed attained a satisfactory insight into the koan, then another is assigned. Hakuin's main role in the development of this koan system was most likely the selection and creation of koans to be used. In this he didn't limit himself to the classic koan collections inherited from China; he himself originated one of the best-known koans, "You know the sound of two hands clapping; tell me, what is the sound of one hand?". Hakuin preferred this new koan to the most commonly assigned first koan from the Chinese tradition, the Mu koan. He believed his "Sound of One Hand" to be more effective in generating the great doubt, and remarked that "its superiority to the former methods is like the difference between cloud and mud".

Four ways of knowing[edit]

Asanga, one of the main proponents of Yogacara, introduced the idea of four ways of knowing: the perfection of action, observing knowing, universal knowing, and great mirror knowing. He relates these to the Eight Consciousnesses:

  1. The five senses are connected to the perfection of action,
  2. Samjna (cognition) is connected to observing knowing,
  3. Manas (mind) is related to universal knowing,
  4. Alaya-vijnana is connected to great mirror knowing.[34]

In time, these ways of knowing were also connected to the doctrine of the three bodies of the Buddha (DharmakāyaSambhogakāya and Nirmanakaya), together forming the "Yuishiki doctrine".[34]

Hakuin related these four ways of knowing to four gates on the Buddhist path: the Gate of Inspiration, the Gate of Practice, the Gate of Awakening, and the Gate of Nirvana.[35]

  1. The Gate of Inspiration is initial awakening, kensho, seeing into one's true nature.
  2. The Gate of Practice is the purification of oneself by continuous practice.
  3. The Gate of Awakening is the study of the ancient masters and the Buddhist sutras, to deepen the insight into the Buddhist teachings, and acquire the skills needed to help other sentient beings on the Buddhist path to awakening.
  4. The Gate of Nirvana is the "ultimate liberation", "knowing without any kind of defilement".[35]

Opposition to "Do-nothing Zen"[edit]

One of Hakuin's major concerns was the danger of what he called "Do-nothing Zen" teachers, who upon reaching some small experience of enlightenment devoted the rest of their life to, as he puts it, "passing day after day in a state of seated sleep".[36] Quietist practices seeking simply to empty the mind, or teachers who taught that a tranquil "emptiness" was enlightenment, were Hakuin's constant targets. In this regard he was especially critical of followers of the maverick Zen master Bankei.[37] He stressed a never-ending and severe training to deepen the insight of enlightenment and forge one's ability to manifest it in all activities.[19][20] He urged his students to never be satisfied with shallow attainments, and truly believed that enlightenment was possible for anyone if they exerted themselves and approached their practice with real energy.[20]

Lay teachings[edit]

An extremely well known and popular Zen master during his later life, Hakuin was a firm believer in bringing the wisdom of Zen to all people. Thanks to his upbringing as a commoner and his many travels around the country, he was able to relate to the rural population, and served as a sort of spiritual father to the people in the areas surrounding Shoin-ji. In fact, he turned down offers to serve in the great monasteries in Kyoto, preferring to stay at Shoin-ji. Most of his instruction to the common people focused on living a morally virtuous life. Showing a surprising broad-mindedness, his ethical teachings drew on elements from Confucianism, ancient Japanese traditions, and traditional Buddhist teachings. He also never sought to stop the rural population from observing non-Zen traditions, despite the seeming intolerance for other schools' practices in his writings.

In addition to this, Hakuin was also a popular Zen lecturer, traveling all over the country, often to Kyoto, to teach and speak on Zen. He wrote frequently in the last fifteen years of his life, trying to record his lessons and experiences for posterity. Much of his writing was in the vernacular, and in popular forms of poetry that commoners would read.

Calligraphy[edit]

An important part of Hakuin's practice of Zen was his painting and calligraphy. He seriously took up painting only late in his life, at almost age sixty, but is recognized as one of the greatest Japanese Zen painters. His paintings were meant to capture Zen values, serving as sorts of "visual sermons" that were extremely popular among the laypeople of the time, many of whom were illiterate. Today, paintings of Bodhi Dharma by Hakuin Ekaku are sought after and displayed in a handful of the world's leading museums.

