Zen Radicals, Rebels and Reformers

Home , Arthur Braverman, Nyogen Senzaki, Soyen Shaku

PERLE BESSERMAN Clouds& MANERED STEGER Zen Radicals, Rebels & Reformers

PERLE BESSERMAN&MANFRED STEGER

Crazy Clouds Zen Radicals, Rebels ' J? fvrm ers

f: B!iS_SER: Al14 V i%b l AY-?E_ D Crazy CloudsClouds <2i^r Zen Radicals,Radicals, Rebels,Rebels, andand ReformersReformers

PerlPerlee BessermanBesserman and ManfreManfredd StegeStegerr

SHAMBHALASHAMBHALA Boston & LondonLondon 199!1991 For Robert and Anne AitkenAitken

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Besserman,Besserman, Perle.Perle. CrazCrazyy Clouds:Clouds: ZenZen radicals,radicals, rebels,rebels, andand reformers/reformers/ PerlPerlee BessermanBesserman,, ManfredManfred Steger.Steger. pp.. cm.cm. ISBNISBN o-87773-543-30-87773-543-3 (pbk.)(pbk.) 1i.. Priests,Priests, Zen—BiographyZen-Biography.. I.I. Steger,Steger, ManfredManfred.. II.II. Title.Title. BQ9298.B4BQ9298. B477 19911991 294.3'927'0922—dc2294.3'927'0922-dc200 90-5337790-53377 [B][B] CIPCIP ContentsContents

AcknowledgmentAcknowledgmentss ixix

IntroductionIntroduction II

i.1. P'angP'ang Yun:Yun: TheThe FamilyFamily ManMan ofof Zen 9

2. Rinzai:Rinzai: TheThe SpiritualSpiritual StormStorm 23

3. Bassui:Bassui: TheThe LoverLover ofof SoundsSounds 4345

4. Ikkyu:Ikkyu: TheThe Emperor Emperor of of Renegades Renegades 61

5.3. Bankei:Bankei: TheThe PopularPopular PreacherPreacher 8385

6. Hakuin:Hakuin: TheThe OldOld Heretic Heretic underunder thethe SalaSala TreeTree loglog 7.7. NyogenNyogen Senzaki: TheThe HomelessHomeless MushroomMushroom 137 8. Soen:Soen: TheThe lhlasterMaster ofof PlayPlay 139159

Epilogue: Crazy CloudCloud ZenZen forfor thethe West West 177177

NoteNotess onon SourcesSources 11858 5

GlossaryGlossary 189189

BibliographyBibliography 195195

AboutAbout thethe AuthorsAuthors 199199 CreditsCredits 201201

i a-<§^Hr

AcknowledgmentAcknowledgmentss

ThankThankss araree duduee toto RobertRobert andand AnneAnne AitkenAitken forfor providingproviding personapersonall recollectionrecollectionss ooff NakagawNakagawaa SoeSeenn anandd NyogeNyogenn Senzaki,Senzaki, aass wellwell aass booksbooks andand otherother materialsmaterials relatingrelating ttoo theirtheir ZenZen experiencexperiencee iinn JapaJapann anandd ththee UniteUnitedd States.States. WeWe araree indebteindebtedd toto ththee scholarsscholars,, translatorstranslators,, andand historianshistorians listelistedd iinn ouourr bibliogra-bibliogra• phy,phy, whosewhose dedicateddedicated workwork withwith originaloriginal sourcessources mademade thisthis boohookk possible.possible. ProfessoProfessorr DaviDavidd ChappelChappelll ooff ththee ReligionReligion De-De• partmentpartment ofof thethe UniversityUniversity ofof HawaiiHawaii waswas mostmost helpfulhelpful inin renderinrenderingg scholarlscholarlyy assistancassistancee o onn ththee topitopicc ooff ZeZenn Buddhism,Buddhism, particularlyparticularly regardinregardingg ththee chaptechapterr oonn Hakuin,Hakuin, andand ProfessorProfessor StevStevee Canha Canharnm ooff ththee EnglisEnglishh DepartmenDepartmentt ooff ththee UniversitUniversityy ofof HawaiiHawaii iiss ttoo bhee thankethankedd foforr providinprovidingg aa foruforumm oonn IkkyuIkkyu.. Dr.Dr. CraigCraig Twentyman,Twentyman, colleaguecolleague anandd dharmdharmaa friendfriend,, maintainedmaintained a steadysteady andand livelylively ZenZen dialoguedialogue thatthat continuescontinues still;still; andand WillWill StapleStaple ooff RinRingg ooff BonBonee ZendoZendo showedshowed usus hishis ownown uniqueunique formform ooff CrazyCrazy CloudCloud Zen.Zen. Shambhala'sShambhala's staff,staff, particularlyparticularly peterPeter TurneTurnerr anandd JonathaJonathann GreenGreen,, werweree botbothh editoriallyeditorially anandd spiritu-spiritu• allallyy responsivresponsivee ttoo thethe dharmicdharmic aspectsaspects ofof ourour work;work; specialspecial thankthankss ttoo them.them. ToTo RobertRobert AitkenAitken RoshiRoshi wwee gasshogassho iinn gratitudegratitude forfor hishis guidancguidancee iinn ouourr ZenZen practicepractice withwith thethe DiamondDiamond SanghaSangha inin HonoluluHonolulu.. Finally,Finally, ttoo ththee CrazyCrazy CloudsClouds iinn thisthis hook,book, andand toto CrazyCrazy CloudCloudss everywhere,everywhere, wewe extendextend ourour hand.hand. TheThe aimaim ofof life,life, ititss onlyonly aim,aim, isis toto bebe free.free. FreeFree ofof what?what? FreeFree toto dodo what?what? OnlyOnly toto bebe free,free, thatthat isis all.all. FreeFree throughthrough ourselves,ourselves, treefree ttoo bebe sad,sad, toto bebe inin pain;pain; freefree ttoo growgrow oldold andand die.die. ThatThat isis whatwhat ourour soulsoul desires,desires, andand thisthis freedomfreedom itit mustmust have;have; andand shallshall havehave..

-R.—R . H.H . BlythBlyth IntroductionIntroduction

TheThe ZenZen storystory beginsbegins inin IndiaIndia fivefive centuriecenturiess beforbeforee ChrisChristt withwith thethe BuddhaBuddha meditatingmeditating undeunderr ththee bodhibodhi treetree andand comingcoming outout ofof meditationmeditation toto seesee thethe morningmorning star.star. RealizingRealizing thatthat hishis self-self- naturenature anandd thatthat ofof allall beingsbeings waswas oneone andand thethe same,same, and,and, moreover,moreover, thatthat itit waswas completelycompletely empty,empty, BuddhaBuddha becamebecame aa wanderingwandering teacher.teacher. ForFor fortyforty years,years, hehe proclaimedproclaimed hishis message:message: allall thingsthings areare transient,transient, allall thingsthings areare interdependent,interdependent, andand allall thingsthings araree emptyempty.. NothingNothing abides,abides, notnot eveneven aann I.I. ThereThere isis nono GodGod oror UltimateUltimate TruthTruth behindbehind phenomena;phenomena; everythingevery thing justjust is.is. DespiteDespite ththee Buddha'sBuddha's warnings,warnings, hishis insistenceinsistence oonn ththee indi-indi• viduaviduall experiencexperiencee ooff thesthesee truthtruthss byby meansmeans ofof meditation,meditation, andand despitedespite hihiss advocacadvocacyy ooff a "middle"middle way"way" thatthat shunnedshunned asceti-asceti• cismcism aass mucmuchh asas itit diddid hedonism,hedonism, Buddha'sBuddha's practicepractice becamebecame aa widelwidelyy doctrinadoctrinall systemsystem,, caughtcaught upup inin ritualsrituals andand scholasti-scholasti• cismcism.. AfterAfter hishis death,death, hishis disciplesdisciples splisplitt uupp intointo sects,sects, manymany advocatinadvocatingg ththee ververyy meanmeanss anandd endendss againsagainstt whicwhichh theitheirr teacherteacher hahadd warned.warned. InIn thethe firstfirst centurycentury ofof thethe commoncommon era,era, inin anan attemptattempt toto recapturrecapturee ththee middlemiddle way,way, BuddhistBuddhist philosopherphilosopher NagarjunaNagarjuna documentedocumentedd thethe Buddha'sBuddha's discoveries.discoveries. NagarjunaNagarjuna arguedargued thatthat ththee mindmind nevernever attainsattains realreal substance,substance, eitheeitherr iinn itselitselff oorr inin outsidoutsidee objectsobjects,, anandd hehe attemptedattempted toto deliverdeliver BuddhistsBuddhists fromfrom dualistidualisticc notionnotionss ofof soulsoul oror divinedivine selfself whilewhile negatingnegating idealistsidealists beingsbeings ttoo intercedeintercede foforr themthem andand createcreate aa miracle.miracle. ToTo countercounter ooff thethe "mind-only""mind-only" school.school. BasingBasing hishis claimclaim oonn thethe directdirect this,this, ZenZen mastersmasters hadhad toto resortresort toto radicalradical means.means. TakeTake Hsuan-Hsuan- experiencexperiencee ooff realization,realization, NagarjunNagarjunaa depictedepictedd ththee worldworld andand chien,chien, a ninth-centurninth-centuryy ChineseChinese ZeZenn teacherteacher whwhoo lecturelecturedd fromfrom ththee selfself aass "empty,"empty,"" oror "such"such asas itit is,"is," freefree ofof allall metaphysicalmetaphysical thethe pulpit:pulpit: speculationspeculation,, oror willwill andand representation.representation. TheThe WestWest hashas translatedtranslated this as nihilism. Buddhists call it deliverance. In the dissolution this as nihilism. Buddhists call it deliverance. In the dissolution ThereThere areare neitherneither BuddhasBuddhas nornor Patriarchs;Patriarchs; BodhidharmaBodhidharma waswas ooff ththee egegoo theythey findfind thethe endend ooff suffering,suffering, nonott thethe blackblack holholee ofof onlyonly anan oldold beardedbearded barbarian.barbarian. SakyamuniSakyamuni [Buddha][Buddha] andand this[his nothingnessnothingness,, butbut anan infiniteinfinite oceanocean ofof effulgence,effulgence, ononee withwith thethe successorsuccessor]] KasyapaKasyapa,, [th[thee Bodhisattvas]Bodhisattvas] ManjusriManjusri andand Samanta-Samanta- procesprocesss ooff thingsthings asas theythey are.are. ThisThis truth,truth, saidsaid Nagarjuna,Nagarjuna, bhadrabhadra,, areare onlyonly dungheapdungheap coolies.coolies...... NirvanaNirvana andand bodhibodhi areare communicatescommunicates itselitselff ttoo ththee minmindd inin thethe livingliving experienceexperience ofof deadeadd stumpstumpss ttoo tietie youryour donkeys.donkeys. TheThe twelvetwelve divisionsdivisions ooff ththee enlightenmentenlightenment.. sacresacredd teachingteachingss araree onlonlyy listlistss ooff ghostsghosts,, sheetsheetss ooff papepaperr fifitt onlonlyy FiveFive centuriescenturies later,later, ththee CentralCentral AsianAsian reformerreformer Bodhi-Bodhi- foforr wipinwipingg thethe puspus fromfrom youryour boils.boils. dharmdharmaa tooktook hishis messagemessage ofof meditationmeditation onon aa dangerousdangerous jour-jour• TheThe tendencytendency ofof students,students, however,however, toto revertrevert toto dependencedependence onon neneyy eastward—creatineastward-creatingg ChineseChinese Ch'an,Ch'an, oror ZenZen Buddhism,Buddhism, inin gods,gods, thethe Buddha,Buddha, andand thethe "holy""holy" scripturesscriptures persisted.persisted. WeWe findfind ththee process.process. BodhidharmaBodhidharma mamayy bbee reareall oorr legendary,legendary, butbut thethe thethe eighteenth-centuryeighteenth-century JapaneseJapanese ZeZenn mastermaster HakuinHakuin similarlysimilarly importanimportantt thinthingg isis thatthat hishis namename bearsbears thethe radicalradical stamstampp ofof rebukingrebuking a studenstudentt withwith:: "Nothing"Nothing cancan shineshine iinn youyourr asshole."asshole." BuddhisBuddhistt practice,practice, thethe unequivocalunequivocal insistenceinsistence oonn thethe individualindividual Clearly,Clearly, thethe dangerdanger ofof suchsuch pronouncementspronouncements lieslies inin thethe possi-possi• experiencexperiencee ooff "everythin"everythingg jus justt aass iitt is."is." HisHis successorssuccessors inin bilitybility thatthat theythey willwill bebe imitatedimitated byby teachersteachers whowho havehave notnot China,China, Korea,Korea, JapanJapan,, anandd ththee WestWest stilstilll ususee ththee samsamee tootooll ofof experiencedexperienced realizatiorealizationn themselvesthemselves.. An Andd indeedindeed,, thithiss sorsortt ofof meditatiomeditationn usedused byby thethe BuddhaBuddha underunder thethe bodhibodhi treetree toto revealreveal ththee livingliving factfact ofof shunyata,shunyata, oror emptiness.emptiness. BodhidharmaBodhidharma waswas iconoclasmiconoclasm dididd lealeadd ttoo antinomianismantinomianism iinn ZenZen circlescircles inin thethe nonott a philosopher,philosopher, andand ZenZen isis notnot aa philosophy,philosophy, nornor beliefbelief inin pastpast,, andand toto scandalousscandalous behaviorbehavior amonamongg so-calledso-called ZeZenn mastersmasters aann abstractionabstraction,, nornor faithfaith inin a religioureligiouss constructconstruct.. BodhidharmaBodhidharma thatthat stillstill occursoccurs today.today. ThisThis bookbook isis notnot concernedconcerned withwith scan-scan• wawass a practitionerpractitioner ooff ZenZen meditation,meditation, aa manman whowho expressedexpressed dal.dal. ItIt focusesfocuses oonn thosethose religiousreligious ZenZen geniusesgeniuses whosewhose training,training, ththee experientialexperiential facfactt ooff self-realization,self-realization, iinn whicwhichh thethe narrownarrow commitment,commitment, andand realizationrealization experienceexperience ledled themthem toto aa freefree life,life, identificatioidentificationn witwithh "person""person" dropsdrops away,away, leavingleaving one'sone's selfself asas unconstrainedunconstrained bbyy religiousreligious etiquetteetiquette,, rulesrules,, oror hierarchy.hierarchy. Ex-Ex• ththee birdsong,birdsong, thethe soundsound ofof thethe wavewave dashingdashing againstagainst thethe reef,reef, ploringploring thethe liveslives ofof thesethese greatgreat nonconformistsnonconformists cancan perhapsperhaps oorr thethe coffeecoffee perkinperkingg inin thethe kitchen.kitchen. helhelpp toto clarifyclarify thisthis greygrey areaarea inin Zen,Zen, overturningoverturning misconcep-misconcep• tionstions aboutabout itsits anticantic oror asceticascetic extremesextremes anandd returningreturning toto aa RealizinRealizingg theitheirr teacher'teacher'ss message,message, Bodhidharma'sBodhidharma's followersfollowers middlemiddle way.way. sasaww thatthat,, indeedindeed,, thertheree wawass nothinnothingg holyholy,, thatthat thethe sacredsacred andand CrazCrazyy CloudCloud,, ththee pepenn namnamee assumeassumedd b byy Ikkyu—Ze Ikkyu-Zenn poet,poet, profaneprofane werweree nonott opposedopposed,, anandd thatthat thethe ordinaryordinary moment,moment, thethe painterpainter,, calligrapher,calligrapher, anandd wanderinwanderingg teacher—iteacher-iss aa punpun onon thethe ordinarordinaryy eveneventt wawass holholyy jusjustt aass iitt was.was. Suddenly,Suddenly, pickingpicking a JapanesJapanesee worwordd unsui, ththee BuddhisBuddhistt monmonkk whosewhose detachmentdetachment flower, eatineatingg aa ricerice cake,cake, oror makingmaking lovelove waswas asas sacredsacred asas fromfrom worldlyworldly lifelife hashas hihimm driftingdrifting likelike a cloucloudd oveoverr waterwater.. TheThe prostratinprostratingg beforebefore thethe BuddhaBuddha oror chantingchanting hishis namename.. Neverthe-Neverthe• Crazy Clouds of this book are those innovative Zen reformers, less,less, traditionatraditionall ChineseChinese BuddhistsBuddhists heldheld fastfast ttoo thethe ideaidea thatthat thethe Crazy Clouds of this book are those innovative Zen reformers, rebels,rebels, andand radicals,radicals, thethe wanderingwandering seekersseekers andand sagessages oftenoften BuddhaBuddha andand thethe patriarchs,patriarchs, andand eveneven BodhidharmaBodhidharma himselfhimself disguiseddisguised aass beggars,beggars, nomadicnomadic preachers,preachers, treetree dwellers,dwellers, andand werweree speciaspeciall beingsbeings,, eveneven godsgods.. ManyMany ZenZen practitionerspractitioners stoppedstopped meditatingmeditating andand startedstarted toto praypray toto thesethese "superhuman""superhuman" sometimessometimes eveevenn madmenmadmen,, whosewhose singularsingular ZenZen WayWay hashas pro-pro-

IntroductionIntroduction 3 2 IntroductionIntroduction I nirvana,nirvana, HakuinHakuin,, thethe poeticpoetic Soen,Soen, andand thethe footloosefootloose NyogenNyogen Senzaki.Senzaki. hehe oror sheshe mustmust paradoxicallyparadoxically encompassencompass andand surpasssurpass them.them. TheiTheirr interpretationinterpretationss ooff ththee mostmost radicalradical formformss ooff ZenZen Bud-Bud• ThisThis creativcreativee questioninquestioningg o off authority—rar authority-raree inin religious,religious, polit-polit• dhisdhismm frequentlyfrequently provedproved tootoo enigmaticenigmatic andand avant-gardeavant-garde forfor ical,ical, anandd sociasociall life—ilife-iss universallyuniversally proclaimedproclaimed inin thethe centuries-centuries- theitheirr contemporaries,contemporaries, butbut remainremain invaluableinvaluable guidelinesguidelines forfor oldold CrazyCrazy CloudCloud dialoguedialogue withwith us.us. WeWe arcare encourageencouragedd bbyy theirtheir theitheirr spirituaspirituall descendantsdescendants iinn today'today'ss ZenZen lineageslineages regardlesregardlesss ofof commitmentcommitment andand hardhard training,training, andand byby thethe truetrue realizationrealization ofof schooschooll oorr nationality.nationality. EvenEven moremore significantsignificant foforr thethe modernmodern emptinessemptiness thathatt promptepromptedd themthem toto taketake theirtheir experienceexperience outout worldworld,, thesethese archetypalarchetypal CrazyCrazy CloudsClouds willwill particularlyparticularly appealappeal intintoo thethe worldworld andand livelive asas compassionatecompassionate Bodhisattvas.Bodhisattvas. TheirTheir ttoo ththee contemporarycontemporary ZenZen studentstudent steepedsteeped inin WesternWestern normnormss ofof livelivess provprovee agaiagainn anandd agaiagainn thathatt ZenZen alwaysalways referreferss ththee individ-individ• individualismindividualism,, politicapoliticall engagementengagement,, liberatioliberationn theologytheology,, fem-fem• uauall backback toto herselfherself oror himself,himself, thatthat iti t alwaysalways respectsrespects thethe inisminism,, andand thethe destructuralizationdestructuralization ofof allall hierarchy,hierarchy, whetherwhether individuaindividuall disposition,disposition, thethe individualindividual experience.experience. religioureligiouss oorr socialsocial.. ThesThesee revolutionarrevolutionaryy ZeZenn memenn areare apaptt mod-mod• ButBut individualismindividualism bringsbrings responsibility.responsibility. SeventeenSeventeen centuriescenturies elsels foforr ouourr ownown revolutionaryrevolutionary times.times. afteafterr NagarjunaNagarjuna,, ththee GermanGerman philosopherphilosopher ImmanuelImmanuel KantKant alsoalso AAss wwee approacapproachh thethe twenty-firsttwenty-first century,century ,the th eword wor ddemocracy democracy arguearguedd thathatt ththee mindmind hadhad nono realreal substance,substance, thathatt ththee phenom-phenom• iiss oonn everyone'severyone's lipslips.. ToTooo oftenoften,, thoughthough,, thethe wordword isis takentaken asas enaenall worlworldd wawass transienttransient,, anandd thathatt GodGod wawass yeyett anotheanotherr con-con• meremere liplip service,service, passivepassive agreemenagreementt iinn thethe faceface ofof apparentlyapparently ceptcept.. HeHe extendedextended thethe BuddhistBuddhist findingsfindings bbyy proposingproposing thatthat evereveryy singlsinglee rationarationall agentagent,, howeverhowever temporarytemporary,, mustmust decidedecide * ForFor thosethose ChineseChinese personalpersonal namesnames thatthat areare largelylargely familiarfamiliar toto WesternWestern whawhatt isis right,right, andand thatthat ultimateultimate moralmoral responsibilityresponsibility residesresides inin readerreaderss througthroughh thethe JapaneseJapanese ZeZenn tradition,tradition, thethe JapaneseJapanese formform hashas beenbeen ththee individualindividual ratheratherr thanthan inin hierarchicalhierarchical structures.structures. KantKant diddid usedused withwith thethe ChineseChinese versionversion givengiven inin parenthesesparentheses followingfollowing thethe firstfirst nonott negatenegate thethe structures,structures, jusjustt asas ZenZen doesdoes notnot denydeny thethe worldworld mentiomentionn ofof thethe name.name. InIn thethe casecase ofof figuresfigures forfor whomwhom nono Japanese Japanese versionversion of form. Like the Buddha, who compared his teachings to a ofof thethe namename isis available,available, onlonlyy thethe originaloriginal ChineseChinese formform isis given.given. InIn casescases of form. Like the Buddha, who compared his teachings to a wherewhere thethe ChineseChinese namename isis moremore familiar,familiar, thethe JapaneseJapanese namename hashas beenbeen raft—usefuraft-usefull andand necessarynecessary iinn crossingcrossing a riverriver toto thethe otherother omitted.omitted. shoreshore,, bubutt burdensomburdensomee onconcee there—Kantthere-Kant,, too,too, sawsaw thatthat insti-insti-

4 IntroductionIntroduction I Introduction 5 tutional structures could take one only so far before becoming tutional structures could take one only so far before becoming Cloud,Cloud, Ikkyu,Ikkyu, camecame intointo directdirect andand dangerousdangerous conflictconflict withwith a burden. Both men warn us that teachings, hierarchy, and a burden. Both men warn us that teachings, hierarchy, and worldlyworldly power.power. AsAs thethe illegitimateillegitimate sonson ofof thethe JapaneseJapanese emperoremperor institutions should be treated not as ends in themselves, but as institutions should be treated not as ends in themselves, but as Go-komatsuGo-komatsu,, hehe waswas inin constantconstant dangerdanger ofof assassinationassassination de-de• skillful means in the eventual achievement of spiritual freedom skillful means in the eventual achievement of spiritual freedom spitspitee hihiss monk'monk'ss statusstatus.. BuButt thathatt dididd nonott stopstop himhim fromfrom and moral autonomy. and moral autonomy. embarkinembarkingg oonn a publicpublic fastfast iinn nonviolentnonviolent protestprotest againstagainst thethe ThThee CrazyCrazy CloudsClouds invitinvitee uuss toto walkwalk withwith themthem on.on thethe devastatindevastatingg economieconomicc anandd religiousreligious policiespolicies ooff thethe AshikagaAshikaga razor'razor'ss edgeedge ofof essentialessential freedofreedomm anandd moralmoral responsibility.responsibility. WeWe shogunateshogunate;; nonorr diddid itit inhibitinhibit hishis egalitarianegalitarian wanderingwanderingss amongamong musmustt bebe carefulcareful abouaboutt apinapingg theitheirr eccentricityeccentricity,, oror takingtaking licenselicense ththee bums,bums, beggars,beggars, andand prostitutesprostitutes whwhoo formedformed hishis "street"street foforr "creative"creative anarchy.anarchy."" WithoutWithout thethe experienceexperience ooff theitheirr hard-hard- parish.parish."" wowonn realizationrealization anandd trainingtraining,, whichwhich inin everyevery casecase includedincluded aa IInn thethe seventeenthseventeenth century,century, Bankei,Bankei, thethe JapaneseJapanese populistpopulist religioureligiouss institutioinstitutionn anandd aa teacherteacher,, ththee mermeree imitatoimitatorr embarksembarks preacherpreacher,, tossetossedd ououtt aa corruptedcorrupted koankoan practicepractice andand single-single- on a dangerous and potentially immoral enterprise. At the on a dangerous and potentially immoral enterprise. At the handedlhandedlyy overturneoverturnedd thethe religiousreligious establishmentestablishment byby preachingpreaching most intimate level, Crazy Cloud Zen illustrates that medita• most intimate level, Crazy Cloud Zen illustrates that medita- ttoo thethe massesmasses ououtt inin thethe openopen fields.fields. RefusinRefusingg ttoo speaspeakk ttoo themthem tion is a living experience, neither limited to monasteries and tion is a living experience, neither limited to monasteries and iinn traditionatraditionall ZenZen language,language, hehe urgedurged hishis listenerslisteners toto realizerealize thethe temples, nor bounded by time and national borders. It effaces temples, nor bounded by time and national borders. It effaces unborunbornn mindmind inin thethe bayingbaying ofof thethe wolveswolves andand thethe smellsmell ofof thethe the dour and taciturn image that many people have taken for the dour and taciturn image that many people have taken for eartearthh undeunderr theirtheir feet.feet. Zen, emphasizing instead the joy in discovering that "empti• Zen, emphasizing instead the joy in discovering that "empti- EquallEquallyy stubbornstubborn,, anandd aass mucmuchh hihiss owownn manman,, HakuinHakuin notnot ness is form" and "form is emptiness," and it embodies a ness is form" and "form is emptiness," and it embodies a onlonlyy installeinstalledd himselhimselff aass abboabbott ooff hishis homehome templetemple andand be-be• vision great enough to embrace the Whole. vision great enough to embrace the Whole. stowestowedd hihiss owownn dharmadharma name,name, butbut revivedrevived andand codifiedcodified thethe WeWe begibeginn iinn eighth-centureighth-centuryy ChinaChina withwith thethe LaymanLayman P'ang,P'ang, koakoann practicpracticee thathatt iiss synonymousynonymouss withwith RinzaiRinzai ZenZen toto thisthis veryvery whoswhosee refusarefusall ttoo becombecomee a monmonkk despitedespite hihiss celebratedcelebrated confir-confir• dayday.. LikLikee hihiss predecessors,predecessors, HakuiHakuinn totooo brokbrokee allall thethe rules,rules, mationmation byby thethe twotwo greatestgreatest ZenZen mastersmasters ofof thethe ageage makesmakes himhim takintakingg lalayy womewomenn disciplesdisciples anandd intercedinginterceding withwith thethe JapaneseJapanese aann appropriatappropriatee modemodell foforr ouourr ownown times,times, whenwhen fiftyfifty percentpercent ofof feudafeudall authoritieauthoritiess oonn behalfbehalf ofof thethe peasantspeasants comprisingcomprising thethe ZeZenn practitionerspractitioners areare womenwomen.. ShatteringShattering ththee monasticmonastic codcodee ofof largestlargest shareshare ooff hishis constituency.constituency. IndiaIndiann BuddhisBuddhismm thatthat mademade itit difficultdifficult forfor womenwomen toto practice,practice, NyogeNyogenn SenzakiSenzaki representrepresentss Japan'Japan'ss greagreatt breabreakk witwithh tradi-tradi• P'anP'angg nevernever gavegave uupp familfamilyy lifelife,, anandd tootookk hishis daughterdaughter asas hishis tiontion.. BornBorn duringduring thethe MeijiMeiji period,period, whichwhich introducedintroduced thethe travelintravelingg companiocompanionn andand foremostforemost disciple.disciple. forbiddeforbiddenn WesWestt ttoo anan isolatedisolated nation,nation, hishis antimilitarismantimilitarism andand Not long after, Rinzai, the great Chinese T'ang dynasty Zen Not long after, Rinzai, the great Chinese T'ang dynasty Zen rejectionrejection ooff religioureligiouss hierarchhierarchyy ssoo alienatealienatedd hihimm frofromm monasticmonastic rebel, shocked the religious and political establishment when rebel, shocked the religious and political establishment when authorityauthority thatthat hehe chosechose toto gogo intointo exile.exile. InIn thethe AmericanAmerican West,"West, he grabbed priests and officials by the lapels and hurled insults he grabbed priests and officials by the lapels and hurled insults SenzakSenzakii planteplantedd ththee fertilfertilee seedseedss ooff hihiss owownn radicaradicall branbrandd ooff laylay at even the most socially elevated personages in his efforts to at even the most socially elevated personages in his efforts to ZeZenn practice.practice. goagoadd thethemm intointo enlightenment.enlightenment. ItIt waswas NakagawaNakagawa SoenSoen,, ouourr contemporary,contemporary, whowho sproutedsprouted TheThe fourteenth-centuryfourteenth-century JapaneseJapanese mastermaster BassuiBassui similarlysimilarly thosethose seedsseeds.. ImprovisinImprovisingg aa ZenZen informedinformed byby ShakespeareShakespeare andand shocked the Zen hierarchy by moving into a tree house and shocked the Zen hierarchy by moving into a tree house and HakuinHakuin,, BeethoveBeethovenn anandd RinzaiRinzai,, thithiss poetipoeticc ZeZenn mastermaster leftleft hishis refusing to teach, after obtaining confirmation of his enlight• refusing to teach, after obtaining confirmation of his enlight- indeliblindeliblee stamstampp onon WesternWestern practicepractice andand setset intointo playplay forfor usus thethe enment from one of the great Zen abbots of the day. enment from one of the great Zen abbots of the day. frefreee anandd creativcreativee examplexamplee thathatt characterizescharacterizes ththee far-flungfar-flung familyfamily NotNot longlong afterafter Bassui'sBassui's death,death, thethe quintessentialquintessential CrazyCrazy ooff CrazCrazyy Clouds.Clouds.

6 IntroductionIntroduction Introduction 7 1

Pang Yun:Yun: The FamilyFamily ManMan of ZenZen

PerhapsPerhaps ooff alalll ththee CrazyCrazy Clouds,Clouds, thethe storystory ofof LaymanLayman P'angP'ang bestbest reflectsreflects contemporarcontemporaryy ZenZen inin thethe West.West. TheThe onlyonly signifi-signifi• cancantt lalayy ZeZenn teacheteacherr oonn recorrecordd inin China,China, hehe carriedcarried hishis messagemessage ofof ordinary-lifeordinary-life ZenZen outsideoutside thethe monasteriesmonasteries throughoutthroughout hishis wanderingwanderingss acrosacrosss CentraCentrall ChinaChina,, refusingrefusing offerofferss ttoo becomebecome ththee dharanadharma successosuccessorr ooff ththee greatesgreatestt ZeZenn mastermasterss ooff thethe T'angT'ang era.era. Instead,Instead, P'angP'ang createdcreated aa sanghasangha ofof familyfamily andand friendsfriends andand fellofelloww wandererwandererss alonalongg ththee wayway.. HiHiss lifelife waswas setset againstagainst aa tumultuoustumultuous periodperiod inin T'angT'ang history,history, spanningspanning thethe yearsyears 740(?)-740(F)- 811811,, aa timtimee characterizecharacterizedd bbyy ConfuciaConfuciann courcourtt rulerule,, highighh cultureculture andand literacy,literacy, almostalmost continuouscontinuous internalinternal rebellion,rebellion, andand crush-crush• inging ChineseChinese militarymilitary losseslosses toto CentralCentral AsianAsian invaders.invaders. IInn 712,712, afterafter thethe fallfall ofof thethe ferventfervent BuddhistBuddhist EmpressEmpress Wu,Wu, thethe thronethrone waswas takentaken byby Hsuan-tsung,Hsuan-tsung, whosewhose forty-four-yearforty-four-year rulerule waswas ttoo bebe thethe longestlongest ofof thethe entireentire T'angT'ang dynasty.dynasty. Revers-Revers• inging hishis predecessor'spredecessor's BuddhistBuddhist policy,policy, Hsuan-tsungHsuan-tsung restoredrestored bothboth TaoismTaoism anandd ConfucianismConfucianism ttoo theirtheir formerformer positionspositions ofof influence.influence. ThougThoughh hehe diddid notnot activelyactively persecutepersecute thethe Buddhists,Buddhists, politicspolitics leledd hihimm toto regulateregulate thethe vastvast socialsocial andand economiceconomic powerpower ofof ththee clergclergyy bbyy defrockindefrockingg thirtthirtyy thousanthousandd monkmonkss anandd prohib-prohib• itingiting thethe constructionconstruction ofof newnew temples.temples. AnyAny repairsrepairs neededneeded onon oldold templestemples werewere subjectsubject toto reviewreview byby governmentgovernment officials,officials, andand smallsmall shrineshriness werweree nnoo longelongerr permittepermittedd independentindependent statusstatus butbut werewere incorporatedincorporated byby largerlarger temples.temples. MonasteryMonastery realreal prop-prop• Te-tsungTe-tsung iinn power,power, andand hehe managedmanaged toto regainregain bureaucraticbureaucratic ertyerty waswas limited,limited, andand monksmonks andand nunsnuns werewere prohibitedprohibited fromfrom controlcontrol ofof thethe empireempire byby enactingenacting aa system system ofo fsuccessful successful preachinpreachingg throughouthroughoutt thethe countrysidecountryside andand fromfrom sellingselling Bud-Bud• financialfinancial reformsreforms.. Eventually,Eventually, however,however, Te-tsungTe-tsung felfelll undeunderr thethe dhisdhistt booksbooks andand imagesimages onon citycity streets.streets. ByBy 747,747, allall clericalclerical dominationdomination ofof thethe militarymilitary courtcourt eunuchseunuchs whomwhom hehe hadhad em-em• certificatecertificatess werweree grante grantedd b byy governmengovernmentt ordeorderr onlyonly,, anandd mo-mo• poweredpowered ttoo maintainmaintain civilcivil order.order. HisHis briefbrief successor,successor, Shun-Shun- nastinasticc institutioninstitutionss werewere subjectsubject toto heavyheavy taxes.taxes. tsung,tsung, couldcould notnot rule,rule, andand soso waswas oustedousted andand ultimatelyultimately Hsuan-tsunHsuan-tsungg metmet hishis defeatdefeat asas aa resultresult ofof thethe machinationsmachinations replacedreplaced bbyy Hsien-tsungHsien-tsung,, ththee emperoemperorr whowho ruledruled duringduring thethe ooff hishis favoritefavorite concubine,concubine, thethe stunningstunning youngyoung YangYang Kuei-fei.Kuei-fei. lastlast yearyearss ooff LaymaLaymann P'ang' P'ang'ss life—life-aa timetime ofof reemergingreemerging local,local, ForceForcedd bbyy hishis ownown militarymilitary advisorsadvisors toto havehave herher beheadedbeheaded asas small-scalesmall-scale sociasociall organizationorganization.. WitWithh nono Confucian-inspiredConfucian-inspired ththee courtcourt fledfled fromfrom pursuingpursuing barbarianbarbarian armies,armies, thethe emperoremperor restrictionsrestrictions issuinissuingg frofromm thethe centralcentral government,government, regionalregional surrenderesurrenderedd hishis powerpower toto hishis generals,generals, thusthus pavingpaving thethe wayway forfor merchantsmerchants developeddeveloped theitheirr owownn marketsmarkets,, anandd tradtradee burgeoned.burgeoned. ththee AnAn Lu-shanLu-shan rebellionrebellion ooff 755.755. InIn 763,763, thethe TibetansTibetans con-con• ThThee emphasisemphasis oonn agricultureagriculture gavegave wawayy ttoo commerce,commerce, andand aa querequeredd ththee greatgreat westernwestern capitacapitall citcityy ooff Ch'ang-anCh'ang-an,, andand Hsien-Hsien- neneww systemsystem ofof silversilver coinagecoinage replacedreplaced ththee oldold ricerice currency.currency. tsungtsung,, thethe newnew emperor,emperor, turnedturned toto thethe northernnorthern barbariansbarbarians forfor StringStringss ofof cashcash nownow becamebecame thethe meansmeans ofof exchange,exchange, symbol-symbol• helphelp.. ItIt waswas a timetime ofof rapidlyrapidly shiftingshifting loyaltiesloyalties inin civilcivil govern-govern• izinizingg ththee breakdownbreakdown ofof entrenchedentrenched hierarchicalhierarchical rankinrankingg thatthat mentment,, religion,religion, andand nationalnational identity.identity. ForFor thethe ordinaryordinary layper-layper• hahadd precedeprecededd thethe AnAn Lu-shanLu-shan rebellion.rebellion. sosonn iitt meantmeant heavyheavy taxation,taxation, twentytwenty daysdays a yearyear ofof serviceservice toto IItt waswas notnot uncommonuncommon forfor menmen likelike P'angP'ang Yun,Yun, sonson ofof aa ththee state,state, andand aa serpentineserpentine bureaucracybureaucracy thatthat ruledruled everyevery aspectaspect provincialprovincial ConfuciaConfuciann administratoradministrator,, toto growgrow disillusioneddisillusioned withwith ooff one'sone's dailydaily life.life. ththee lightning-speelightning-speedd shiftshiftss iinn politicpoliticss anandd ththee economeconomyy anandd jusjustt AfteAfterr ththee AnAn Lu-shanLu-shan rebellionrebellion ofof 755,755, thethe systemsystem cracked.cracked. optopt outout ofof thethe system.system. TheThe resultingresulting dearthdearth ofof locallocal bureaucratsbureaucrats A revivedrevived BuddhismBuddhism,, whicwhichh hahadd flourishedflourished wit withh ththee helhelpp ofof thusthus placedplaced thethe dailydaily administrativeadministrative authorityauthority ofof provincialprovincial ththee powerpower elite,elite, loslostt itsits philosophicalphilosophical andand aristocraticaristocratic cast,cast, townstowns squarelysquarely inin thethe handshands ofof militarymilitary officialsofficials likelike YuYu TiTi,, thethe leavinleavingg behinbehindd onlonlyy populapopularr sectsectss liklikee Ch'aCh'ann (Zen)(Zen) forfor peoplepeople governorgovernor ooff Hu-choHu-chouu anandd Su-chou,Su-chou, ZeZenn frienfriendd anandd patropatronn ofof iinn ththee countrysidecountryside.. NNoo longelongerr hamperehamperedd bbyy courcourtt splendosplendorr andand LaymanLayman P'angP'ang.. YuYu TTii ruleruledd withwith anan ironiron fist.fist. HeHe conqueredconquered thethe metaphysicalmetaphysical intricacyintricacy,, ththee BuddhisBuddhismm ooff ththee neneww ordeorderr empha-empha• rebelliourebelliouss WWuu Shao-ch'engShao-ch'eng,, governogovernorr ooff aa neighborinneighboringg prov-prov• sizesizedd ththee ordinarordinaryy lifelife ofof ordinaryordinary peoplepeople andand tooktook aa simpler,simpler, inceince,, andand,, forfor hishis performance,performance, receivedreceived thethe protectionprotection ofof nono mormoree humanehumane approachapproach toto humanhuman affairs.affairs. lessless thathann EmperoEmperorr Tc-tsungTe-tsung himself.himself. OfOf CentralCentral AsianAsian origins,origins, MosMostt ooff LaymanLayman P'ang'P'ang'ss ZenZen careercareer waswas spentspent duringduring thethe thisthis quitequite remarkableremarkable manman reversedreversed hishis cruelcruel andand arbitraryarbitrary reigreignn ofof EmperorEmperor Te-tsungTe-tsung (779-805),(779-805), whosewhose strong-armstrong-arm tac-tac• persecutionpersecution ooff locallocal BuddhistBuddhistss whewhenn hehe waswas convertedconverted toto thethe ticticss anandd bolsterebolsteredd palacpalacee armarmyy provokeprovokedd rebelliorebellionn throughouthroughoutt faithfaith bbyy Tsu-yuTsu-yu Ho-shang,Ho-shang, oneone ofof thethe successorssuccessors ofof ZenZen mastermaster ththee empire.empire. TheThe situationsituation waswas soso volatilevolatile thatthat allall provincialprovincial BasoBaso (Ma-tsu).(Ma-tsu). BecomingBecoming asas ardentardent a ZenZen practitionerpractitioner asas hehe governorsgovernors werewere expecteexpectedd ttoo combinecombine civilcivil administrationadministration withwith hadhad beenbeen a persecutor,persecutor, YuYu TTii befriendedbefriended LaymaLaymann P'angP'ang,, visit-visit• militarmilitaryy rulerule.. SSoo stringentstringent werewere ththee emperor'semperor's attemptsattempts atat iningg withwith himhim dailydaily andand engagingengaging inin livelylively dharmadharma dialogues.dialogues. reducinreducingg ththee regionaregionall economieconomicc anandd politicapoliticall autonomautonomyy thatthat WhenWhen P'anP'angg died,died, itit waswas thethe governorgovernor whowho compiledcompiled thethe onlyonly hahadd prevailedprevailed beforbeforee ththee AAnn Lu-shaLu-shann rebelliorebellionn thatthat,, iinn 781781,, thethe remainingremaining recordrecord ofof thethe greatgreat laylay ZenZen man'sman's career.career. northeasternortheasternn provinceprovincess responderespondedd bbyy gatheringatheringg ttoo makemake warwar ConsiderConsider thethe situationsituation ofof thethe averageaverage ChineseChinese laymanlayman ofof thethe onon thethe thone.thone. ButBut dissensiondissension amongamong thethe rebelsrebels themselvesthemselves keptkept timetime.. PeasantsPeasants werweree forceforcedd ttoo becombecomee tenantenantt laborerslaborers,, workingworking