思想

彼は初めて悟りの後の修行(悟後の修行)の重要性を説き、生涯に三六回の悟りを開いたと自称した。その飽くなき求道精神は「大悟十八度、小悟数知らず」という言葉に表象され、現代に伝わっている。また、これまでの語録を再編して公案を洗練させ、体系化した。中でも自ら考案した「隻手音声」と最初の見性体験をした「趙州無字」の問いを、公案の最初の入り口に置き、以後の修行者に必ず参究するようにさせた。

また、菩提心(四弘誓願)の大切さを説いた。菩提心の無き修行者は「魔道に落ちる」と、自身の著作に綴っている。彼は生涯において、この四弘誓願を貫き通し、民衆の教化および弟子を育てた。


禅画と墨蹟

白隠はまた、広く民衆への布教に務め、その過程で禅の教えを表した絵を数多く描いている。その総数は定かではないが、1万点かそれ以上とも言われる[4]。絵の製作年がわかる最も早い作は享保4年(1719年)の「達磨図」(個人蔵)で、縦220cm以上の大作「達磨図」は寛延4年(1751年)の作である(豊橋市正宗寺)。代表作の一つ「大燈国師像」(永青文庫蔵)では、紙面には下書きや描き直しの跡が残り、このような拙によって巧を超えていった技法は、「後の曾我蕭白などに強い感銘を与えた」と想像されている[5]。書家の石川九楊は、白隠の墨蹟について「書法の失調」を捉え、「『書でなくなることによって書である』という逆説によって成り立っている書ならざる書」と評している[6]。白隠の書画の代表的コレクターに、細川護立と山本発次郎がおり、前者のコレクションは永青文庫に収められ、後者は大阪市立近代美術館建設準備室に寄贈されている。


Influence[edit]

Through Hakuin, all contemporary Japanese Rinzai-lineages are part of the Ōtōkan lineage, brought to Japan in 1267 by Nanpo Jomyo, who received dharma transmission in China in 1265.[web 4]

All contemporary Rinzai-lineages stem from Inzan Ien (1751–1814) and Takuju Kosen (1760–1833),[38][39] both students of Gasan Jito (1727–1797). Gasan is considered to be a dharma heir of Hakuin, though "he did not belong to the close circle of disciples and was probably not even one of Hakuin's dharma heirs".[40]

Linji lineage
Linji school
EisaiLinji lineage
Linji school
Myozen

Xutang Zhiyu 虚堂智愚 (Japanese Kido Chigu, 1185–1269) [web 5] [web 6] [web 7]

Nanpo Shōmyō (南浦紹明?) (1235–1308)
Shuho Myocho
Kanzan Egen 關山慧玄 (1277–1360)
founder of Myōshin-ji
  • Tettō Gikō (1295–1369)
  • Gongai Sōchū (1315–1390)
Juō Sōhitsu (1296–1380)
Muin Sōin (1326–1410)
Tozen Soshin (Sekko Soshin) (1408–1486)
Toyo Eicho (1429–1504)
Taiga Tankyo (?–1518)
Koho Genkun (?–1524)
Sensho Zuisho (?–?)
Ian Chisatsu (1514–1587)
Tozen Soshin (1532–1602)
Yozan Keiyō (?–?)
Gudō Toshoku (1577–1661)
Shidō Bu'nan (1603–1676)
Shoju Rojin (Shoju Ronin, Dokyu Etan, 1642–1721)
Hakuin (1686–1768)
Gasan Jitō 峨山慈棹 (1727–1797)
Inzan Ien 隱山惟琰 (1751–1814)Takujū Kosen 卓洲胡僊 (1760–1833)
Inzan lineageTakujū lineage
Rinzai schoolRinzai school

Writings[edit]

Hakuin left a voluminous body of works, divided in Dharma Works (14 vols.) and Kanbun Works (4 vols.).[41] The following are the best known and edited in English.

  • Orategama (遠羅天釜), The Embossed Tea Kettle, a letter collection. Hakuin, Zenji (1963), The Embossed Tea Kettle. Orate Gama and other works, London: Allen & Unwin
  • Yasen kanna (夜船閑話), Idle Talk on a Night Boat, a work on health-improving meditation techniques (qigong).

In modern anthologies[edit]

  • Hakuin (2005), The Five Ranks. In: Classics of Buddhism and Zen. The Collected Translations of Thomas Cleary3, Boston, MA: Shambhala, pp. 297–305
  • Hakuin, Ekaku (2010), Wild Ivy: The Spiritual Autobiography of Zen Master Hakuin, Norman Waddell, translator, Shambhala Publications, ISBN 9781570627705

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Takuhatsu (托鉢) is a traditional form of dāna or alms given to Buddhist monks in Japan.[16]

References[edit]

Book references[edit]

  1. ^ Waddell 2010a, p. xv.
  2. ^ Waddell 2010a, p. xvi.
  3. ^ Waddell 2010a, p. xvii.
  4. ^ Waddell 2010a, p. xviii–xix.
  5. ^ Waddell 2010b, p. xvii.
  6. ^ Waddell 2010a, p. xxi–xxii.
  7. Jump up to:a b Waddell 2010a, p. xxii.
  8. ^ Waddell 2010a, p. xxii–xxiii.
  9. ^ Mohr 2003, p. 311-312.
  10. Jump up to:a b Waddell 2010a, p. xxv.
  11. Jump up to:a b c Yoshizawa 2009, p. 44.
  12. Jump up to:a b Waddell 2010a, p. xxix.
  13. ^ Stevens 1999, p. 71.
  14. Jump up to:a b c Waddell 2010b, p. xviii.
  15. Jump up to:a b Yoshizawa 2009, p. 41.
  16. ^ A Dictionary of Buddhism. Oxford University Press. 2004. ISBN 9780198605607.
  17. ^ Reps & Senzaki 2008, p. 22; Kimihiko 1975.
  18. ^ Low 2006, p. 35.
  19. Jump up to:a b Waddell 2010.
  20. Jump up to:a b c d e Hakuin 2010.
  21. ^ 1939–2013, McEvilley, Thomas (August 1999). Sculpture in the age of doubt. New York. ISBN 9781581150230OCLC 40980460.
  22. Jump up to:a b Besserman & Steger 2011, p. 148.
  23. ^ Hori 2005b, p. 136.
  24. ^ Hori 2005b, p. 136-137.
  25. ^ Besserman & Steger 2011, p. 148-149.
  26. ^ Hori 2005b, p. 137.
  27. ^ Besserman & Steger 2011, p. 149.
  28. ^ Hori 2005b, p. 138.
  29. Jump up to:a b Hori 2005b, p. 135.
  30. ^ Hori 2005b, p. 139.
  31. ^ Hori 2003, p. 23.
  32. ^ Hori 2003, p. 23-24.
  33. ^ Besserman & Steger 2011, p. 151.
  34. Jump up to:a b Low 2006, p. 22.
  35. Jump up to:a b Low 2006, p. 32-39.
  36. ^ Hakuin 2010, p. 3.
  37. ^ Hakuin 2010, p. 125, 126.
  38. ^ Dumoulin 2005, p. 392.
  39. ^ Stevens 1999, p. 90.
  40. ^ Dumoulin 2005, p. 391.
  41. ^ The Hakuin Study Group has been researching the written works of Hakuin.