10 Crazy CloudsClouds I P'ang YunYun 11ii oftenoften asas indenturedindentured propertyproperty forfor landholders,landholders, who,who, withwith thethe andand hishis familfamilyy movemovedd whewhenn hihiss fathefatherr wawass promotepromotedd ttoo prefectprefect increasincreasee iinn sociasociall mobilitymobility,, hahadd builbuiltt vastvast estates,estates, creatingcreating a ofof ththee citycity ooff Hung-yangHung-yang.. NothingNothing unusualunusual marksmarks thethe storystory ofof neneww provinciaprovinciall elitelitee ououtt ooff whawhatt waswas onceonce itselfitself a poorpoor,, land-land- P'angP'ang Yun'sYun's earlyearly years:years: hhee diddid allall thethe appropriateappropriate ConfucianConfucian hungrhungryy caste.caste. TheThe southsouth becamebecame thethe centercenter ofof thethe saltsalt trade,trade, things-marrying,things—marrying, settingsetting upup aa business,business, andand fatheringfathering a whilwhilee KiangsiKiangsi,, sitsitee ooff ththee monastermonasteryy ofof ZeZenn mastermaster Baso,Baso, waswas daughtedaughterr anandd a son.son. ItIt waswas onlyonly shortlyshortly afterafter hishis marriage,marriage, famoufamouss aass China'China'ss greatesgreatestt tea-producintea-producingg regionregion.. SmallSmall marketmarket thoughthough,, thatthat hehe beganbegan toto exhibitexhibit whatwhat hishis neighborsneighbors surelysurely centercenterss dominatedominatedd ththee businesb-inesss ofof thethe day,day, helpinghelping toto increaseincrease regarderegardedd asas excessiveexcessive concerconcernn foforr spirituaspirituall matters,matters, addingadding a ththee spreadspread ofof small-tov.small-tow na urbanizationurbanization,, witwithh mostmost citiescities dou-dou• littllittlee hermitaghermitagee ontontoo hishis houshousee anandd retreatinretreatingg therethere toto meditatemeditate blinblingg asas garrisongarrisonss foforr thethe ubiquitousubiquitous armedarmed forces.forces. Self-reliant,Self-reliant, inin thethe companycompany ofof hihiss wifewife,, sonson,, andand daughterdaughter.. Here,Here, hehe wrotewrote thesthesee smalsmalll urbaurbann centerscenters providedprovided thethe averageaverage citizencitizen witwithh thethe poetrpoetryy andand philosophized.philosophized. "How"How difficultdifficult itit is!is! HoHoww difficultdifficult iitt necessitienecessitiess ooff lifelife,, workwork,, barter,barter, socialsocial intercourse,intercourse, andand reli-reli• is!is! MMyy studiestudiess araree liklikee dryindryingg ththee fibersfibers ooff tetenn thousanthousandd poundspounds gion.gion. TaxesTaxes onon merchantsmerchants werewere especiallyespecially heavy;heavy; nnoo wonderwonder ofof flaxflax bbyy hanginghanging thethemm iinn ththee sun."sun." ToTo this,this, hishis wifewife re-re• thatthat soso manymany wealthywealthy businessmenbusinessmen encouragedencouraged theitheirr sonssons toto spondedsponded,, "Easy,"Easy, easy,easy, easy.easy. It'sIt's likelike touchingtouching youryour feetfeet toto thethe escapeescape sociasociall discriminatiodiscriminationn bbyy takingtaking governmentgovernment examina-examina• groungroundd whenwhen youyou getget outout ofof bed.bed. I'veI've foundfound thethe teachingteaching rightright tionstions andand risingrising toto bureaucraticbureaucratic oror scholarlyscholarly statusstatus.. IInn lighlightt ofof iinn ththee topstops ofof floweringflowering plants.plants. "" thethe tenuoustenuous situationsituation enduredendured byby mostmost ordinaryordinary peoplepeople livingliving P'ang'P'ang'ss spirituallyspiritually giftedgifted daughter,daughter, Ling-chao,Ling-chao, whowho wawass toto duringduring thesethese transitionaltransitional years,years, withwith aa centralcentral governmentgovernment accompanaccompanyy hihimm aass hihiss dharmdharmaa companiocompanionn throughouthroughoutt hishis life,life, breakingbreaking downdown aroundaround them,them, aa fragmentedfragmented socialsocial structure,structure, remarkedremarked,, "My"My studystudy isis neitherneither difficultdifficult nornor easy.easy. WhenWhen I amam anandd a fractioufractiouss armarmyy stationedstationed everywhere,everywhere, iitt iiss amazinamazingg thathatt a hungry,hungry, II eat.eat. WhenWhen II amam tired,tired, II rest."rest." ScantScant referencereference isis mademade giftegiftedd ZeZenn laymalaymann liklikee P'anPangg YunYun dididd notnot seekseek refugerefuge iinn aa toto PangP'ang Yuri'sYun's son,son, Keng-huo,Keng-huo, whowho remainedremained atat homehome toto carecare monasterymonastery.. forfor MadamMadam P'angP'ang byby hiringhiring himselfhimself outout asas aa farmerfarmer when,when, HeHe waswas bornborn somewheresomewhere aroundaround thethe yearyear 74o740 andand dieddied aa sometimsometimee betweenbetween 785785 anandd 790790,, hihiss fathefatherr donatedonatedd theitheirr househouse weeweekk afteafterr a solarsolar eclipseeclipse ooff 3 AugustAugust 8o8,808, onlyonly a fewfew yearsyears foforr a templetemple,, filledfilled aa boaboatt witwithh alalll ititss contentscontents,, dumpedumpedd themthem beforbeforee RinzaRinzaii wawass bornborn.. TheThe brilliantbrilliant andand livelylively ZenZen centerscenters intintoo ththee RiverRiver ShaoShao,, andand,, alongalong witwithh Ling-chao,Ling-chao, tootookk toto thethe stemminstemmingg fromfrom thethe lineslines ofof "dharma"dharma grandfathers"grandfathers" BasoBaso andand road.road. ToTo supportsupport themselvesthemselves onon theirtheir pilgrimage,pilgrimage, fatherfather andand SekitoSekito (Shih-t'ou),(Shih-t'ou), andand placedplaced iinn thethe handshands ofof HyakujoHyakujo (Pai-(Pai- daughterdaughter fashionedfashioned bambobambooo utensils,utensils, whicwhichh theythey soldsold inin thethe chang),chang), YakusanYakusan (Yueh-shan),(Yueh-shan), NanseNansenn (Nan-ch'uan),(Nan-ch'uan), andand locallocal markemarkett towns.towns. equallequallyy luminouluminouss othersothers,, werewere hishis trainingtraining ground.ground. P'ang'sP'ang's IInn 786786,, P'anPangg YunYun appearedappeared aatt ththee MounMountt Nan-yuehNan-yueh monas-monas• dedicationdedication t oto lalayy ZeZenn placedplaced hihimm amonamongg aa groupgroup ofof thethe terteryy ofof MasterMaster SekitoSekito anandd askeaskedd himhim:: "Wh"Whoo iiss ththee mamann whowho BuddhisBuddhistt faithfulfaithful calledcalled chu-shih,chu-shih, practitionerpractitionerss whowho rejectedrejected thethe doesn'doesn'tt accompanyaccompany ththee tenten thousandthousand dharmas?"dharmas?" SckitoSekito re-re• formalformal lifelife ooff ththee monasterymonastery andand generallygenerally preferredpreferred toto remainremain spondespondedd bbyy puttinputtingg hihiss hanhandd oonn P'ang'sP'ang's mouth,mouth, andand thethe outsideoutside thethe ChineseChinese religiousreligious establishment.establishment. BuButt thithiss diddid notnot LaymaLaymann wawass instantlinstantlyy enlightenedenlightened.. HeHe remainedremained withwith SekitoSekito stostopp seekerseekerss liklikee LaymaLaymann P'an P'angg frofromm studyinstudyingg witwithh thethe variousvarious foforr a yearyear,, practicingpracticing ZeZenn amongamong thethe monksmonks asas aa laylay student.student. ZeZenn mastersmasters ooff thethe day,day, remainingremaining inin monasteriesmonasteries foforr briefbrief OneOne dayday thethe mastermaster askedasked him,him, "How"How havehave youyou practicedpracticed ZenZen periodsperiods andand thenthen movingmoving onon toto sharpensharpen theirtheir realization.realization. sincesince comincomingg herheree ttoo thithiss mountain?"mountain?" GiveGivenn ththee namnamee P'anP'angg Yun,Yun, LoftLoftyy InteriorInterior,, ththee onlonlyy sonson ofof a P'anPangg replied,replied, "There's"There's nothingnothing II cancan saysay aboutabout mymy dailydaily ConfuciaConfuciann small-townsmall-town bureaucratbureaucrat inin Hsiang-yang,Hsiang-yang, thethe LaymanLayman activities. "

12 Crazy CloudsClouds P'an,P'ang YunYun 13 "It's"It's preciselyprecisely becausebecause I knoknoww thathatt youyou can'tcan't useuse wordswords thatthat whwhoo hahadd workedworked asas a dayday laborelaborerr aatt Baso'sBaso's monastery,monastery, wherewhere I askask you,you,"" saidsaid Sekito.Sekito. he'he'dd beenbeen convincedconvinced ttoo shaveshave hihiss heaheadd anandd becomebecome a monk.monk. InIn response,response, P'angP'ang producedproduced aa poempoem whosewhose lastlast twotwo lineslines Tan-hsiaTan-hsia T'ien-jaT'ien jann (better(better knownknown byby hishis JapaneseJapanese namename Tanka,Tanka, havehave becombecomee ZeZenn watchwords.watchwords. anandd famoufamouss foforr burninburningg a woodenwooden BuddhBuddhaa imagimagee toto keepkeep fromfrom freezinfreezingg oonn a wintewinterr night)night) waswas aa livelylively poepoett andand unorthodoxunorthodox MyMy dailydaily activitiesactivities areare notnot unusual,unusual, monmonkk who,who, thoughthough hehe spentspent muchmuch ofof hishis timtimee wanderinwanderingg withwith I'I'mm jusjustt naturallnaturallyy iinn harmonharmonyy withwith them.them. P'anP'angg andand Ling-chao,Ling-chao, eventuallyeventually becamebecame oneone ofof Baso'sBaso's dharmadharma GraspinGraspingg nothingnothing,, discardingdiscarding nothing.nothing. heirsheirs.. ThThee twotwo goodgood friendsfriends traveledtraveled frofromm monastermonasteryy ttoo mon-mon• IInn evereveryy placplacee there'there'ss nnoo hindrance,hindrance, nono conflict.conflict. asteryastery,, testingtesting theirtheir ZenZen witwit againstagainst allall whowho wouldwould taketake themthem MMyy supernaturalsupernatural powerpower andand marvelousmarvelous activity:activity: onon,, and,and, alongalong withwith Ling-chao,Ling-chao, engagedengaged eacheach otheotherr iinn informalinformal DrawinDrawingg waterwater andand choppingchopping wood.wood. dharmdharmaa combacombatt onon thethe road.road. MeanwhileMeanwhile,, bacbackk homehome,, MadaMadamm P'anFangg continuedcontinued toto practicepractice SekitoSekito offereofferedd ttoo makmakee hihimm a monkmonk then,then, butbut thethe LaymanLayman ZenZen inin thethe companycompany ofof herher son.son. AA charmingcharming exampleexample ofof herher refused,refused, saying,saying, "I'll"I'll dodo whatwhat II like."like." HisHis nextnext stopstop waswas KiaugsiKiangsi enlightenedenlightened understandingunderstanding appears appear sin i nYu Y uTi's Ti' Recordeds Recorded SayingsSayings andand thethe monasterymonastery ofof thethe greatgreat Baso.Baso. of Layman P'ang. Pang. OnOnee dadayy shshee broughbroughtt a foodfood offeringoffering toto aa HereHere,, hehe encounteredencountered ththee mastermaster inin hishis firstfirst interview,interview, locallocal BuddhisBuddhistt templtemplee anandd wawass askeaskedd bbyy ththee priestpriest forfor thethe askingasking,, "Wha"Whatt kindkind ofof manman isis iitt thathatt hashas nnoo companiocompanionn amongamong purposepurpose ooff thethe offeringoffering ssoo thatthat hehe mightmight postpost herher namename andand ththee tetenn thousandthousand things?"things?" BasoBaso said,said, "Swallow"Swallow upup allall thethe waterwater thusthus "transfe"transferr heherr meritmerit"" fromfrom herselfherself ttoo othersothers.. MadaMadamm P'anPangg iinn ththee WesWestt RiveRiverr i nin ononee gulpgulp,, anandd I'lI'lll teltelll you.you."" AtAt this,this, P'angP'ang tooktook herher comb,comb, stuckstuck itit inin thethe backback ofof herher hair,hair, andand announced,announced, experienceexperiencedd stilstilll deepedeeperr realizatiorealizationn anandd decidedecidedd ttoo stastayy oonn foforr a "Transference"Transference ooff meritmerit isis accomplished!"accomplished!" SinceSince biographicalbiographical whilewhile,, agaiagainn aass a laylay practitioner.practitioner. AfteAfterr a year,year, Baso,Baso, too,too, informatioinformationn abouaboutt thethe P'angP'ang family'sfamily's dharmadharma andand daily-lifedaily-life offereofferedd hihimm ththee blackblack robrobee ofof aa monkmonk inin exchangeexchange forfor hishis activitieactivitiess iiss limitedlimited,, wwee cacann onlonlyy assumassumee thathatt thetheyy dididd notnot splitsplit "pauper's"pauper's whitewhite robe,"robe," andand onceonce againagain PangP'ang refused.refused. PerfectlyPerfectly uupp anandd ggoo theirtheir ownown ways,ways, bubutt ratherrather thatthat theythey werewere inin contactcontact confident in his Zen understanding, he challenged Baso, say• confident in his Zen understanding, he challenged Baso, say- anandd thatthat eacheach maintainedmaintained theirtheir practicepractice inin theirtheir preferredpreferred ing, "A man of unobscured original nature asks you to please ing, "A man of unobscured original nature asks you to please style—Madastyle-Madamm PangP'ang andand herher sonson asas farmers,farmers, andand PangP'ang andand look upward." look upward." hihiss daughtedaughterr aass peddlerspeddlers.. P'anPangg andand Ling-chaoLing-chao eventuallyeventually set-set• BasoBaso lookelookedd straightstraight down.down. tletledd downdown,, makingmaking theirtheir homehome inin aa rockrock cavecave twentytwenty milesmiles PangP'ang said,said, "You"You alonealone playplay marvelouslymarvelously oonn ththee lute."lute." soutsouthh ooff Hsiang-yang.Hsiang-yang. Here,Here, theythey werewere visitedvisited dailydaily byby thethe BasoBaso lookelookedd straightstraight up.up. prefecprefectt YYuu Ti Ti,, ththee outspokeoutspokenn officiaofficiall anandd part-timpart-timee ZeZenn practi-practi• FangP'ang mademade aa lowlow bow,bow, andand BasoBaso returnedreturned toto hishis room.room. tionertioner whowho compiledcompiled P'ang'P'ang'ss deeds,deeds, poetry,poetry, andand dharmadharma wis-wis• TheThe LaymanLayman saidsaid,, "Jus"Justt nonoww bunglebungledd iitt tryintryingg ttoo bbee smart.smart."" dom.dom. ThisThis playfulplayful dialogudialoguee exhibitexhibitss ththee guesguestt anandd hoshostt metaphormetaphor TheThe locallocal peoplpeoplee musmustt havhavee thoughthoughtt ththee P'anFangg familyfamily oddodd soso prominentprominent inin ZenZen koanskoans ofof thethe BasoBaso school.school. InIn thisthis case,case, indeed.indeed. TheTheyy hadhad givengiven upup thethe relativelyrelatively comfortablecomfortable bureau-bureau• eacheach persopersonn assumesassumes ononee ofof thethe rolesroles andand exchangesexchanges itit again,again, crat'scrat's liflifee foforr indenturindenturee andand itinerancy,itinerancy, andand soso removedremoved them-them• flipping comfortablcomfortablyy betweebetweenn emptinesemptinesss anandd forformm iinn a dramadrama selveselvess frofromm theitheirr sociasociall spherspheree anandd puputt themselvethemselvess iinn dangedangerr ooff thatthat perfectlyperfectly integrateintegratess thethemm both.both. starvingstarving.. ThougThoughh ConfucianConfucian inin upbringing,upbringing, theythey identifiedidentified IInn hishis travels,travels, P'anFangg mademade friendsfriends withwith anan itinerantitinerant seekerseeker themselvesthemselves aass BuddhistsBuddhists,, yeyett refuserefusedd ttoo becombecomee monkmonkss andand

14 Crazy CloudsClouds I P'angPang YunYun 1515 nunsnuns.. ThoughThough hehe hadhad achievedachieved enlightenedenlightened ZeZenn mastermaster statusstatus firewood,firewood, performedperformed aa cremationcremation ceremonyceremony,, andand observedobserved thethe anandd approvaapprovall frofromm nnoo lessless thathann SekitoSekito anandd BasoBaso,, P'anFangg gavegave traditionaltraditional mourningmourning periodperiod ofof sevenseven daysdays beforbeforee dyindyingg himselfhimself nnoo lecturelecturess anandd builbuiltt uupp nnoo circlecircle ooff disciplesdisciples.. HHee dididd nonott carrycarry iinn thethe companycompany ofof GovernorGovernor YuYu Ti.Ti. YuYu hadhad comcomee ttoo askask howhow ththee traditionaltraditional jinglinjinglingg belbelll stafstafff ooff ththee BuddhisBuddhistt pilgrimpilgrim,, butbut hhee waswas.. P'anP'angg putput hishis headhead oonn hihiss friend'friend'ss kneeknee,, sayingsaying,, ""II begbeg ratheratherr thethe straightstraight plainplain bamboobamboo stickstick ofof thethe ordinaryordinary traveler.traveler. yoyouu toto jusjustt seesee allall existenexistentt phenomenphenomenaa asas emptemptyy andand toto bewarebeware HHee worworee hihiss whitwhitee commoner'commoner'ss caftan—whiccaftan-whichh hehe calledcalled "my"my ooff takintakingg asas realreal allall thathatt isis nonexistentnonexistent.. TakeTake carcaree ooff yourselyourselff inin seamlesseamlesss rob robee o off Emptiness"—withou Emptiness"-withoutt anyany desiredesire oror ambitionambition thithiss worlworldd ofof shadowsshadows anandd echoes.echoes."" ThenThen hehe peacefullypeacefully passedpassed toto exchangeexchange iitt forfor thethe blackblack roberobe thatthat wouldwould assureassure hishis ZenZen awayaway.. YYuu T Tii performeperformedd ththee crematiocremationn riteritess anandd hadhad wordword sentsent reputation.reputation. TheThe ChineseChinese hadhad littlelittle respectrespect forfor whitewhite clothing;clothing; toto MadamMadam P'ang.P'ang. toto thisthis dayday itit isis stillstill emblematiemblematicc ooff mourninmourningg oror frugality.frugality. WheWhenn ththee Layman'sLayman's wifwifee hearheardd ooff bothboth deaths,deaths, sheshe ex-ex• ThThee ChodangChodang chip,chip, a a Korea Koreann histor historyy ooff ChinesChinesee ZeZenn mastersmasters claimed,claimed, "Tha"Thatt stupidstupid girlgirl andand ignorantignorant oldold mamann havehave gonegone compiledcompiled iinn 952,952, describesdescribes thethe LaymanLayman asas "Confucian"Confucian inin awaawayy withouwithoutt tellingtelling meme.. HowHow unbearable!"unbearable!" SeekingSeeking ououtt herher appearanceappearance,, hihiss minmindd sportinsportingg outsideoutside ofof objects,objects, hihiss feelingsfeelings sosonn Keng-huKeng-huoo iinn ththee fielfieldd wherwheree hhee wawass hoeinghoeing,, shshee toltoldd himhim unrestrained,unrestrained, andand hishis conducconductt fittinfittingg witwithh ththee trutruee purport.purport."" ItIt ththee newsnews.. P'ang'P'ang'ss sonson putput downdown hishis hoehoe and,and, sighingsighing once,once, goegoess oonn toto characterizecharacterize P'ang'P'ang'ss liflifee aass "turbid"turbid"" andand hishis attain-attain• diediedd oonn thethe spot.spot. MadamMadam P'angP'ang tooktook carecare ofof hishis cremationcremation menmentt asas "mystery-learned,""mystery-learned," hishis behaviorbehavior asas "easy"easy every-every• ceremoniesceremonies,, thethenn bibidd farewelfarewelll ttoo heherr friendfriendss anandd wanderewanderedd offoff where"—witwhere"-withh Confucians Confucians asas wellwell asas withwith Taoists,Taoists, withwith mili-mili• toto aa hermitage.hermitage. SheShe waswas nevernever hearheardd frofromm againagain.. ThThee endend ofof tartaryy governorsgovernors andand children,children, withwith hishis fellowfellow peddlerspeddlers,, and,and, thethe eccentriceccentric P'anPangg familyfamily waswas notnot muchmuch differentdifferent fromfrom thethe equally,equally, witwithh thethe mostmost illustriousillustrious ofof ZenZen masters.masters. HisHis friendfriend wayway thetheyy hadhad lived:lived: deeply,deeply, simply,simply, andand withoutwithout leavingleaving aa andand biographerbiographer YuYu TiTi characterizescharacterizes hihimm asas a "householding"householding trace.trace. P'ang'sP'ang's verseverse commemoratingcommemorating hishis radicalradical lifestyle,lifestyle, hishis

Bodhisattva,,, Bodhisattva," a ChinesChinesee incarnatioincarnationn ofof thethe IndianIndian BuddhistBuddhist laylay counter-Confuciacounter-Confuciann approac approachh t oto ChinesChinesee custom—whiccustom-whichh de-de• teacheteacherr Vimalakirti.Vimalakirti. mandemandedd absolutabsolutee conformitconformityy ttoo stationstation iinn family,family, temple,temple, andand AfteAfterr twtwoo yearsyears inin thethe rockrock cavecave nearnear hishis hometownhometown ofof community—simultaneouslcommunity-simultaneouslyy reflectsreflects hishis socialsocial testamenttestament andand Hsiang-yang,Hsiang-yang, thethe LaymanLayman decideddecided iitt waswas timetime toto die.die. SittingSitting hihiss Zen.Zen. dowdownn iinn zazenzazen (sittin(sittingg meditation)meditation),, hhee instructeinstructedd hihiss daughterdaughter Ling-chaLing-chaoo ttoo ggoo outsideoutside anandd comecome bacbackk ttoo informinform himhim whenwhen I havehave aa boboyy whwhoo hashas nono bride,bride, ththee sunsun hadhad reachedreached ititss zenithzenith.. AAtt twelve,twelve, hhee woulwouldd diedie.. Ling-Ling- I havhavee aa girgirll whwhoo hashas nnoo groom;groom; chachaoo wentwent outout andand camecame backback almostalmost immediately,immediately, saying,saying, ForminFormingg a happyhappy familyfamily circle,circle, "It'"It'ss alreadyalready noonnoon,, andand there'sthere's anan eclipseeclipse ooff ththee sunsun.. ComeCome andand WWee speaspeakk abouaboutt ththee Unborn.Unborn. look.look."" "I"Iss thatthat so?"so?" saidsaid P'ang.P'ang. LaymaLaymann P'ang'P'ang'ss ZeZenn teachingteaching iiss embodiedembodied iinn storystory andand "Oh"Oh,, yes."yes." poepoemm ratheratherr thanthan inin sermons.sermons. HisHis spiritualspiritual experienceexperience isis thethe ThThee LaymanLayman rosrosee frofromm hihiss seaseatt anandd wenwentt ttoo ththee windowwindow.. AtAt stuffstuff ooff koanskoans.. HeHe isis foreverforever comincomingg andand going,going, nownow engagingengaging thathatt moment,moment, Ling-chaoLing-chao jumpedjumped intointo hishis vacantvacant place,place, crossedcrossed thethe monksmonks ofof MasterMaster YakusanYakusan inin aa dialoguedialogue aboutabout snowflakes,snowflakes, heherr legslegs,, andand,, instantly,instantly, died.died. WhenWhen P'anPangg returnedreturned andand sawsaw nownow sportingsporting withwith hishis friendfriend Tanka;Tanka; alwaysalways iinn ththee spiritspirit ofof whawhatt hadhad happened,happened, hehe said,said, "My"My daughter'sdaughter's wayway waswas alwaysalways livingliving realization.realization. quickquick.. NoNoww she'sshe's gonegone aheaaheadd ooff me.me."" HeHe wentwent out,out, gatheredgathered OneOne day,day, whenwhen TankaTanka camcamee ttoo visivisitt P'anFangg inin hishis cavecave,, thethe

16 Crazy CloudsClouds 11 PangP'ang YunYun 17IJ LaymanLayman didn'tdidn't getget upup fromfrom hishis seat.seat. TankaTanka raisedraised hishis flyfly whisk,whisk, TheThe LaymanLayman takestakes bacbackk hihiss capcap,, putputss iitt onon Tanka'sTanka's head,head, andand symbolsymbol ofof ththee ZeZenn master'master'ss authorityauthority.. P'anPangg raisedraised hishis woodenwooden sayssays,, "An"Andd you'reyou're jusjustt likelike a younyoungg layman."layman." hammerhammer.. "Yessir,"Yessir, yessir!"yessir!" TankaTanka laughinglylaughingly agrees.agrees. "Jus"Justt thisthis,, oror isis therethere somethingsomething else?"else?" TankaTanka asked.asked. "You"You stilstilll havhavee ththee old-timold-timee spirit,spirit,"" sayssays P'ang.P'ang. AndAnd TankaTanka "Seein"Seeingg yoyouu thisthis timetime isis nonott thethe samesame asas seeinseeingg yoyouu before,"before," throwthrowss dowdownn thethe cap,cap, saying,saying, "It'"It'ss veryvery muchmuch likelike anan official'sofficial's saisaidd P'ang.P'ang. cap. " "G"Goo andand belittlebelittle mymy reputationreputation asas youyou please,"please," saidsaid Tanka.Tanka. "Yessir"Yessir,, yessir!yessir!"" echoesechoes thethe Layman.Layman. ""AA littlelittle whilewhile agoago youyou werewere bestedbested byby mymy daughter,"daughter," "Ho"Howw cancan II forgetforget thethe old-timeold-time spirit?"spirit?" says says Tanka.Tanka. replierepliedd ththee Layman.Layman. P'angP'ang snapssnaps hishis fingersfingers threethree times,times, saying,saying, "Moving"Moving heaven,heaven, "I"Iff that'sthat's so,so, thenthen you'veyou've shutshut meme up,"up," TankaTanka said.said. movingmoving earth."earth." "You'r"You'ree dumdumbb becausebecause ooff youyourr intrinsicintrinsic nature,nature, andand nownow EncasedEncased iinn aann apparentlyapparently rollickingrollicking confrontation,confrontation, thisthis dis-dis• yoyouu afflicafflictt mmee witwithh dumbness."dumbness." courscoursee witwithh mimemime isis concernedconcerned withwith nothingnothing lessless thanthan thethe TankTankaa threthreww downdown hishis flyfly whiskwhisk andand left.left. greagreatt truthtruthss ofof Buddhism:Buddhism: transitoriness,transitoriness, onenessoneness,, anandd empti-empti• "Master"Master Tanka!Tanka! MasterMaster Tanka!"Tanka!" P'anP'angg calledcalled afterafter him.him. ness—manifesness-manifestt realityreality displayeddisplayed inin thethe radiantlyradiantly trivialtrivial gesturegesture TankaTanka dididd notnot looklook back.back. ooff pullinpullingg offoff a friend'sfriend's cap.cap. "No"Noww he'he'ss comecome dowdownn nonott onlonlyy witwithh dumbness,dumbness, bubutt withwith IInn anotheanotherr sucsuchh meetingmeeting,, thithiss timtimee witwithh ZenZen mastermaster FujakuFujaku deafnessdeafness too!too!"" saidsaid thethe Layman.Layman. (P'u-chi)(P'u-chi),, P'anPangg asserts,asserts, "Sekito's"Sekito's doctrinedoctrine ...... meltedmelted iceice andand broke tiles." IInn sucsuchh playfulplayful interactionsinteractions,, P'anPangg andand TankaTanka expressexpress theirtheir broke tiles." totallytotally unencumberedunencumbered stylestyle ofof comingcoming andand goinggoing inin absoluteabsolute "That'"That'ss obviousobvious withoutwithout youryour mentioningmentioning it,"it," repliesreplies Fu-Fu• jakujaku.. stillness.stillness. ReversinReversingg roleroless o onn anotheanotherr dayday,, iitt iiss P'an Fangg whwhoo comescomes P'anPangg throwsthrows downdown hishis bamboobamboo basketbasket andand cries,cries, "Who'd"Who'd inin andand standsstands beforebefore TankaTanka withwith hishis handshands foldedfolded onon hishis chest.chest. havhavee thoughthoughtt iitt wasn'twasn't worthworth aa singlesingle cash!"cash!" ThisThis time,time, TankaTanka payspays nono attentionattention toto him.him. P'angP'ang leaves,leaves, thenthen FujakFujakuu saysayss sagelysagely,, "Thoug"Thoughh iitt isn'tisn't worthworth a singlesingle cash,cash, comecomess backback,, andand TankaTanka stillstill continuescontinues ttoo ignorignoree himhim.. FangP'ang hohoww cacann ononee gegett alonalongg withouwithoutt it?"it?" sitsitss down.down. SuddenlySuddenly TankTankaa standstandss uupp beforbeforee hihimm withwith hishis ToTo thithiss PangP'ang showsshows hishis agreementagreement byby doingdoing aa dancedance andand handhandss foldedfolded.. AfterAfter a minuteminute oror so,so, hehe justjust asas suddenlysuddenly walkswalks leaving.leaving. bacbackk intintoo hihiss room.room. AsAs hhee headheadss outout,, FujakuFujaku holdsholds upup thethe basketbasket andand recallsrecalls himhim ""II comecome in,in, youyou gogo out!"out!" criescries thethe Layman.Layman. "We"We aren'taren't bbyy shoutingshouting,, "Layman!""Layman!" gettingettingg anywhere."anywhere." P'angP'ang turnsturns toto look,look, andand thisthis timetime FujakuFujaku doesdoes a dancedance andand "This old gent comes in and goes out, comes in and goes "This old gent comes in and goes out, comes in and goes leavesleaves.. out-when will it end?" shouts Tanka from his room. out—when will it end?" shouts Tanka from his room. DelightedDelighted,, P'anFangg clapsclaps hishis hands,hands, crying,crying, "Returning"Returning home,home, "Yo"Youu haven'haven'tt gogott ththee slightesslightestt comparison,comparison,"" saysayss P'angPang.. returninreturningg home!"home!" "I've"I've gottengotten thisthis guyguy intointo suchsuch a astate!" state!" exclaims exclaims Tanka,Tanka, HereHere,, ththee twotwo ZenZen adeptsadepts celebratecelebrate comincomingg homhomee ttoo theirtheir returninreturningg frofromm hishis room.room. essentialessential naturnaturee witwithh thethe veryvery shoutsshouts andand gesturesgestures ofo flife life itself.itself. "Wha"Whatt havhavee yoyouu gotten?gotten?"" asksasks P'ang.P'ang. P'ang'f'ang'ss teachingteaching waswas informal,informal, exemplaryexemplary inin thethe truesttruest sense;sense; ImmediatelyImmediately,, TankTankaa pluckpluckss ththee cacapp frofromm P'ang'P'ang'ss headhead andand hishis lifelife waswas entirelyentirely devoteddevoted toto enactingenacting thethe ZenZen drama.drama. sayssays,, "You'r"You'ree jusjustt liklikee aann ololdd monk!"monk!" WanderingWandering frofromm hamlehamlett ttoo hamlehamlett iinn searchsearch ooff a worthyworthy foil,foil,

18 Crazy CloudsClouds P'angP'anq YunYun 19ig hhee spentspent hishis daysdays improvisinimprovisingg hishis spirituality.spirituality. FreeFree ofof monasticmonastic tl.wghterd.mghter traveletraveledd northnorth,, stoppinstoppingg toto sellsell theirtheir wareswares enen routeroute rulesrules andand hierarchicalhierarchical duties,duties, hehe dareddared toto challengechallenge thethe bestbest andand iuto Hsiang-yang,Hsiang-yang, theitheirr modmodee ooff lifelife capturedcaptured iinn thethe threethree brightestbrightest ofof hishis day.day. NorNor diddid hehe neglectneglect thethe marketplacesmarketplaces andand hundredhundred poemspoems thethe LaymanLayman pennedpenned toto describedescribe hishis mendicant,mendicant, countrycountry roads,roads, engagingengaging mendicantmendicant monksmonks andand cattlecattle herdersherders impromptu,impromptu, everydayeveryday ZenZen style.style. HereHere areare aa fewfew samples.samples. asas wellwell asas scholarsscholars anandd gentlefolkgentlefolk.. IInn ththee lecturelecture foruforumm ofof aa WelWelll verse versedd i nin ththee BuddhBuddhaa wayway,, I ggoo ththee non-Way.non-Way. towntown wherewhere professionalprofessional oratorsorators delivereddelivered sermonssermons andand dis-dis• WithouWithoutt abandoningabandoning anymy ordinarordinaryy man'sman's affairs,affairs, coursecoursess oonn ththee BuddhisBuddhistt scriptures,scriptures, hhee onceonce stoodstood listeninglistening toto ThThee conditionedconditioned andand name-and-formname-and-form allall areare flowersflowers inin thethe sky.sky. a talktalk onon TheThe DiamondDiamond Sutra.Sutra. WhenWhen thethe speakerspeaker reachedreached thethe NamelessNameless andand formless,formless, I leaveleave birth-and-deathbirth-and-death.. lineline referrinreferringg ttoo "no"no self,self, nono person,"person," thethe LaymanLayman calledcalled outout fromfrom thethe audience,audience, "Lecture"Lecture master,master, sincesince therethere isis nono selfself andand WheWhenn thethe mind'smind's asas is,is, circumstancescircumstances alsoalso areare asas is.is. nono person,person, whowho isis hehe who'swho's lecturing,lecturing, whowho isis hehe who'swho's There'There'ss nono realreal andand alsoalso nono unreal.unreal. listening?"listening?" GivinGivingg nnoo heedheed toto existenceexistence ThThee lecturelecture mastermaster hadhad nono answer,answer, andand P'angP'ang continued,continued, AnAndd holdinholdingg nonott toto nonexistence,nonexistence, "Thoug"Thoughh I'mI'm justjust aa commoner,commoner, II knowknow aa littlelittle aboutabout faith."faith." You'rYou'ree neitheneitherr saintsaint nornor sage,sage, justjust "What"What isis youryour idea?"idea?" askedasked thethe lecturelecture master.master. AAnn ordinarordinaryy manman whowho hashas settledsettled hishis affairs.affairs. P'anP'angg repliedreplied withwith aa shortshort poem.poem. EasyEasy,, soso easyeasy ......