Sources[edit]

Published sources[edit]

  • Besserman, Perle; Steger, Manfred (2011), Zen Radicals, Rebels, and ReformersWisdom PublicationsISBN 9780861716913
  • Dumoulin, Heinrich (2005), Zen Buddhism: A History. Volume 2: Japan, World Wisdom Books, ISBN 9780941532907
  • Hakuin, Ekaku (2010), Wild Ivy: The Spiritual Autobiography of Zen Master Hakuin, Norman Waddell, translator, Shambhala Publications, ISBN 9781570627705
  • Hakuin; Waddell, Norman (2010b), The Essential teachings of Zen Master Hakuin, Shambhala Classics
  • Hori, Victor Sogen (2005b), The Steps of Koan Practice. In: John Daido Loori,Thomas Yuho Kirchner (eds), Sitting With Koans: Essential Writings on Zen Koan Introspection, Wisdom Publications
  • Low, Albert (2006), Hakuin on Kensho. The Four Ways of Knowing, boston & london: Shambhala
  • Mohr, Michel. "Emerging from Non-duality: Kōan Practice in the Rinzai Tradition since Hakuin." In The Kōan: Texts and Contexts in Zen Buddhism, edited by S. Heine and D. S. Wright. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.
  • Mohr, Michel (2003), Hakuin. In: Buddhist Spirituality. Later China, Korea, Japan and the Modern World; edited by Takeuchi Yoshinori, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass
  • Trevor Leggett, The Tiger's CaveISBN 0-8048-2021-X, contains the story of Hakuin's illness.
  • Stevens, John (1999), Zen Masters. A Maverick, a Master of Masters, and a Wandering Poet. Ikkyu, Hakuin, Ryokan, Kodansha International
  • Waddell, Norman, trans. "Hakuin's Yasenkanna." In The Eastern Buddhist (New Series) 34 (1):79–119, 2002.
  • Waddell, Norman (2010a), Foreword to "Wild Ivy: The Spiritual Autobiography of Zen Master Hakuin", Shambhala Publications
  • Waddell, Norman (2010b), Translator's Introduction to "The Essential teachings of Zen Master Hakuin", Shambhala Classics
  • Yampolsky, Philip B. The Zen Master Hakuin: Selected Writings. Edited by W. T. de Bary. Vol. LXXXVI, Translations from the Oriental Classics, Records or Civilization: Sources and Studies. New York: Columbia University Press, 1971, ISBN 0-231-03463-6
  • Yampolsky, Philip. "Hakuin Ekaku." The Encyclopedia of Religion. Ed. Mircea Eliade. Vol. 6. New York: MacMillan, 1987.
  • Reps, Paul; Senzaki, Nyogen (2008), Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen WritingsISBN 978-0-8048-3186-4
  • Yoshizawa, Katsuhiro (1 May 2009), The Religious Art of Zen Master Hakuin, Catapult, ISBN 978-1-58243-986-0
  • Kimihiko, Naoki (1975), Hakuin zenji : KenkoÌ"hoÌ" to itsuwa (Japanese), Nippon Kyobunsha co.,ltd., ISBN 978-4531060566

Web-sources[edit]

Further reading[edit]

  • Hakuin, Ekaku (2010), Wild Ivy: The Spiritual Autobiography of Zen Master Hakuin, Norman Waddell, translator, Shambhala Publications, ISBN 9781570627705
  • Low, Albert (2006), Hakuin on Kensho. The Four Ways of Knowing, boston & london: Shambhala
  • Yoshizawa, Katsuhiro (2010), The Religious Art of Zen Master Hakuin, Counterpoint Press
  • Spence, Alan (2014), Night Boat: A Zen Novel, Canongate UK, ISBN 978-0857868541

External links[edit]

The Leap by Steve Taylor: On-line Book Launch


The Leap by Steve Taylor: On-line Book Launch
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Join Steve Taylor for a free on-line hour long video session to celebrate the launch of his new book The Leap: The Psychology of Spiritual Awakening. (The book is published as an Eckhart Tolle Edition, with a foreword by Eckhart). During the launch Steve will discuss the main ideas of the book, and his poetic spiritual reflections and meditations. You will also have the opportunity to ask him any questions (sign-in to Youtube to be able to ask questions). It takes place at 4 pm EST, 1 pm PT and 8 pm UK time.

THE BURNING OF CORRUPTION Martin Cecil - November 27, 1983

 An interesting read from the past

Inbox


Wendy Hartley

Tue, Nov 23, 8:42 PM (3 days ago)

to me


Dear Sejin, I did find this interesting and 

perhaps this is how we should be thinking now! 