There'There'ss nono selfself andand nono person,person, T'lbo aa seekerseeker ooff perfectionperfection,, P'angP'ang offersoffers advice.advice. HowHow thenthen kinfolkkinfolk andand stranger'.stranger! I begbeg you,you, ceasecease goinggoing fromfrom lecturelecture toto lecture;lecture; ThThee paspastt iiss alreadalreadyy past past-— It'sIt's betterbetter toto seekseek truthtruth directly.directly. Don'Don'tt trytry toto regainregain it.it. TheThe naturenature ofof DiamondDiamond WisdomWisdom ThThee presenpresentt doedoess no nott staystay-— Don't try to touch it from moment to moment. ExcludeExcludess eveneven a specspeckk ooff dust.dust. Don't try to touch it from moment to moment. ThThee futurfuturee isis no nott comecome-— FromFrom "Thus"Thus havehave I heard,heard,"" toto "This"This II believe," believe," Don'Don'tt thinthinkk abouaboutt i tit beforehand beforehand...... All'sAll's butbut anan arrayarray ofof unrealunreal names.names. WhatsoeveWhatsoeverr comecomess toto eyeeye leaveleave itit be.be. ThereThere areare nnoo commandmentscommandments toto bebe kept,kept, ThThee lecturelecture mastermaster couldcould onlyonly sighsigh inin response.response. ThereThere isis nono filthfdth toto bebe cleansed.cleansed. Once,Once, whilewhile sellingselling bamboobamboo baskets,baskets, thethe LaymanLayman slippedslipped WithWith emptemptyy mindmind reallyreally penetrated,penetrated, and fell. When his daughter Ling-chao saw this, she ran to her and fell. When his daughter Ling-chao saw this, she ran to her TheThe dharmasdharmas havehave nono life.life. father'father'ss sidsidee anandd threthreww herselherselff dowdownn oonn ththee groungroundd nextnext toto WhenWhen youyou cancan bebe likelike thisthis himhim.. You'vYou'vee completecompletedd ththee ultimateultimate attainment.attainment. "What"What areare youyou doing!"doing!" criedcried P'ang.P'ang. "I"I sawsaw DaDadd fallfall ttoo ththee ground,ground, soso I'mI'm helping,"helping," sheshe replied.replied. SpeakinSpeakingg directldirectlyy ttoo alalll ththee dharmadharma heirsheirs inin hishis laylay lineagelineage todaytoday,, P'angP'ang YunYun says:says: "Luckily,"Luckily, nono oneone waswas looking,"looking," saidsaid P'angP'ang withwith aa smile.smile. A Zen woman of achievement, Ling-chao was as much her A Zen woman of achievement, Ling-chao was as much her FooFoodd anandd clotheclothess sustaisustainn bod bodyy an andd life life-— father'father'ss dharmadharma friendfriend asas sheshe waswas hihiss daughterdaughter.. PortraitsPortraits ofof thethe I advisadvisee yoyouu toto learnlearn beingbeing asas is.is. twotwo depictdepict themthem asas aa pairpair ofof sharp-eyed,sharp-eyed, alertalert companionscompanions WheWhenn it'it'ss timetime,, I movemove mymy hermitagehermitage andand go,go, engageengagedd iinn dailydaily activities.activities. BetweenBetween 8o6806 andand 820,820, fatherfather andand AnAndd there'there'ss nothingnothing toto bebe leftleft behind.behind.

20 Crazy CloudsClouds I P'ang YunYun 21 L

Rin,7ai:Rinzai: The SpiritualSpiritual Storm

TheThe T'angT'ang periodperiod inin ChinaChina (618-907)(618-907) isis calledcalled thethe GoldenGolden AgeAge ooff ZenZen.. InIn itsits earliestearliest phasephase itit maymay alsoalso bebe calledcalled ththee ageage ofof innovatioinnovationn iinn artart,, religion,religion, diplomacy,diplomacy, andand business.business. ItIt waswas aa perioperiodd ooff unprecedenteunprecedentedd cosmopolitaniscosmopolitanismm thatthat,, amonamongg otherother thingsthings,, sawsaw ththee inventioninvention ofof thethe newspapernewspaper andand thethe civilcivil serviceservice examination.examination. TheThe T'angT'ang emperorsemperors createdcreated aa centercenter forfor monks,monks, students,students, merchants,merchants, andand travelers,travelers, whwhoo gatheredgathered fromfrom asas farfar weswestt aass GreeceGreece,, anandd includedincluded citizenscitizens ofof Arabia,Arabia, India,India, Persia,Persia, Syria,Syria, TurkeyTurkey,, SamarkandSamarkand,, anandd BokharaBokhara.. ThThee earlearlyy HaHann dy-dy• nastnastyy ofof thethe secondsecond centurycentury C.E.C.E. hadhad alreadyalready seenseen thethe penetra-penetra• tiotionn ofof BuddhismBuddhism fromfrom India,India, transformingtransforming ChineseChinese culturalcultural liflifee anandd institutionsinstitutions,, anandd iinn turturnn beingbeing transformedtransformed bbyy Confu-Confu• ciaciann pragmatispragmatismm andand indigenousindigenous TaoistTaoist attitudeattitudess towartowardd na-na• tureture.. ThThee dynamisdynamismm ooff ththee perioperiodd borboree witwithh itit,, tootoo,, thethe problemsproblems ofof centralizingcentralizing a statstatee thathatt hahadd beebeenn reducereducedd durinduringg ththee "ag"agee ofof disunion"disunion" (the(the yearsyears betweenbetween r8o180 andand 581)581) toto factionalismfactionalism andand regionaregionall dominatiodominationn bbyy powerfulpowerful aristocratsaristocrats.. ThThee entireentire T'angT'ang perioperiodd sasaww ththee imperiaimperiall governmentgovernment strugglestruggle toto retainretain execu-execu• tivetive powepowerr throughouthroughoutt ththee realmrealm byby wrestingwresting itit fromfrom greatgreat clansclans whwhoo werewere engageengagedd iinn perpetuaperpetuall rebellionrebellion.. BroughBroughtt ttoo itsits kneesknees bbyy thethe AnAn Lu-shanLu-shan rebellionrebellion ofof 755-763,755-763, thethe imperialimperial governmentgovernment waswas reducedreduced toto dispersingdispersing itsits powerpower toto regionalregional militarmilitaryy governorsgovernors whwhoo maintainedmaintained totaltotal autonomyautonomy overover theirtheir untiluntil thethe totaltotal collapsecollapse ofof thethe civilcivil administrationadministration markedmarked thethe prefecturesprefectures.. IItt waswas preciselyprecisely thithiss formform ofof provincialprovincial govern-govern• cndend ooff ththee greatgreat T'angT'ang eraera inin 907.907. menmentt thatthat allowedallowed independentindependent,, antihierarchicalantihierarchical ZeZenn reformersreformers UnlikUnlikee ititss contemporarcontemporaryy iinn EuropeEurope,, thethe CarolingianCarolingian empire,empire, likelike RinzaiRinzai (Lin-chi)(Lin-chi) ttoo changchangee ththee faceface ooff BuddhisBuddhismm iinn ChinaChina thethe T'anT'angg waswas notnot feudalfeudal butbut aristocratic,aristocratic, witwithh ninenine gradesgrades ofof durinduringg ththee latelate T'angT'ang dynastydynasty andand throughoutthroughout thethe worldworld nobility,nobility, allall relatedrelated ttoo thethe imperialimperial family.family. ItsIts firstfirst andand greatestgreatest thereafterthereafter.. ThThee emperoemperorr Hsien-tsunHsien-tsungg wawass oonn ththee thronthronee whenwhen monarch,monarch, T'ai-tsung,T'ai-tsung, createdcreated thethe ChineseChinese civilcivil service,service, pro-pro• RinzaiRinzai waswas bornborn sometimesometime betweenbetween 81o810 andand 815;815; andand Hsien-Hsien- inotingmoting aa socialsocial castecaste systemsystem moldedmolded byby ConfucianConfucian doctrinesdoctrines tsungtsung andand hishis successorssuccessors werewere tootoo busybusy suppressingsuppressing rebellionsrebellions thatthat stillstill pervadespervades AsiaAsiann societsocietyy todaytoday.. ThThee houshousee ooff Li,Li, fromfrom iinn thethe LowerLower YangtzeYangtze anandd SzechuaSzechuann regionsregions,, anandd restorinrestoringg atat whichwhich T'ai-tsungT'ai-tsung claimedclaimed hishis legitimacy,legitimacy, expandedexpanded itsits terri-terri• leasleastt a semblancesemblance ooff bureaucraticbureaucratic unitunityy overover allall butbut a fewfew torytory halfwayhalfway acrossacross AsiaAsia,, openinopeningg ththee countrycountry toto foreignforeign ideasideas fractioufractiouss northeasternortheasternn districtsdistricts,, ttoo bebe botheredbothered withwith thethe smallsmall andand disseminatingdisseminating ChineseChinese cultureculture west,west, easteast,, northnorth,, andand affairaffairss ooff ththee eccentriceccentric backwatebackwaterr ZeZenn priestpriestss whwhoo werewere Rin-Rin- south.south. Ch'ang-anCh'ang-an waswas thethe capitalcapital ofof thethe empire,empire, thethe greatestgreatest city in East Asia, with more than two million inhabitants. Its zai'zai'ss teachers.teachers. city in East Asia, with more than two million inhabitants. Its markets and harbors were stocked with goods from India, IInn 820,820, powerfulpowerful courtcourt eunuchseunuchs usurpedusurped thethe throne,throne, mur-mur• markets and harbors were stocked with goods from India, Java, Iran, and Japan. Foreigners came to study Buddhism, to derederedd Hsien-tsungHsien-tsung,, and,and, forfor twentytwenty years,years, succeededsucceeded inin break-break• Java, Iran, and Japan. Foreigners came to study Buddhism, to seek wealth, or to freely practice religions like Nestorianism iningg dowdownn thethe centralizedcentralized bureaucracbureaucracyy bbyy manipulatingmanipulating aa seriesseries seek wealth, or to freely practice religions like Nestorianism and Manicheanism. In this atmosphere, Buddhists flourished, ooff weaweakk puppepuppett emperorsemperors.. IInn 840840,, EmperoEmperorr Wu-tsunWu-tsungg sawsaw hishis and Manicheanism. In this atmosphere, Buddhists flourished, and, in 868, invented printing. The world's first book was The dynastdynastyy inin crisis,crisis, facedfaced bbyy fluctuatingfluctuating foreignforeign affairsaffairs andand besetbeset and, in 868, invented printing. The world's first book was The Diamond Sutra. Poets like Li Po, Tu Fu, and Po Chu-yi, and bbyy financialfinancial disastedisasterr anandd continuoucontinuouss internainternall rebellionrebellion.. EggedEgged Diamond Sutra. Poets like Li Po, Tu Fu, and Po Chu-yi, and painters like Yen Li-pen led movements in art whose sophisti• onon byby aa fanaticfanatic TaoistTaoist minister,minister, thethe emperoremperor decideddecided toto solvesolve painters like Yen Li-pen led movements in art whose sophisti- cation rivals that of the European Renaissance, which did not hihiss problemsproblems bbyy focusingfocusing oonn thethe BuddhistsBuddhists asas thethe country'scountry's cation rivals that of the European Renaissance, which did not take place until eight centuries later. enemy—enemy-aa goodgood excuse excuse forfor seizingseizing thethe enormousenormous wealthwealth ofof thethe take place until eight centuries later. BuddhismBuddhism waswas thethe singlesingle mostmost dominantdominant foreignforeign influenceinfluence monasteriemonasteriess anandd creatincreatingg a newnew sourcesource ofof revenue.revenue. TheThe Bud-Bud• onon ChineseChinese lifelife fromfrom thethe secondsecond toto thethe eleventheleventh century.century. ItIt dhisdhistt persecutiopersecutionn lastelastedd foforr onlonlyy twtwoo yearsyears;; thethenn EmperoEmperorr WuWu broughtbrought IndianIndian monasticismmonasticism intointo directdirect conflictconflict withwith Confu-Confu• diediedd ooff drinkindrinkingg totooo muchmuch TaoistTaoist elixielixirr ooff immortalityimmortality,, andand hishis ciancian sociasociall anandd worldlworldlyy hierarchhierarchyy anandd notionnotionss ofof secularsecular moral-moral• successorsuccessor Hsuan-tsunHsuan-tsungg (r(r.. 847-59)847-59) decreeddecreed amnestamnestyy foforr Bud-Bud• ity.ity. DuringDuring thethe T'ang,T'ang, thethe BuddhistBuddhist monasteriesmonasteries grewgrew richrich andand dhistsdhists andand triedtried hishis luckluck atat financialfinancial reforreformm andand thethe codificationcodification powerful,powerful, holdingholding vastvast estates,estates, doingdoing business,business, keepingkeeping slaves,slaves, ofof lawslaws.. BuButt rebellionrebellion iinn thethe YangtzeYangtze vallevalleyy anandd iinn ththee econom-econom• andand administeringadministering agriculturalagricultural productioproductionn ofof preciousprecious com-com• ically powerful southern regions disrupted his plans. In the ically powerful southern regions disrupted his plans. In the inoditiesmodities liklikee ricerice andand oil.oil. MonasticsMonastics becamebecame moneymoney lenders,lenders, northwest province of Nan-chao, war dragged on from 858 to northwest province of Nan-chao, war dragged on from 858to teachers,teachers, anandd politicalpolitical anandd spirituaspirituall adviseradviserss ttoo importanimportantt mili-mili• 866, the year Rinzai died. For the entire span of this obscure 866, the year Rinzai died. For the entire span of this obscure tarytary governors,governors, theirtheir influenceinfluence spreadingspreading throughoutthroughout urbanurban Zen monk's life, China was engaged in war, beset by troops Zen monk's life, China was engaged in war, beset by troops centerscenters iinn ththee southsouth andand atat thethe imperialimperial courtcourt inin Ch'ang-anCh'ang-an loyalloyal ofteoftenn ttoo nnoo one,one, murderingmurdering andand pillagingpillaging theirtheir wayway backback itself.itself. BuButt thethe T'angT'ang courtcourt waswas alsoalso underunder thethe continuouscontinuous homehome fromfrom oneone frontfront oror another.another. ByBy 880,880, thethe greatgreat westernwestern influenceinfluence ooff TaoisTaoismm anandd ConfucianismConfucianism,, andand thethe threethree religionsreligions capitalcapital ooff Ch'ang-anCh'ang-an itselfitself waswas capturedcaptured andand thethe emperoremperor oftenoften clashed.clashed. ThThee fatefate ooff ananyy ofof thethemm frequentlyfrequently dependeddepended onon drivendriven fromfrom thethe palace.palace. PoliticalPolitical andand economiceconomic chaoschaos ruled,ruled, thethe whimswhims andand preferencespreferences ofof individualindividual emperorsemperors,, soso itit isis nono

24 Crazy CloudsClouds I Rinzai 2525 surprissurprisee thathatt ththee AnAn Lu-shanLu-shan rebellionrebellion,, whoswhosee militarmilitaryy com-com• daildailyy affairsaffairs ooff BuddhistBuddhist lifelife mostmost accurately.accurately. HeHe describesdescribes mandermanderss werweree stronglstronglyy Buddhist,Buddhist, shouldshould havehave ledled indirectlyindirectly toto threthreee categoriescategories ofof BuddhistBuddhist officers:officers: archbishops,archbishops, bishops,bishops, ththee BuddhistBuddhist persecutionpersecution ooff 845.845. MilitarMilitaryy menmen werewere particu-particu• anandd monasterymonastery supervisorssupervisors anandd stewards.stewards. TToo earearnn monemoneyy forfor larllarlyy attractedattracted ttoo Zen,Zen, peasantspeasants toto PurePure Land;Land; andand popularpopular theitheirr temples,temples, suchsuch high-levelhigh-level monksmonks asas thesethese traveledtraveled aboutabout BuddhismBuddhism,, withwith itsits adorationadoration ofof relics,relics, itsits religious religious festivals,festivals, givinggiving lecturelecturess ttoo ththee publipublicc oonn populapopularr sutrassutras,, oftenoften attractingattracting pilgrimagespilgrimages,, anandd shrines,shrines, appealeappealedd ttoo everyoneeveryone.. BByy ththee mid-mid- asas manymany asas eighteeneighteen hundredhundred people.people. ThThee lectureslectures atat thethe nintninthh century,century, though,though, BuddhismBuddhism hadhad declineddeclined asas aa forceforce inin monasteriemonasteriess tootookk ththee forformm ofof questioquestionn anandd answeanswerr periodperiodss thatthat ththee affairsaffairs ooff statestate andand asas anan intellectualintellectual movement.movement. ThisThis waswas werweree ofteoftenn combative,combative, witwithh muchmuch aggressiveaggressive shoutingshouting andand partlpartlyy causedcaused bbyy ththee corruptiocorruptionn ofof thethe monasteries,monasteries, andand byby thethe challengingchallenging frofrom,m botbothh audiencesaudiences andand speakers.speakers. Afterward,Afterward, enforceenforcedd imperiaimperiall salsalee ooff certificationcertification anandd ordinatioordinationn forfor thethe participantparticipantss spenspentt severaseverall hourhourss iinn ceremonialceremonial chantingchanting andand clergyclergy.. shrineshrine worship.worship. ThThee TaoistsTaoists oftenoften attackedattacked BuddhismBuddhism mostmost harshlyharshly asas a FroFromm ththee timetime thethe ZenZen schoolschool surfacedsurfaced aatt ththee endend ofof thethe foreigforeignn importimport,, andand urgedurged aa returnreturn toto nativenative ChineseChinese tradi-tradi• eightheighth centurycentury underunder HuiHui Neng,Neng, thethe famousfamous SixthSixth Patriarch,Patriarch, itit tionstions.. YetYet botbothh BuddhistBuddhist andand TaoistTaoist priestspriests werewere regardedregarded asas proveprovedd aann aberrationaberration ttoo traditionaltraditional BuddhistsBuddhists likelike thosethose de-de• potentiallypotentially dangerousdangerous agentsagents ofof rebellionrebellion,, foforr theythey representedrepresented scribedscribed iinn Ennin'Ennin'ss diary—whicdiary-whichh refersrefers throughoutthroughout ttoo ZenZen mucmuchh ofof thethe locallocal peasantry,peasantry, thethe marginalmarginal andand disaffecteddisaffected monkmonkss aass "uncout"uncouthh andand rough-heartedrough-hearted fellows."fellows." LiangLiang Su,Su, a membermemberss ooff thethe population.population. When,When, underunder Wu-tsung,Wu-tsung, inin 845,845, famoufamouss mid-ninth-centurmid-ninth-centuryy BuddhistBuddhist author,author, excoriatesexcoriates hishis ZenZen thethe TaoistsTaoists succeedesucceededd iinn theitheirr missiomissionn ttoo expungexpungee thethe "foreign"foreign contemporariescontemporaries.. import,"import," overover forty-sixforty-six thousandthousand BuddhistBuddhist monasteriesmonasteries andand templestemples werewere laicizedlaicized,, anandd foufourr hundredhundred thousandthousand clergyclergy werewere NowadaysNowadays,, fefeww memenn havhavee ththee trutruee faithfaith.. ThosThosee whowho traveltravel thethe defrockeddefrocked anandd strippestrippedd ooff theitheirr religiousreligious exemptionsexemptions,, proper-proper• patpathh ooff Ch'aCh'ann gogo soso farfar asas toto teachteach peoplepeople thatthat therethere isis neitherneither tiesties,, andand slaves.slaves. OtherOther foreignforeign religionsreligions werewere persecutedpersecuted asas BuddhBuddhaa nonorr lawlaw,, andand thatthat neitherneither sinsin nornor goodnessgoodness hashas anyany significance.significance. WheWhenn thetheyy preachpreach thesethese doctrinesdoctrines toto thethe averageaverage wellwell;; NestoriansNestorians,, Manicheans,Manicheans, andand ZoroastriansZoroastrians werewere forcedforced toto manman,, oror menmen belowbelow thethe average,average, theythey areare believedbelieved byby allall thosethose leaveleave ththee countrycountry,, anandd a neneww attempattemptt atat centralizationcentralization frofromm thethe whwhoo livelive theirtheir liveslives ofof worldlyworldly desires.desires. SuchSuch ideasideas areare acceptedaccepted thronthronee metmet withwith aa reasonablereasonable amountamount ofof temporarytemporary success.success. asas greatgreat truthstruths whichwhich soundsound soso pleasingpleasing ttoo thethe ear.ear. AndAnd thethe Buddhist rituals at court had only been admitted to maintain Buddhist rituals at court had only been admitted to maintain peoplpeoplee araree attracteattractedd ttoo thethemm jusjustt aass mothmothss iinn ththee nighnightt areare drawndrawn thethe illusionillusion thatthat thethe emperorsemperors werewere nono differentdifferent fromfrom famousfamous ttoo theirtheir burningburning deathdeath byby thethe candlelight.candlelight. . . .. SuchSuch doctrinesdoctrines BuddhistBuddhist rulersrulers ofof thethe past.past. TheThe faithfaith waswas thereforetherefore doctrinallydoctrinally araree aass injuriousinjurious anandd dangerousdangerous aass thethe devildevil andand thethe ancientancient stablestable bubutt politicallypolitically shaky.shaky. SinceSince ritualritual andand ceremonyceremony werewere hereticsheretics.. neveneverr ththee stronstrongg pointpointss ofof meditationmeditation schoolsschools liklikee ZenZen,, monksmonks liklikee RinzaRinzaii coulcouldd carrcarryy oonn withouwithoutt attractingattracting negativenegative attentionattention EntrencheEntrenchedd philosophicalphilosophical schoolsschools ofof MahayanaMahayana BuddhismBuddhism fromfrom thethe imperialimperial authorities.authorities. ThisThis waswas particularlyparticularly trutruee inin thethe liklikee T'ien-t'aT'ien-t'aii oorr Hua-yenHua-yen hahadd littllittlee ttoo fearfear fromfrom thethe ZenZen northnorth,, wherewhere RinzaiRinzai ultimatelultimatelyy settlesettledd an andd taught—a taught-ann areaarea thatthat heretichereticss untiuntill ththee AnAn Lu-shanLu-shan rebellionrebellion shatteredshattered thethe entireentire placeplacedd greagreatt emphasiemphasiss oonn meditatiomeditationn anandd pietismpietism,, whilewhile thethe politicapoliticall anandd religioureligiouss systemsystem.. AA spirituaspirituall counterparcounterpartt ooff thethe soutsouthh focusedfocused largelylargely onon scripturalscriptural exegesis.exegesis. individualisindividualistt generalgeneralss whwhoo participateparticipatedd iinn thithiss movementmovement,, ZenZen TheThe traveltravel diardiaryy ofof thethe JapanesJapanesee monmonkk Ennin,Ennin, whichwhich beginsbegins perpetuateperpetuatedd ththee activeactive nonconformismnonconformism thatthat characterizedcharacterized thethe iinn 838838 andand endsends afterafter thethe persecutionpersecution inin 845,845, documentsdocuments thethe agagee iinn whicwhichh iitt erupted.erupted. NotNot atat allall speculative,speculative, itit appealedappealed toto

26 Crazy CloudsClouds I Rinzai 2727 ththee practical-mindedpractical-minded ChinesChinesee mamann ofof action.action. IItt emphasizedemphasized plungeplturt;cdd intintoo ththee experientialexperiential realitrealityy ooff enlightenmentenlightenment inin anan spontaneitspontaneityy anandd naturalnessnaturalness,, anandd iitt diddid notnot clashclash withwith TaoistTaoist tentirel ntirclyy newnew way.way. attitudeattitudess towardtoward nature.nature. ItIt alsoalso borebore aa healthyhealthy distastedistaste forfor institutionalisminstitutionalism,, andand,, unlikeunlike thethe vastvast landholdinglandholding parasiticparasitic AnAn obscurobscuree monkmonk namednamed I-hsuanI-hsuan waswas makingmaking hishis wayway southsouth monasteriesmonasteries ofof rivalrival sectssects,, ititss monkmonkss workedworked toto feedfeed andand clotheclothe 1to0 Chiang-nanChiang-nan somewhersomewheree arounaroundd 838355 ttoo studstudyy withwith thethe themselvesthemselves.. CompletelCompletelyy independentindependent ofof scripturescripture andand doctrine,doctrine, I.urrousfamous Ze Zenn mastemasterr ObakuObaku.. IItt wawass thithiss journejourneyy thathatt wawass toto ZeZenn teachingteaching destroyeddestroyed allall notionsnotions ofof subjectsubject andand objectobject andand 1 ulnrinateulinmate iinn thethe movementmovement wewe callcall RinzaiRinzai ZenZen today.today. TheThe operateoperatedd iinn thethe oftenoften giddygiddy realmrealm ofof playplay andand paradox.paradox. ItsIts monkmonk I-hsuanI-hsuan hadhad livedlived a veryvery ordinaryordinary life,life, eveneven accordingaccording toto exponents broke with Indian quietism, idol worship, and exponents broke with Indian quietism, idol worship, and thtltce traditionatraditionall ZeZenn mastermaster biographbiographyy writtewrittenn byby thethe lineagelineage metaphysics, preaching the direct and practical approach to metaphysics, preaching the direct and practical approach to followerslollowers wh whoo knekneww hihimm aass Rinzai.Rinzai. ThThee boyboy I-hsuan,I-hsuan, bornborn enlightenment for all in everyday language that could be easily enlightenment for all in everyday language that could be easily somewhersomewheree betweebetweenn 818io0 anandd 818155 iinn Nan-huaNan-hua,, Ts'aTs'aoo prefecture,prefecture, understood by even the coarsest Chinese peasant listener. understood by even the coarsest Chinese peasant listener. waswas callecalledd bbyy ththee familyfamily namnamee HsingHsing.. GrowinGrowingg uupp inin thethe Thus, while courtly Buddhism went into decline, rough-and- Thus, while courtly Buddhism went into decline, rough-and- icgioregionn nonoww knowknownn asas Yen-chou-fYen-chou-fuu iinn ShantungShantung,, jus justt soutsouthh ooff tumble Zen flourished, surviving even the great persecution tumble Zen flourished, surviving even the great persecution tht liee Yello Yelloww River River,, h hee foun foundd hi hiss monk'monk'ss callincallingg earlearlyy anandd waswas of 845. of 845. ordainedordained aatt ththee agagee ooff twentytwenty.. NoNott unlikeunlike manymany brightbright youngyoung BotBothh ZenZen andand TaoistTaoist monksmonks usedused thethe techniquetechnique ofof breathbreath wrenmen o off hihiss timetime,, I-hsuanI-hsuan tootookk upup thethe pathpath ofo fscholarship, scholarship, countincountingg thathatt isis basicbasic ttoo meditationmeditation toto thisthis day;day; bothboth empha-empha• particularlparticularlyy devotin devotingg himsel himselff t oto aann in-deptin-depthh studstudyy ofof thethe sizedsized negationegationn ratheratherr thathann worship,worship, andand thethe experienceexperience ofof Buddhislitiddhistt scripturesscriptures.. HHee spenspentt fivfivee oorr sisixx yearyearss immerseimmersedd iinn thethe emptinessemptiness aass ththee basisbasis forfor theirtheir practice.practice. ZenZen mastermaster BasoBaso esoteriesotericc philosophphilosophyy ooff ththee Hua-yenHua-yen andand Wei-shihWei-shih schoolschoolss ofof establishedestablished ththee greatgreat lineagelineage thatthat borebore figuresfigures likelike Nansen,Nansen, MahayanaMahayana BuddhismBuddhism.. Then,Then, oneone day,day, hehe experiencedexperienced revulsionrevulsion Hyakujo,Hyakujo, ObakObakuu (Huang-po)(Huang-po),, andjoshand Joshuu (Chao-chou)—whos(Chao-chou)-whosee towartowardd hihiss bookbookss aass "onl"onlyy medicinesmedicines forfor salvationsalvation andand displaysdisplays insistenceinsistence oonn ththee "ordinary"ordinary"" wayway toto enlightenmentenlightenment waswas oftenoften ofof opinion,"opinion," andand threwthrew themthem allall away.away. ThisThis storystory isis character-character• expressedexpressed iinn ththee mostmost strangestrange andand extraordinaryextraordinary ways.ways. istiisticc ooff ssoo manymany greatgreat ZenZen teachersteachers iinn thethe makingmaking thatthat oneone ThThee lifelife ooff thethe ZenZen monkmonk waswas simple,simple, consistingconsisting ofof hardhard wonderwonderss whethewhetherr oorr nonott iitt becamebecame a formulaformula:: ththee brighbrightt youngyoung manualmanual labolaborr andand communitycommunity sharingsharing ofof resources.resources. OneOne sleptslept mantitan,, spirituallspirituallyy inclinedinclined,, turnturnss earlearlyy ttoo thethe BuddhistBuddhist priest-priest• andand meditatedmeditated onon thethe samesame mat,mat, patchedpatched one'sone's ownown robes,robes, andand Irood,hood, delvedelvess intintoo ththee intellectualintellectual traditiontradition,, and,and, longinglonging forfor grewgrew one'sone's ownown food.food. Moreover,Moreover, one'sone's teachersteachers participatedparticipated inin thethe direcdirectt experiencexperiencee ooff BuddhahoodBuddhahood,, turnsturns awayaway frofromm learninglearning thethe workwork andand indulgedindulged inin whatwhat appearedappeared toto outsidersoutsiders likelike LiangLiang towardtoward ththee teachingteaching beyonbeyondd wordwordss anandd scriptures.scriptures. NNoo doubtdoubt SuSu ttoo bbee wilwildd anandd antianticc prankspranks,, shouts,shouts, andand blows.blows. WhileWhile theirtheir thethe luxurluxuryy andand corruptioncorruption ofof thethe BuddhistBuddhist monasticmonastic establish-establish• doctrinairdoctrinairee BuddhisBuddhistt counterpartscounterparts werewere spendingspending theirtheir timetime mentment werewere iinn markedmarked contrastcontrast toto thethe alreadyalready ensconcedensconced linlinee ofof adorinadoringg imageimagess ooff thethe BuddhaBuddha inin countlesscountless templestemples andand /enZen establishedestablished byby thethe greatgreat BasoBaso andand passedpassed oonn toto Obaku,Obaku, shrinesshrines,, ththee ZenZen monksmonks werewere reputedreputed toto bebe burningburning thosethose whosewhose shoutsshouts andand blowsblows andand disdaindisdain forfor allall traditionaltraditional formsforms imageimagess anandd advocatinadvocatingg ththee destructiodestructionn ooff ththee sutrassutras.. WhaWhatt theirtheir ooff BuddhismBuddhism appealedappealed toto disaffecteddisaffected youngyoung monksmonks likelike critics did not understand was that an entirely new form of I-hsuan. critics did not understand was that an entirely new form of I-hsuan. BuddhisBuddhismm wawass beinbeingg fashionedfashioned iinn ninth-centuryninth-century China,China, oneone JoiningJoining Obaku'sObaku's assembly,assembly, thethe youngyoung novicenovice attractedattracted littlelittle thathatt removedremoved allall itsits IndianIndian coveringscoverings andand,, thoughthough usingusing itsits attentioattentionn anandd wawass iinn factfact ssoo shshyy thatthat itit tooktook himhim almostalmost threethree legends,legends, figures,figures, gods,gods, andand heavenlyheavenly realmsrealms asas metaphors,metaphors, hadhad yearsyears beforbeforee hhee coulcouldd gathegatherr thethe couragecourage ttoo faceface thethe greatgreat

28 Crazy CloudsClouds Rinzai 292g mastermaster inin aa personalpersonal interview.interview. AccordingAccording toto TheThe RecordRecord ofof "Whippersnapper!""Whippersnapper!" criecriedd Daigu Daigu,, "I'v"I'vee nothinnothingg ttoo ddoo withwith Rinzai, writtenwritten duringduring thethe SungSung dynastydynasty almostalmost threethree hundredhundred youyou;; you'ryou'ree Obaku'sObaku's problem.problem. GoGo backback ttoo him!"him!" yearsyears afteafterr hihiss death,death, hehe waswas noticednoticed byby thethe headhead monk,monk, I-hsuaI-hsuann returnereturnedd ttoo hihiss homhomee monastermonasteryy anandd greetegreetedd ObakuObaku probablprobablyy BokushuBokushu (Mu-chou(Mu-chou Tao-ming)Tao-ming) (who(who waswas toto becomebecome witwithh aa slap.slap. anotheranother ofof Obaku'sObaku's giftedgifted eccentriceccentric heirs),heirs), andand waswas advisedadvised toto "You"You lunaticlunatic,, comincomingg bacbackk herheree ttoo pulpulll ththee tiger'tiger'ss whiskers!"whiskers!" seekseek aann interviewinterview witwithh thethe abbot.abbot. I-hsuanI-hsuan followedfollowed thethe headhead shouteshoutedd ththee master,master, delighteddelighted atat hishis student'sstudent's enlightenment.enlightenment. monk'smonk's adviceadvice anandd wenwentt intintoo Obaku'Obaku'ss quartersquarters,, asking,asking, "What"What I-bsuaI-hsuann responderespondedd witwithh aa louloudd shout,shout, thethe katsu!katsul thathatt wawass toto iiss ththee cardinacardinall principlprinciplee o off th thee Buddha-Dharma?"— Buddha-Dharma?"-aa stock-in-stock-in- becombecomee hihiss hallmarhallmarkk asas a ZeZenn teacherteacher thereafter.thereafter. tradetrade questionquestion ooff novicenovice ZeZenn monks.monks. Obaku'sObaku's answeranswer waswas aa "Tak"Takee thithiss madmanmadman bacbackk ttoo thethe monk'smonk's quarters,"quarters," saidsaid blow.blow. Puzzled,Puzzled, I-hsuaI-hsuann returnereturnedd ttoo thethe headhead monkmonk andand toldtold ObakuObaku,, laughing.laughing. hihimm ofof hishis experiencexperiencee witwithh ththee mastermaster.. BokushBokushuu urgeurgedd himhim toto ThisThis apparentlyapparently madmad exchangeexchange markemarkedd ththee reareall beginninbeginningg ofof ggoo backback andand askask again.again. Eagerly,Eagerly, I-hsuanI-hsuan soughtsought aa secondsecond I-hsuan'I-hsuan'ss ZeZenn training.training. RemainingRemaining withwith ObakuObaku andand travelingtraveling intervieintervieww anandd askeaskedd ththee samsamee questionquestion.. AgainAgain,, ObakObakuu hihitt him.him. bacbackk anandd fortforthh betweebetweenn Chiang-naChiang-nann anandd Daigu'Daigu'ss hermitagehermitage inin AgaiAgainn hhee returnereturnedd ttoo BokushBokushuu andand relatedrelated whawhatt hadhad happened.happened. Hung-choHung-chouu provinceprovince,, hehe honedhoned hishis realization.realization. TheThe BuddhistBuddhist "Go"Go backback andand askask again,"again," waswas thethe headhead monk'smonk's advice.advice. ForFor aa persecutiopersecutionn ooff 848455 sasaww hihimm sittinsittingg quietlquietlyy aatt Daigu'Daigu'ss hermit-hermit• thirthirdd time,time, thethe haplesshapless youngyoung monkmonk returnedreturned toto Obaku'sObaku's age,age, makingmaking occasionaloccasional forayforayss ou outt ttoo studystudy withwith Obaku'sObaku's quarterquarterss anandd asked,asked, "What"What isis thethe cardinalcardinal principleprinciple ooff thethe dharmadharma brothersbrothers IsanIsan (Kuei-shan)(Kuei-shan) andand KyozanKyozan (Yang-shan),(Yang-shan), Buddha-Dharma?Buddha-Dharma?"" AgainAgain hehe receivedreceived a blobloww forfor hishis trouble.trouble. bubutt alwaysalways returninreturningg ttoo hishis homehome basebase inin Chiang-nan.Chiang-nan. TheThe ThiThiss timtimee hehe wentwent backback toto BokushuBokushu andand confessedconfessed thatthat hehe hadhad interchangeinterchangess betweebetweenn I-hsuaI-hsuann anandd ObakObakuu throughoutthroughout thesethese nnoo ideideaa whawhatt wawass goingoingg onon,, but,but, suresure thatthat therethere waswas somesome faultfault trainingtraining yearsyears provideprovide aa livingliving picturepicture ofof twotwo religiousreligious geniusesgeniuses inin himselfhimself forfor upsettingupsetting ObakuObaku andand gettinggetting beaten,beaten, hehe hadhad inin action.action. resolved to leave the monastery. Bokushu, keenly perceptive, resolved to leave the monastery. Bokushu, keenly perceptive, Once,Once, atat work,work, hoeinghoeing thethe ground,ground, I-hsuanI-hsuan sawsaw ObakuObaku secretly went to the master and told him of I-hsuan's plight, secretly went to the master and told him of I-hsuan's plight, comingcoming anandd stoppedstopped toto leanlean onon hishis hoe.hoe. Approaching,Approaching, ObakuObaku recommending that Obaku keep an eye on the talented young recommending that Obaku keep an eye on the talented young calledcalled outout,, "Is"Is thisthis guyguy tiredtired already?"already?" fellow. Then he went back to I-hsuan and told him to say fellow. Then he went back to I-hsuan and told him to say "How"How cancan II bebe tiredtired whenwhen II haven'thaven't eveneven pickedpicked upup mymy hoe?"hoe?" good-bye to Obaku before leaving. I-hsuan dutifully followed good-bye to Obaku before leaving. I-hsuan dutifully followed I-hsuanI-hsuan retorted.retorted. Bokushu's advice and went to pay his respects to the master. Bokushu's advice and went to pay his respects to the master. ObakuObaku hithit him,him, andand I-hsuanI-hsuan nextnext seizedseized thethe teacher'steacher's stick,stick, During the meeting, Obaku made casual reference to Daigu During the meeting, Obaku made casual reference to Daigu pokingpoking hihimm witwithh itit untiluntil thethe olderolder manman fellfell down.down. "Hey,"Hey, (Ta-yu), a colleague living in a hermitage not far away, sug• (Ta-yu), a colleague living in a hermitage not far away, sug- foreman,"foreman," hhee criedcried ououtt toto thethe workwork leader,leader, "Help"Help meme up!"up!" gesting that I-hsuan might there find an answer to his question. gesting that I-hsuan might there find an answer to his question. ThaThatt I-hsuanI-hsuan couldcould knockknock ObakuObaku downdown waswas inin itselfitself aa feat,feat, TheThe ingenuousingenuous youngyoung monkmonk mademade offoff forfor Daigu'sDaigu's hermitagehermitage sincsincee ththee mastemasterr wawass a seven-foot-talseven-foot-talll powerhouspowerhousee ooff a man.man. righrightt awayaway andand,, aass soosoonn asas hhee arrivedarrived,, statestatedd hihiss dilemmadilemma.. ButBut ThThee foremaforemann camcamee runninrunningg anandd shoutedshouted,, "Master"Master,, whwhyy dodo ththee crankycranky oldold hermithermit reprovedreproved him,him, saying,saying, "You"You didn'tdidn't youyou letlet thisthis madmanmadman getget awayaway withwith suchsuch disrespect?"disrespect?" appreciatappreciatee Obaku'Obaku'ss grandmotherlygrandmotherly kindness.kindness."" WithWith thesethese AAss soosoonn aass ObakObakuu waswas upright,upright, hehe hithit thethe workwork leader.leader. wordswords,, I-hsuanI-hsuan achievedachieved realizatiorealizationn anandd shoutedshouted,, "A"Ahh ...... soso I-hsuaI-hsuann wenwentt bacbackk ttoo hishis hoeing,hoeing, exclaiming,exclaiming, "The"Theyy burybury there'there'ss nonott muchmuch toto Obaku'sObaku's dharmadharma atat all!"all!" DaiguDaigu answeredanswered thethe deadeadd allall overover.. ButBut herehere II burybury peoplepeople alive!"alive!" hihimm witwithh a blow,blow, whichwhich I-hsuanI-hsuan returnedreturned inin kind.kind. ThiThiss insistenceinsistence oonn thethe absoluteabsolute dignitydignity ofof eveneven thethe youngestyoungest

30 Crazy CloudsClouds Rinzai 3311 manman inin thethe peckingpecking orderorder waswas notnot merelymerely symbolicsymbolic ofof ZenZen traditionaltraditional pilgrimagpilgrimagee ooff ththee "finished"finished"" ZeZenn monk.monk. MatureMature playfulnessplayfulness,, bubutt a profoundlprofoundlyy seriousserious challengechallenge toto thethe imperialimperial enougenoughh iinn hishis understandingunderstanding ttoo challengechallenge a hosthost ofof famousfamous hierarchhierarchyy ooff thethe T'angT'ang code,code, wherewhere insubordinationinsubordination waswas aa teachersteachers throughouthroughoutt thethe land,land, I-hsuanI-hsuan displayeddisplayed hishis character-character• capitalcapital offenseoffense.. Obaku'Obaku'ss appreciationappreciation ofof suchsuch clearclear understand-understand• istiisticc independencindependencee ooff spirispiritt eveevenn aatt hihiss partin partingg frofromm ObakuObaku.. AsAs inging ofof thethe "great"great matter"matter" ofof lifelife andand deathdeath isis illustratedillustrated byby hishis ththee mastermaster bidbid himhim good-byegood-bye atat thethe gate,gate, hehe offeredoffered himhim consistentconsistent approvalapproval ofof I-hsuan'sI-hsuan's apparentapparent rudeness.rudeness. InIn aa societysociety severaseverall articlearticless h hee hahadd inheriteinheritedd frofromm his teacher,teacher, thethe greatgreat riddledriddled withwith ConfucianConfucian notionsnotions ofof "place,""place," thesethese twotwo freelyfreely Hyakujo.Hyakujo. "Here"Here,, taketake thisthis armrestarmrest andand lectern,"lectern," saidsaid Obaku,Obaku, improvisedimprovised theirtheir spiritualspiritual dramadrama ofof "revolution""revolution" andand individ-individ• symbolicallsymbolicallyy grantingrantingg dharmdhartnaa transmissiontransmission ttoo hishis departingdeparting ualual freedom.freedom. studentstudent.. OncOncee whenwhen I-hsuanI-hsuan waswas asleepasleep onon hishis meditationmeditation cushion,cushion, "The"The dharmadharma hashas nono needneed ofof suchsuch things,"things," repliedreplied I-hsuan,I-hsuan, ObakuObaku camecame intointo thethe hallhall andand hithit thethe woodenwooden soundingsounding boardboard "wh"whyy don'tdon't youyou burnburn them?"them?" withwith hishis stick.stick. I-hsuanI-hsuan openeopenedd hihiss eyes,eyes, sawsaw whowho itit waswas ObakuObaku,, whowho knewknew hishis dharmadharma heirheir intimately,intimately, said,said, "Take"Take bangingbanging onon thethe board,board, andand wentwent rightright backback toto sleep.sleep. FurtherFurther themthem alongalong anyway.anyway. IInn ththee futurefuture,, you'lyou'lll cutcut offoff ththee tongutonguee ofof downdown thethe hall,hall, Bokushu,Bokushu, thethe headhead monk,monk, waswas sittingsitting diligentlydiligently everyevery mamann iinn thethe world!"world!" inin meditation.meditation. ObakuObaku hithit thethe soundingsounding boardboard againagain andand walkedwalked StillStill,, I-hsuaI-hsuann stubbornlstubbornlyy refusedrefused,, leavinleavingg withouwithoutt ththee arm-arm• upup directlydirectly behindbehind himhim,, shouting,shouting, "That"That youngyoung fellowfellow sittingsitting restrest andand lecternlectern.. EvenEven aatt ththee lastlast,, aann apparentlapparentlyy ironiironicc exchangeexchange downdown therethere inin thethe lesserlesser seatseat isis really meditatingmeditating.. YouYou anandd youryour signifiedsignified ththee deepdeep andand abidingabiding wordlesswordless connectionconnection betweenbetween fancfancyy notions—whanotions-whatt dodo youyou thinkthink you'reyou're doing?"doing?" thethe twotwo radicalradical ZenZen men.men. BokushBokushuu replied,replied, "Wha"Whatt doesdoes ththee oldold boyboy wantwant fromfrom me?"me?" HavingHaving growgrownn a beardbeard andand shoulder-lengthshoulder-length hair,hair, I-hsuanI-hsuan ObakObakuu hithit thethe boardboard onceonce againagain andand walkewalkedd out.out. wanderedwandered forfor overover a year,year, testingtesting hishis realizationrealization alongalong thethe wayway ContraryContrary toto thethe teacherteacher worshipworship andand miraclemiracle seekingseeking thatthat withwith aa seriesseries ofof famousfamous andand not-so-famousnot-so-famous ZenZen teachers,teachers, wenwentt oonn inin thethe vastvast majoritymajority ofof BuddhistBuddhist monasteries,monasteries, thesethese alwayalwayss comincomingg awaawayy witwithh ththee confidencconfidencee thathatt nonnonee werewere anyany ZeZenn studentsstudents werewere exercisingexercising thethe finestfinest displaydisplay ooff ththee Buddha-Buddha- kinkindd ooff matchmatch forfor him.him. WasWas thisthis arrogance,arrogance, oror waswas itit moremore DharmaDharma.. PerfectlyPerfectly "democratic""democratic" inin theirtheir expressionexpression ofof insight,insight, perhapperhapss aann expressioexpressionn ofof thethe absoluteabsolute freedomfreedom hehe hadhad achieved?achieved? lucidlucid andand awareaware aatt allall timestimes ofof whatwhat theythey andand theirtheir teachersteachers AAtt laslastt hhee madmadee hihiss wawayy northnorth,, endinendingg hishis pilgrimagpilgrimagee iinn Chen-Chen- werweree uupp toto,, theythey declareddeclared theirtheir basicbasic humanhuman freedomfreedom inin everyevery chochouu prefecturprefecturee iinn HopeiHopei.. HereHere,, undeunderr ththee generousgenerous patronagepatronage gesturgesturee anandd shout.shout. I-hsuanI-hsuan waswas consistent,consistent, behavingbehaving thethe samesame ofof thethe autonomousautonomous militarymilitary governorgovernor Wang,Wang, oonn thethe banksbanks ofof wawayy eveevenn witwithh venerablevenerable teacherteacherss liklikee TokusanTokusan.. OnceOnce,, whilewhile ththee riveriverr Hu-toHu-to,, thethe monkmonk I-hsuanI-hsuan becamebecame thethe teacherteacher Rinzai,Rinzai, attendinattendingg ththee oldold man,man, hehe respondedresponded toto thethe master'smaster's assertionassertion namenamedd afteafterr hishis templetemple Rinzai-jiRinzai-ji (Lin-chi(Lin-chi Yuan)Yuan),, "th"thee templetemple thathatt hehe waswas tiredtired byby saying,saying, "What"What isis thisthis oldold guyguy mumblingmumbling overlookinoverlookingg ththee ford."ford." iinn hishis sleep?"sleep?" WhenWhen TokusanTokusan hihitt himhim inin response,response, I-hsuanI-hsuan ThoughThough RinzaiRinzai wawass lefleftt toto hishis ownown devicesdevices byby thethe locallocal pullepulledd ththee teacher'teacher'ss seaseatt ououtt frofromm underunder him.him. TokusanTokusan gogott upup governor,governor, hehe diddid notnot achieveachieve greatgreat fame,fame, andand hishis templetemple alwaysalways anandd wentwent backback toto hishis room.room. MostMost significantsignificant inin understandingunderstanding remainedremained ratheratherr smalsmalll anandd ofofff ththee beatebeatenn track—ntrack-noo competi-competi• thesthesee apparentlapparentlyy wilwildd anandd unrulunrulyy exchangesexchanges iiss thathatt neitheneitherr manman tiontion foforr thethe fabulousfabulous Wu-t'aWu-t'aii monasterymonastery atoatopp ththee holholyy moun-moun• iiss engagedengaged iinn a contestcontest toto proveprove hishis superiority,superiority, thatthat neitherneither tairainn thathatt toweredtowered oveoverr Chen-choChen-chouu andand gatheredgathered thousandsthousands ofof winwinss nornor loses;loses; ththee play'play'ss thethe thing.thing. BuddhisBuddhistt pilgrimpilgrimss frofromm alalll overover Asia.Asia. HisHis popularitypopularity waswas AroundAround 849,849, I-hsuanI-hsuan,, nonoww iinn hihiss forties,forties, sesett ououtt onon thethe modestmodest asas wellwell;; nnoo recorrecordd ofof a hugehuge assemblyassembly ofof monksmonks exists,exists,

3232 Crazy CloudsClouds I Rinzai 3333 thougthoughh visitorsvisitors appeared,appeared, bothboth laypeoplelaypeople anandd monksmonks;; anandd eveneven brayhi-ay.. RinzaiRinzai shoutedshouted,, "Thi"Thiss robber!"robber!" AndAnd FukeFuke tooktook off,off, aann illustriouillustriouss ZeZenn mastemasterr liklikee JoshJoshuu wawass know knownn ttoo turturnn uupp atat (ailin,fillingg loudly loudly,, "Robber "Robber,, robber!"robber!" hihiss gategate.. ButBut moremore importantimportant waswas thethe appearanceappearance ofof FukeFuke (P'u-(P'u- NNoo meremere exerciseexercise iinn one-upmanshipone-upmanship,, thisthis kindkind ofof encounterencounter hua)hua),, a mysteriousmysterious divindivinee foofooll ooff a man,man, thethe enigmaticenigmatic helperhelper servedserved aass aa finfinee opportunitopportunityy foforr sharpeningsharpening ZeZenn insight.insight. NoNo whowho,, itit hadhad beenbeen predictedpredicted yearsyears before,before, wouldwould manifestmanifest eveneventt wawass totooo ordinaryordinary,, nono placeplace waswas unfit,unfit, andand nono personperson waswas himselhimselff foforr Rinzai'sRinzai's benefit.benefit. FukeFuke waswas anan almostalmost supernaturalsupernatural totooo highighh oror tootoo lowlow forfor dharmadharma play.play. Fuke,Fuke, eveneven mormoree literallyliterally figurefigure,, appearingappearing andand disappearingdisappearing fromfrom Rinzai'sRinzai's assembly,assembly, thathann RinzaiRinzai,, wawass aa homeleshomelesss monkmonk,, bubutt bothboth werewere homelesshomeless inin wanderinwanderingg througthroughh thethe marketplace,marketplace, andand goadinggoading eveneven ththee ZenZen thethe truesttruest sense,sense, forfor bothboth hadhad abandonedabandoned allall egoisticegoistic cravingcraving an.findd notion notionss o off self-importanceself-importance.. An Andd botbothh werweree thereforthereforee atat establishmentestablishment witwithh hihiss riddleriddless anandd prankspranks.. MuchMuch ofof hishis stylestyle rubberubbedd offoff onon Rinzai,Rinzai, whosewhose personalpersonal branbrandd ooff eccentriceccentric homehome everywhere.everywhere. Fuke,Fuke, entirelyentirely outsideoutside ththee socialsocial orderorder,, a cartwheel-turningcartwheel-turning individualisindividualismm flourisheflourishedd iinn ththee shorshortt tetenn yearsyears ofof hishis teachingteaching careercareer.. TheirTheir anticantic partnershippartnership isis depicteddepicted inin severalseveral vignettesvignettes curmudgeon,curmudgeon, usedused toto roamroam aboutabout inin thethe streetsstreets ringingringing aa bellbell Ihit the appearinappearingg inin TheThe RecordRecord of Rinzai.Rinzai. :mndand cryin cryingg out out:: "Whe"Whenn iitt comescomes inin brightness,brightness, I hit the brightness.brightness. WheWhenn iitt comecomess iinn darkenssdarkens,, II hithit thethe darkness.darkness. RinzaRinzaii anandd FukeFuke onconcee wentwent toto aa vegetarianvegetarian banquetbanquet givengiven inin WhenWhen iitt comecomess frofromm allall directionsdirections,, I hihitt liklikee a whirlwindwhirlwind,, andand theirtheir honorhonor byby aa locallocal supporter.supporter. RinzaiRinzai presentedpresented a koakoann toto whenwhen itit comescomes outout ofof thethe blue,blue, II flailflail it."it." FukeFuke whilewhile theythey werewere eating.eating. HearingHearing thisthis,, RinzaiRinzai instructeinstructedd ononee ooff hihiss monksmonks toto grabgrab ""AA hairhair swallowsswallows thethe vastvast ocean,ocean, aa mustardmustard seedseed containscontains FukFukee anandd demanddemand,, "I"Iff itit doesdoes notnot comecome inin anyany ofof thesethese ways,ways, MounMountt Sumeru.Sumeru. DoesDoes thisthis happenhappen byby meansmeans ofof supernaturalsupernatural whawhatt then?"then?" powerspowers,, oorr iiss ththee wholwholee bodbodyy likelike this?this?"" FukFukee responderespondedd ttoo thethe TheThe monkmonk diddid asas hehe waswas bid.bid. ButBut FukeFuke onlyonly wrigglewriggledd outout ofof koakoann byby kickingkicking overover thethe table.table. hihiss grasgraspp anandd saidsaid,, "Tomorrow"Tomorrow there'sthere's aa nicenice freefree lunchlunch atat thethe "You"You ruffian!ruffian!"" criedcried Rinzai.Rinzai. MonasterMonasteryy ooff GreaGreatt Compassion."Compassion." "Wha"Whatt placplacee iiss thithiss toto speakspeak ofof roughrough andand refined?"refined?" FukeFuke WhenWhen thethe monkmonk returnedreturned andand toldtold RinzaiRinzai whatwhat hadhad hap-hap• counteredcountered.. penedpened,, RinzaRinzaii saidsaid,, ""II wawass alwayalwayss intrigueintriguedd bbyy thathatt guy."guy." TheThe nextnext dayday theythey againagain wentwent outout togethertogether to a supporter's to a supporter's IInn perhapsperhaps thethe mostmost folkloricfolkloric ofof theirtheir exchanges,exchanges, FukeFuke andand luncheon,luncheon, andand RinzaiRinzai openedopened thethe discussion,discussion, saying,saying, "How"How RinzaRinzaii demonstratedemonstratedd nothingnothing lessless thanthan thethe centralcentral issueissue ooff Zen,Zen, doesdoes today'stoday's mealmeal comparecompare withwith yesterday's?"yesterday's?" FukeFuke kickedkicked ththee questionquestion ofof birthbirth andand death.death. BeggingBegging everyevery passerbypasserby inin thethe overover thethe tabletable again,again, andand RinzaiRinzai said,said, "You"You certainlycertainly under-under• marketplacemarketplace ttoo givegive hihimm aa robe,robe, FukeFuke refusedrefused allall offersoffers untiluntil standstand itit,, butbut you'reyou're stillstill aa ruffian. ruffian. "" ThisThis timetime FukeFuke replied,replied, RinzaiRinzai purchasepurchasedd aa cofficoffinn foforr himhim,, saying,saying, "Here,"Here, I'veI've hadhad aa "You"You blinblindd manman;; whawhatt areare youyou doingdoing preachingpreaching roughnessroughness andand roberobe madmadee foforr you."you." finenesfinenesss iinn ththee Buddha-Dharma!Buddha-Dharma!"" RinzaiRinzai counterecounteredd bbyy stickingsticking FukeFuke tootookk upup thethe coffin,coffin, slungslung itit acrossacross hishis shoulders,shoulders, andand ououtt hihiss tonguetongue,, anan oldold ChineseChinese expressionexpression ooff admiration.admiration. returnedreturned toto thethe market,market, crying,crying, "Rinzai"Rinzai hadhad thisthis roberobe mademade forfor OOnn anotheranother occasion,occasion, Fuke,Fuke, whowho camcamee anandd wentwent asas hehe me!me! I'I'mm offoff toto thethe easteast gategate ofof thethe citycity toto die!"die!" PeoplePeople gatheredgathered pleasedpleased,, sometimesometimess joininjoiningg Rinzai'sRinzai's assembly,assembly, butbut mostlymostly andand ranran afterafter thethe towntown foolfool toto seesee whatwhat hehe waswas upup toto thisthis time.time. hanginhangingg arounaroundd thethe marketplace,marketplace, waswas sittinsittingg outsidoutsidee ththee med-med• ApproachinApproachingg ththee easeastt gategate,, FukFukee turneturnedd arounaroundd anandd saidsaid,, "No,"No, itatioitationn hallhall chompingchomping onon rawraw cabbage.cabbage. RinzaiRinzai sasaww hihimm andand nonott today.today. I'lI'lll gogo toto thethe southsouth gategate tomorrowtomorrow andand die."die." ThisThis callecalledd outout,, "You"You havhavee quitquitee ththee aiairr ooff aann ass!ass!"" FukFukee startestartedd toto charadcharadee wenwentt oonn foforr threthreee days,days, untiuntill thethe peoplepeople stoppedstopped payingpaying

34 Crazy CloudsClouds I Rinzai 3535 attentioattentionn ttoo him.him. OnOn thethe fourthfourth day,day, allall alone,alone, FukeFuke carriedcarried * * * ththee cofficoffinn ououtt beyonbeyondd ththee citcityy wallswalls,, gogott intintoo itit,, andand stretchedstretched AlAlll ththee writtewrittenn informationinformation thatthat remainsremains ofof Rinzai'sRinzai's lifelife andand himselhimselff ououtt likelike a corpse.corpse. teachinteachingg iiss containedcontained withinwithin TheThe RecordRecord ofof RinzaiRinzai iinn ththee formform A passerbpasserbyy obligeobligedd hihiss requesrequestt ttoo nainaill dowdownn thethe lidlid andand thenthen ofof hishis discoursesdiscourses ttoo studentsstudents anandd visitorsvisitors atat RinzaiRinzai-ji ji,, andand anan enteredentered ththee marketplacemarketplace ttoo reporreportt toto thethe townsfolktownsfolk aboutabout thethe appendeappendedd biographybiography.. ThougThoughh iitt waswas notnot collectedcollected foforr moremore strangestrange occurrence.occurrence. ThThee locallocal peoplpeoplee alalll dashedashedd ttoo thethe spot,spot, thathann threthreee hundredhundred yearsyears afterafter hishis death,death, itit isis nonethelessnonetheless aa eageeagerr ttoo seesee whawhatt FukeFuke wawass uupp toto;; butbut whenwhen theythey openedopened thethe vividlvividlyy powerfupowerfull testimontestimonyy ttoo thethe revolutionary,revolutionary, colloquial,colloquial, coffincoffin thetheyy founfoundd iitt empty.empty. AllAll thatthat waswas leftleft ofof thethe divinedivine foolfool eveneven vulgavulgarr strengtstrengthh ofof Rinzai'sRinzai's teachingteaching style.style. Indeed,Indeed, hehe wawass ththee tinkletinkle ofof hishis belbelll comincomingg frofromm highhigh upup inin thethe sky.sky. comecomess fortforthh asas a brillianbrilliantt improviserimproviser,, exhortingexhorting hishis listenerslisteners inin RinzaRinzaii wawass reputereputedd foforr hishis fierceness,fierceness, FukFukee foforr hishis anticantic shockinshockingg wordwordss anandd gesturesgestures alwayalwayss ttoo bbee themselves.themselves. UsingUsing dispositiondisposition.. TogetherTogether,, iinn ththee fashionfashion ooff artistsartists,, thetheyy tooktook ZenZen ththee directdirect SocraticSocratic dialoguedialogue approach,approach, hehe invitedinvited questionersquestioners teachinteachingg intintoo thethe streetsstreets andand mademade itit availableavailable toto eveneven thethe ttoo challengechallenge hihimm iinn nose-to-nosenose-to-nose confrontationconfrontation,, anandd dididd notnot simplessimplestt shopkeepershopkeeper.. WitWithh nnoo interesinterestt iinn propagatinpropagatingg monasticmonastic hesitathesitatee ttoo verballverballyy anandd physicallphysicallyy browbeabrowbeatt leslesss thathann worthyworthy BuddhismBuddhism,, withouwithoutt eveneven a concernconcern foforr thethe appropriatenessappropriateness ofof opponents.opponents. BelyingBelying Rinzai'Rinzai'ss harsharshh exteriorexterior,, thoughthough,, isis hishis theitheirr podiupodiumm oror constituency,constituency, theythey lived,lived, acted,acted, andand embodiedembodied remarkablremarkablee humanismhumanism,, hishis insistenceinsistence onon thethe unconditionedunconditioned ththee spirispiritt ooff HoteHoteii (Pu-tai)(Pu-tai),, thethe BodhisattvaBodhisattva ofof ththee marketplace.marketplace. valuvaluee ooff individuaindividuall humahumann dignitydignity,, a themthemee thatthat waswas unheardunheard ThThee worldworld aroundaround ththee smallsmall templtemplee oonn ththee fordford waswas inin ooff iinn thethe spiritualspiritual anandd sociasociall miliemilieuu i nin whic whichh h hee taught—itaught-inn constantconstant turmoil.turmoil. SoldiersSoldiers werewere everywhere,everywhere, andand invasionsinvasions byby TaoismTaoism,, whicwhichh waswas nature-centered,nature-centered, oror inin Confucianism,Confucianism, northernnorthern barbariansbarbarians werewere anan almostalmost dailydaily concern.concern. Politically,Politically, whicwhichh wawass preoccupiedpreoccupied witwithh socialsocial forformm andand denieddenied anyany nothingnothing couldcould bebe moremore dangerousdangerous thathann preachinpreachingg ananyy sorsortt ofof autonomautonomyy ttoo thethe individual,individual, oror inin Buddhism,Buddhism, whichwhich waswas individualisindividualismm oorr advocatingadvocating abolitionabolition ofof rank.rank. YetYet itit waswas herehere devotionadevotionall anandd otherworldlyotherworldly.. ForFor Rinzai,Rinzai, thethe humanhuman beingbeing waswas thathatt Rinzai'sRinzai's unmitigatedunmitigated nondualism,nondualism, hishis insistenceinsistence oonn com-com• nnoo philosophicalphilosophical abstractionabstraction,, bubutt a BuddhaBuddha inin thethe flesh.flesh. HisHis pletpletee abandonmentabandonment ooff religiousreligious dogmadogma oror dependencedependence onon listenerlistenerss werweree ofteoftenn aass notnot shockedshocked atat hearinghearing themselvesthemselves externaexternall eventsevents,, gregreww intintoo ththee schooschooll thathatt camcamee ttoo bbee knowknownn inin referrereferredd ttoo asas Bodhisattvas,Bodhisattvas, Buddhas,Buddhas, andand Patriarchs,Patriarchs, andand hishis JapaJapann asas RinzaiRinzai Zen.Zen. HisHis immediateimmediate disciplesdisciples numberednumbered nono patronpatronss werweree probablprobablyy nnoo lessless abashedabashed bbyy hishis totaltotal disregarddisregard mormoree thanthan twenty-five,twenty-five, withwith SanshoSansho EnenEnen (San-sheng(San-sheng Hui-jan)Hui-jan) foforr castcastee oorr authorityauthority,, expoundedexpounded iinn hihiss doctrindoctrinee ooff ththee "true"true listelistedd aass hihiss direcdirectt heiheirr afteafterr ththee master'master'ss famoufamouss unorthodoxunorthodox mamann ooff nnoo rank.rank. "" laslastt wordwordss ooff transmissiontransmission:: "Wh"Whoo wouldwould havehave thoughthoughtt I wouldwould FacinFacingg hihiss audienceaudience,, h hee crie criedd out out,, "O"Onn youryour lumplump ofof redred paspasss oonn mmyy dharmadharma toto suchsuch a blindblind donkey!"donkey!" ItIt waswas onlonlyy iinn thethe flesfleshh iiss aa trutruee mamann ooff nono rankrank whowho isis alwaysalways comingcoming inin andand seventhseventh generatiogenerationn ooff Rinzai'sRinzai's successors,successors, withwith SekisoSekiso SoenSoen goingoingg ououtt ofof eacheach ooff youyourr faces.faces. ThoseThose whowho haven'thaven't yetyet verifiedverified (Shih-shuan(Shih-shuangg Ch'u-yuanCh'u-yuan,, 986-1039),986-1039), thatthat hishis lineline spreadspread southsouth him,him, look,look, look!"look!" and overcame all other Zen schools of the Sung dynasty. The and overcame all other Zen schools of the Sung dynasty. The A monmonkk approachedapproached hihimm anandd asked,asked, "Wha"Whatt aboutabout thethe truetrue records conflict on the date of his death, one claiming that he records conflict on the date of his death, one claiming that he mamann withouwithoutt rank?"rank?" died on 18 February 867, and another saying 27 May 866. Both died on 18 February 867, and another saying 27 May 866. Both RinzaRinzaii steppesteppedd dowdownn frofromm hishis teachingteaching seatseat andand,, puttingputting hishis accounts agree, however, that he was not ill, and that he seated accounts agree, however, that he was not ill, and that he seated facfacee closclosee u upp ttoo ththee monk'smonk's,, said,said, "What"What aboutabout thethe truetrue manman himself and spoke to his disciples with characteristic humor himself and spoke to his disciples with characteristic humor ooff nnoo rank?rank?"" Then,Then, seizingseizing thethe monkmonk byby thethe lapelslapels ofof hishis robe,robe, and alacrity before closing his eyes and dying peacefully. and alacrity before closing his eyes and dying peacefully. hhee shoutedshouted,, "Speak!"Speak! Speak!"Speak!"

3636 Crazy CloudsClouds I Rinzai 3737 ThThee monkmonk hesitated,hesitated, andand RinzaiRinzai shovedshoved himhim aside,aside, crying,crying, presentpresent,, oror futurefuture couldcould obstrucobstructt oror bringbring aboutabout thethe experienceexperience "The"The manman withoutwithout rank,rank, howhow fullfull ofof shitshit hehe is!"is!" AndAnd hehe stalkedstalked ooff enlightenment.enlightenment. Satori itselitselff requirerequiredd nnoo practicepractice.. AlAlll thatthat ououtt ofof thethe hall.hall. wawass lefleftt ttoo thethe sinceresincere seekerseeker wawass faitfaithh iinn hihiss oror herher ownown RinzaRinzaii dididd nonott teacteachh anythinanythingg neneww iinn ZenZen,, butbut hehe radicallyradically activitactivityy "righ"rightt now."now." ToTo allall whowho continuedcontinued questioningquestioning himhim alterealteredd ththee deliverydelivery ooff thethe message.message. HeHe excoriatedexcoriated peoplepeople forfor abouaboutt Buddha,Buddha, Buddhism,Buddhism, enlightenmentenlightenment,, anandd ththee rest,rest, hehe runninrunningg backback andand forthforth betweenbetween teachers,teachers, lookinlookingg foforr enlight-enlight• repliedreplied,, "Th"Thee BuddhaBuddha iiss youyou,, listeninglistening ttoo mymy discoursediscourse rightright enmenenmentt inin thethe wordswords andand reputationsreputations ofof others.others. nonoww beforbeforee mymy veryvery eyes!"eyes!" ImpatienImpatientt witwithh totooo muchmuch sittingsitting meditationmeditation anandd withwith in-in• I speaspeakk thithiss wawayy onlonlyy becausbecausee yoyouu seekerseekerss keekeepp runninrunningg aroundaround structivstructivee techniquetechniquess foforr promptingprompting kensho,kensho, RinzaRinzaii ofteoftenn be-be• everywhereverywheree lookinlookingg foforr thethe worthlessworthless contrivancescontrivances ooff peoplepeople camcamee frustratefrustratedd aatt havinghaving toto speakspeak atat all.all. SeveralSeveral lectureslectures areare whwhoo areare longlong deaddead anandd gonegone.. FroFromm mmyy pointpoint ofof view,view, thethe thereforthereforee devotedevotedd ttoo admonishinadmonishingg studentsstudents forfor runningrunning everyevery BodhisattvaBodhisattvass araree nothinnothingg bubutt shishitt inin thethe toilet,toilet, hitchinghitching postsposts whicwhichh wayway,, lookinlookingg aroundaround,, scroungingscrounging ZenZen experienceexperience fromfrom foforr assesasses,, prisonerprisonerss iinn shackles.shackles. BuddhaBuddha isis merelymerely aa name!name! "th"thee secondhandsecondhand wordwordss ooff others.others."" ForFor Rinzai,Rinzai, nothinnothingg butbut SucSuchh demanddemandss foforr spiritualspiritual self-confidenceself-confidence werweree nonott foforr thethe unconditionaunconditionall mentalmental detachmentdetachment andand passionatepassionate engagementengagement timitimidd oror thethe devotionallydevotionally inclinedinclined.. IInn orderorder toto givegive livingliving iinn ththee veryvery activityactivity ofof livinlivingg itselitselff woulwouldd dodo.. A talltall orderorder forfor aa struggling young novice, no doubt. It must have been difficult meaninmeaningg ttoo hihiss words,words, RinzaiRinzai dididd nonott hesitatehesitate ttoo shake,shake, hit,hit, struggling young novice, no doubt. It must have been difficult to accept the master's rejection of traditional Zen instruction, anandd shoushoutt aatt hihiss studentsstudents,, usinusingg "shoc"shockk therapytherapy"" toto enlightenenlighten to accept the master's rejection of traditional Zen instruction, difficult to abandon the cause and effect notion implicit in themthem.. NotNot surprisingly,surprisingly, hehe debunkeddebunked quietism,quietism, andand preferredpreferred difficult to abandon the cause and effect notion implicit in zazen that sitting would lead to enlightenment. Rinzai's insis• actionaction,, livlivee interchangeinterchange,, anandd gesturgesturee ttoo lonlongg periodperiodss ooff medi-medi• zazen that sitting would lead to enlightenment. Rinzai's insis- tence on immediate experience over induced tranquillity is tationtation.. HeHe characterizedcharacterized sanctimoniousanctimoniouss monk monkss aass ""aa buncbunchh ofof tence on immediate experience over induced tranquillity is beautifully illustrated by the following exchange with a rather blinblindd baldiebaldiess whwhoo stuffstuff themselvesthemselves witwithh foodfood andand sitsit likelike lumpslumps beautifully illustrated by the following exchange with a rather self-confidentself-confident monk.monk. foforr hourhourss iinn meditation,meditation, stoppingstopping thethe flowflow ooff thoughts,thoughts,"" andand Standing before the assembly, Rinzai said, "I spent twenty hhee warnedwarned thethemm thatthat sittingsitting likelike thisthis couldcould onlyonly resultresult inin Standing before the assembly, Rinzai said, "I spent twenty yearyearss witwithh ObakuObaku.. WhenWhen threthreee timetimess I askedasked hihimm aboutabout thethe makinmakingg "hell"hell karma"karma" forfor themselves.themselves. cardinalcardinal principlprinciplee ooff BuddhismBuddhism,, hehe gavegave mmee threethree blowsblows withwith RinzaRinzaii tradetradedd onon radicalradical statementsstatements likelike these,these, eveneven goinggoing soso hishis stickstick.. ItIt waswas liklikee beinbeingg pattepattedd witwithh a branchbranch ofof mugwort.mugwort. fafarr aass ttoo urgurgee studentsstudents toto slayslay Buddhas,Buddhas, ancestralancestral teachersteachers,, andand I'dI'd lovelove anotheranother tastetaste ooff thatthat stickstick now.now. WhoWho cancan givegive itit toto theitheirr owownn parentparentss aass wellwell.. NoNott surprisinglysurprisingly,, thesthesee exhortationsexhortations rue?"mer stirrestirredd uupp ththee oppositiooppositionn ooff ConfuciansConfucians,, whwhoo werweree outrageoutragedd aatt AA monmonkk steppesteppedd forwardforward,, sayingsaying,, ""II can."can." sucsuchh disregarddisregard foforr filialfilial piety.piety. TraditionalTraditional Buddhists,Buddhists, more-more• RinzaRinzaii helheldd ououtt hihiss stickstick.. ThThee monkmonk triedtried takingtaking it;it; asas hehe diddid overover,, shranshrankk frofromm Rinzai'sRinzai's incitementincitementss ttoo commicommitt suchsuch "hei-"hei• soso,, RinzaRinzaii hihitt hihimm witwithh it.it. nounouss crimes.crimes." EverythinEverythingg iinn thethe RinzaiRinzai stylestyle ofof ZenZen laylay inin performance,performance, If you wanted to be Rinzai's student, nothing less than If you wanted to be Rinzai's student, nothing less than direcdirectt speecspeechh anandd responseresponse,, a dramaticalldramaticallyy perfecperfectt presentatiopresentationn complete homelessness would do—not by becoming a monk, complete homelessness would do-not by becoming a monk, ooff ththee wholewhole.. AllAll thethe esotericesoteric principlesprinciples ofof MahayanaMahayana philosophiloso-• bubutt byby rejectingrejecting anyany sortsort ofof clingingclinging toto thethe phenomenalphenomenal worldworld phphyy werweree condensecondensedd iinn a blowblow,, translatedtranslated intointo thethe challengingchallenging aatt allall.. AnAndd thisthis includeincludedd meditatiomeditationn anandd ththee notionotionn ofof enlight-enlight• wordwordss ooff a daredare.. Today,Today, RinzaRinzaii mighmightt bebe calledcalled a methomethodd actor,actor, enmenenmentt itselfitself.. FoForr Rinzai,Rinzai, nono "Buddhas""Buddhas" existed.existed. NoNo past,past, whoswhosee wordwordss andand exaggerated,exaggerated, eveneven distorteddistorted,, earthyearthy deliverydelivery

38 Crazy Clouds Crazy Clouds I Rinzai 3Q39 conveyconvey nothinnothingg lessless thanthan thethe profoundestprofoundest spiritualspiritual experience.experience. moniouslmoniouslyy uniteunitedd spherespheress ooff sensesense.. SincSincee ththee minmindd iiss nonexist-nonexist• HisHis geniusgenius tailoredtailored thatthat experienceexperience forfor everyevery individuaindividuall con-con• ent,ent, whereverwherever youyou are,are, youyou areare emancipated.emancipated. frontingfronting him.him. InIn interviews,interviews, hehe couldcould "discern"discern aa manman throughthrough LikLikee ththee typicaltypical ChineseChinese intellectualintellectual ooff hishis time,time, RinzaiRinzai was anandd through"through" withwith hishis differentdifferent brandbrand ofof ZenZen insight,insight, hishis was givegivenn ttoo categorizingcategorizing.. Yet,Yet, ththee ZeZenn mamann RinzaiRinzai useusedd wordwordss andand refusalrefusal toto makemake comparisonscomparisons betweenbetween secularsecular andand sacred.sacred. categoriecategoriess ttoo shattershatter conceptualconceptual thinking,thinking, tossingtossing lightninglightning WheWhenn detectingdetecting eveevenn aa flickernicker ooff doubtdoubt inin thethe student,student, aa boltboltss toto awakenawaken ththee intuitivintuitivee mindmind.. HeHe wawass ververyy mucmuchh a tutor,tutor, moment'smoment's hesitation,hesitation, he'dhe'd letlet looseloose a blowblow oror a shoutshout toto bringbring privatelprivatelyy workingworking thethe teacher-discipleteacher-disciple relationshiprelationship itselfitself intintoo aa ththee studentstudent backback toto hishis centercenter ofof confidence,confidence, sayingsaying,, "One"One viableviable meanmeanss foforr enlightenment.enlightenment. HisHis ownown richrich mindmind andand psy-psy• thoughthoughtt ooff doubtdoubt inin youryour mindmind isis thethe devil."devil." FearlesFearlesss iinn thethe chologicachologicall perceptioperceptionn interactedinteracted instantaneouslyinstantaneously oonn multiplemultiple facfacee ooff ostracisostracismm frofromm ththee ZenZen community,community, hehe advocatedadvocated thatthat levelslevels,, ssoo hhee hahadd nnoo patiencpatiencee foforr ththee slosloww anandd steadsteadyy approachesapproaches hihiss monksmonks avoidavoid hierarchy,hierarchy, templetemple security,security, anandd patronage,patronage, ooff otheotherr teachers.teachers. HeHe waswas thereforetherefore openlyopenly criticalcritical nonott onlyonly ofof andand warnedwarned themthem notnot toto becomebecome templetemple mastersmasters whowho,, likelike BuddhisBuddhistt sectsectss outsidoutsidee ofof hishis own,own, butbut ofof fellowfellow ZenZen teachersteachers new brides, were terrified ofof beingbeing "throw"thrownn outout withwith nothingnothing new brides, were terrified aass wellwell,, foforr notnot lettingletting studentsstudents "experience"experience truttruthh foforr them-them• on their backs." The reallreallyy greagreatt ZeZenn men,men, RinzaiRinzai said,said, hadhad on their backs." The selves.selves."" A superficialsuperficial readinreadingg ooff hishis techniques,techniques, thethe freewheel-freewheel• beebeenn outcastoutcastss frofromm ththee start,start, andand werewere recognizedrecognized foforr theirtheir iningg blowsblows andand deafeningdeafening shouts,shouts, mightmight thereforetherefore obscureobscure wortworthh onlyonly yearsyears laterlater.. AndAnd thatthat was,was, inin hihiss eyeseyes,, ""aa goodgood Rinzai'Rinzai'ss sophisticatesophisticatedd doctrindoctrinee ooff thethe fourfoldfourfold relationshiprelationship thingthing,, becausebecause ifif theythey werewere acceptedaccepted alalll aroundaround,, whatwhat wouldwould betweebetweenn questionequestionerr anandd respondent,respondent, whosewhose process-orientedprocess-oriented theythey havehave beebeenn googoodd forfor anyway?"anyway?" approachapproach useusess ththee guesguestt andand hosthost metaphormetaphor to describe the of monastic to describe the RinzaRinzaii urgeurgedd hishis listenerlistenerss ttoo avoiavoidd ththee "luxuries"luxuries"" of monastic transformatiotransformationn ofof thethe egoego atat work.work. lifelife aass mucmuchh aass hhee urgeurgedd thethemm toto stopstop seekingseeking forfor thethe Buddha.Buddha. IInn ththee first situationsituation,, "guest,"guest,"" thethe limitedlimited ego,ego, meetsmeets "host,""host," HHee encouragedencouraged themthem toto bebe bravebrave eveneven inin ththee faceface ofof miraclesmiracles thethe universal,universal, oror essentialessential naturenature.. LimitedLimited guestguest asksasks a questionquestion and demons. Nothing, not even gods, was permanent. HowHow and demons. Nothing, not even gods, was permanent. andand isis repliedreplied toto byby universaluniversal host.host. ThisThis isis exemplifiedexemplified in of even the most in mucmuchh lessless permanentpermanent,, then,then, werewere thethe wordswords of even the most Rinzai'sRinzai's owownn meetinmeetingg witwithh ObakuObaku,, when,when, inin hishis unenlightenedunenlightened understanding on venerablvenerablee ZeZenn mastermaster?? "I"Iff youyou basebase youryour understanding on statestate,, ththee youngyoung monkmonk askedasked hishis threethree questionsquestions anandd gogott hishis secondhandsecondhand note notess frofromm somsomee deadeadd ololdd guy,"guy," hehe scolded,scolded, threthreee blowsblows,, delivereddelivered bbyy ththee unencumberedunencumbered andand spontaneousspontaneous and declare them "wra"wrapp upup youryour notebooksnotebooks inin squaressquares ofof clothcloth and declare them functioninfunctioningg ofof thethe universaluniversal self.self. secret, you are nothing but a blinblindd idiotidiot.. WhatWhat kindkind ofof juicejuice secret, you are nothing but a InIn thethe secondsecond situation,situation, "host""host" seeseess "guest""guest";; thatthat happenshappens can you find in such dried-udried-upp oldold bones?"bones?" HeHe preferredpreferred livelive can you find in such whewhenn thethe questionerquestioner takestakes thethe universaluniversal positionposition andand ththee re-re• discourse, the pungent dialogue, the dialecticadialecticall paradoxparadox,, andand discourse, the pungent dialogue, the spondenspondentt iiss ththee distincdistinctt egoego.. ThiThiss obtainobtainss whewhenn thethe enlightenedenlightened thethe apparentlyapparently illogicalillogical twisttwist.. TakeTake forfor exampleexample hishis discussiondiscussion RinzaRinzaii askaskss aa questioquestionn ooff hihiss unenlightenedunenlightened studentstudent,, oorr whenwhen of Mind. of Mind. anan enlighteneenlightenedd studenstudentt answeranswerss frofromm ththee poinpointt ofof viewview ofof hishis limited ego, the monk playing dumb, for example. MinMindd isis withoutwithout formform andand pervadespervades thethe tenten directions:directions: iinn thethe limited ego, the monk playing dumb, for example. OrOr,, whenwhen eyeyee iitt isis calledcalled seeingseeing,, inin thethe carear itit isis calledcalled hearinghearing,, inin thethe nosenose ththee monmonkk reallyreally respondsresponds fromfrom thethe levellevel ofof dualisticdualistic mind.mind. iitt smellsmellss odorsodors,, iinn thethe mouthmouth itit holdsholds conversation,conversation, inin thethe handhand InIn ththee thirthirdd situationsituation,, whewhenn "hos"hostt seessees host,host,"" thethe questionerquestioner iitt graspsgrasps andand seizes,seizes, iinn thethe feetfeet itit runsruns andand carries.carries. Fundamen-Fundamen• .uuidand responden respondentt ar aree botbothh functioningfunctioning aass universauniversall selfself.. ThaThatt isis tallytally,, iitt isis oneone purepure radiance;radiance; divided,divided, itit becomesbecomes ththee sixsix har-har- tth hee bes bestt conditio conditionn ooff ththee fourfour.. IInn thithiss casecase,, Rinzai'Rinzai'ss enlightenedenlightened