Perhaps Martin was channelling…. 

anyway send it on to others like Yujin, if you like.

All the best, Wendy.


Greetings Wendy


John Flood sent this recently. I certainly appreciated it.


I’ll forward recent Pulse of Spirit papers.. They’ll be in separate emails. I’ll also send you the email and website of Jeff Vander Clute whose articles I am really enjoying. (I can see that he is a friend of several Emissaries) Actually, I’ll just forward an email. His website:


www.jeffvanderclute.com


I think all this will keep you well occupied. I am feeling very buoyed by this cycle. Have waited a long time for it.


Much love


Ruth

=========

 


From: John Flood [mailto:john.flood@thompsonschools.org]

Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2020

Subject: THE BURNING OF CORRUPTION - Martin Cecil


 


THE BURNING OF CORRUPTION 

Martin Cecil - November 27, 1983 (11 a.m.)


 In the beauty of holiness, clothed in the garments of our flesh bodies, minds and hearts, thankfully and humbly we bow before Thee, most gracious Lord and King. Representing Thee on earth we represent the children of men to Thee, letting our garments be sanctified in the truth of Thy Word and purified by the fire of Thy love. So may it be for all the children of men. Accordingly it is done. 

We readily acknowledge that what is to be done is done in ourselves here and now. It always is here and now. In imagination you may have been somewhere else at some other time, but never in fact. If we assemble as we have this morning in our Chapel, this then is the here and now for us together. The sounding of the Tone we have heard and hear; the fire of love has been and is known to us. In symbol this fire is present at the core of the earth and in the core of the solar system. 

In our own experience there is the fire at the core of our own beings and the fire which we acknowledge to be above us, the ascending and the descending fire respectively. Fire is the symbol of love. These two aspects of love rightly blend and fuse in us here and now. We are well aware that man was created to be at this point of fusion, standing upright in the air of the spirit on the surface of the earth. I think it was Paul who said something about being caught up into the air at a certain point. This has generated some rather fanciful ideas. But we are rightly caught up into the air of the spirit, where the fire from above and below blends. This is the positioning of man, certainly not the experienced positioning of human beings at the present time or in any historical memory that we might have. The rising up into the air of the spirit is out of the subconscious crust of corruption that is presently known in human experience. We cannot do this by some sort of application of will. It is in the process of being done by the application of the ascending flame of love in concert with the descending flame of love. It might be said that the atmosphere is clear above. There is a thin layer of corruption at the surface and below the surface. I say "thin" relatively speaking. In symbol there certainly is a lot of apparent space above us in which there is no evidence of human corruption. Mind you, in recent times human corruption has been catapulted into the immediate space in the vicinity of the earth, so that here, it might be said, there is toxic substance present in the cell of the solar system. 

Our own physical health is very largely dependent upon the clearing of toxic substances from the cells of our own bodies. 


In this connection I might share a portion of a letter with you that came from Dawn Blechman, who is, as you know, a professional in the field of nursing. She says (and incidentally the title to this particular letter is "Observations on Illness." Are you ever ill? Are you really, now, ever ill?): "In this process of transformation and transmutation, most have agreed that a 'letting go' is necessary, letting the old pass away, or letting that which does not belong pass away. But when it happens, why is it called 'illness'? "For a while now we have had moving through our population what is referred to as a 'bug,' which I understand is not confined to Sunrise but is moving in many across the nation. Each person is handling this in different ways. One is vomiting and has diarrhea, another has a sore throat and swollen glands, and yet another has a heavy chest cold—all indicating an attempt by the body to rid itself of toxins. Doctors call it the “flu,” but what has heretofore been diagnosed as flu has a virus strain which is given a name (Asian flu, etc.). Although we haven't done so, I'd be willing to bet that there are very few virus strains present, if any, but ninety percent of any exudate put under the microscope would have neon lights blinking Fear or Shame or Judgment, etc.—toxins being released from the vibrational surround of the physical cells, a letting go of the old." I wonder how many of you actually have such a view, for instance, of the flu which may attack you? 