40 Crazy Clouds Rinzai 41 exchangeexchange witwithh Daigu—strikinDaigu-strikingg thethe oldold teacheteacherr andand sayingsaying "Jojoza,"Jojoza, whwhyy don'don'tt youyou bow?"bow?" askedasked a monkmonk inin thethe assem-assem• nothinnothingg inin responseresponse ttoo hishis questionquestion,, "What"What havhavee yo youu seen?"seen?"-— bly.bly. AsAs JojozJojozaa bowedbowed,, hehe suddenlysuddenly hadhad greatgreat satori.satori. iiss indicativindicativee o off "host "host"" greetingreetingg "host."host."" Finally,Finally, RinzaiRinzai letletss bothboth subjectivitysubjectivity andand objectivityobjectivity bebe asas WhenWhen,, iinn thethe fourthfourth situation,situation, "guest""guest" meetsmeets "guest,""guest," wewe thetheyy are,are, perfectlyperfectly identicalidentical witwithh eacheach otherother inin aa statestate ofof araree unfortunatelyunfortunately inin ththee conditioncondition wherewhere limitedlimited egoego andand ordinarinessordinariness,, hihiss ultimatultimatee realitrealityy ooff "just"just shitting,shitting, pissingpissing,, andand limitelimitedd egegoo meetmeet inin ignoranceignorance andand misguidedlmisguidedlyy trtryy toto com-com• becominbecomingg ordinary."ordinary." municatemunicate.. ThatThat,, sayssays Rinzai,Rinzai, isis whatwhat happenshappens duringduring mostmost ByBy rejectingrejecting meditatiomeditationn anandd experimentinexperimentingg withwith newnew teach-teach• student-teacherstudent-teacher encountersencounters:: "Ther"Theree areare somesome studentsstudents whowho inging forms,forms, RinzaiRinzai eveneven calledcalled intintoo questionquestion traditionaltraditional defini-defini• carrycarry aroundaround theirtheir ballball andand chainchain andand appearappear beforebefore a ZenZen tiontionss ofof enlightenmentenlightenment andand transmission.transmission. YetYet hehe managedmanaged toto teacherteacher whowho jusjustt addsadds anotheranother locklock toto thethe burden.burden. StudentStudent andand implemenimplementt a schoolschool ooff ZenZen that,that, thoughthough eccentric,eccentric, wawass self-self- teacherteacher areare veryvery pleased,pleased, sincesince bothboth areare unawareunaware ofof whatwhat isis sufficientsufficient enougenoughh toto outlastoutlast manymany ofof itsits hierarchical,hierarchical, establish-establish• goingoingg on."on." ment-basement-basedd opponentsopponents.. AlongsideAlongside itsits friendlyfriendly contemporary,contemporary, InIn hishis "four"four processesprocesses ofof liberationliberation frofromm subjectivitysubjectivity andand thethe SotoSoto lineline stemmingstemming fromfrom MasterMaster TozanTozan RyokaRyokaii (Tung-shan(Tung-shan shout in objectivity,"objectivity," RinzaRinzaii presentpresentss a a koankoan,, aa blowblow,, oror aa shout in Liang-chien),Liang-chien), RinzaiRinzai ZeZenn developeddeveloped unhampereunhamperedd bbyy politicpoliticss oror the subject-object religious institutionalism. Over time, however, its original orderorder toto freefree thethe studentstudent onon thethe spotspot fromfrom the subject-object religious institutionalism. Over time, however,its original his objective creative power, the wild energy and freshness of its founder, splitsplit mind.mind. First,First, hehe takestakes awayaway ththee persopersonn bubutt nonott his objective creative power, the wildenergy and freshness of its founder, attachments to the was itself swallowed up by sectarian imitators and, in Japan, situationsituation,, thathatt isis,, hehe freesfrees himhim fromfrom hishis attachments to the was itself swallowed up by sectarian imitators and, in Japan, world remain. To this by the military, which ossified its spontaneous shouts and subjectivsubjectivee worldworld,, butbut letslets thethe objectiveobjective world remain. To this by the military, which ossified itsspontaneous shouts and gestures into a "system." Rinzai's exchange with the military enendd hhee usesuses poemspoems totallytotally descriptivedescriptive ooff thethe naturalnatural landscapelandscape gestures into a "system." Rinzai's exchange with the military the objec- governor Wang, his own patron and student, thus rings ironi• withwith nono first-personfirst-person perspective..perspective. Second,Second, toto removeremove the objec• governor Wang, his own patron and student, thus rings ironi- eliminates all notions of cally across the centuries. tivetive situatiosituationn andand leaveleave ththee person,person, hehe eliminates all notions of cally across the centuries. "There are some Bud- seekinseekingg enlightenmenenlightenmentt fromfrom outside:outside: "There are some Bud• OnOnee day,day, GovernorGovernor WangWang visitedvisited ththee templtemplee andand metmet RinzaiRinzai mistake of seeking for dhisdhistt learnerlearnerss who'vwho'vee alreadyalready mademade thethe mistake of seeking for inin fronfrontt ofof thethe monks'monks' hall.hall. Wu-t'ai. There is no [th[thee Bodhisattva]Bodhisattva] ManjusrManjusrii aatt MountMount Wu-t'ai. There is no "Do"Do thethe monksmonks herehere readread sutras?"sutras?" hehe asked.asked. He is at ManjusrManjusrii aatt Wu-t'aiWu-t'ai.. DoDo youyou wantwant toto knowknow Manjusri?Manjusri? He is at "No,"No, theythey don't,"don't," repliedreplied Rinzai.Rinzai. unshakeably, with no room thisthis momenmomentt workingworking withinwithin you,you, unshakeably, with no room "D"Doo theythey learnlearn meditation,meditation, then?"then?" foforr doubt.doubt. ThisThis isis thethe livingliving Manjusri."Manjusri." "No,"No, theythey don'tdon't learnlearn meditation."meditation." and subjective ThusThus,, liberatingliberating aa studentstudent fromfrom bothboth objectiveobjective and subjective "If"If theythey don'tdon't readread sutrassutras oror learnlearn meditation,meditation, whatwhat onon earthearth attachmenattachmentt iiss accomplisheaccomplishedd bbyy a shoutshout,, a slap,slap, oror a push.push. SuchSuch ar;iree thetheyy doindoingg here?here?"" askedasked ththee governor.governor. reasoning and physicaphysicall shockshockss joljoltt ththee minmindd outout ofof intellectualintellectual reasoning and "Al"Alll I ddoo iiss makmakee thethemm becombecomee BuddhaBuddhass anandd Bodhisattvas,"Bodhisattvas," either subject or object. frefreee ththee persopersonn fromfrom identifyingidentifying withwith either subject or object. RinzaRinzaii replierepliedd witwithh aa smile.smile. of The Blue Cliff ThisThis isis dramaticallydramatically illustratedillustrated inin CaseCase 3232 of The Blue Cliff today. Record, a a collectio collectionn o off koankoanss stilstilll useusedd iinn ZeZenn centerscenters today. "What is the essence JojozaJojoza (Ting(Ting Shang-tso)Shang-tso) askedasked Rinzai,Rinzai, "What is the essence grasped Jojoza ooff Buddhism?Buddhism?"" RinzaiRinzai descendeddescended fromfrom hishis seat,seat, grasped Jojoza bbyy thethe lapelslapels ooff hihiss roberobe,, shooshookk himhim,, slappeslappedd himhim,, andand pushedpushed hihimm away.away. JojozJojozaa jusjustt stoostoodd there.there.

4242 Crazy CloudsClouds I Rinzai 4433 3 Bassui: The LoverLover of SoundsSounds

ThougThoughh hhee heardheard nothingnothing butbut thethe battlebattle criescries ofof civilcivil warwar throughouthroughoutt hishis life,life, BassuiBassui foundfound hishis greatgreat enlightenmentenlightenment inin ththee soundssounds ooff thethe world.world. BornBorn inin JapanJapan durinduringg ththee heighheightt ofof ththee MinamotMinamotoo militarymilitary dictatorshipdictatorship thatthat spannedspanned twotwo centuriescenturies (1338-1500),(1338-1500), Bassui'Bassui'ss ZeZenn developeddeveloped againstagainst aa politicalpolitical contestcontest betweebetweenn rivarivall courtcourtss andand feudalfeudal chaos.chaos. InIn 1333,1333, whenwhen BassuiBassui wawass sevenseven yearyearss oldold,, thethe shogunateshogunate waswas overthrownoverthrown inin aa factionafactionall attempattemptt ttoo restorrestoree ththee dethronedethronedd emperor.emperor. ThisThis spas-spas• modimodicc rebellionrebellion wawass unsuccessfulunsuccessful anandd resulteresultedd iinn anan openopen scramblescramble betweebetweenn ththee shogunateshogunate andand thethe imperialimperial forcesforces forfor controcontroll ooff ththee nationnation.. DislodgedDislodged fromfrom theirtheir seatseat ofof powerpower andand culture,culture, courtiers,courtiers, poets,poets, artists,artists, andand warriorswarriors becamebecame wander-wander• iningg Buddhists,Buddhists, emblematicemblematic ofof thethe deepdeep sensesense ofof impermanenceimpermanence thatthat characterizedcharacterized ththee age.age. ItIt waswas aa periodperiod ofof aestheticaesthetic melan-melan• cholycholy thatthat upheldupheld thethe beautiesbeauties ofof imperfectionimperfection andand soughtsought refugerefuge iinn thethe veryvery instabilityinstability thatthat gavegave itit life.life. LivingLiving betweenbetween 13271327 anandd 1387,1387, BassuiBassui dididd survivesurvive toto seesee aa briebrieff periodperiod ofof orderorder underunder thethe shogunshogun YoshimitsuYoshimitsu (1358-(1358- 1408)1408),, anandd aa patronagpatronagee ooff ththee artartss anandd ZeZenn thatthat overlappedoverlapped intointo ththee worldworld ofof diplomacydiplomacy andand trade.trade. ButBut thethe greatergreater partpart ofof hishis owownn ZeZenn careercareer waswas spentspent inin avoidingavoiding ththee slipperyslippery politicpoliticss andand ththee gozangozan ZeZenn hierarchhierarchyy thathatt fuelefueledd ththee "spiritua"spirituall lifelife"" ooff thethe MuromachMuromachii era.era. FoForr mormoree thanthan sixtysixty years,years, JapanJapan waswas engagedengaged inin aa strugglestruggle foforr imperiaimperiall powerpower bbyy brawlinbrawlingg witwithh palacepalace guardguardss andand loppinglopping amonamongg feudalfeudal baronsbarons greedygreedy forfor personalpersonal gaingain andand eagereager toto offoff thethe branchesbranches ofof thethe emperor'semperor's sacredsacred maplemaple trees.trees. spreaspreadd theitheirr namesnames acrossacross thethe land.land. EvenEven thethe greatgreat medievalmedieval DuringDuring Bassui'sBassui's lifetime,lifetime, thethe AshikagaAshikaga cultivatedcultivated thethe artsarts bushido cod codee o off knightl knightlyy chivalrchivalryy wawass wantonlwantonlyy abandonedabandoned inin moremore successfullysuccessfully thathann theythey managedmanaged theirtheir unrulyunruly subjects.subjects. ththee openopen thrustthrust forfor power.power. ObligationObligation toto lordlord andand vassalsvassals ThisThis new,new, boorishboorish militarymilitary "aristocracy""aristocracy" soughtsought respectabilityrespectability narrowenarrowedd ttoo encompassencompass littllittlee mormoree thathann thethe immediateimmediate familyfamily iinn imitationimitation ofof SungSung ChineseChinese aestheticsaesthetics anandd iinn Zen.Zen. ToTo bebe oorr clan.clan. TheThe onceonce greatgreat lordslords hadhad lostlost controlcontrol overover theirtheir fiefs,fiefs, modermodernn meantmeant toto bebe conversantconversant withwith allall thingsthings Chinese;Chinese; in-in• anandd anarchyanarchy ruled.ruled. AllAll sortssorts ofof adventurers,adventurers, pettypetty samurai,samurai, deed,deed, tradetrade withwith ChinaChina hadhad provenproven toto bebe notnot onlyonly anan economiceconomic provincialsprovincials,, andand stewardsstewards nonoww rushedrushed forfor thethe prizeprize ofof lanlandd thatthat necessitynecessity bubutt a spiritualspiritual one.one. ZenZen priestspriests werewere importeimportedd alongalong hahadd beebeenn wrestedwrested fromfrom thethe conqueredconquered imperialimperial court.court. RewardsRewards withwith rice,rice, silk,silk, andand thethe arts.arts. UnderUnder thethe AshikagaAshikaga shogunate,shogunate, inin andand punishmentspunishments nnoo longerlonger restedrested inin thethe handshands ofof overlords,overlords, fact,fact, ZenZen BuddhismBuddhism providedprovided JapanJapan withwith a wholwholee newnew classclass ofof nono feudalfeudal justicjusticee systesystemm ooff anyany kindkind presided.presided. TheThe intricateintricate ecclesiasticalecclesiastical businessme businessmenn wh whoo handlehandledd customcustomss andand dutiesduties asas chainchain ofof powerpower knownknown asas shiki, consistingconsisting ooff overlords,overlords, stew-stew• wellwell aass souls.souls. MoneyMoney changingchanging waswas anotheranother lucrativelucrative priestlypriestly ards,ards, andand provincialprovincial officers,officers, dissolved,dissolved, resultinresultingg iinn a crazy-crazy- business.business. SoSo powerfulpowerful waswas thethe connectionconnection betweenbetween religiousreligious quilquiltt patterpatternn ofof baronatesbaronates withwith onlyonly nominalnominal allegianceallegiance toto thethe hierarchhierarchyy anandd trade,trade, thatthat thethe merchantmerchant vesselsvessels sailingsailing betweenbetween rulinrulingg AshikagaAshikaga shogunateshogunate.. ThThee divisiondivision intointo SouthernSouthern andand JapanJapan andand thethe ChineseChinese mainlandmainland werewere namednamed afterafter thethe greatgreat Kyoto temples. NortherNorthernn kingdomskingdoms thatthat keptkept warwar alivealive providedprovided aa perfectperfect Kyoto temples. The fourteenth century also saw the development ofJapanese backdrobackdropp forfor thethe shiftingshifting loyaltiesloyalties andand legitimizedlegitimized banditrybanditry The fourteenth century also saw the development of Japanese trade guilds, which survived almost entirely thathatt werewere thethe orderorder ofof thethe day.day. KyotoKyoto waswas thethe constantconstant scenescene trade guilds, which survived almost entirely onon thethe patronagepatronage and bribery of powerful monastery abbots. A fortunately ooff attack;attack; firsfirstt securesecuredd bbyy ththee warriorwarriorss ooff ththee SouthernSouthern faction,faction, and bribery of powerful monastery abbots. A fortunately placedplaced businessmabusinessmann oorr skilledskilled laborelaborerr couldcould attachattach himselfhimself to a thethenn retakenretaken byby thethe Ashikaga,Ashikaga, thenthen thethe YoshiakiraYoshiakira clan,clan, andand onon to a templtemplee anandd bebe assuredassured thatthat thethe taxtax collectorcollector wouldwould looklook thethe andand on,on, untiluntil thethe AshikagaAshikaga finallyfinally boughtbought peacepeace byby offeringoffering otherother way.way. AsAs always,always, thethe peasantspeasants werweree hardeshardestt struckstruck;; victimsvictims ththee rivalrival YoshiakirasYoshiakiras autonomautonomyy overover sixsix provinces.provinces. ofof outrageououtrageouss transportationtransportation tollstolls andand extortionistextortionist middlemen,middlemen, IInn 139o,1390, ththee YamanaYamana clanclan,, whwhoo controllecontrolledd aa sixtsixthh ooff thethe theythey oftenoften resortedresorted toto violenceviolence againstagainst theirtheir secularsecular creditors,creditors, country,country, launchedlaunched anan attackattack onon thethe Ashikaga.Ashikaga. AgainAgain thethe busi-busi• butbut werewere virtuallyvirtually helplesshelpless againstagainst ththee powerpower ooff theirtheir monasticmonastic ness-mindeness-mindedd AshikagAshikagaa boughboughtt peacepeace,, thithiss timetime endingending aa warwar overlordsoverlords.. ConsequentlyConsequently,, iinn additionaddition toto feudalfeudal warfare,warfare, nu-nu• thathatt hadhad lastedlasted forfor overover thirtythirty yearsyears byby feedingfeeding stillstill moremore merousmerous agrarianagrarian uprisingsuprisings accompaniedaccompanied thethe radicalradical economiceconomic territorterritoryy toto thethe insatiableinsatiable Yamanas.Yamanas. IInn thithiss fashion,fashion, thethe Ashi-Ashi• swingswingss ooff thethe MuromachiMuromachi period.period. Similarly,Similarly, thethe individualindividual kagkagaa shogunatshogunatee restorerestoredd aa shadoshadoww ooff ordeorderr ttoo Kyoto,Kyoto, atat thethe familfamilyy uniunitt underwenunderwentt a dramaticdramatic change,change, withwith allall hereditaryhereditary same time creating a link with the outlying provinces. Samurai same time creating a link with the outlying provinces. Samurai privilegeprivilegess reservereservedd foforr eldeseldestt sonsonss (wh(whoo coulcouldd presumablpresumablyy fightfight rule prevailed, which meant that brutality and corruption rule prevailed, which meant that brutality and corruption foforr ththee familfamilyy lanlandd ifif necessary)necessary) anandd womenwomen nownow subordinatedsubordinated served as law and order. Kyoto was filled with threadbare served as law and order. Kyoto was filled with threadbare toto thethe positionposition ofof chattel.chattel. InIn situationssituations wherewhere therethere werewere nono soldiers, fortune seekers, hedonists, and hucksters. The em• soldiers, fortune seekers, hedonists, and hucksters. The em- sonsonss ttoo retairetainn thethe familyfamily name,name, perfectperfect strangersstrangers werewere adoptedadopted peror was permitted to remain at court, ruling in name only, peror was permitted to remain at court, ruling in nameonly, anandd givegivenn alalll du duee right rightss an andd privileges— privileges-aa procedureprocedure thatthat isis stillstill while the great military clans reveled in their mansions. One while the great military clans reveled in their mansions. One practicepracticedd iinn JapaJapann todaytoday.. ThThee populatiopopulationn waswas thereforetherefore entirelyentirely gang of samurai retainers even proved their brazen contempt gang of samurai retainers even proved their brazen contempt preoccupiepreoccupiedd witwithh maintainingmaintaining familyfamily prestige,prestige, securingsecuring a namename

46 Crazy CloudsClouds 11 Bassui 474J anandd a piecpiecee ooff landland.. EveEvenn peasanpeasantt anandd craftsmen'craftsmen'ss familiesfamilies werewere BassuBassuii begabegann meditatinmeditatingg earlearlyy oonn lifelife afterafter death.death. Gradually,Gradually, tracketrackedd bbyy mastersmasters whwhoo soughtsought thethe "right""right" toto theirtheir servicesservices hehe refinerefinedd hihiss questionquestion,, changinchangingg iitt frofromm "Wha"Whatt isis thethe naturenature foforr posterity.posterity. ooff thethe soulsoul thatthat cancan enjoyenjoy foodfood andand suffersuffer painpain afterafter physicalphysical WithiWithinn thithiss rigidrigid feudalfeudal wayway ofof life,life, patiencepatience andand shameshame death?death?"" ttoo "Who"Who isis ththee ononee seeingseeing,, hearinghearing,, anandd understandingunderstanding becambecamee virtuesvirtues;; guardinguardingg ththee familfamilyy namnamee anandd conforminconformingg toto iinn thisthis veryvery moment?"moment?" AsAs aann adolescentadolescent hhee discovereddiscovered thatthat authorityauthority werewere elevatedelevated ttoo thethe statusstatus ofof nationalnational socialsocial norms.norms. nothinnothingg couldcould bebe calledcalled a soul,soul, thatthat allall waswas iinn factfact emptyempty,, andand FoForr manmanyy lucklessluckless youngeyoungerr sonssons andand daughtersdaughters thethe religiousreligious hliee wawass temporariltemporarilyy appeased.appeased. ButBut oneone dayday hehe happenedhappened onon aa liflifee wawass ththee onlyonly refuge,refuge, asas itit waswas forfor aa varietyvariety ofof spiritualspiritual boobookk anandd readread,, "Th"Thee mindmind iiss hosthost,, thethe bodybody isis guest,"guest," andand hehe seekersseekers,, malcontentsmalcontents,, andand independentindependent thinkers.thinkers. MonasteriesMonasteries waswas onconcee agaiagainn plungeplungedd int intoo doubtdoubt.. IIff ththee minmindd wawass hoshostt itit werweree aa safsafee harborharbor,, tootoo,, forfor artistsartists andand poetspoets whowho baskedbasked inin couldn'couldn'tt bbee empty,empty, hehe reasoned.reasoned. Indeed,Indeed, minmindd mustmust bebe thatthat ththee patronagpatronagee ofof greatgreat ZenZen priestspriests likelike MusoMuso KokushiKokushi (1275-(1275- whicwhichh seeseess anandd hearshears,, anandd understandunderstandss thathatt iitt does.does. ButBut rumi-rumi• 1351).1351). SSoo powerfupowerfull wawass thithiss NationaNationall TeacherTeacher ooff ththee shogunshogun natinnatingg liklikee thithiss wawass gettingettingg hihimm nowhere,nowhere, ssoo aatt twenttwentyy hehe wentwent TakaujTakaujii thathatt hhee convincedconvinced ththee dictatordictator toto buildbuild templestemples ofofff ttoo pondeponderr hihiss spontaneouspontaneouss koakoann undeunderr ththee guidanceguidance ooff ZenZen throughouthroughoutt thethe landland inin restitutionrestitution forfor thethe liveslives lostlost duringduring thethe mastemasterr OOee aatt Jifuku-jiJifiiku ji,, aa templetemple iinn hishis homehome provinceprovince ofof civicivill warswars.. ZenZen templetemple buildingbuilding rosrosee toto feverfever pitch,pitch, withwith SagamiSagami.. Tenryu-jiTenryu ji,, ththee headhead KyotoKyoto branch,branch, erectederected iinn onlyonly threethree FroFromm thethe veryvery start,start, BassuiBassui refusedrefused toto shaveshave hishis headhead oror monthsmonths!! Muso'Muso'ss memorablememorable praisepraise forfor Takauji,Takauji, hishis primaryprimary practicpracticee ananyy religioureligiouss ritualritual.. DressedDressed aass a laymanlayman,, nevernever recit-recit• ZeZenn pupil,pupil, waswas thatthat eveneven afteafterr a nighnightt ooff heavyheavy drinkingdrinking,, thethe iningg sutras,sutras, hehe spentspent everyevery wakingwaking momenmomentt inin zazen,zazen, deter-deter• shogushogunn managemanagedd ttoo putput inin longlong hourshours ofof zazenzazen beforebefore fallingfalling mineminedd ttoo discoverdiscover "wh"whoo Wawass master."master." ComingComing andand goinggoing asleepasleep.. frofromm hihiss homhomee templetemple onon pilgrimages,pilgrimages, BassuiBassui soughtsought ououtt thethe SuchSuch wawass ththee statestate ofof ZenZen whenwhen BassuiBassui TokushoTokusho waswas bornborn ZeZenn teachersteachers ooff thethe day,day, testingtesting hishis question,question, butbut alwaysalways ttoo anan obscureobscure samuraisamurai familyfamily inin thethe provinceprovince ofof Sagami,Sagami, refusinrefusingg ttoo remainremain witwithh themthem asas a monk,monk, findingfinding itit moremore KanagawKanagawaa prefectureprefecture,, oonn 6 NovemberNovember 1327.1327. WhileWhile pregnant,pregnant, compatiblecompatible ttoo sitsit zazenzazen iinn isolatedisolated mountaimountainn hutshuts andand eveevenn inin hihiss superstitiousuperstitiouss mothemotherr hahadd dreameddreamed thathatt sheshe waswas aboutabout toto trees.trees. Once,Once, hearinghearing ofof aa hermithermit monkmonk namednamed TokukeiTokukei Jisha,Jisha, givgivee birtbirthh toto aa demon,demon, andand soso sheshe abandonedabandoned thethe newbornnewborn BassuiBassui,, hihiss headhead nownow shavedshaved aass a concessionconcession ttoo templetemple eti-eti• babbabyy iinn a fielfieldd nonott fafarr frofromm herher home.home. AA familyfamily servantservant foundfound quettequette,, butbut stillstill dresseddressed inin layman'slayman's clothing,clothing, decideddecided toto paypay ththee infantinfant andand raisedraised itit asas hishis own.own. WhenWhen BassuiBassui waswas four,four, hishis stepfathestepfatherr dieddied,, leavingleaving ththee childchild withwith aa terribleterrible fearfear ofof fallingfalling hihimm a visitvisit.. LookinLookingg ououtt frofromm hihiss huthut,, ththee hermihermitt calledcalled,, "Why"Why intintoo hell.hell. AtAt aa memorialmemorial serviceservice forfor hishis stepfatherstepfather heldheld whenwhen aren'aren'tt yoyouu wearinwearingg monk'monk'ss robes?"robes?" ththee boyboy waswas seven,seven, a priespriestt makingmaking foodfood offeringsofferings atat thethe altaraltar ""II becamebecame a monmonkk toto understandunderstand thethe greagreatt mattermatter ofof lifelife andand wawass startlestartledd whewhenn ththee childchild askedasked hihimm whowho waswas goinggoing toto eateat deathdeath,, notnot toto wearwear BuddhistBuddhist robes!"robes!" BassuiBassui calledcalled back.back. ththee food.food. "The"The soulsoul ofof youryour father,"father," hehe answered.answered. "What"What isis "I"I see.see. ThenThen areare youyou lookinglooking intointo thethe koanskoans ofof thethe oldold thithiss thingthing calledcalled a soul?"soul?" thethe boyboy pressedpressed on.on. ButBut hehe couldcould bebe teachers?teachers?"" givengiven nnoo satisfactorysatisfactory answeranswer.. BByy ththee timetime BassuiBassui turnedturned ninenine "Of"Of coursecourse not.not. HowHow cancan II appreciateappreciate thethe wordswords ofof othersothers hhee waswas havinghaving nightmaresnightmares aboutabout eternaleternal damnation,damnation, wakingwaking whewhenn I don'don'tt eveneven knowknow mymy owownn mind?"mind?" BassuiBassui replied.replied. upup inin thethe darknessdarkness andand seeingseeing flashesflashes ofof hellfirehellfire inin hishis room.room. "Well"Well,, hohoww thethenn ddoo youyou approachapproach youyourr religiousreligious practice?"practice?" GrowingGrowing upup asas aa socialsocial outsideoutsiderr hauntehauntedd bbyy ththee agoniesagonies ofof ""II becambecamee aa monmonkk iinn ordeorderr toto clarifyclarify ththee sourcesource ofof thethe greatgreat thethe "three"three evilevil paths"paths" ofof hell,hell, hungryhungry ghosts,ghosts, andand animals,animals, Buddha-DharmaBuddha-Dharma.. AfteAfterr I attaiattainn enlightenmenenlightenmentt I wanwantt toto savesave

48 Crazy CloudsClouds Bassui 4949 allall beingsbeings,, brightbright andand dull,dull, teachingteaching everyoneeveryone accordingaccording toto hishis Unju-jUnju jii andand formallyformally declareddeclared himselhimselff a disciple.disciple. IrritatedIrritated atat oror herher ability.ability. WhatWhat II wantwant mostmost isis toto relieverelieve peoplepeople ofof theirtheir beingbeing corneredcornered thisthis way,way, BassuiBassui trietriedd ttoo strikestrike a compromise:compromise: sufferingsuffering eveneven iiff I myselmyselff mamayy havhavee ttoo falfalll intintoo hell."hell." hhee wouldwould seesee KohKohoo daildailyy anandd sisitt zazezazenn iinn ththee monasterymonastery,, butbut TokukeTokukcii wawass impresseimpressedd anandd welcomewelcomedd iinn ththee younyoungg unor-unor• hhee woulwouldd ddoo ssoo aass a commutercommuter,, livinlivingg iinn a huhutt somewhersomewheree offoff thodox-lookinthodox-lookingg monk.monk. thethe templetemple grounds.grounds. ToTo hishis surprise,surprise, thethe greatgreat teacher,teacher, havinghaving NoNoww inin hishis twenties,twenties, BassuiBassui engagedengaged inin meditationmeditation forfor detectedetectedd a promisingpromising,, ifif difficult,difficult, studentstudent,, agreed,agreed, instructinginstructing almosalmostt a decadedecade,, untiuntill ononee morning,morning, afterafter havinghaving satsat zazenzazen thethe BassuBassuii ttoo sisitt witwithh ththee beginner'beginner'ss koankoan,, Joshu' Joshu'ss "Mu."Mu."" (A(A monkmonk nightnight through,through, hehe gotgot upup toto washwash inin aa nearbynearby mountainmountain stream.stream. askeaskedd JoshuJoshu,, "Doe"Doess a dogdog havehave BuddhaBuddha nature?"nature?" JoshuJoshu an-an• SuddenlSuddenlyy ththee sounsoundd ooff ththee gurglingurglingg watewaterr gushegushedd througthroughh himhim sweredswered,, "Mu!")"MM!") andand hehe hadhad aa momentmoment ofof realization.realization. HavingHaving vowedvowed nevernever toto IInn a morninmorningg interview,interview, KohoKoho asked,asked, "What"What isis mu?"m«?" announcannouncee himselhimselff withou withoutt ththee confirmatioconfirmationn o off aa realreal ZenZen "Mountains"Mountains,, rivers,rivers, andand thethe greatgreat earth,earth, grass,grass, trees,trees, andand thethe master, he immediately set out to approach Kozan Mongo, the master, he immediately set out to approach Kozan Mongo, the forestsforests,, alalll araree mu," repliedreplied BassuiBassui withwith somesome self-satisfactionself-satisfaction abbot of Kencho-ji in Kamakura. It was March 1358, and abbot of Kencho-ji in Kamakura. It was March 1358, and atat havinghaving solvedsolved ththee koankoan soso quickly.quickly. BassuBassuii wawass nonoww thirty-onethirty-one.. PerhapsPerhaps becausebecause hehe waswas dissatisfieddissatisfied SuddenlySuddenly KohKohoo erupteeruptedd iinn aa shoutshout.. "Don'"Don'tt useuse youryour mind!"mind!" somehowsomehow withwith thethe easyeasy confirmationconfirmation hehe receivedreceived fromfrom Kozan,Kozan, TheseThese wordswords promptedprompted Bassui'sBassui's deepdeep andand unmistakableunmistakable re-re• BassuiBassui choschosee thathatt momenmomentt toto dondon BuddhistBuddhist robesrobes andand declaredeclare alization.alization. FindinFindingg himselfhimself drenchedrenchedd inin sweat,sweat, itit was,was, asas hhee laterlater himselhimselff a traditionatraditionall ZeZenn monkmonk.. FromFrom thisthis timetime forward,forward, hishis describeddescribed ttoo a discipledisciple,, "a"ass thougthoughh I hadhad lostlost mymy lifelife root,root, likelike liflifee becambecamee aann unendinunendingg pilgrimage.pilgrimage. a barrelbarrel whoswhosee bottobottomm hadhad beenbeen smashedsmashed open.open."" GropingGroping toto AfteAfterr trackintrackingg manmanyy miles,miles, BassuiBassui stoppestoppedd aatt Horin-ji,Horin-ji, aa find hihiss wayway outout ofof thethe teacher'steacher's room,room, BassuiBassui bumpedbumped hishis templtemplee wherwheree hhee hahadd highighh hopehopess ooff findinfindingg aa trutruee mastermaster,, butbut head.head. OnOn thethe pathpath leadingleading backback toto hishis littlelittle hut,hut, hehe waswas stillstill soso hhee waswas ssoo unimpresseunimpressedd bbyy ththee famoufamouss FukuaFukuann SokoSoko,, abboabbott inin grippedgripped byby thethe experienceexperience ofof hishis satorisatori thathatt hehe hadhad toto graspgrasp atat chargecharge ooff twotwo thousandthousand disciples,disciples, thatthat hehe returnedreturned toto TokukeiTokukei thethe wallswalls toto keepkeep fromfrom falling.falling. WhenWhen hehe finallyfinally arrivedarrived andand anandd announcedannounced hihiss intentionintention toto becomebecome aa hermit.hermit. TokukeiTokukei threwthrew himselfhimself downdown inside,inside, hehe burstburst intointo tears.tears. claimedclaimed hhee detecteddetected a bitbit ofof arrogancearrogance inin thethe decisiondecision andand ThThee nexnextt evening'sevening's intervieintervieww waswas almosalmostt asas mucmuchh ofof a shock,shock, warnewarnedd BassuBassuii againsagainstt isolatinisolatingg himselfhimself.. "Al"Alll rightright,, then,then,"" saidsaid forfor eveneven beforbeforee BassuBassuii hahadd openeopenedd hihiss mouthmouth,, KohoKoho criedcried out,out, BassuiBassui,, "I'"I'mm youryour disciple."disciple." AndAnd hehe movedmoved intointo hishis friend'sfriend's "My"My dharmadharma willwill notnot vanish.vanish. AllAll maymay nownow bebe happy.happy. MyMy hermitaghermitagee forfor thethe nextnext fullfull year.year. dharmdharmaa willwill notnot disappear!"disappear!" AAtt Tokukei'Tokukei'ss recommendationrecommendation,, BassuiBassui nexnextt sesett ououtt toto checkcheck HiHiss enlightenmentenlightenment nonoww true,true, andand trulytruly confirmed,confirmed, BassuiBassui hihiss enlightenmenenlightenmentt experienceexperience witwithh KohoKoho KakumyKakumyoo atat Unju-jiUnju-ji replierepliedd witwithh ththee followingfollowing poem.poem. iinn IzumaIzuma.. AssuredAssured thathatt hehe wouldwould findfind a trultrulyy greatgreat teacherteacher thisthis timetime,, BassuiBassui wawass optimisticoptimistic.. KohKohoo waswas,, afteafterr allall,, iinn ththee directdirect SiSixx windowwindowss naturallynaturally open,open, aa coldcold lonelone flower,flower, linlinee ooff Dogen,Dogen, whowho hadhad broughtbrought ChineseChinese ZenZen toto Japan;Japan; andand UnjUnjuu [Koho][Koho] strikestrikess ththee rubbisrubbishh fromfrom mymy eyes,eyes, Koho'Koho'ss teacherteacher hahadd takentaken thethe preceptsprecepts fromfrom KeizanKeizan JokinJokin,, thethe CrusheCrushess ththee gemgem inin mymy handhand rightright beforebefore me,me, thirthirdd patriarchpatriarch inin thethe JapaneseJapanese SotoSoto ZenZen sect.sect. BassuiBassui waswas notnot SSoo bbee itit,, thisthis goldgold hashas becomebecome hardhard iron.iron. disappointeddisappointed.. KohoKoho,, whwhoo waswas strictstrict andand uncompromisinguncompromising abouaboutt bothboth thethe BuddhistBuddhist preceptsprecepts andand thethe practicepractice ofof zazen,zazen, Nonetheless,Nonetheless, withouwithoutt waitingwaiting toto receivereceive Koho'sKoho's formalformal refuserefusedd ttoo confirmconfirm Bassui'sBassui's realizationrealization unlessunless hehe remainedremained atat transmission,transmission, thethe restlessrestless wanderewandererr tootookk toto thethe roadroad again.again. AtAt

5050 Crazy CloudsClouds a Bassui 5131 dharma talk. Being Bassui, he even asked to deliver a formal dharma talk. Being Bassui, he HavinHavingg beebeenn enlighteneenlightenedd oonn hearinhearingg ththee sounsoundd ooff aa moun-moun• encouraged the monks to avoid monkish Zen and apply their encouraged the monks to avoid monkish Zen and apply their taitainn streamstream,, BassuiBassui identifieidentifiedd stronglstronglyy witwithh ththee BuddhisBuddhistt ar-ar• realization in their actual lives rather than depending on for• realization in their actual lives rather than depending on for- chetypchetypee ooff ththee BodhisattvBodhisattvaa KannonKannon,, ononee whwhoo hearshears thethe soundssounds malized rituals, institutions, and hierarchy. malized rituals, institutions, and hierarchy. ooff ththee worldworld.. BassuiBassui thereforthereforee hahadd a shrinshrinee erecteerectedd ttoo Kannon,Kannon, A truetrue exampleexample ofof hishis ownown preaching,preaching, BassuiBassui remainedremained indicatingindicating toto hishis followersfollowers thathatt hehe wishedwished itit toto serveserve asas hishis ownown elusiveelusive,, refusinrefusingg manmanyy monastermonasteryy postsposts,, preferringpreferring toto sitsit alonealone buriaburiall placeplace.. OOnn ththee twentiethtwentieth ooff March,March, inin 1387,1387, hhee satsat upup inin smallsmall hermitageshermitages andand temples,temples, andand secretlysecretly stealingstealing awayaway inin straight,straight, withwith legslegs crossedcrossed inin zazenzazen posture,posture, andand addressedaddressed hishis ththee nighnightt asas soonsoon asas tootoo manymany disciplesdisciples collectedcollected arounaroundd him.him. studentsstudents inin a loudloud voice:voice: "Loo"Lookk directly!directly! WhatWhat isis thisthis?? LooLookk inin FoForr twenttwentyy yearsyears,, frofromm ththee agagee ooff thirty-twthirty-twoo untiluntil hehe waswas fifty-fifty- thisthis mannemannerr andand youyou won'twon't bebe fooled!"fooled!" AgainAgain hehe repeatedrepeated thethe two,two, hehe movedmoved aroundaround JapanJapan inin thisthis fashion,fashion, spendingspending periodsperiods phrasephrase,, anandd thenthen passedpassed away.away. TruTruee ttoo hishis vowvow toto savesave allall inin variousvarious hermitages,hermitages, anandd visitingvisiting teachers.teachers. HiHiss ZenZen waswas beingsbeings,, liklikee KannoKannonn herselfherself,, BassuBassuii dididd nonott holholdd himselfhimself aloofaloof portableportable,, requirinrequiringg nnoo ritualritual oror priestlypriestly formalities,formalities, nono tradi-tradi• frofromm thethe muddymuddy world,world, butbut spentspent thethe yearsyears afterafter hishis enlight-enlight• tionaltional koans,koans, althoughalthough hehe diddid workwork throughthrough TheThe RecordRecord ofof enmenenmentt encouraginencouragingg otherotherss ttoo seeseekk theitheirr trutruee naturenature andand bebe Rinzai andand TheThe BlueBlue Cliff Record koa koann collection collectionss witwithh Chiku-Chiku- relieverelievedd ooff theitheirr suffering.suffering. gangan Teizosu,Teizosu, aa hermihermitt monmonkk witwithh whomwhom hehe studiedstudied forfor aa time,time, A ZenZen teacherteacher whowho avoidedavoided allall formalformal approachesapproaches ttoo Zen,Zen, andand laterlater usedused koanskoans toto illustrateillustrate hishis ownown teachings.teachings. BassuBassuii warnewarnedd studentstudentss nonott toto indulgeindulge inin koankoan practicepractice beforebefore InevitablyInevitably,, agagee causecausedd BassuBassuii ttoo slosloww downdown,, and,and, inin 1378,1378, thetheyy hahadd seenseen a bitbit intointo theirtheir ownown nature.nature. SpontaneousSpontaneous inin hehe waswas forceforcedd ttoo settlesettle iinn a templtemplee oonn MountMount TakemoriTakemori inin KaiKai methodmethod,, strivingstriving foremostforemost toto bringbring peoplepeople toto realization,realization, hehe province.province. AsAs soonsoon asas thethe wordword wentwent out,out, BassuiBassui foundfound toto hishis taughttaught accordingaccording ttoo thethe capacitycapacity andand temperamenttemperament ofof thethe

5522 Crazy CloudsClouds I Bassui 5353 individualindividual studentstudent,, eveneven recommendingrecommending ttoo thosethose whwhoo werewere questioning,questioning, hehe says,says, iiss suresure toto breakbreak thethe delusorydelusory fictionfiction wewe inclineinclinedd ttoo ddoo soso thatthat copyingcopying downdown sutrassutras waswas aa goodgood wayway toto callcall ouourr "self,""self," revealingrevealing thathatt "Min"Mindd isis itselfitself Buddha."Buddha." "empty"empty thethe mind."mind." BassuiBassui eveneven wentwent soso farfar asas toto encourageencourage AgainAgain andand againagain hehe urgesurges hishis studentsstudents toto returreturnn ttoo thethe peoplepeople toto mountmount memorialmemorial servicesservices forfor thethe deadeadd iinn orderorder toto questionquestion,, eveneven afterafter theythey havehave hadhad somesome realization.realization. "Cas"Castt offoff givgivee ththee deceaseddeceased a chancchancee foforr enlightenmenenlightenmentt asas wellwell.. HeHe usedused whawhatt hashas beenbeen realized,"realized," hhee telltellss themthem,, "turn"turn backback ttoo thethe folklorfolkloree anandd legendlegend,, anandd waswas nonott aboveabove throwingthrowing inin aa bibitt ofof subjecsubjectt thathatt realizesrealizes,, ttoo ththee rooroott bottom,bottom, andand resolutelyresolutely gogo superstitiosuperstitionn whenwhen necessarynecessary ttoo prodprod hishis disciplesdisciples intointo realiza-realiza• on."on." StillStill further,further, eveneven afterafter attainingattaining deepdeep insight,insight, BassuiBassui tion.tion. AllAll teachingsteachings werewere directeddirected ttoo aa singlesingle point:point: namely,namely, exhortsexhorts thethe seekerseeker toto polishpolish realizationrealization untiuntill "it"it positivelypositively thatthat seeingseeing intintoo one'sone's originaloriginal naturenature isis Buddhahood.Buddhahood. illumineilluminess ththee entirentiree universe.universe."" TToo thosthosee whwhoo dodo nonott attainattain HisHis rusticrustic stylestyle isis evidentevident inin thethe titletitle ofof hishis recorderecordedd teach-teach• satori i inn thithiss lifetimelifetime,, bubutt continucontinuee meditatinmeditatingg inin thisthis fashion,fashion, ings,ings, EnzanEnzan WadeigassuiWadeigassui (A CollectionCollection ofof Mud and WaterWater FromFrom hhee promisepromisess realizatiorealizationn iinn ththee nexnextt lifelife,, comparincomparingg theitheirr hardhard Enzan), publishedpublished inin colloquialcolloquial JapaneseJapanese foforr thethe ordinaryordinary worworkk toto preparationpreparation forfor aa journeyjourney inin advance,advance, withwith anan easyeasy readerreader.. TirelesslyTirelessly,, anandd iinn a varietyvariety ofof ways,ways, hehe posedposed toto hishis outcomeoutcome asas soonsoon asas thethe travelertraveler embarks.embarks. studentstudentss ththee questionquestion thathatt hadhad broughbroughtt himhim toto hishis ownown enlight-enlight• WheWhenn askeaskedd whawhatt ttoo dodo aboutabout thoughts,thoughts, BassuiBassui toldtold hishis disciples to accept them enmentenment:: "Who"Who isis thethe mastermaster thatthat isis hearinghearing atat thisthis veryvery disciples to accept them asas transienttransient unrealityunreality anandd gogo onon askingasking,, "What"What isis thisthis mind?"mind?" oror "Who"Who isis hearing these moment?"moment?" hearing these sounds?"sounds?" AlludingAlluding toto KannonKannon as his archetypal model for Bassui'Bassui'ss gentlgentlee CrazCrazyy CloudCloud approach,approach, hishis anarchisticanarchistic bias,bias, as his archetypal model for penetratingpenetrating thethe essentialessential selselff througthroughh sound,sound, hehe preparedprepared thethe dididd nonott adaptadapt itselfitself ttoo a formalizedformalized ZeZenn lineagelineage.. HHee wawass ttoo thethe listenerlistener foforr experiencesexperiences ooff "emptiness,""emptiness," forfor encountering a ververyy corcoree a hermithermit monk,monk, aa reluctanreluctantt reformerreformer whosewhose ownown encountering a greatgreat Void:Void: "D"Doo notnot mistakemistake thisthis statestate forfor self-realization,"self-realization," hehe distastdistastee foforr thethe ceremonialceremonial trappingstrappings associatedassociated witwithh ZenZen ledled warned,warned, "but"but continuecontinue toto askask yourselfyourself eveneven mormoree intensely,intensely, hihimm toto followfollow aa single-minded,single-minded, individualisticindividualistic patpathh ttoo realiza-realiza• `What'What iiss iitt thathatt hears?hears?'' " Presently,Presently, thethe voidnessvoidness willwill disappear,disappear, tion.tion. QuiteQuite spontaneouslyspontaneously hehe camecame uponupon aa universauniversall questionquestion givingivingg wayway ttoo totatotall darkness.darkness. Still,Still, hehe enjoinsenjoins ththee student,student, keepkeep commoncommon toto allall children,children, "Who"Who amam l?",I?", andand forgedforged itit intointo aa oonn askingasking relentlessly,relentlessly, "What"What isis iitt thathatt hears?"hears?" EvenEven thethe koankoan thatthat continuescontinues toto liberateliberate thosethose whowho wouldwould followfollow itit serenityserenity obtainedobtained throughthrough zazenzazen isis illusory,illusory, BassuiBassui maintains,maintains, througthroughh anywhereanywhere andand anytime.anytime. Bassui'sBassui's zazenzazen isis thethe methodmethod nothingnothing butbut aa transienttransient reflection.reflection. "You"You mustmust advanceadvance beyondbeyond ooff lookinlookingg intintoo thethe mind,mind, askingasking continuously,continuously, whethewhetherr sleep-sleep• thethe stagstagee wherwheree youyourr reasonreason iiss ooff ananyy avail"—tavail"-too discoverdiscover thethe ing, waking, or working, "What is my own mind?mind? WhoWho isis itit ing, waking, or working, "What is my own all-embracingall-embracing minmindd thathatt doesdoes nonott comecome intointo existenceexistence withwith thethe that sees colors, hears sounds, moves the limbs ooff mymy body?body? that sees colors, hears sounds, moves the limbs bodybody oorr diedie witwithh thethe body'sbody's destruction,destruction, yetyet suffusessuffuses everyevery actact What is this mind that has no color, sex, or distinction ofof anyany What is this mind that has no color, sex, or distinction ()tof seeingseeing,, hearinghearing,, smellingsmelling,, speaking,speaking, moving.moving. kind, is unborn and undying, yet reflects countless thoughtsthoughts kind, is unborn and undying, yet reflects countless LikLikee alalll ZeZenn reformers,reformers, BassuiBassui emphasizedemphasized experienceexperience overover and images like a mirror?" He assures his students thatthat nono and images like a mirror?" He assures his students ceremonyc eremony andand traditionaltraditional formsforms ofo f religiousreligious worship.worship. YetYet hehe Buddha or Bodhisattva can penetrate this question for them, Buddha or Bodhisattva can penetrate this questionfor them, wawass mormoree tolerantolerantt thathann mosmostt inin hishis handlinghandling ofof studentsstudents whowho that it is like a child being hurt in a dream, crying for its parent that it is like a child being hurt in a dream, crying forits parent werweree nonott yeyett readreadyy ttoo abandonabandon thethe timeworntimeworn sutrassutras oror toto givegive to rescue it. The parent would love nothing more than to come to rescue it. The parent wouldlove nothing more than to come til,up petitioninpetitioningg ththee saviosaviorr BuddhasBuddhas.. SutrasSutras,, hhee toltoldd themthem,, werewere to its aid, to stop its suffering; but only by waking itself will to its aid, to stop its suffering; butonly by waking itself will helpfulhelpful iiff theythey focusedfocused thethe mindmind awaawayy frofromm ruminatingruminating the child be free of the painful dream. Deep and constant the child be free of the painful dream. Deep and constant thoughtsthoughts;; ssoo werweree koanskoans,, oror memorialmemorial servicesservices foforr thathatt matter.matter.

5544 Crazy CloudsClouds 1 Bassui 5555 BuButt alalll thesthesee werweree onlonlyy "finger"fingerss pointinpointingg ttoo ththee moonmoon,, andand notnot BassuiBassui wawass veryvery psychologicalpsychological iinn hishis approachapproach toto self-reali-self-reali• ththee moomoonn itself."itself." TheThe lastlast refugerefuge forfor thosethose wishingwishing toto discoverdiscover zation.zation. HeHe alludedalluded alwaysalways toto thethe cognitivecognitive processprocess ofof blendingblending themselvethemselvess wawass ththee experiencexperiencee o off one'one'ss owownn mindmind,, thethe veryvery subjectsubject anandd object.object. HisHis methodmethod stressedstressed mentalmental reflectionreflection onon foundatiofoundationn foforr evereveryy koankoan,, BuddhaBuddha,, anandd sutrasutra.. "If"If youyou catchcatch thethe subjectsubject ratherrather thanthan thethe sensorysensory approachapproach emphasizedemphasized byby aa eveneven aa glimpsglimpsee ooff youyourr self-nature,self-nature,"" hhee promisedpromised,, "i"itt isis thethe teacherteacher likelike Bankci,Bankei, forfor example.example. BassuiBassui workedworked almostalmost exclu-exclu• samesame asas readingreading andand understandingunderstanding allall thethe sutrassutras simultane-simultane• sivelysively bbyy meanmeanss ooff questioning—"Whquestioning-"Whoo isis itit thatthat hears,hears, sees,sees, ously,ously, nonenone excepted,excepted, withoutwithout soso muchmuch asas holdingholding oneone inin youryour walks?"-awalks?"—a methodmethod that tha tlends lends itselfitself asas comfortablycomfortably toto today'stoday's handhand andand readingreading a word."word." ToTo prepareprepare forfor thethe experienceexperience oneone psychologically-orientedpsychologically-oriented WesternWestern ZeZenn practitionepractitionerr asas itit diddid toto couldcould useuse bowingbowing beforebefore thethe BuddhaBuddha asas aa preliminarypreliminary exercise,exercise, thethe largelarge laylay audienceaudience ofof hishis ownown day.day. TheThe question-and-question-and- whawhatt hhee calledcalled "horizontalizin"horizontalizingg ththee masmastt ooff ego.ego."" ButBut BassuiBassui answer,answer, oror publicpublic dharmadharma combatcombat modemode foundfound in in his hi sCollection Collection advisedadvised againstagainst fastingfasting andand otherother asceticascetic practices,practices, claimingclaiming of Mud and WaterWater fromfrom Enzan Enzan provide providess u uss witwithh a veryvery clearclear thatthat thethe practicepractice ofof ZenZen waswas purificationpurification enough.enough. WantingWanting toto modelmodel ofof hishis approach.approach. WhenWhen aa laylay studentstudent asksasks howhow Zen,Zen, bbee differentdifferent frornfrom ordinaryordinary people,people, hehe chidedchided studentsstudents whowho withwith itsits koanskoans andand recordsrecords ofof oldold masters,masters, cancan bebe consideredconsidered aa soughsoughtt visionaryvisionary experiences,experiences, wawass aass mucmuchh a delusiondelusion asas anyany teachingteaching "outside"outside thethe scriptures,"scriptures," BassuiBassui criescries out:out: "Layman!""Layman!" otheotherr distractingdistracting thoughtthought.. "Don't"Don't involveinvolve yourselfyourself inin suchsuch WhenWhen thethe manman responds,responds, "Yes?""Yes?" BassuiBassui asks,asks, "From"From whichwhich fantasiefantasiess bubutt onlonlyy inquire:inquire: `What'What iiss thethe mastermaster whowho seessees allall teachingsteachings dididd thathatt yesyes come?"come?" TheThe layman,layman, gettinggetting thethe point,point, this?this?'' "" lowerslowers hishis headhead andand bows.bows. HHee usedused certaincertain traditionaltraditional ZenZen koanskoans forfor individualindividual stu-stu• BassuiBassui continuecontinuess ttoo addressaddress ththee audience:audience: "Whe"Whenn youyou decidedecide dentsdents,, presumablypresumably afteafterr thetheyy hahadd showshownn somsomee penetratiopenetrationn ooff toto comecome here,here, youyou dodo soso byby yourself.yourself. WhenWhen youyou wantwant toto askask aa hihiss preliminary,preliminary, "Who"Who isis ththee mastermaster thatthat iiss hearinghearing thisthis question,question, youyou dodo itit byby yourself.yourself. YouYou dodo notnot dependdepend onon anotheranother sound?sound?"" AA favoritefavorite casecase fromfrom theth eMumonkan Mumonkan (The(The GatelessGateless nornor dodo youyou useuse thethe teachings teachings ofof thethe Buddha. Buddha...... CleverClever Gate)Gate)-in—in whichwhich thethe sixthsixth ZenZen patriarchpatriarch comescomes uponupon twotwo worldlyworldly statementsstatements,, ththee writtewrittenn word,word, reasonreason anandd duty,duty, dis-dis• monkmonkss arguingarguing overover a flagflag movinmovingg inin thethe wind,wind, oneone sayingsaying itit criminationcrimination anandd understanding,understanding, cannotcannot reacreachh thithiss Zen."Zen." HeHe iiss ththee winwindd thatthat moves,moves, thethe otherother sayingsaying itit isis thethe flag,flag, withwith thethe warnswarns furtherfurther thatthat thosethose whowho useuse scripturescripture andand formalformal religiousreligious patriarcpatriarchh assurinassuringg the themm bot bothh thathatt iitt iiss theirtheir mindsminds thatthat arcare teachingteaching aren'aren'tt necessarilynecessarily enlighteneenlightenedd eithereither,, anandd thatthat ZenZen moving—providemoving-providedd Bassui Bassu i withwith aa useful useful barometerbarometer forfor measur-measur• monksmonks whowho areare ignorantignorant ofof scripturescripture aren'taren't allal l deeplydeeply realized.realized. iningg thethe degreedegree ooff hishis students'students' insight.insight. AnotheAnotherr koan—ikoan-inn Nonetheless,Nonetheless, neitherneither BuddhaBuddha nornor scripturesscriptures shouldshould standstand inin thethe whicwhichh ZeZenn mastermaster BasoBaso repliesreplies ttoo thethe LaymanLayman P'ang'sP'ang's ques-ques• wayway ooff perceivingperceiving thathatt whichwhich isis therethere fromfrom thethe beginningbeginning inin tiontion,, "What"What kindkind ofof manman isis itit thatthat hashas nono companioncompanion amongamong thethe completenesscompleteness anandd perfectioperfectionn ooff evereveryy beingbeing.. "Th"Thee legleg andand thethe tenten thousandthousand things?",things?", with,with, "I'll"I'll telltell youyou afterafter you'veyou've armarm movementsmovements ofof aa newbornnewborn babybaby areare alsoalso thethe splendidsplendid workwork drunkdrunk upup thethe waterswaters ofof thethe WestWest RiveRiverr iinn ononee gulp!"-alsogulp!"—also ofof BuddhaBuddha naturenature ... . soso iiss thethe flyingflying birdbird,, thethe runningrunning hare,hare, appearsappears iinn Bassui'Bassui'ss exchangeexchangess witwithh studentstudentss onon moremore thanthan oneone thethe scuddingscudding cloud.cloud. SoSo tootoo isis thethe veryvery conversationconversation wewe areare occasion.occasion. BuButt hhee reliereliedd mosmostt oftenoften onon hishis ownown naturalnatural koan,koan, havinghaving righrightt now."now." TheThe differencedifference betweenbetween ththee ZenZen practi-practi• "Wh"Whoo isis hearing?"hearing?" asas thethe surefiresurefire meansmeans toto self-realization.self-realization. tionertioner andand thethe scripturalscriptural BuddhistBuddhist isis thatthat thethe formerformer liveslives byby "You"Yourr physicaphysicall beinbeingg doesn'doesn'tt hearhear,, nonorr doesdoes thethe void.void. ThenThen directdirect experienceexperience ooff thethe BuddhaBuddha andand thethe latterlatter isis likelike someonesomeone whawhatt does?does? StrivStrivee ttoo finfindd outout.. PutPut asideaside youryour rationalrational intellect,intellect, whowho seessees anotheranother personperson hihitt byby anan arrowarrow andand standsstands therethere givgivee uupp alalll techniques techniques...... Just Just getget ridrid ofof thethe notionnotion ofof self."self." talkingtalking aboutabout itit fromfrom thethe sidelines.sidelines.

56 Crazy CloudsClouds Bassui 5757 N)lo thosthosee witwithh questionquestionss abouaboutt thethe ethicalethical preceptpreceptss ooff Bud-Bud• thathatt woulwouldd "lead"lead toto hell."hell." Bassui'sBassui's ZenZen waswas strictlystrictly nonsectar-nonsectar- dhismdhism apartapart fromfrom directdirect ZenZen experience,experience, BassuiBassui sayssays thatthat thethe ianian,, embracingembracing eveneven non-Buddhistsnon-Buddhists andand socialsocial outcasts.outcasts. ForFor paramitasp lrarnihas al alll boi boill dow downn t oto seein seeingg int intoo you yourr ow ownn BuddhBuddhaa naturenature.. him,him, seeingseeing intointo originaloriginal naturenature waswas synonymoussynonymous witwithh thethe Anger,Anger, attachment,attachment, andand thethe restrest areare allall telescopedtelescoped intointo thethe oneone higheshighestt forformm ofof religiousreligious practice.practice. MeditationMeditation diddid notnot requirerequire peapeakk experiencexperiencee ooff glimpsinglimpsingg ththee realityreality ooff thethe hearer,hearer, seer,seer, oneone toto bebe aa Buddhist,Buddhist, oror aa man,man, oror anan ascetic. ascetic. Buddha,Buddha, hehe walkerwalker,, sleepersleeper,, loverlover,, haterhater,, andand soso onon.. ForFor peoplepeople fascinatedfascinated argued,argued, diddid notnot gaingain BuddhahoodBuddhahood fromfrom readingreading andand recitingreciting witwithh thethe supernaturalsupernatural giftsgifts thatthat areare supposedlysupposedly attainedattained sutras,sutras, butbut fromfrom meditating.meditating. throughthrough deepdeep meditation,meditation, BassuiBassui hashas thisthis ttoo say:say: "Wise"Wise menmen BassuiBassui challengechallengedd Ze Zenn monkmonkss ttoo citecite thethe exactexact recordsrecords consideconsiderr physicalphysical manifestationsmanifestations ofof supernaturalsupernatural powerspowers a kar-kar- prescribingprescribing designateddesignated periodperiodss forfor religiousreligious services,services, statingstating mimicc hindrancehindrance...... They. The yare ar ethe th eresults results ofof attachmentattachment ttoo drugsdrugs thatthat thesethese customscustoms onlyonly dateddated backback toto thethe timetime ofof thethe MongolMongol andand charms,charms, thethe evilevil deedsdeeds ofof demonsdemons andand hereticsheretics andand thethe invasioninvasion ooff JapanJapan,, whewhenn ththee rulingruling househouse commandedcommanded prayerprayer powerspowers ooff delusion."delusion." Similarly,Similarly, hehe interpretsinterprets allall traditionaltraditional services.services. "Th"Thee mormoree II thinthinkk abouaboutt it,it,"" hhee addedadded,, "thes"thesee ...... religiousreligious injunctionsinjunctions metaphorically:metaphorically: fastingfasting thusthus becomesbecomes periodsperiods ofof religiousreligious serviceservice werweree nonott prayers,prayers, bubutt simplysimply thethe lookinglooking intintoo one'sone's ownown naturenature andand cuttingcutting offoff delusion;delusion; whenwhen resultresult ofof aa declinedecline inin thethe BuddhaBuddha WayWay andand thethe RoyalRoyal Way."Way." literallliterallyy practicedpracticed,, howeverhowever,, fastinfastingg iiss nothinnothingg moremore thanthan her-her• ThenThen hehe enjoinedenjoined hihiss monkmonkss notnot toto wastewaste timetime onon suchsuch matters,matters, esyesy.. BreakingBreaking ththee preceptsprecepts iiss livinlivingg bbyy thethe deludeddeluded mind,mind, andand butbut toto cutcut offoff everythingeverything andand practicepractice zazen.zazen. InIn keepingkeeping withwith seeinseeingg intintoo one'one'ss truetrue naturenature isis keepingkeeping themthem allall perfectly.perfectly. TheThe hishis iconoclasmiconoclasm,, BassuiBassui reinterpretereinterpretedd allall thethe traditionaltraditional religiousreligious otheotherr approach,approach, guardingguarding thethe precepts,precepts, oror workingworking frofromm with-with• practicespractices ooff hishis time:time: sutrasutra study,study, ceremonies,ceremonies, BuddhaBuddha wor-wor• outout,, cancan bebe a "shortcu"shortcutt forfor enteringentering thethe BuddhaBuddha gategate"" whenwhen itit shipship,, andand thethe searchsearch foforr salvatiosalvationn througthroughh miracles.miracles. HeHe divesteddivested isis useusedd foforr meditatinmeditatingg onon "Who"Who isis itit thatthat keepskeeps thethe precepts?"precepts?" zazenzazen ooff alalll culturalcultural,, superstitioussuperstitious,, andand socialsocial accretionsaccretions,, some-some• SeveraSeverall studentstudentss camcamee ttoo BassuBassuii witwithh thethe practicepractice ofof callingcalling timestimes withwith gentlegentle irony.irony. "Reciting"Reciting parpartt ooff aa sutrasutra withwith thethe onon thethe namesnames ofof saviorsavior BuddhasBuddhas likelike JizoJizo.. WithWith greatgreat patience,patience, desirdesiree ttoo benefitbenefit otherotherss iiss liklikee recitingreciting a reciperecipe iinn ththee hopehope itit hhee explainedexplained ttoo thethemm thatthat ji meansmeans "earth""earth" andand zo meansmeans wilwilll preventprevent peoplpeoplee frofromm starving.starving."" ToTo aa cultureculture steepedsteeped inin "storehouse,""storehouse," oror mindmind nature.nature. ThenThen hehe urgedurged themthem toto "realize"realize religioureligiouss superstitiosuperstitionn anandd worshiworshipp ooff authorityauthority suchsuch teachingteaching may have appeared blasphemous. Nonetheless, thousands of thathatt allall ththee namesnames ofof thethe BodhisattvasBodhisattvas areare jusjustt differentdifferent namesnames may have appeared blasphemous. Nonetheless, thousandsof spiritual seekers came to hear him assure them that the voices forfor thethe naturenature ofof thethe Mind.Mind...... OrdinaryOrdinary people,people, beingbeing spiritual seekers came to hear him assure them that the voices of frogs and worms, the sound of wind and raindrops, were unawareunaware ooff thithiss truthtruth,, becomebecome attachedattached ttoo thethe names,names, and,and, inin of frogs and worms, the sound of wind and raindrops, were all speaking the wonderful language of the dharma. thethe hopehope ofof attainingattaining Buddhahood,Buddhahood, seekseek thethe BuddhaBuddha andand all speaking the wonderful language of the dharma. DharmDharmaa outsidoutsidee ooff theirtheir minds.minds. It'sIt's likelike cookingcooking sandsand iinn thethe BassuiBassui wawass ththee mostmost encouragingencouraging ofof ZenZen teachers.teachers. InsteadInstead hophopee ooff producingproducing rice. "" ThThee JizJizoo metaphometaphorr showshowss thathatt "the"the ooff browbeatinbrowbeatingg hishis studentsstudents intointo realization,realization, hehe coaxedcoaxed andand ledled trutruee naturenature ofof thethe DharmaDharma bodybody ofof ordinaryordinary peoplepeople isis every-every• themthem.. StudentsStudents whowho complainedcomplained ofof nono resultsresults werewere assuredassured wherwheree teachinteachingg ooff thethe manymany creationscreations thatthat comcomee frofromm it."it." thathatt continuedcontinued meditationmeditation woulwouldd brinbringg themthem furtherfurther alongalong inin BassuBassuii extendeextendedd thithiss eveevenn furtherfurther,, addingadding thatthat allall thethe sermonssermons theitheirr karmickarmic preparationpreparation forfor self-realization.self-realization. Some,Some, hehe said,said, ooff alalll ththee BuddhasBuddhas araree onlonlyy metaphorsmetaphors pointingpointing ttoo thethe mindsminds werewere sharsharpp andand quick,quick, othersothers moremore gradualgradual andand dense.dense. YetYet allall ofof ordinaryordinary people.people. ThusThus hehe mademade nono distinctionsdistinctions whatsoeverwhatsoever mindsminds couldcould bebe appliedapplied universally;universally; everyoneeveryone couldcould seesee colorscolors betweebetweenn laypeopllaypeoplee anandd monksmonks,, tellingtelling hihiss mixemixedd audienceaudiencess thathatt withwith theirtheir eyes,eyes, hearhear soundssounds withwith theirtheir cars,ears, smellsmell witwithh theirtheir thosthosee teachersteachers whwhoo diddid soso werewere preachingpreaching fallaciousfallacious doctrinedoctrine noses,noses, havehave discussiondiscussionss witwithh theitheirr mouths,mouths, andand feelfeel withwith theirtheir

58 Crazy CloudsClouds I Bassui 5959 skins.skins. ThisThis mademade themthem allall Buddhas.Buddhas. MosMostt importantimportant,, studentsstudents werweree ttoo havehave faithfaith inin themselvesthemselves ratherrather thanthan inin miraculousmiraculous shrinesshrines oror inin lineagelineage charts,charts, oror inin asceticascetic practicespractices thatthat includedincluded burninburningg thethe body,body, oror inin aggressiveaggressive question-and-answerquestion-and-answer com-com• 4- batbat.. HeHe warnedwarned againstagainst becomingbecoming obsessedobsessed witwithh oneone koankoan oror preceptprecept,, andand scoldedscolded studentsstudents whowho arrogantlyarrogantly criticizedcriticized andand condemnecondemnedd otheotherr ZenZen practitioners.practitioners. HeHe keptkept aa carefulcareful checkcheck Ikkyu: oonn disciplesdisciples whwhoo evidencedevidenced a predilectiopredilectionn foforr occultoccult practices,practices, anandd knockedknocked othersothers outout ofof theirtheir stuporousstuporous trances.trances. FanaticalFanatical The EmperorEmperor moralistmoralistss anandd hedonisthedonistss werweree botbothh "sick"sick inin mind"mind" asas farfar asas hehe wawass concernedconcerned,, anandd hhee urgedurged seriousserious ZenZen studentsstudents toto avoidavoid suchsuch people.people. HeHe likenedlikened allall sucsuchh extremextremee behaviorbehavior toto notoriousnotorious of RenegadesRenegades robbersrobbers whosewhose overlordoverlord wawass ththee consciouconsciouss mindmind,, "th"thee pipitt ofof knowledgknowledgee basebasedd oonn attachmenattachmentt ttoo form."form."

HoHoww ttoo conquerconquer thisthis notoriousnotorious band?band? "Just"Just stostopp youryour wan-wan• TheThe MuromachiMuromachi periodperiod (1338-1573),(1338—1573), whichwhich sawJapan'ssaw Japan's artisticartistic dering,dering, looklook penetratinglypenetratingly intintoo youryour inherentinherent nature,nature, and,and, renaissancrenaissancee aass welwelll aass ititss mosmostt devastatingdevastating starvation,starvation, plagues,plagues, concentratinconcentratingg youyourr spiritualspiritual energyenergy,, sisitt inin zazenzazen andand breakbreak andand riots,riots, servedserved asas a fittinglfittinglyy tumultuoutumultuouss backdropbackdrop forfor thethe lifelife through.through."" NoNo expedientexpedient meansmeans arcare necessarynecessary inin Bassui'sBassui's Zen.Zen. ofof Ikkyu,Ikkyu, Japan'sJapan's mostmost popularpopular andand controversialcontroversial genius,genius, aa AlAlll iitt taketakess iiss a quicquickk loolookk aatt ththee oneone whowho isis readingreading thisthis rightright mamann ththee criticcritic RR.. H.H. BlythBlyth calledcalled "the"the greatestgreatest ZeZenn monkmonk inin nownow.. WhoWho isis thatthat one?one? Japan.Japan."" ByBy thethe timetime IkkyuIkkyu waswas bornborn inin 1394,1394, thethe warringwarring factionsfactions thathatt hahadd splisplitt ththee governmengovernmentt i nin two—th two-thee NorthernNorthern courtcourt inin Kyoto,Kyoto, andand ththee SouthernSouthern courcourtt aatt Yoshino—haYoshino-hadd beenbeen forgedforged intointo anan uneasyuneasy andand ever-volatileever-volatile coexistencecoexistence underunder thethe powerfulpowerful warriowarriorr shogunshogun AshikagaAshikaga Takauji.Takauji. LoyalLoyal toto thethe lineline ofof thethe latelate emperoremperor Go-daigo,Go-daigo, thethe SouthernSouthern factionfaction continuedcontinued toto resistresist AshikagaAshikaga rulrulee untiuntill 1392,1392, whewhenn a compromisecompromise ruler-ruler- shipship agreemenagreementt wawass reached—thougreached-thoughh never never practiced.practiced. InIn 1272,1272, iinn orderorder toto avoidavoid disputesdisputes overover hishis lineline ofof succession,succession, EmperorEmperor GosagaGosaga hahadd introducedintroduced aa royalroyal edictedict implementingimplementing alternatingalternating successionsuccession drawdrawnn frofromm ththee descendantsdescendants ooff hishis secondsecond andand seventseventhh sonssons.. InsteaInsteadd ooff ensurinensuringg thethe emperor'semperor's line,line, however,however, ththee planplan createdcreated eveneven greatergreater disputesdisputes andand questionsquestions ofof succes-succes• siosionn thatthat resultedresulted inin overover oneone hundredhundred yearsyears ofof factionalfactional strife.strife. BByy 1392,1392, Go-komatsu,Go-komatsu, a pawnpawn ofof thethe victoriousvictorious strongmanstrongman AshikagAshikagaa TakaujiTakauji,, becambecamee ththee legitimatlegitimatee one-hundredtone-hundredthh em-em• peroperorr ofof JapaJapann foforr botbothh SoutherSouthernn andand NortherNorthernn parties.parties. RulingRuling iinn namename only,only, Go-komatsuGo-komatsu servedserved asas aa convenientconvenient nationalnational

6o60 Crazy CloudsClouds figureheadfigurehead foforr thethe realreal powerholderspowerholders,, ththee AshikagaAshikaga shogunshogunss ofof commercial-militarcommercial-militaryy fashionfashion,, thuthuss becamebecame ththee hallmarhallmarkk ofof thethe thethe househouse ofof Hosokawa.Hosokawa. rulinrulingg warriorwarrior class.class. TheThe religious,religious, political,political, andand economiceconomic shiftsshifts inin thesethese mostmost ThThee emperoremperor Go-daigoGo-daigo hahadd mademade DaitokuDaitoku-j jii inin KyotoKyoto thethe terriblterriblee anandd vitalvital yearsyears nonott onlyonly directlydirectly parallelparallel ththee ZeZenn monkmonk "plac"placee ooff imperialimperial worship"worship" inin 1333.1333. HisHis successorsuccessor Go-hana-Go-hana- Ikkyu'lkkyu'ss life,life, personality,personality, andand teachings,teachings, butbut theythey areare virtuallyvirtually zonzonoo patronizepatronizedd Myoshin-jiMyoshin-ji,, onlonlyy a fewfew milesmiles distantdistant,, therebythereby ththee stufstufff ooff hihiss owownn historyhistory.. ForFor IkkyuIkkyu waswas thethe illegitimateillegitimate sonson initiatininitiatingg aa seconsecondd straistrainn ooff ZeZenn thatthat,, iinn Ikkyu'Ikkyu'ss timetime,, camecame toto rival its parent temple. The original school, before it split ooff EmperoEmperorr Go-komatsuGo-komatsu himself,himself, andand thusthus a dangeroudangerouss poten-poten• rival its parent temple. The original school, before it split under the influence of the shogunate—who favored Myoshin- tiatiall heiheirr ttoo thethe throne,throne, afterafter hishis mother,mother, aa concubineconcubine sentsent asas a under the influence of the shogunate-who favored Myoshin- ji and therefore pressed Daitoku-ji into the background—was peacpeacee gifgiftt bbyy ththee SoutherSouthernn YoshinoYoshino factionfaction,, wawass pushepushedd ououtt ooff ji and therefore pressed Daitoku ji into the background-was known as Otokan Zen, an acronym referring to its three favofavorr bbyy aa NortherNorthernn rivalrival anandd drivedrivenn frofromm courcourtt toto raiseraise herher known as Otokan Zen, an acronym referring to its three founding fathers, Daio, Daito, and Kanzan. It was to these infaninfantt sonson inin secret.secret. founding fathers, Daio, Daito, and Kanzan. It was to these founding fathers, Daio and Daito in particular, that Ikkyu JapanJapan iinn thethe fifteenth-centuryfifteenth-century waswas inin manymany waysways asas mobile,mobile, founding fathers, Daio and Daito in particular, that Ikkyu lookedlooked forfor a "pure""pure" ZenZen thatthat surpassedsurpassed allall imperialimperial boundaries,boundaries, openopen,, violent,violent, andand economicallyeconomically shiftingshifting aass iitt hashas beenbeen inin thethe a ZenZen practicedpracticed inin thethe mannermanner ofof DaioDaio KokushiKokushi (1235-1309),(1235-1309), twentiethtwentieth.. TradeTrade nourishedflourished,, greagreatt merchantmerchant shipsships pliedplied thethe whwhoo broughtbrought thethe lineagelineage directlydirectly fromfrom China'sChina's KidoKido ChiguChigu seasseas,, bringinbringingg witwithh themthem aa developingdeveloping currenccurrencyy economeconomyy andand (Hsii-t'an(Hsii-t'angg Chih-yii)Chih-yii),, andand passedpassed iitt onon toto hishis successorsuccessor DaitoDaito modernizemodernizedd farminfarmingg methodsmethods,, makingmaking overnightovernight fortunefortuness forfor KokushKokushii (1282-1337)(1282-1337).. DaitoDaito,, afteafterr receivingreceiving inka (th(thee sealseal ofof ricricee brokerbrokerss anandd usurers,usurers, anandd openingopening ththee wayway forfor rovingroving approvaapprovall anandd acknowledgmentacknowledgment ooff enlightenment)enlightenment) frofromm hishis armiearmiess anandd mercenariemercenariess readreadyy ttoo plungplungee intintoo wawarr atat anyany slight,slight, teacherteacher,, establisheestablishedd himselhimselff iinn aa rundowrundownn huhutt outsidoutsidee ofof Kyoto.Kyoto. bothboth realreal andand imaginary.imaginary. FromFrom thethe ChineseChinese mainlandmainland camecame artart WitWithh hishis handfulhandful ofof disciples,disciples, hehe spentspent sevenseven obscureobscure yearsyears andand BuddhistBuddhist philosophy—especiallphilosophy-especiallyy thethe RinzaiRinzai formform ofof ZenZen earningearning hishis keepkeep amongamong thethe beggarsbeggars occupyingoccupying thethe mudflatsmudflats associatedassociated witwithh ththee "manly""manly" disciplinediscipline expectedexpected ofof thethe power-power• underunder thethe GojoGojo bridgebridge.. DaitDaitoo broughbroughtt ZeZenn outout ofof thethe courtcourt fufull rulingruling samuraisamurai class.class. TheThe shogunshogun leadership,leadership, oror Hojo,Hojo, anandd intintoo thethe streets,streets, therebythereby creatingcreating aa popularpopular versionversion ofof thethe establisheestablishedd ththee FiveFive MountainMountain templetemple hierarchyhierarchy knownknown asas secsectt thathatt wawass ttoo influenceinfluence evereveryy aspecaspectt ooff arartt anandd culturculturee ooff thethe gozan iinn imitatioimitationn ofof thethe contemporarycontemporary ChineseChinese templetemple sys-sys• periodperiod.. CalleCalledd bacbackk bbyy ththee emperoremperor Go-daigoGo-daigo asas abbotabbot ofof thethe temtem,, where,where, inin exchangeexchange forfor patronage,patronage, thethe monksmonks wouldwould templtemplee namenamedd iinn hishis honor,honor, DaitoDaito reluctantlyreluctantly returnedreturned toto providprovidee culturculturee andand BuddhisBuddhismm toto thethe brutalbrutal warriorwarrior class.class. TheThe clericalclerical life—aLife --ass Ikkyu Ikkyu,, hi hiss dharm dharmaa heir heir,, wawass ttoo dodo overover aa gozan werewere structuredstructured aroundaround Kyoto,Kyoto, thethe capitalcapital associatedassociated hundredhundred yearyearss later—anlater-andd becamebecame "teacher"teacher ofof thethe nation."nation." with the Ashikaga shogunate, and soon pushed into the back• with the Ashikaga shogunate, and soon pushed into the back- BByy ththee fifteentfifteenthh centurycentury,, thethe strugglestruggle betweenbetween thethe imperiallyimperially ground the more esoteric and elaborate Tendai and Shingon ground the more esoteric and elaborate Tendai and Shingon sponsoredsponsored Daitoku-jDaitoku jii andand thethe shogunate'sshogunate's chiefchief temple,temple, Nan-Nan• formformss ofof BuddhismBuddhism thatthat hadhad beenbeen favoredfavored bbyy thethe emperors.emperors. zen-ji,zen-ji, hadhad encompassedencompassed Myoshin-jiMyoshin-ji asas well.well. TheThe spiritualityspirituality SeveraSeverall hundrehundredd statstatee templestemples comprisedcomprised thethe gozangozan system,system, inin thethe monasteries,monasteries, whetherwhether emperor-dominatedemperor-dominated oror shogun-shogun- wherwheree religiousreligious advancementadvancement includeincludedd payinpayingg feefeess iinn highhigh sponsored,sponsored, wawass decayeddecayed.. ThThee priestpriestss solsoldd inka, oorr sealsseals ofof placeplacess anandd competincompetingg forfor bureaucraticbureaucratic influence.influence. ZenZen abbotsabbots enlightenment,enlightenment, toto wealthywealthy donors,donors, andand spentspent lessless timetime trainingtraining iinn majormajor templestemples likelike Nanzen-jiNanzen-ji inin KyotoKyoto functionedfunctioned moremore asas novicenovicess iinn meditatiomeditationn thathann iinn shavinshavingg theitheirr eyebrowseyebrows,, powder-powder• tutorstutors,, advisers,advisers, diplomats,diplomats, businessmen,businessmen, poets,poets, andand artistsartists iningg theitheirr facesfaces,, dressindressingg thethemm iinn women'women'ss clothingclothing,, andand push-push• thathann thetheyy diddid asas clergymen.clergymen. ZenZen Buddhism,Buddhism, iinn thisthis bluntlybluntly iningg thethemm intointo homosexualhomosexual acts.acts. BrewingBrewing andand drinkingdrinking sakesake