2 The Burning of Corruption 

This is the usual human way of seeing things: We are always being attacked by this and that, so that we have to raise our defenses. We see this well reflected in the world around us, even on the international scene, where everybody fears attack and everybody raises defenses. Certainly we do not need to look at things in this way and should not be doing so. Dawn has pointed to something here of which we are all, I am sure, well aware: that there is the need for cleansing in the water of truth and for purification in the fire of love. This in times past has been spoken of as baptism. Most people seem to be afraid of being baptized and are inclined to fight the process tooth and nail. Do we need to fight and resist? We know better but probably we still do it, at least in this particular area if in no other. 

Viruses are interesting. It seems to be supposed that they cause various kinds of disease, illness. They do not. They may be present when various kinds of disease are present, but they are not the cause of them. They do give evidence of the fact that there is a cause, an invisible cause, one might say. The viruses themselves are almost invisible. Some of them apparently still are; they can't be located. As I say, these are evidences of what is over the edge of the visible in the realm of the invisible. We are aware that this realm of the invisible is related to the subconscious crust, those toxic vibrational factors that are present at the subconscious level in all human beings. The level at which they are present is relatively a narrow band, but here is the corruption. Here is the realm of vibrational decay which is then quite naturally reflected in what occurs at the level of physical form, particularly with respect to the cells of the human body. 

The cells of the human body are bathed in an invisible substance. This invisible substance, as we have just noted, at its lower edge is quite corrupt. As there is movement beyond that layer of corruption there is increasing clarity. The fire moves freely in the clear atmosphere, but when it reaches the corruption the fire begins to burn it. In theory I am sure that we can all rejoice in the fact that this is so. This is one way by which the corruption is disposed of. But the heat may seem to be uncomfortable at a level which we cannot define until the corruption spills over into the physical cells of our bodies, which then proceed to become well saturated also with corruption, toxins. 

The cells, apparently, at some point proclaim that they have had enough and proceed to eject some of this toxic substance. Then we claim that we are sick. "Poor me! I am sick. This is an increase of the discomfort that I knew before I was sick. Now it is compounded in the physical realm." And we look around to see who can do something about it. Of course, in the general pattern of things, I suppose the doctor, of whatever ilk, is sought out and the individual says, "Free me of this trouble." While the trouble has all kinds of fancy names in the medical dictionary, it is all basically the same thing. Of course the variation comes, at least partly, because of the particular cells in the body which are crying out in their discomfort. The cells may be in one of the organs of the body, they may be in the throat, they may be in the chest, they may be in the intestinal tract, they may be almost anywhere. So we have various varieties of so-called flu, for instance, but the cause of the trouble is always the same; at least it springs out of the same place. The trouble is invisible, and the poor cells of the body eventually have to be crucified if the body as a whole is to continue to live. So human beings, ourselves included, get sick—probably feel inclined to complain about it. We may not rush immediately to the medical doctor as heretofore, but we call on somebody, I am sure—the ever-willing server, no doubt. If we do this, why do we do it? "Come on, server. Help to clear the cells of my body of these wretched toxins." Well of course people do behave unwisely; the truth doesn't control in their living as a rule; so they are inclined to eat what they feel like eating and do what they feel like doing without regard to the fact that this may intensify the troubles in their cells. 

Maybe that's a good thing; it makes them aware of it at least, if there is trouble there. But we ourselves, I am sure, are concerned to allow essential transformation to occur in the invisible realm of the origins of so-called illness and disease. This is the realm of the subconscious 


3 The Burning of Corruption 

corruption which has dictated to human beings how they should behave. As we have noted many times before, the conscious mind then comes along and justifies the behavior. Human beings are well fooled in this regard, imagining that the conscious mind was there first and decided upon the behavior. No, all the conscious mind does is to explain the behavior, to justify it, to give reasons for it. It sprang out of the realm of corruption. Seeing that it sprang out of that realm, there is no way by which it can be justified. Nevertheless the conscious mind has become expert in this field of justification. Virtually anything can be justified by the conscious mind; it has had long centuries of practice. But the fact of the matter is that what occurs erupts out of the corrupt state of the subconscious mind. The conscious mind is uncomfortable about that and so it has somehow to explain it away. Obviously the detoxification of the cells of the body is important, but they are going to be retoxified unless something happens in the realm of the corruption, the real corruption, the invisible corruption. We have had, no doubt, the theory about disease being a means of healing, but you would have to admit it has been mostly theory. 

There is one way by which everything can be detoxified very quickly: thermonuclear war, it is called. All cells would rather rapidly be detoxified; at least it is heading in that direction. This has it backwards however, just as the nutritionists tend to have it backwards. They want to detoxify the cells through physical means, by diet, etc. However, one can never keep up with the retoxifying process as long as the invisible corruption remains. It brings it back faster than the diet can get rid of it. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but" by the process of invisible detoxification, "by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." In this process of cleansing and purification of the invisible substance, which we would perhaps refer to as pneumaplasm, it is achieved by reason of attunement—here we are back to attunements again—by the vibrational tone of the Word. However, the vibrational tone of the Word in oneself must proceed from oneself. It may be inspired perhaps or encouraged by somebody else, but unless it proceeds from within oneself it doesn't work, or it only works momentarily. We have the record of many healings at the hand of Jesus. He was present with the people. He didn't heal everybody indiscriminately. The fact is He didn't heal anybody. They either came into a level of agreement with Him, subconsciously mostly, or they weren't healed, because the healing proceeded from within themselves. We have often referred to that poor gentleman who had been in a sad state for a long, long time, lying by the pool, hoping for somebody to put him in—to get washed up I suppose. The word of Jesus was—having asked the man whether he really wanted to be healed, he professed that he did—“Take up your bed, and walk." Get up! Stop lying around! And there is obviously something present in a person, revealed through that man, which agreed with the point. So he got up. How long he stayed up is another question. We do not hear particularly of any who in fact did stay up. Something happened momentarily, there was momentary agreement with the truth; but, as is customary with human beings, they usually revert into the old state. So the troubles reoccur, because there was no adequate cleansing and purification of the heart, of the invisible level of corruption. Human beings for a long time have had many self-improvement programs. These have been emphasized in recent years, but they have been present in every generation all down through the ages. There have been many theories, many techniques, many methods used, but human beings quite evidently, while they may have benefited momentarily I suppose, did not succeed in what is clearly required in human experience. This is about as far as anyone has ever gone: improvement. There may be some value to human improvement, provided a person doesn't become self-satisfied in it. It may open a window to the awareness that the true state of man resembles not at all the state in which human beings now exist and you can't improve the state in which human beings now exist, so that that state becomes the true state. It simply cannot be done; it isn't the true state, no matter how much it is improved. The true state is something entirely different, entirely unknown, insofar as human memory is 