62 Crazy CloudsClouds 0 Ikkyu 6363 becamhecaniee ththee normnorm,, writingwriting elegantelegant ChineseChinese poetrpoetryy toto order,order, ShukenShuken proveprovedd ttoo bbee a bornborn musicianmusician andand poet.poet. FromFrom hishis teachinteachingg effetetlctee calligraphycalligraphy ttoo effeteeffete shoguns,shoguns, andand attendingattending priest-teacherspriest-teachers hehe learnedlearned ththee eleganelegantt formformss ofof ChineseChinese poetry,poetry, lavislavishh banquetbanquetss too tookk uupp ththee timetime ofof thethe MuromachiMuromachi ZenZen art,art, literatureliterature,, anandd appeared,appeared, frofromm hishis earlyearly imitationsimitations ofof mastersni,1sters.. ChineseChinese lyricslyrics,, ttoo bebe headedheaded forfor thethe typicaltypical lifelife ofof aa gozangozan OnlOnlyy a fewfew subtemplessubtemples scatterescatteredd mostlmostlyy oonn ththee outskirtoutskirtss ofof priestpriest.. UnlikeUnlike thethe otherother templetemple boys,boys, however,however, IkkyIkkyuu hadhad nono thethe capital,capital, poopoorr andand shabbyshabby dwellingsdwellings maintainemaintainedd bbyy OtokanOtokan familfamilyy ttoo speakspeak of.of. HeHe waswas keptkept strictlystrictly isolatedisolated fromfrom hishis diehards,diehards, upheldupheld thethe spiritualspiritual disciplinediscipline ofof devoteddevoted ZenZen medi-medi• mothermother,, consolingconsoling himselhimselff bbyy turningturning outout sadsad versesverses aboutabout tation,tation, therebythereby contributingcontributing ttoo thethe continuationcontinuation ofof thethe Bud-Bud• ancienancientt ChinesChinesee concubineconcubiness whwhoo hadhad foundfound disfavordisfavor atat courtcourt dha-Dharmadha-Dharma.. ItIt waswas inin twotwo suchsuch subtemplessubtemples thatthat IkkyuIkkyu wouldwould anandd sufferedsuffered exile.exile. Moreover,Moreover, hehe waswas physicallyphysically unattractive,unattractive, receivreceivee hihiss spirituaspirituall training.training. witwithh aa squat,squat, rectangularrectangular face,face, unaristocraticunaristocratic pupugg nose,nose, andand IkkyIkkyuu waswas bornborn onon NewNew Year'sYear's Day,Day, 1394,1394, iinn Saga,Saga, anan outout-- dolefudolefull eyeseyes.. HiHiss intellectualintellectual brilliancbrilliancee hahadd ttoo makmakee uupp forfor hishis of-the-waof-the-wayy subursuburbb ooff KyotKyotoo wherwheree aristocrataristocratss whwhoo nnoo longerlonger commocommonn featuresfeatures andand rumoredrumored heritage.heritage. enjoyeenjoyedd ththee favorfavorss ooff courcourtt werweree quietlquietlyy retiredretired.. ForceForcedd bbyy heherr AtAt thirteen,thirteen, IkkyuIkkyu movedmoved toto Kennin-ji,Kennin-ji, thethe oldestoldest ZenZen enemiesenemies ttoo leaveleave heherr seventeen-year-oldseventeen-year-old loverlover,, emperoemperorr GoGo-- templetemple iinn KyotoKyoto,, ttoo studystudy underunder Botctsu,Botetsu, aa priestpriest famousfamous forfor komatsu,komatsu, Ikkyu'sIkkyu's pregnantpregnant mothermother hadhad retreatedretreated toto a mansionmansion hihiss outstandinoutstandingg scholarshipscholarship anandd poetipoeticc instructioninstruction.. AAss ononee ofof in Saga, happy to have been spared her life. The baby was in Saga, happy to have been spared her life. The baby was thethe fivefive highest-rankinghighest-ranking templestemples ofof thethe AshikagaAshikaga shogunate,shogunate, raised by servants and was permanently separated from his raised by servants and was permanently separated from his Kennin-jiKennin-ji wawass fiercelfiercelyy competitivecompetitive,, fillefilledd witwithh ththee besbestt buddingbudding mother at the age of five, when he was placed in Ankoku-ji, a mother at the age of five, when he was placed in Ankoku-ji,a youngyoung poet-priestspoet-priests ofof thethe day.day. HereHere IkkyIkkyuu wrotwrotee hishis adolescentadolescent nearby Rinzai Zen temple, to keep him from any identification nearby Rinzai Zen temple, to keep him from any identification versionsversions ooff T'anT'angg dynastydynasty poetry,poetry, eveneven managingmanaging ttoo getget aa witwithh futurefuture politicalpolitical aspirationsaspirations andand thusthus savesave hihimm frofromm assas-assas• volumvolumee ooff versversee int intoo printprint.. BuButt iitt wawass herehere,, tootoo,, inin thethe veryvery sinationsination.. IItt waswas nonott unusualunusual forfor aristocratsaristocrats ofof thethe MuromachiMuromachi seatseat ofof powerpower andand politicalpolitical influence,influence, thatthat Ikkyu'sIkkyu's religiousreligious perioperiodd ttoo placeplace theitheirr sonssons iinn ZenZen temples,temples, forfor theythey functionedfunctioned nonconformismnonconformism burstburst forth.forth. SoonSoon hishis teenageteenage poetrypoetry stockedstocked asas ththee "finishing"finishing schools"schools" ofof anan eraera inin whichwhich priestspriests heldheld ththee withwith plumplum blossomsblossoms andand waningwaning moonsmoons gavegave wayway toto bitingbiting kekeyy ttoo highhigh culture.culture. AsAs a monkmonk,, IkkyuIkkyu couldcould blendblend inin withwith thethe criticismcriticism ooff thethe Kennin-jiKennin-ji hierarchy,hierarchy, attackingattacking thethe templetemple forfor otheotherr boysboys ofof hishis classclass andand survivesurvive eveneven asas thethe emperor'semperor's its worldly pursuits, its lack of spiritual training, its snobbish illegitimatillegitimatee sonson.. its worldly pursuits, its lack of spiritual training, its snobbish classclass distinctiondistinctionss amonamongg monks,monks, itsits emphasisemphasis onon politicspolitics overover TheThe curriculumcurriculum atat Ankoku-jiAnkoku-ji consistedconsisted ooff trainintrainingg iinn Chi-Chi• enlightenment.enlightenment. OnOn hishis own,own ,Ikkyu Ikkyu doggedlydoggedly satsat zazenzazen untiluntil hehe nesnesee languaglanguagee anandd cultureculture,, ththee paragonparagon ofof attainmentattainment inin highhigh couldcould nono longerlonger endureendure thethe KenninKennin-j jii environment,environment, andand inin thethe JapanesJapanesee circlescircles.. TypicallyTypically,, Ikkyu'Ikkyu'ss Ankoku-jAnkoku jii mastersmasters spentspent fall of 1410, he moved to Mibu, a temple headed by the abbot mormoree timetime inin teachingteaching literaryliterary andand artisticartistic subjectssubjects thanthan inin fall of r4to, he moved to Mibu, a temple headed by the abbot Seiso, a Confucian specialist and chanting master. This short• trainingtraining theirtheir shaven-headedshaven-headed novicenovicess ttoo meditatemeditate.. GozanGozan ZeZenn Seiso, a Confucian specialist and chanting master. This short- lived stay proving equally unbearable, the young Ikkyu moved waswas ssoo popularpopular,, inin fact,fact, thatthat thethe shogunshogun himselfhimself hadhad hishis headhead lived stay proving equally unbearable, the young Ikkyu moved once again—this time out of the powerful gozan system to an shavedshaved anandd wawass ordaineordainedd asas a ZeZenn priest.priest. once again-this time out of the powerful gozan system to an obscure temple on the shores of Lake Biwa, where he found AAss a novicenovice,, ththee illegitimateillegitimate sonson ofof thethe emperoremperor receivedreceived thethe obscure temple on the shores of Lake Biwa, where he found himself to be the single disciple of Keno, Modest Old Man, namnamee Shuken;Shuken; iitt wawass nonott untiluntil nineteennineteen yearsyears latelaterr thatthat hehe himself to be the single disciple of Keno, Modest Old Man, abbot of Saikin-ji, Temple of Western Gold. This shabby becambecamee IkkyuIkkyu,, OneOne Pause,Pause, thethe namename conferredconferred uponupon himhim byby abbot of Saikin ji, Temple of Western Gold. This shabby temple, with its lone disciplinarian master who refused to give hihiss mastemasterr KasKasoo aass a confirmatioconfirmationn ooff enlightenment.enlightenment. TheThe boyboy temple, with its lone disciplinarian master who refused to give

64 Crazy CloudsClouds = Ikkyu 65 writtewrittenn inka,inka, atat lastlast providedprovided IkkyuIkkyu withwith thethe brandbrand ofof RinzaiRinzai sity,sity, leveledleveled upouponn himselhimselff iinn a violentviolent suicidalsuicidal gesturgesturee a mo-mo• ZenZen he'dhe'd beenbeen longinglonging for.for. menmentt later.later. Rinzai'sRinzai's refusalrefusal ttoo acceptaccept inka frofromm ObakuObaku,, hishis master,master, andand DesperateDesperate foforr enlightenmentenlightenment,, IkkyIkkyuu sesett ououtt ttoo findfind a newnew Keno'Keno'ss refusarefusall ttoo grangrantt itit,, appealedappealed aass mucmuchh ttoo thethe reformerreformer inin teacherteacher.. HHee hahadd hearheardd ofof anotheanotherr severe,severe, incorruptiblincorruptiblee ololdd ZenZen IkkyIkkyuu asas itit diddid toto thethe renegade.renegade. AfterAfter all,all, weren'tweren't inkainka beingbeing disciplinariandisciplinarian,, aa mastemasterr namenamedd KasKasoo whwhoo headedheaded a branchbranch boughboughtt andand soldsold inin thethe gozangozan marketplacemarketplace alonalongg witwithh patron-patron• templtemplee ooff DaitokuDaitoku-ji ji,, alsoalso locatedlocated onon LakeLake Biwa,Biwa, thethe fatefulfateful ageage?? Keno'Keno'ss exampleexample,, anandd Rinzai'Rinzai'ss beforebefore himhim,, exertedexerted suchsuch aa sitsitee ooff Ikkyu'sIkkyu's attemptedattempted suicidesuicide,, anandd whawhatt wawass ttoo bebe hishis powerfupowerfull influencinfluencee oonn Ikkyu'Ikkyu'ss minmindd thatthat hehe nevernever acceptedaccepted oror eventuaeventuall GreaGreatt DeathDeath (satori)(satori) experienceexperience sixsix yearsyears later.later. gave inka throughout his life as a Zen student or teacher. For gave inka throughout his life as a Zen student or teacher. For Kaso'Kaso'ss templetemple,, Zenko-anZenko-an,, waswas nono lessless rundowrundownn thanthan Keno'sKeno's the legitimate heir of Rinzai, true Zen meant transmission the legitimate heir of Rinzai, true Zen meant transmission hahadd been.been. He,He, too,too, hatedhated thethe corruptioncorruption ofof thethe capitalcapital andand beyond words, scriptures, or written certificates of enlighten• beyond words, scriptures, or written certificates of enlighten- refusedrefused repeaterepeatedd offerofferss ooff highighh positionposition iinn thethe DaitokuDaitoku-j jii ment. And Keno was just such a master—unconventional, ment. And Keno was just such a master-unconventional, hierarchy.hierarchy. BuButt KasoKaso aatt leastleast hahadd a fewfew monksmonks studyingstudying withwith uncompromisinguncompromising,, stricstrictt iinn hihiss dedicatiodedicationn ttoo meditationmeditation,, withwith himhim,, andand oneone nun.nun. HisHis headhead monk,monk, Yoso,Yoso, a manman ofof twentytwenty nnoo worldlyworldly ambitionsambitions whatsoever.whatsoever. IkkyIkkyuu spentspent fourfour yearsyears yearsyears'' training,training, actedacted asas chiefchief disciplinarian,disciplinarian, anandd iinn keepingkeeping trainintrainingg iinn thethe lonelylonely TempleTemple ofof WesternWestern GoldGold,, untiluntil Keno'sKeno's withwith truetrue ZenZen traditiontradition onon greetinggreeting newnew applicants,applicants, pouredpoured aa suddesuddenn deatdeathh puputt anan endend toto hishis ZenZen idyll.idyll. buckebuckett ooff sloslopp watewaterr oonn Ikkyu'sIkkyu's headhead whenwhen hehe appearedappeared atat thethe IInn DecembeDecemberr ooff 1414,1414, ththee twenty-year-oltwenty-year-oldd IkkyuIkkyu fastedfasted andand templtemplee gategate.. Undeterred,Undeterred, IkkyuIkkyu waitedwaited outsideoutside forfor threethree days,days, performedperformed ththee funeralfuneral riteritess alonalonee foforr ththee oldold priestpriest whowho hadhad whilwhilee a reluctantreluctant KasoKaso pondereponderedd whethewhetherr toto acceptaccept aa novicenovice hahadd nono otherother disciples.disciples. ForFor sevenseven days,days, IkkyuIkkyu carriedcarried outout hishis whwhoo hahadd onlonlyy recentl recentlyy attempte attemptedd suicid suicidee and—o and-onn to topp o fof that that-— religioureligiouss dutiesduties,, thenthen,, iinn a conditioncondition ofof shock,shock, hunger,hunger, andand despairdespair,, hhee attempteattemptedd toto drowndrown himselfhimself inin LakeLake Biwa.Biwa. LikeLike hishis wawass rumorerumoredd ttoo bebe thethe emperor'semperor's illegitimateillegitimate sonson.. OOnn thethe choicchoicee ooff KenKenoo aass hihiss ZeZenn teacher,teacher, thisthis firstfirst suicidesuicide attemptattempt fourtfourthh dayday hhee relentedrelented,, welcomingwelcoming IkkyuIkkyu intointo thethe mostmost Spartanspartan showshowss ththee uncompromising,uncompromising, emotional,emotional, eveneven excessivelyexcessively self-self- ooff ZeZenn temples,temples, wherewhere novicenovice andand teacherteacher alikealike workedworked inin thethe dramatizindramatizingg sidsidee ooff Ikkyu'Ikkyu'ss nature.nature. Later,Later, asas aa veneratedvenerated ZenZen bitinbitingg coldcold untiluntil handshands bledbled andand iciclesicicles formeformedd oonn theirtheir blan-blan• mastemasterr himselfhimself,, hhee woulwouldd nonott hesitatehesitate toto trytry suicidesuicide againagain inin ketskets.. publipublicc protesprotestt oveoverr whawhatt hhee sawsaw aass thethe shogun'sshogun's attemptattempt toto ForFor ninenine years,years, IkkyuIkkyu struggledstruggled withwith hishis assignedassigned koans,koans, destroydestroy hihiss ZenZen lineagelineage anandd ruinruin thethe nation.nation. BothBoth suicidesuicide meditatinmeditatingg onon themthem everyevery day,day, thenthen facingfacing KasoKaso morningmorning andand attemptsattempts were,were, coincidentally,coincidentally, aborteabortedd bbyy thethe timelytimely interven-interven• evenineveningg iinn privateprivate interviewsinterviews andand answeringanswering checkingchecking ques-ques• tiontion ofof thethe royalroyal family.family. AtAt thethe LakeLake BiwaBiwa shoreshore itit waswas hishis tiontionss thatthat eithereither confirmedconfirmed oror denieddenied hishis penetrationpenetration ooff thethe mother's messenger, sent to follow the distraught young mother's messenger, sent to follow the distraught young koankoan.. CharacterizingCharacterizing ththee painfulpainful processprocess ofof hishis deepeningdeepening monk,monk, whowho savedsaved hihimm witwithh heherr plepleaa ttoo gogo onon livingliving forfor herher insightinsight,, IkkyuIkkyu wrotewrote inin aa poem:poem: "I"I suffersuffer thethe painspains ooff Hell.Hell."" InIn sakesake.. IInn hihiss publipublicc "fas"fastt ttoo ththee death"death" whenwhen hehe waswas fifty-three,fifty-three, summesummerr hhee meditatedmeditated alonalonee oonn LakeLake BiwBiwaa iinn a littlelittle boatboat iitt waswas hishis father'sfather's successor,successor, hishis cousincousin Go-hanazono,Go-hanazono, whosewhose loaneloanedd ttoo himhim byby aa fishermanfisherman friend.friend. HisHis artisticartistic giftsgifts werewere imperiaimperiall decredecreee preventepreventedd hihiss deathdeath.. FroFromm thethe first,first, IkkyuIkkyu waswas turned to doll making in a Kyoto shop, where he spent as long nonott oneone toto hidehide hishis emotions,emotions, hishis weaknesses,weaknesses, andand hishis charactercharacter turned to doll making in a Kyoto shop, where he spent as long as a month earning money for the temple. In his sparse free flaws.flaws. HiHiss scathinscathingg criticiscriticismm coulcouldd bbee turnedturned againstagainst thethe cor-cor• as a month earning money for the temple. Inhis sparse free moments, he would mingle with the wild, poor fortune- rupruptt religiousreligious hierarchhierarchyy iinn ononee momentmoment,, andand withwith equalequal inten-inten- moments, he would mingle with the wild, poor fortune-

66 Crazy CloudsClouds Ikkyu 67 tellers,tellers, winewine merchants,merchants, prostitutes,prostitutes, andand fishermenfishermen whowho oorr herher ownown enlightenmentenlightenment toto savesave alalll beings)beings),, bubutt notnot yetyet aa ZenZen

master.,, comprisedcomprised ththee citizenrycitizenry ofof Katada,Katada, thethe towntown surroundingsurrounding master." Zenko-an.Zenko-an. "So"So I'mI'm anan arhat,"arhat," IkkyuIkkyu replied.replied. "I"I don'tdon't needneed toto bebe aa ZenZen AsAs a musicianmusician anandd poetpoet,, Ikkyu'sIkkyu's firstfirst enlightenmentenlightenment experi-experi• master. " enceence nonott surprisinglysurprisingly camecame througthroughh sound.sound. InIn 1418,1418, hehe waswas WithWith that,that, KasoKaso cried,cried, "Ah,"Ah, soso youyou reallyreally areare aa ZenZen mastermaster workingworking onon CaseCase 1515 ofof thethe Mumonkan,Mumonkan, "Tozan'"Tozan'ss SixtySixty Blows."Blows." afteafterr all!"—anall!"-andd immediatelyimmediately wrotewrote outout aa certificate certificate ofof inka.inka. InIn thethe koan,koan, TozanTozan RyokaiRyokai (Tung-shan(Tung-shan Liang-chieh)Liang-chieh) comecomess toto IkkyIkkyuu tootookk thethe certificate,certificate, promptlpromptlyy threthreww iitt ttoo thethe ground,ground, seesee ththee greatgreat mastermaster UnmonUnmon (Yin-men(Yiin-men Wen-yen),Wen-yen), whowho asksasks thethenn turneturnedd andand leftleft ththee room.room. himhim severalseveral "ordinary"ordinary"" questionsquestions like,like, "Where"Where havehave yoyouu comecome WhenWhen headhead monkmonk YosoYoso gogott wordword ofof Ikkyu'sIkkyu's behavior,behavior, hehe from?,"from?," "Where"Where havehave youyou trainedtrained duringduring thethe summer?"summer?" andand soso becambecamee enragedenraged.. AA seriouseriouss ZeZenn studenstudentt foforr twenttwentyy years,years, hehe forth.forth. TozanTozan givesgives straightforwarstraightforwardd answersanswers anandd iiss toldtold,, ""II sparespare hahadd ttoo endureendure nonott onlyonly thethe greatgreat enlightenmentenlightenment ooff thithiss impu-impu• youyou sixtysixty blows."blows." WhenWhen hehe returnsreturns thethe nextnext day,day, hehe asksasks dendentt twenty-six-year-oltwenty-six-year-oldd intruder intruder,, bubutt ttoo suffesufferr hihiss scorscornn ofof UnmonUnmon wherewhere hehe waswas atat faultfault inin callingcalling downdown thethe master'smaster's ththee mostmost covetedcoveted sealseal iinn ZenZen circles.circles. ForFor hishis ownown part,part, YosoYoso wrath.wrath. UnmonUnmon says,says, "You"You ricerice bag!bag! DoDo youyou wanderwander aroundaround hadhad treasuredtreasured a portraitportrait ofof KasoKaso asas aa "symbolic""symbolic" sealseal ofof hishis westwest ofof thethe river,river, southsouth ofof thethe lake?"lake?" AndAnd TozanTozan experiencesexperiences insightinsight andand dharmadharma succession,succession, butbut,, onon seeingseeing himhim showshow itit greatgreat satori.satori. aroundaround,, KasoKaso dasheddashed hihiss hopehopess bbyy shouting,shouting, "If"If youyou everever callcall OnOnee dayday a troupetroupe ofof blindblind singerssingers stoppedstopped aatt Zenko-anZenko-an toto thithiss scrolscrolll inka,inka, I'lI'lll burburnn it!it!"" Ikkyu'Ikkyu'ss arrogancearrogance onlonlyy addedadded saltsalt performperform aa popularpopular balladballad ofof tragictragic love.love. AsAs hehe waswas listeninglistening toto toto Yoso'sYoso's wounds,wounds, andand thethe twotwo soonsoon becamebecame bitterbitter enemies.enemies. ththee performance,performance, IkkyuIkkyu suddenlysuddenly penetratedpenetrated thethe TozanTozan koan.koan. EacEachh mamann trietriedd toto showshow hishis loyaltyloyalty toto thethe teacherteacher inin hishis ownown HisHis experienceexperience wawass confirmedconfirmed iinn hishis formalformal interviewinterview withwith wayway.. WheWhenn KasKasoo grewgrew illill withwith dysentery,dysentery, Ikkyu,Ikkyu, whosewhose Kaso,Kaso, andand hehe waswas givengiven thethe dharmadharma namename Ikkyu,Ikkyu, OneOne Pause,Pause, enlightenmentenlightenment onlonlyy serveservedd ttoo developdevelop hihiss bizarrbizarree stylstylee ofof toto commemoratecommemorate thethe "single"single moment"moment" insightinsight hehe hadhad attained.attained. expressionexpression,, cleanecleanedd ththee excremenexcrementt withwith hishis hands.hands. YosoYoso andand InIn response,response, IkkyIkkyuu wrotewrote aa poem.poem. ththee otherother disciplesdisciples useusedd broombroomss andand sticks.sticks. WhenWhen confrontedconfronted bbyy YosoYoso forfor hishis strangestrange showshow ofof devotion,devotion, IkkyuIkkyu replied,replied, FroFromm thethe worldworld ofof passions,passions, "Since"Since iitt iiss ththee dirdirtt ofof ouourr mastermaster I mustmust notnot dislikedislike it."it." returninreturningg toto thethe worldworld ofof passions.passions. Increasingly,Increasingly, Ikkyu'[kkyu'ss behaviobehaviorr begabegann ttoo irritatirritatee nonott onlyonly ThereThere iiss aa moment'moment'ss pausepause-— YosoYoso,, bubutt KasKasoo aass wellwell.. WheWhenn laylay patronpatronss visitedvisited,, thethe youngyoung iiff iitt rainsrains,, letlet itit rain,rain, monmonkk woulwouldd blurblurtt ououtt insultsinsults likelike,, "Ze"Zenn isn'isn'tt a mattermatter ofof Iiff ththee winwindd blows,blows, letlet itit blow.blow. fashion,fashion,"" anandd stalkstalk outout ofof thethe room.room. HeHe alsoalso leveledleveled manymany Then,Then, inin thethe summersummer ofof 1420,1420, asas hehe waswas sittingsitting inin hishis littlelittle opeopenn attackattackss againsagainstt ththee stylisstylishh liflifee iinn Zenko-an'Zenko-an'ss parenparentt tem-tem• boatboat onon LakeLake BiwaBiwa engagedengaged inin meditation,meditation, againagain aa soundsound ple,ple, DaitokuDaitoku-ji ji,, andand publiclypublicly excoriatedexcoriated thethe "phony"phony monksmonks inin provokedprovoked aann awakening—buawakening-butt thithiss time,time, atat thethe cawingcawing ofof aa cocoww skirtsskirts"" atat aa memorialmemorial feastfeast hehe attendedattended there.there. Finally,Finally, hishis crowcrow inin earlyearly evening,evening, IkkyuIkkyu achievedachieved hishis greatgreat satori.satori. TheThe unorthodounorthodoxx behaviorbehavior amongamong thethe townspeopletownspeople ofof Katada,Katada, hishis entireentire universeuniverse becambecamee ththee cawincawingg ooff ththee crowcrow,, andand eveneven "One"One drunkedrunkenn revelsrevels,, anandd hihiss mockerymockery ofof ZenZen ritesrites ofof successionsuccession Pause"Pause" droppeddropped away.away. KasoKaso confirmedconfirmed thethe satori,satori, testedtested himhim proveprovedd totooo muchmuch eveneven foforr thethe unconventionalunconventional KasoKaso,, whowho,, inin furtherfurther withwith checkingchecking questions,questions, andand said,said, "This"This isis thethe answeranswer 1423,1423, gavgavee YosYosoo inkainka an andd madmadee hihimm hihiss formalformal dharmadharma heir.heir. ofof anan arhat ((aa BuddhisBuddhistt adepadeptt whwhoo hashas notnot yetyet gonegone beyondbeyond hishis Ikkyu'Ikkyu'ss responseresponse wawass immediatimmediatee anandd typicaltypical.. HHee lefleftt ththee mon-mon-

68 Crazy CloudsClouds I Ikkyu 69 asteryastery forfor a lifelife ofof wandering,wandering, turningturning upup everyevery nownow andand thenthen poempoemss againstagainst ththee usurioususurious ZenZen templestemples andand theirtheir richrich andand atat Daitoku-jiDaitoku-ji ceremoniesceremonies inin thethe patchedpatched roberobe andand strawstraw sandalssandals powerfupowerfull overlordsoverlords.. HHee tootookk uupp thethe causecause ofof thethe hardpressedhardpressed ofof aa mendicant.mendicant. WhenWhen admonishedadmonished bbyy KasoKaso forfor hishis ruderude farmersfarmers anandd townspeople,townspeople, whowhomm hehe countedcounted amongamong hishis stu-stu• appearance,appearance, IkkyIkkyuu quotequotedd RinzaiRinzai,, sayingsaying,, "D"Doo nonott holdhold onon toto dents,dents, writingwriting duringduring oneone ofof thethe manymany citizens'citizens' uprisingsuprisings robes,"robes," andand walkedwalked off.off. RecognizingRecognizing Ikkyu'sIkkyu's geniusgenius beneathbeneath demandingdemanding cancellationcancellation ofof debtsdebts fromfrom thethe HosokawaHosokawa shoguns:shoguns: hihiss anarchist'sanarchist's guise,guise, a haplesshapless KasoKaso repliedreplied latelaterr thatthat dayday toto ththee questionquestion ofof whowho wouldwould bebe hishis successor:successor: "I"Itt willwill bebe thethe RobberRobberss neveneverr strikstrikee poopoorr houses.houses. madmad one."one." Kaso'sKaso's spiritualspiritual preferencepreference foforr aann heirheir waswas thethe OnOnee man'sman's wealthwealth isis notnot wealthwealth forfor thethe wholewhole country.country. "mad""mad" Ikkyu,Ikkyu, butbut whenwhen thethe oldold mastermaster dieddied,, iitt wawass Yoso—thYoso-thee I believbelievee thathatt calamitcalamityy hahass ititss origioriginn iinn goodgood fortune.fortune. "cultivated"cultivated one"—whone"-whoo becamebecame abbotabbot ofof DaitokuDaitoku-ji ji.. YoYouu loslosee youyourr sousoull oveoverr a hundrehundredd thousandthousand piecespieces ofof copper.copper. IkkyuIkkyu wanderedwandered abouaboutt iinn thethe spiritspirit ofof hishis belovedbeloved idolsidols IInn 1425,1425, Yoshikaza,Yoshikaza, ththee newlnewlyy appointeappointedd shogunshogun,, dieddied ofof RinzaRinzaii anandd DaitoDaito,, characterizingcharacterizing himselfhimself inin hishis poemspoems asas Kyo-Kyo- alcoholismalcoholism,, anandd hishis retiredretired fatherfather YoshimochiYoshimochi hahadd toto resumeresume unun,, CrazyCrazy Cloud—Cloud-aa punpun onon thethe "cloud""cloud" prefixprefix constitutingconstituting ththee positionposition again.again. YoshimochiYoshimochi wawass himselhimselff ssoo mentallmentallyy de-de• ththee traditionatraditionall worwordd foforr monkmonk,, unsui,unsui, oorr "cloud-water,""cloud-water," andand rangerangedd byby alcoholismalcoholism thatthat hehe couldcould notnot rulerule andand gavegave wayway toto aa pointinpointingg ttoo hishis singularlysingularly "crazy"crazy"" forformm ofof Zen.Zen. UnlikeUnlike hishis successosuccessorr whwhoo waswas soosoonn assassinatedassassinated.. IInn ththee midsmidstt ofof thisthis socialsocial predecessorspredecessors,, whoswhosee pilgrimagepilgrimage yearsyears werewere relativelyrelatively brief,brief, breakdownbreakdown,, IkkyuIkkyu fearlesslyfearlessly criticizecriticizedd nonott onlonlyy ththee corruptioncorruption Ikkyu'Ikkyu'ss footloosefootloose wanderingwanderingss lastelastedd fro fromm ththee timtimee hehe waswas twenty-nintwenty-ninee toto thethe ageage ofof fifty-seven.fifty-seven. UnlikUnlikee RinzaRinzaii anandd DaitoDaito,, ooff Zen,Zen, butbut thethe politicalpolitical situationsituation asas well.well. InIn aa collectioncollection ofof tootoo,, IkkyuIkkyu refusedrefused ttoo taketake upup thethe formalformal rolerole ofof a ZenZen mastermaster openlopenlyy seditiousseditious CrazCrazyy ClouCloudd poems,poems, hehe wrote:wrote: oorr thethe abbotshipabbotship ofof aa temple.temple. SomewhereSomewhere inin hishis wanderings,wanderings, GreeGreedd foforr luxuriesluxuries,, foforr ricricee anandd monemoneyy undermineunderminess thethe thoughthough,, IkkyuIkkyu managedmanaged toto attractattract aa handfulhandful ofof like-mindedlike-minded imperiaimperiall palace.palace. eccentrics, as well as a wife and son. The Chronicle of the eccentrics, as well as a wife and son. The Chronicle of the IItt iiss nonott googoodd thatthat II eveneven thinthinkk aboutabout beautifulbeautiful womenwomen whenwhen allall Japanese Monk Ikkyu, a year-by-year account of his life, report• Japanese Monk Ikkyu, a year-by-year account of his life, report- JapanJapan isis inin anan extremelyextremely deplorabledeplorable condition.condition. edly documented by his major disciple Bokusai, describes edly documented by his major disciple Bokusai, describes ThiThiss oneone retainerretainer hashas hishis heartheart inin shreds!shreds! Ikkyu'Ikkyu'ss circlcirclee aass studentstudentss madmadee "o"off sternstern stuff,stuff, ableable ttoo forgetforget bodilbodilyy comfortcomfortss foforr thethe sakesake ofof thethe Dharma.Dharma. TheyThey gatheredgathered UnablUnablee ttoo hidehide fromfrom thethe terribleterrible realitiesrealities ofof dailydaily lifelife inin drydry stickssticks forfor firewoodfirewood andand scoopedscooped drinkingdrinking waterwater fromfrom thethe MuromachiMuromachi JapanJapan,, hhee assumedassumed thethe nonmonasticnonmonastic lifelife ofof aa lay-lay• torrents. . . . They were diligent and untiring." In a ram• torrents. .. . They were diligent and untiring." In a ram- man,man, eatingeating meatmeat andand fish,fish, drinkingdrinking wine,wine, makingmaking lovelove toto shackleshackle dwellindwellingg name namedd Th Thee HuHutt ooff thethe BlindBlind DonkeyDonkey inin women,women, andand celebratingcelebrating themthem inin hishis poems.poems. AsAs aa livinlivingg exam-exam• honohonorr ofof Rinzai'sRinzai's appellationappellation forfor hishis successors,successors, IkkyIkkyuu settledsettled pleple ofof Rinzai'sRinzai's dictumdictum toto avoidavoid "loving"loving thethe sacredsacred andand hatinghating down to teach, by his own life's example, Rinzai's exhortation down to teach, by his own life's example, Rinzai's exhortation thethe secular,"secular," IkkyIkkyuu soughsoughtt ttoo bringbring truetrue ZenZen practicepractice ououtt ofof to "shit and piss and just be ordinary." When his wife died, he to "shit and piss and just be ordinary." When his wife died, he thethe monasterymonastery andand intointo thethe street,street, where,where, likelike DaitoDaito beforebefore took his son as a disciple into his Blind Donkey temple, with took his son as a disciple into his Blind Donkey temple, with him,him, hehe feltfelt itit belongedbelonged.. StrikingStriking outout openlyopenly againstagainst thethe its broken walls and rotten ridgepole. This was no dubious its broken walls and rotten ridgepole. This was no dubious dissolutedissolute RinzaiRinzai ZeZenn institutionsinstitutions inin thethe capital,capital, hehe developeddeveloped honor, for Ikkyu refused admittance to anyone who came for honor, for Ikkyu refused admittance to anyone who came for thethe personapersona ofof thethe madmad monkmonk toto enforceenforce hishis messagemessage thatthat "it"it isis anything but serious Zen study. anything but serious Zen study. easyeasy ttoo enterenter thethe realmrealm ofof thethe Buddhas.Buddhas. MuchMuch harderharder toto enterenter HereHere,, too,too, hehe continuedcontinued toto writewrite hishis seditious,seditious, muckrakingmuckraking ththee worldworld ooff demons."demons." SoSo far,far, hehe hadhad trainedtrained forfor moremore thanthan