4 The Burning of Corruption 

concerned. Because of the substance of corruption that is present, any conceivable memory of it can't get through. But it isn't really such memory that is required anyway, because each moment is sufficient unto itself. This was just as true of the moments of the past as it is of the present moment and of the moments of the future. So it isn't a matter of repeating something out of the past. This is the habit that human beings have gotten into, isn't it? They are repetitious creatures, constantly repeating the things that kill them. There is really no sense to that. It takes a lot of conscious mental effort to justify it. This has apparently been successfully done over the millennia, even to this very hour, but what's the point? The conscious mind is not there to justify the corruptions of the subsconscious mind. That's a vicious circle, isn't it? It just maintains the corruption. The conscious mind is always justifying that corruption by trying to make it look as though it is very commendable. Of course there are those things which are not commendable, and the conscious mind will not hesitate to point to all the terrible things, particularly if they are present in other people. But this is not the purpose of the conscious mind. It's a purpose in which the conscious mind has become trapped. It has become so habitual that it is not noticed anymore. And all its brilliant ideas are brought forth by reason of the corruption in the subconscious mind, in order to explain and justify that corruption, make it look as though there was something right about it. Here we have the dichotomy of good and evil, don't we? "Well there is a good side. There are some good things about human beings in their present state. There may be some bad things—we'll admit that—but there are some good things too." As long as you can justify this corrupt state merely by pointing to what are supposed to be good things there is the maintenance of the corrupt state. In fact it is this that has maintained the corrupt state more than anything else. It hasn't been maintained by the bad people; who are they anyway? Maybe there are a few of those who have, as it is said, committed the unforgivable sin, the unpardonable sin, and therefore they are really bad. But did you really come across any such? Oh there may be some historical figures. Hitler is usually a pretty good scapegoat in that regard. We can get all our corruption out and put it into Hitler. Well maybe he had few redeeming features as it turned out. But it's none of our business anyway, to judge other people—just to permit something to happen here in ourselves because we stop trying to justify good things. You don't try to justify bad things, do you? You say, "Oh no. They should go away. They should be somehow cured." Let's not have any cured bad things around; that's preserved bad things, isn't it? People are always wanting to cure their diseases—what a horrible thought!—preserve them indefinitely. Of course you can't do it. No. No more justification. I heard that before somewhere. Maybe it was in the teachings of the Third Sacred School. It's wonderful to have teachings, isn't it? No more justification, no more judgment. "But this, after all, is pretty good." Well it may be deemed to be good in this state, but what about the true state? It wouldn't be there at all. It's a different state, it's a different experience. This seems so revolutionary to most human consciousnesses that they won't even look at it; but we recognize that the former things must pass away if all things are to be made new. And this is the creative process. It is more profitable to be aligned with the creative process than to resist it. Resisting it is done very largely by attempting to maintain what one deems to be good, and of course you can't do that without endeavoring to get rid of what is deemed to be bad. But you have both of them; they are both present, as the two ends of the same stick. You don't need the stick! There is a true state, the state which comes as there are those present who are willing to allow the ascending flame to rise up and to burn the invisible corruption. As the invisible corruption is burned, that purified state is reflected then at the visible level. This is the way it should work, the way it was 

5 The Burning of Corruption 

designed to work. It can be done the other way around, as we noticed. You can dissolve all the visible corruption, and that would take out the invisible at the same time. But then there would be nothing left! So the invisible corruption is to be purified by fire. And we find that various things rise up into our awareness as this process proceeds. But having accepted the truth, we no longer try to excuse ourselves by projecting what is simply coming up in ourselves out into our environment, onto other people, onto the circumstances there. "These are at fault." Never! Here is a beautiful restoring process occurring. The fire is rising up. It is disposing of the corruption in the invisible sense, and that will be reflected in the visible sense, so that the toxins in the cells, for instance, may be released. Of course, because the truth is controlling in your expression, you will not deliberately bring into your body again physical elements that could become toxins. You will be cautious about that. It's not too easy these days, mind you, but there will be some thoughtfulness, in the assurance that what is coming forth by reason of the purification of the invisible corruption will be clear insofar as the cells are concerned, so that when the toxins go out there will be a clear cell there. You welcome that experience! You give thanks—we heard something about that too, didn't we? In all things give thanks, because it is the creative process by which all things are made new. We never look upon illness as an enemy. If you look upon illness as an enemy, that's what it is to you, and sooner or later, out you go! Your enemy prevails—triumph! It's not the right sort of triumph. Illness is a friend. It gives evidence of something creative happening, if you will let it happen. If you interpret it as disease, then it is terrible and awful and you shouldn't be suffering this way; you need to find someone to make it all better. That's a childish sort of approach, isn't it? "Kiss me and make me better, so that I can still maintain my corrupt state"—that's what the individual is saying—“so I can still enjoy my corruption." But then it's not always enjoyable, is it? So we let it clear out because we are willing once more to assume the position where we belong, here and now, upright in the air of the spirit, standing upon the earth—the connection, the point of union, the point of blending between heaven and earth—so that all in the earth may be cleansed and purified to reflect perfectly the beauty and the order of the heaven. Here we are to let this happen, because the fire from above allows us to maintain steadfast polarity and attunement in the fire, the same fire which is working from below. And it is all to the glory of God. 


-- 100 Mile House, B.C.