70 Crazy CloudsClouds I Ikkyu 7171 _

fifteenfifteen yearyearss iinn ththee conventionalconventional,, strict strict,, anandd "manly"manly"" stylstylee ofof expandedexpanded bbyy hishis laylay students,students, manymany ofof whomwhom werewere leadingleading Zen;Zen; nownow hehe waswas determineddetermined toto "enter"enter thethe marketplacemarketplace withwith painterspainters,, actors,actors, andand sculptorssculptors ooff ththee periodperiod.. AmongAmong themthem waswas bliss-bestowingbliss-bestowing hands,hands,"" minglingmingling withwith ordinaryordinary people,people, livingliving hihiss sonson Jotei,Jotei, whowho laterlater becamebecame oneone ofof Japan'sJapan's leadingleading teatea aass ordinarordinaryy peoplepeople lived,lived, andand therebythereby preachingpreaching thethe dharmadharma inin mastersmasters.. AboveAbove all,all, IkkyuIkkyu cultivatedcultivated aa lifelife ofof sparsenesssparseness andand whateverwhatever unconventionaunconventionall formformss iitt mightmight take.take. povertpovertyy thatthat resultedresulted inin thethe highly highly valued valued Japanese Japanese wahiwabi idealideal UnlikUnlikee RinzaiRinzai,, howeverhowever,, IkkyIkkyuu wawass nonott a fiercefierce andand physi-physi• ooff starstarkk simplicity,simplicity, whichwhich characterizescharacterizes thathatt country'scountry's aestheticaesthetic callycally violenviolentt manman,, bubutt a lover,lover, a poetpoet whowho couldcould memorializememorialize eveevenn today.today. a petpet sparrowsparrow andand writewrite tenderlytenderly aboutabout thethe beautybeauty ofof womenwomen HiHiss folksfolksyy religioureligiouss stylstylee emergeemergedd witwithh hihiss movmovee ttoo Sakai,Sakai, a whilwhilee aatt thethe samesame timetime trashingtrashing thethe ZenZen establishment.establishment. boomtowboomtownn alongalong thethe banksbanks ofof LakeLake Biwa,Biwa, which,which, likelike Katada,Katada, ThougThoughh thethe rough-and-tumblerough-and-tumble RecordRecord o/'of Rinzai wawass hishis biblebible waswas populatepopulatedd byby ruffians,ruffians, wanderinwanderingg women,women, pirates,pirates, wealthywealthy (h(hee eveneven wenwentt ssoo farfar asas toto memorizememorize it),it), IkkyuIkkyu translatedtranslated merchants,merchants, anandd coconn artists—Ikkyu'artists-Ikkyu'ss idealideal "congregants.""congregants." InIn Rinzai'Rinzai'ss teachinteachingg througthroughh thethe highlyhighly sensitivesensitive vesselvessel ofof hihiss ownown thisthis atmosphereatmosphere,, accompaniedaccompanied byby hishis littlelittle banbandd ofof loyaloyall monksmonks naturnaturee anandd experienceexperience.. AnAndd thougthoughh hehe imitatedimitated RinzaiRinzai physi-physi• andand laylay studentsstudents,, IkkyuIkkyu turnedturned forty-oneforty-one onon NewNew Year'sYear's DayDay callcallyy bbyy growingrowingg a bearbeardd anandd lonlongg hairhair whilewhile stillstill remainingremaining a ofof 1435.1435. InsteadInstead ofof preachingpreaching aa traditionaltraditional NewNew Year'sYear's DayDay monkmonk,, IkkyuIkkyu departeddeparted fromfrom Rinzai'sRinzai's "masculine""masculine" ZenZen style,style, sermon,sermon, however,however, hhee wokwokee earlearlyy anandd rusherushedd ououtt intintoo thethe citycity includinincludingg womewomenn aass hishis students,students, dharmadharma companions,companions, andand streets,streets, brandishingbrandishing a longlong woodenwooden swordsword andand smackingsmacking thethe sociasociall anandd intellectuaintellectuall equalsequals.. HiHiss rejectiorejectionn ooff liflifee iinn ththee ZenZen hilthilt toto callcall thethe peoplepeople toto attention.attention. AccordingAccording toto Bokusai'sBokusai's templetempless wawass promptepromptedd aass mucmuchh bbyy hihiss hatrehatredd foforr theitheirr homo-homo• Chronicle, th thee puzzle puzzledd townspeopltownspeoplee gathered gathered,, cryingcrying,, "What"What sexuasexuall abuseabusess aass foforr theirtheir religiousreligious hypocrisy.hypocrisy. Indeed,Indeed, inin a ususee doedoess a monmonkk havehave foforr a swordsword?? SwordSwordss araree useusedd foforr killing!"killing!" societsocietyy wherwheree ththee rulingruling samuraisamurai flauntedflaunted theitheirr misogynymisogyny inin TToo whicwhichh IkkyIkkyuu repliedreplied:: "Yo"Youu don' don'tt knoknoww iitt yetyet,, butbut thesethese theitheirr preferencpreferencee foforr ththee lovlovee o off youn youngg boysboys,, Ikkyu'Ikkyu'ss "feminist""feminist" daydayss ththee worlworldd iiss fullfull ofof aa falsefalse wisdomwisdom thatthat isis justjust likelike thisthis viewviewss alonalonee werweree enoug enoughh t oto labelabell hi himm madmad.. IItt wawass iinn thethe woodewoodenn swordsword.. AAss lonlongg asas iitt isis keptkept inin thethe scabbard,scabbard, itit lookslooks brothelsbrothels andand geishageisha houseshouses thatthat hehe developeddeveloped hishis RedRed ThreadThread aass googoodd aass aa reareall bladeblade,, bubutt iiff iitt iiss drawdrawnn ououtt frofromm ththee scabbard,scabbard, Zen,Zen, aa notionnotion hehe borrowedborrowed fromfrom thethe oldold ChineseChinese mastermaster Kido,Kido, iitt isis seenseen toto bebe onlyonly aa sliversliver ofof wood.wood. ItI tcannot cannot eveneven killkill andand extendedextended toto deepdeep andand subtlesubtle levelslevels ofof realizationrealization iinn "this"this people—mucpeople-muchh lessless makemake themthem live!"live!" TheThe citizenscitizens ofof SakaiSakai veryvery bodybody"" asas thethe "Lotus"Lotus ofof thethe truetrue law,"law," linkinglinking humanhuman laughingllaughinglyy gogott thethe pointpoint andand applaudedapplauded theirtheir eccentriceccentric priest.priest. beingbeingss ttoo birtbirthh andand deathdeath byby thethe redred threadthread ofof passion,passion, andand itsits IkkyIkkyuu felfeltt thathatt hehe alonealone heldheld thethe greatgreat swordsword ofof BodhisattvaBodhisattva resultinresultingg bloodbloodyy umbilicusumbilicus.. CloselCloselyy relaterelatedd ttoo tantrictantric Bud-Bud• ManjusriManjusri,, ththee bladeblade ooff wisdowisdomm thatthat cutscuts allall delusiondelusion andand grantsgrants dhismdhism,, whichwhich usedused sexualsexual uniounionn asas a religiousreligious ritualritual,, Ikkyu'sIkkyu's realizationrealization.. ReRedd ThreaThreadd forformm ofof ZenZen practicepractice waswas thethe mostmost radicalradical non-non- YeYett despitdespitee hihiss outwaroutwardd "madness,""madness," byby allall evidence,evidence, IkkyuIkkyu dualisdualistt interpretatiointerpretationn ooff ththee sexualsexual acactt proposeproposedd bbyy anyany ZenZen wawass a stricstrictt adherenadherentt ttoo Rinzai'sRinzai's rigorourigorouss Zen;Zen; hishis demanddemand forfor mastemasterr beforbeforee oror since.since. stronstrongg commitmentcommitment toto meditationmeditation andand koankoan practicepractice andand for-for• BByy encouragingencouraging sucsuchh worldlyworldly varietiesvarieties ooff ZenZen practice,practice, malmal interviewinterviewss witwithh anan enlightenedenlightened teacherteacher formeformedd ththee corecore ofof IkkyIkkyuu developeddeveloped aann entirelentirelyy newnew aestheticaesthetic inin thethe process,process, hihiss ownown career.career. TheThe settingsetting maymay havehave beenbeen informal,informal, hishis creatincreatingg neneww formformss ooff calligraphy,calligraphy, poetrypoetry,, NoNohh theater,theater, teatea studentsstudents moremore oftenoften laypeoplelaypeople thanthan formallyformally ordainedordained monks,monks, ceremony,ceremony, andand ceramics.ceramics. HiHiss "running"running"" calligraphiccalligraphic stylestyle andand butbut hishis ZenZen practicepractice waswas farfar mormoree traditionaltraditional thanthan thethe ritualizedritualized kyo oorr "crazy,""crazy," eveneven sometimessometimes pornographicpornographic poetrypoetry werewere effeteeffete businesbusinesss goingoingg oonn inin thethe gozangozan temples.temples. ForFor tenten disas-disas-

72 Crazy CloudsClouds -1 Ikkyu 7373 troutrouss days,days, hhee trietriedd ttoo performperform asas abbotabbot ofof Nioi-an,Nioi-an, aa subtem-subtem- TsuTsu andand Kin.Kin. BothBoth menmen turnedturned upup atat Ikkyu'sIkkyu's shabbyshabby SakaiSakai plplee oonn ththee groundgroundss ofof Daitoku-jiDaitoku ji,, when,when, prevailedprevailed uponupon byby hishis headquartersheadquarters ononee dayday,, askingasking toto becomebecome hishis disciples,disciples, andand followerfollowerss ttoo assumassumee ththee positiopositionn iinn honohonorr ofof hishis belovedbeloved oldold IkkyuIkkyu greetedgreeted themthem warmly.warmly. ButBut thisthis diddid notnot stopstop YosoYoso fromfrom teacheteacherr Kaso'Kaso'ss memorialmemorial anniversary,anniversary, hehe acceptedaccepted Yoso'sYoso's offer.offer. makingmaking oneone ofof hishis periodicperiodic falsefalse gesturesgestures ooff attemptedattempted recon-recon• AAtt thethe memorialmemorial banquet,banquet, however,however, Yoso'sYoso's wealthywealthy guestsguests ciliationciliation bbyy invitinginviting IkkyuIkkyu toto aa clericalclerical feast.feast. BokusaiBokusai recordsrecords madmadee iitt clearclear thatthat inin exchangeexchange foforr largelarge donations,donations, theythey ex-ex• wordword forfor wordword thethe ironic,ironic, increasinglyincreasingly bitterbitter exchangeexchange betweenbetween pectepectedd IkkyIkkyuu ttoo selselll thethemm writtewrittenn inka. IInn ththee midsmidstt ooff thethe thethe twotwo oldold opponents,opponents, withwith YosoYoso appearingappearing aatt ththee templtemplee gategate banquetbanquet,, IkkyIkkyuu gotgot upup andand stalkedstalked out,out, followedfollowed bbyy hishis chiefchief himself,himself, shouting,shouting, "Your"Your arrivalarrival isis muchmuch delayed.delayed. II waswas aboutabout disciplediscipless BokusaBokusaii anandd Bokushitsu.Bokushitsu. toto sendsend someonesomeone ttoo bringbring youyou here.here. I wantedwanted ttoo informinform youyou

DrawinDrawingg uupp anan inventoryinventory ofof allall ththee goodgoodss iinn thethe temple,temple, hehe thatthat youyou havehave hurledhurled shit-watershit-water inin Kaso'sKaso's faceface ...... "" attachedattached iitt toto a poempoem thatthat hehe hunghung onon thethe wallwall asas aa declarationdeclaration IkkyIkkyuu repliedreplied calmly,calmly, "You"You needn'needn'tt playplay thethe filialfilial brotherbrother ofof hishis resignation.resignation. withwith me.me. KindlyKindly clarifyclarify whatwhat youyou meanmean byby `throwing'throwing shit-shit- water.'water.' "" AfteAfterr tetenn daydayss i nin thi thiss temple temple,, m myy min mindd i sis spinning spinning-— YosoYoso thethenn wenwentt oonn ttoo accuseaccuse IkkyIkkyuu ofof usingusing thethe Daitoku-jiDaitoku-ji TheThe "red"red thread"thread" ofof passionpassion isis veryvery strongstrong inin mymy loins,loins, lineaglineagee anandd recitinrecitingg ththee dharmadharma lectureslectures ofof itsits mastersmasters forfor hishis IIff yoyouu wiswishh toto locatelocate meme anotheranother day,day, own ulterior motives. LookLook inin thethe fishfish stall,stall, thethe sakesake shopshop oror thethe brothel!brothel! own ulterior motives. IkkyuIkkyu retorted,retorted, "I,"I, onon thethe otherother hand,hand, hearhear thatthat youyou extolextol MorMoree likelylikely,, IkkyuIkkyu reallyreally spentspent thethe nextnext monthmonth sitting sitting in in sesshin sesshin thethe falsefalse practicepractice ofof leavingleaving ofofff sanzen interviewinterviewss witwithh youryour

(meditation(meditation retreat)retreat) outout inin thethe fieldsfields ofof patronpatron ShitenShiten Shoiku'sShoiku's disciples.disciples. That isis whatwhat KasoKaso nevernever heardheard of.of...... WhaWhatt otherother estatestatee iinn ththee southersouthernn partpart ofof KyotoKyoto withwith hishis disciples,disciples, givinggiving wayway coulcouldd thertheree bebe?? HoHoww coulcouldd thertheree bbee anythinanythingg withouwithoutt thethe dharmdharmaa talktalkss anandd answeringanswering studentsstudents'' questions.questions. HisHis ZenZen waswas interviewsinterviews?? NoNo,, iitt iiss yoyouu whwhoo throwthrowss shit-watershit-water.. BuButt intintoo youryour renderedrendered directly,directly, inin face-to-faceface-to-face encounter.encounter. ToTo organizeorganize hishis ownown face.face. YoYouu cannocannott smeasmearr KasKasoo witwithh youyourr errors."errors." teachingteaching anandd urgurgee studentstudentss onon,, hehe handedhanded themthem eacheach aa scrollscroll GrowingGrowing angrier,angrier, YosoYoso sputteredsputtered,, "I"I carrycarry hishis certificate.certificate. ByBy thatthat said:said: whatwhat rightright dodo youyou insultinsult me?"me?" "I"I waswas alsoalso certified,"certified," saidsaid IkkyuIkkyu,, "though"though suchsuch thingsthings areare I amam aa simplesimple manman andand havehave notnot certifiedcertified anyoneanyone duringduring mymy nonott forfor publicpublic comparisons."comparisons." lifetime;lifetime; II feafearr thathatt afteafterr mmyy deathdeath therethere willwill bebe nono oneone toto speakspeak "Well,"Well, I supposesuppose II havehave nono wayway toto prove prove thatthat youyou werewere notnot forfor me.me. AsAs I Ireceived received mymy certificationcertification inin private,private, I diddid notnot certified."certified." publicizepublicize ththee factfact.. BuButt iiff a mamann takestakes iitt oonn himselfhimself ttoo propagatepropagate AtAt that,that, IkkyuIkkyu gavegave a greatgreat laughlaugh andand walkedwalked off.off. thethe DharmaDharma andand startsstarts hishis ownown sectsect inin secret,secret, thethe regulationsregulations ButBut then,then, inin 1447,1447, IkkyuIkkyu andand YosoYoso hadhad toto joinjoin forcesforces toto savesave willwill bebe disarrayed.disarrayed. SucSuchh memenn shoulshouldd bbee quicklquicklyy reportereportedd toto thethe authoritiesauthorities anandd punishedpunished.. TheTheyy betraybetray BuddhismBuddhism andand areare mymy theitheirr belovedbeloved lineaglineagee frofromm beingbeing overtakenovertaken byby thethe HosokawaHosokawa hatehatedd enemies.enemies. ImportanImportantt indeeindeedd iiss ththee protectionprotection ofof thethe shogunsshoguns,, who,who, asas patronspatrons ofof Myoshin-ji,Myoshin-ji, hadhad alwaysalways managedmanaged DharmaDharma.. HowHow couldcould anyoneanyone standstand toto oneone sideside andand looklook onon withwith ttoo pushpush thethe imperiallyimperially alignedaligned Daitoku-jDaitoku-jii intintoo thethe background.background. foldefoldedd arms?arms? AAss ththee greatgreat rulingruling powerspowers inin JapanJapan atat thethe time,time, thethe HosokawasHosokawas pressurepressuredd ththee emperoemperorr ttoo grantgrant DaitokuDaitoku-ji' ji'ss chiefchief abbotshipabbotship toto Ikkyu'Ikkyu'ss uprightupright insistenceinsistence oonn thethe truetrue expressionexpression ooff Daito'sDaito's a Myoshin-jMyoshin-jii rivalrival.. ThiThiss provokeprovokedd a rebelliorebellionn iinn Daitoku-jDaitoku-jii thatthat lineagelineage eveevenn impresseimpressedd twtwoo ooff Yoso'sYoso's owownn Daitoku-jDaitoku-jii monks,monks, resulteresultedd iinn ththee suicidesuicide ooff ononee priestpriest andand thethe imprisonmentimprisonment ofof

74 Crazy CloudsClouds 74 11 Ikkyu 7755 severalseveral othersothers.. IInn opeopenn protestprotest,, IkkyuIkkyu embarkedembarked onon a hungerhunger enjoinderenjoinder ttoo "concentrate"concentrate whollywholly onon zazen."zazen." EverydayEveryday life,life, strikestrike ououtt inin thethe mountainsmountains surroundingsurrounding Kyoto,Kyoto, writing:writing: eveneven atat itsits worstworst,, couldcould nonott bebe separatedseparated frofromm truetrue ZenZen practice.practice. Thus,Thus, meditationmeditation inin Ikkyu'sIkkyu's countrycountry hermitagehermitage con-con• I amam ashamedashamed toto bebe stillstill amongamong thethe living;living; tinuetinuedd inin thethe midstmidst ofof thethe war.war. ItIt waswas here,here, too,too, thatthat hishis discipledisciple SSoo manmanyy yearsyears havehave II studiestudiedd ZeZenn anandd practicedpracticed thethe Way,Way, yetyet ZenchikoZenchiko developeddeveloped NoNohh theatertheater,, andand thatthat thethe teatea ceremonyceremony nonoww heavyheavy problems.problems. reachedreached ititss apexapex asas aa meditativemeditative form.form. IkkyuIkkyu continuedcontinued toto Indeed,Indeed, thethe BuddhistBuddhist TruthTruth seemsseems toto havehave disappeared.disappeared. writwritee hishis stingingstinging criticismscriticisms ofof templetemple andand state,state, reproachingreproaching InIn itsits place,place, thethe KingKing ofof DemonsDemons risesrises aa hundredhundred feetfeet tall!tall! "the"the arrogantarrogant strongstrong whowho continuecontinue to to play play musicmusic andand enjoy enjoy lifelife eveevenn thougthoughh ththee wholewhole populacepopulace iiss suffering,suffering,"" andand publishedpublished aa AAss Kaso'Kaso'ss legitimatelegitimate heir,heir, eveneven thethe hatedhated YosoYoso wawass preferablepreferable serieseriess ooff biliousbilious outpouringsoutpourings againstagainst YosoYoso andand otherother publicpublic ttoo aa gozan-appointed^o^K-appointed interlopeinterloperr iinn ththee DaitokuDaitoku-j jii lineage.lineage. AsAs figurefiguress underunder thethe ironicironic titletitle Self Self Criticisms.Criticisms. hehe satsat inin thethe midstmidst ofof aa thunderstorm,thunderstorm, growinggrowing weakweak withwith IkkyuIkkyu sufferedsuffered a boutbout ofof dysenterydysentery thatthat almostalmost killedkilled him,him, hunger,hunger, IkkyuIkkyu waswas approachedapproached bbyy anan imperialimperial messengermessenger ofof bubutt hehe recoveredrecovered toto enterenter hishis seventiesseventies anandd a perioperiodd ofof passion-passion• hihiss cousincousin,, Go-hanazono.Go-hanazono. atatee companionshipcompanionship thathatt waswas toto lastlast intointo hishis eighties.eighties. InIn 1471,1471, "I"Iff thethe reverendreverend monmonkk continuecontinuess ttoo ddoo thus,thus, thethe Buddha'sBuddha's LadLadyy Shin,Shin, a blindblind singer,singer, composer,composer, andand skilledskilled musician,musician, WayWay anandd ththee ImperialImperial WayWay wilwilll perish!perish! HowHow cancan hehe causecause such?such? entereenteredd thethe circlecircle ofof Zen-inspiredZen-inspired musicians,musicians, painters,painters, andand HoHoww cancan ththee mastermaster desertdesert hihiss countrycountry aatt thisthis time?"time?" thethe poetpoetss atat ThankThank YouYou HermitageHermitage andand changedchanged Ikkyu'sIkkyu's life.life. TheThe emperoemperorr pleadedpleaded.. IkkyIkkyuu hahadd mademade hihiss pointpoint.. HeHe gavegave uupp thethe ololdd ZenZen mastermaster waswas seventy-seven,seventy-seven, hihiss mistressmistress iinn herher latelate fast, and Daitoku ji was saved-with Yoso as abbot, and Ikkyu fast, and Daitoku-ji was saved—with Yoso as abbot, and Ikkyu thirties.thirties. AllAll wewe knowknow aboutabout thethe romanceromance isis whatwhat IkkyuIkkyu leavesleaves wandering, as much the "crazy cloud" as before. wandering, as much the "crazy cloud" as before. uuss iinn hishis graphicgraphic andand informativeinformative poetrypoetry celebratingcelebrating theirtheir love.love. BByy 14571457 thethe HosokawasHosokawas hahadd soso draineddrained thethe populationpopulation Bokusai'sBokusai's Chronicle remain remainss mut mutee o onn th thee topictopic,, bubutt hehe diddid economicallyeconomically thathatt thethe helplesshelpless massesmasses erupteeruptedd inin civilcivil war.war. managemanage ttoo executeexecute anan amazingamazing officialofficial portraitportrait ofof Ikkyu,Ikkyu, TroopTroopss representinrepresentingg allall sidesidess lootelootedd anandd burneburnedd wholwholee sectionssections commissionecommissionedd byby thethe mastermaster himself,himself, whichwhich includesincludes thethe blindblind ooff KyotoKyoto,, includinincludingg Ikkyu'Ikkyu'ss citycity headquartersheadquarters atat ththee HutHut ofof thethe womawomann singersinger.. ThisThis chinzo, aa ZenZen portraitportrait stillstill hanginghanging inin BlinBlindd DonkeyDonkey.. SSoo hhee andand hishis friendsfriends movedmoved southsouth toto thethe Daitoku-jDaitoku-jii today,today, depictsdepicts IkkyuIkkyu minusminus thethe usualusual priest'spriest's staff,staff, country.country. WithWith thethe OninOnin WarWar flaringflaring aroundaround themthem andand allall thethe wearinwearingg plaiplainn monk'monk'ss garbgarb.. HHee iiss paintepaintedd iinn a grey,grey, emptyempty grandgrand palacespalaces anandd monasteriesmonasteries razedrazed,, Ikkyu'Ikkyu'ss bandband feltfelt luckylucky circlcirclee denotindenotingg thethe essentialessential emptinessemptiness ooff things,things, whilewhile LadyLady toto bebe sparedspared andand thusthus gratefullygratefully namednamed theirtheir templetemple ThankThank Shin,Shin, seatedseated below,below, dresseddressed inin professionalprofessional fineryfinery andand playingplaying YoYouu Hermitage.Hermitage. heherr koto, representrepresentss ththee manifesmanifestt worlworldd ooff form.form. PeoplPeoplee diediedd bbyy ththee thousandsthousands;; aatt ononee poinpointt ththee streetsstreets ofof InIn LadyLady Shin,Shin, oorr Mori,Mori, IkkyuIkkyu finallyfinally locatedlocated hishis ownown missingmissing KyotKyotoo werweree obstructeobstructedd bbyy animalanimal andand humahumann corpsescorpses ofof thosethose femalfemalee selfself.. Unashamedly,Unashamedly, hehe praisedpraised herher brilliancebrilliance andand cele-cele• whwhoo hadhad starvedstarved oror dieddied ofof plague.plague. Still,Still, thethe shogunsshoguns andand theirtheir bratebratedd herher giftsgifts inin hishis writingwriting andand inin theirtheir publicpublic lifelife together.together. RinzaRinzaii priestpriestss enjoyeenjoyedd aann economieconomicc heydayheyday.. Ikkyu'Ikkyu'ss responseresponse MoreoverMoreover,, IkkyuIkkyu incorporatedincorporated boldbold elementselements ofof theirtheir physicalphysical ttoo thethe displaydisplay ooff greed,greed, hatred,hatred, andand ignoranceignorance waswas aa religiousreligious relationshiprelationship intintoo hihiss teachingteaching ooff Zen,Zen, playingplaying onon koanskoans inin anan allegoryallegory hehe calledcalled Skeletons.Skeletons. ThiThiss macabremacabre treatisetreatise onon death,death, erotieroticc contextcontext thatthat boundbound thethe manifestmanifest andand essentialessential worldsworlds inin whicwhichh couldcould barelybarely equalequal thethe actualactual miserymisery andand slaughterslaughter a loveknotloveknot.. ThusThus,, inin Ikkyu'sIkkyu's interpretation,interpretation, thethe koan,koan, "In"In whatwhat aroundaround him,him, prescribedprescribed anan antidoteantidote toto thethe hellishhellish eventsevents inin itsits waysways ddoo mymy handshands resembleresemble thethe Buddha'sBuddha's hands?"hands?" givengiven byby

76 Crazy CloudsClouds I Ikkyu 77 OryoOryo (Huang-lung(Huang-lung Hui-nan),Hui-nan), anan eleventh-centuryeleventh-century RinzaiRinzai mas-mas• agreedagreed ttoo dischargedischarge ththee impossibleimpossible requestrequest,, butbut,, onon acceptingaccepting terter,, becomes:becomes: it,it, enactedenacted a typicallytypically surrealistisurrealisticc CrazCrazyy ClouCloudd foundinfoundingg cere-cere• mony.mony. OnOn aa hilltophilltop bankingbanking hishis tiny,tiny, obscureobscure SakaiSakai temple,temple, hehe Calling My Hand Mori'sMori's HandHand recitedrecited a strangestrange seriesseries ofof poemspoems accompaniedaccompanied byby mimelikemimelike MyMy handhand,, howhow itit resemblesresembles Mori'sMori's hand-hand. gesturesgestures representinrepresentingg ththee yet-to-be-builyet-to-be-builtt Daitoku-jiDaitoku-ji structuresstructures I believebelieve ththee ladylady isis thethe mastermaster ofof loveplay;loveplay; onon theirtheir vacantvacant "sites.""sites." IfIf I gegett ill,ill, sheshe cancan curecure thethe jeweledjeweled stem.stem. "The"The oneone remainingremaining `light''light' ofof Daito'sDaito's schoolschool hashas beenbeen AnAndd thenthen theythey rejoice,rejoice, thethe monksmonks atat mymy meeting-meeting. destroyed,"destroyed," hehe chanted.chanted. "How"How toto explainexplain thethe heart'sheart's singingsinging thethe eternityeternity ofof all?all? ThiThiss priestpriest whwhoo forfor fiftyfifty yearsyears worewore onlyonly aa ThiThiss anandd otherother radicalradical restatementrestatementss ooff ZeZenn methodmethodss anandd for-for• strawstraw raincoatraincoat anandd hathat,, today,today, shamefully,shamefully, isis aa purple-robedpurple-robed malitiemalitiess ooff practicpracticee honorinhonoringg womawomann anandd ththee ReRedd ThreaThreadd thathatt abbot."abbot." bindbindss eveevenn ththee mosmostt enlightenedenlightened ooff ZenZen mastersmasters toto passion,passion, WithoutWithout helphelp fromfrom eithereither thethe emperoremperor oror shogun,shogun, IkkyuIkkyu birth,birth, andand death,death, celebratecelebrate Ikkyu'sIkkyu's joyjoy inin humanhuman love.love. Refer-Refer• managedmanaged ttoo rebuild.rebuild. OneOne discipledisciple inin particular,particular, aa SakaiSakai mer-mer• encesences ttoo himselhimselff aass MukeiMukei,, th thee "drea"dreamm boudoirboudoir"" monkmonk,, indi-indi• chanchantt namenamedd OwaOwa Sorin,Sorin, eveneven wentwent soso farfar asas toto fellfell thethe woodenwooden catecate thatthat inin sexualitysexuality therethere lieslies aa profoundlyprofoundly sacredsacred spiritualspiritual masts of his ocean-going ships to support the roof of the new practicepractice.. masts of his ocean-going ships to support the roof of the new Daitoku-jiDaitoku-ji doctrinedoctrine hall.hall. ByBy 1481,1481, reconstructionreconstruction waswas com-com• WhoWho carriescarries onon thethe basicbasic traditiontradition ofof thethe RinzaiRinzai sect?sect? plete,plete, andand IkkyuIkkyu waswas deaddead.. ThThee erranerrantt monmonkk whowho hadhad tossedtossed TheThe ultimateultimate blacknessblackness ofof annihilation,annihilation, thethe threethree principlesprinciples [of[of asidasidee hihiss inka, anandd witwithh itit allall credentialscredentials asas legalegall heiheirr ttoo DaitoDaito ZenZen]] exisexistt aatt ththee "Hu"Hutt ofof thethe BlinBlindd Donkey."Donkey." anandd Kaso'Kaso'ss lineagelineage,, resurrecteresurrectedd thathatt lineage,lineage, thenthen leftleft itit foreverforever ThisThis ololdd priespriestt "Dream-Boudoir"Dream-Boudoir"" onon hishis moon-viewingmoon-viewing witwithh nono livingliving linklink butbut aa scroll-paintedscroll-painted credocredo thatthat read:read: pavilion,pavilion, NighNightt afterafter nightnight leadsleads a poeticpoetic life,life, over-drinking.over-drinking. AfteAfterr mmyy death,death, amongamong mymy disciplesdisciples wilwilll bbee thosthosee whwhoo wilwilll gogo ttoo thethe forestsforests oror toto thethe mountainsmountains (to(to meditate),meditate), andand somesome maymay ItIt waswas LadyLady Shin,Shin, dharmadharma companioncompanion andand poeticpoetic inspiration,inspiration, drindrinkk sakesake andand enjoyenjoy womenwomen,, bubutt thosethose disciplesdisciples whwhoo lecturelecture toto whowho permittedpermitted thethe "old"old priest"priest" deeperdeeper andand deeperdeeper insightinsight intointo aann audiencaudiencee (an(andd makmakee monemoneyy thathatt way),way), talkingtalking aboutabout ZenZen asas "ththee basibasicc traditiotraditionn ofof ththee RinzaiRinzai sect."sect." "th"thee moralmoral way,"way," thesethese menmen misappropriatemisappropriate BuddhismBuddhism andand are,are, IInn 1474,1474, Go-tsuchimikado,Go-tsuchimikado, ththee reigningreigning emperor,emperor, coin-com• iinn realityreality,, Ikkyu'sIkkyu's enemiesenemies (and(and notnot hishis followers).followers). mandemandedd IkkyIkkyuu toto becomebecome abbotabbot ofof Daitoku-ji.Daitoku-ji. KyotoKyoto waswas inin TheyThey shallshall bebe punishedpunished byby (the(the spirit)spirit) ofof Kaso,Kaso, becausebecause theythey will he like a one-eyed man leading the blind. I never gave an ruinruinss aass a resultresult ofof thethe OninOnin War,War, andand therethere waswas literallyliterally nono will be like a one-eyed man leading the blind. I never gave an inka ttoo a singlsinglee studentstudent,, soso ifif anyoneanyone boastsboasts (of(of havinhavingg one)one),, hehe Daitoku-jDaitoku-jii toto househouse thethe neneww abbotabbot.. Ikkyu,Ikkyu, nownow inin hishis eighties,eighties, iiss nonott ofof thethe IkkyuIkkyu school.school. AndAnd ifif suchsuch aa personperson claimsclaims thathatt hhee wawass givegivenn ththee tastaskk ooff rebuildingrebuilding iitt fromfrom scratch.scratch. TheThe thronethrone understandunderstandss BuddhismBuddhism,, summonsummon thethe officials!officials! AgainAgain I entreatentreat itselitselff wawass reducereducedd ttoo suchsuch povertypoverty thatthat thethe imperialimperial retainersretainers youyou,, thusthus cancan youyou showshow loyaltyloyalty toto me.me. PleasePlease thinthinkk uponupon thisthis hadhad toto sellsell courtcourt treasurestreasures iinn exchangeexchange foforr ricerice.. OnlOnlyy Ikkyu'sIkkyu's messagemessage.. powerfullypowerfully wealthwealthyy merchanmerchantt patronspatrons,, thethe newlynewly emergedemerged economiceconomic victorvictorss ofof thethe wars,wars, werewere sufficientlysufficiently solventsolvent toto LikLikee SaintSaint FrancisFrancis ooff Assisi,Assisi, IkkyuIkkyu waswas celebratedcelebrated aatt hishis assumassumee ththee tastaskk ooff restorinrestoringg theitheirr master'master'ss homhomee templetemple.. WithWith deatdeathh aass muchmuch forfor hishis publicpublic actsacts ofof compassioncompassion asas forfor hishis characteristicharacteristicc zea zeall fo forr hihiss belovebelovedd lineagelineage,, Ikkylkkyuu notnot onlyonly teachingsteachings,, foforr makingmaking nono distinctionsdistinctions betweenbetween ricrichh anandd poor,poor,

78 Crazy CloudsClouds Ikkyu 7799 prostituteprostitutess anandd courtiers,courtiers, thethe illustriousillustrious andand thethe despised.despised. dialoguedialogue witwithh hihiss students-likestudents—like usingusing thethe renga,renga, oror open-open- Bokusai'Bokusai'ss ChronicleChronicle describedescribess a a monmonkk followedfollowed byby childrenchildren ended,ended, wittywitty poeticpoetic reparteerepartee perfectedperfected bbyy hishis disciple,disciple, poetpoet whwhoo playedplayed witwithh hishis beard,beard, a manman soso gentlegentle thatthat birdsbirds wouldwould Socho—IkkySocho-Ikkyuu harvested harvested his hi sown own unique uniqu emondo mondo (Zen(Zen dialogue)dialogue) eaeatt ououtt ofof hihiss handhand;; neverthelessnevertheless,, IkkyIkkyuu "hate"hatedd ththee kindkind ofof ZenZen style,style, interpolatinginterpolating direcdirectt allusionallusionss ttoo ththee ancientsancients intintoo thethe thathatt waswas spoonedspooned outout byby mastersmasters whowho treatedtreated theirtheir disciplesdisciples immediateimmediate experiencexperiencee ooff hihiss circlecircle.. ThusThus,, a nightnight ofof drinkingdrinking likelike ssoo manmanyy pepett birds."birds." WithWith hishis students,students, hehe waswas "strict"strict andand andand poetrypoetry becomes:becomes: demanding.demanding."" DetectingDetecting a lukewarmlukewarm petitioner,petitioner, hehe excusedexcused himselfhimself frofromm teaching,teaching, sayingsaying,, "I'"I'mm onlyonly aa feeblefeeble oldold man";man"; MeMenn iinn ththee midsmidstt ofof theitheirr drunkenness,drunkenness, whatwhat cancan theythey dodo aboutabout butbut withwith aa sinceresincere ZenZen studentstudent "he"he couldcould dodo allall sortssorts ofof thingsthings theirtheir wine-soakedwine-soaked guts?guts? anandd demonstratdemonstratee allall kindkindss ofof abilities.abilities. HHee coulcouldd expounexpoundd bothboth SoberSober,, atat thethe limitlimit ofof theirtheir resources,resources, theythey sucksuck thethe dregs.dregs. TheThe lamentlament ofof hehe whowho embracedembraced thethe sandssands andand castcast himselfhimself inin ththee profounprofoundd truthstruths andand thethe evidenceevidence foforr them.them...... HeHe waswas aa thethe riverriver bbyy Hsiang-nanHsiang-nan surpassingsurpassing manman,, withwith thethe essentialessential charactercharacter andand deportmentdeportment DrawsDraws outout ofof thisthis CrazyCrazy CloudCloud aa laugh.laugh. ofof thethe BuddhaBuddha andand thethe patriarchs."patriarchs." Ikkyu'Ikkyu'ss lovelove forfor hishis ZenZen lineagelineage convincedconvinced himhim toto devotedevote hishis ThisThis poempoem includesincludes anan allusionallusion ttoo thethe ChineseChinese officialofficial Ch'uCh'u laslastt yearsyears toto rebuildingrebuilding thethe templetemple whosewhose hierarchyhierarchy hehe hadhad Yuan,Yuan, whowho,, thoughthough virtuous,virtuous, foundfound himselfhimself slanderedslandered byby spentspent mostmost ofof hishis lifelife demolishindemolishingg iinn hihiss writingwritingss andand ridiculingridiculing enemies.enemies. IInn hihiss dialoguedialogue witwithh a fishermanfisherman aatt ththee shoreshore ofof thethe withwith hishis antics.antics. ItIt isis nono coincidencecoincidence thatthat hehe chosechose RinzaiRinzai asas hishis lakelake wherwheree hehe stoodstood contemplatingcontemplating suicide,suicide, Ch'uCh'u YuanYuan said,said, model,model, forfor thethe fiercefierce "actio"actionn ZenZen"" ofof thethe oldold ChineseChinese mastermaster "Al"Alll thethe worldworld isis muddiedmuddied inin confusion,confusion, onlyonly I amam pure!pure! AllAll sisixx centuriescenturies beforebefore hadhad alsoalso beenbeen a rebellionrebellion againstagainst thethe caste-caste- menmen areare drunkdrunk,, andand I alonealone aamm sober,sober,"" anan unenlightenedunenlightened man'sman's dominatedominatedd restrictionsrestrictions imposeimposedd upouponn itit byby aa post-Confucianpost-Confucian parodyparody ofof thethe Buddha'sBuddha's enlightenedenlightened exclamation,exclamation, "Abov"Abovee thethe court.court. EmulatingEmulating Rinzai'sRinzai's outspokenness,outspokenness, assumingassuming hishis anti-anti• heavens,heavens, belobeloww ththee heavensheavens,, onlonlyy II,, alonealone,, anandd sacred."sacred." clericaclericall beardbeard,, anandd refusinrefusingg ttoo shaveshave hihiss headhead,, Ikkyu,Ikkyu, thethe TheThe fishermanfisherman rejoined,rejoined, "A"A truetrue sagesage doesdoes notnot stickstick atat meremere emperor'semperor's son,son, immersedimmersed himselfhimself inin thethe masses,masses, blurringblurring classclass things.things...... IfIf allall thethe worldworld isis aa muddymuddy turbulence,turbulence, whywhy dodo barriersbarriers ofof everyevery kind,kind, blastingblasting thethe corruptcorrupt clericalclerical establish-establish• youyou notnot followfollow itsits currentcurrent andand riserise uponupon itsits waves?waves? IfIf allall menmen menmentt inin hishis poetrypoetry andand communicatingcommunicating hishis vastvast religiousreligious areare drunkdrunk,, whywhy dodo youyou notnot draindrain theirtheir dregsdregs andand swillswill theirtheir insightinsight inin extravagantextravagant symbolssymbols that,that, toto WesternWestern minds,minds, willwill thinthin winewine withwith them?"them?" immediatelyimmediately recallrecall WilliamWilliam BlakeBlake iinn EnglandEngland andand WaltWalt Whit-Whit• manman inin America.America. LikeLike them,them, too,too, hehe lovedloved nature,nature, extolledextolled ButBut Ch'uCh'u YuanYuan waswas totooo wrappedwrapped upup inin dualisticdualistic conceptsconcepts ofof physicalphysical lovelove,, anandd usedused hishis artart andand spiritualspiritual visionvision toto criticizecriticize virtuvirtuee andand vicevice toto heedheed thethe fisherman'sfisherman's ZenZen advice,advice, and,and, thethe moribundmoribund institutionsinstitutions ofof hishis timetime withwith incisiveincisive humorhumor.. HeHe composincomposingg a poepoemm calledcalled "Embracin"Embracingg thethe Sands,"Sands," hehe jumpedjumped spokespoke ttoo thethe heartheart andand senses,senses, ratherrather thanthan toto thethe samurai'ssamurai's intintoo thethe riverriver andand drowned.drowned. powerpower centecenterr aatt ththee gutgut,, thethe kindkind ofof ZenZen thatthat fueledfueled thethe practicepractice Ikkyu'sIkkyu's useuse ofof thisthis allusionallusion toto perfectperfect ConfucianConfucian virtuvirtuee iinn a ofof hishis day.day. AndAnd hehe infusedinfused ZenZen forfor thethe firstfirst timetime withwith aa settinsettingg ooff hihiss ownown "drunken""drunken" ZenZen teachingteaching notnot onlyonly echoesechoes femininefeminine elemenclementt thatthat itit hadhad longlong missed.missed. ththee fisherman'sfisherman's wordswords,, butbut liveslives themthem.. HisHis poem,poem, pregnantpregnant Ikkyu'Ikkyu'ss poeticpoetic giftsgifts werewere usefuluseful teachingteaching toolstools,, particularlyparticularly witwithh ZenZen possibilities,possibilities, itselfitself becomesbecomes aa multileveledmultileveled koankoan forfor whenwhen appliedapplied toto thethe traditionaltraditional koankoan practicepractice associatedassociated withwith hihiss studentsstudents ttoo consider,consider, a stagestage forfor questionsquestions ofof rightright andand RinzaiRinzai ZenZen.. BByy indulginindulgingg iinn a moremore intimateintimate formform ofof ZenZen wrongwrong,, drunkennessdrunkenness andand sobriety,sobriety, virtuevirtue andand vice.vice. TheThe laughlaugh

808o Crazy CloudsClouds M Ikkyu 8i81 ofof thethe CrazyCrazy CloudCloud isis aa succinctsuccinct emblememblem unitinguniting formform andand showsshows hihiss esteeesteemm foforr hihiss mastersmasters.. BuButt asas anan enlightenedenlightened indi-indi• emptiness,emptiness, delusiondelusion andand enlightenment.enlightenment. vidualvidual,, standinstandingg onon hihiss owownn feetfeet,, hhee coulcouldd nonott helhelpp bubutt respondrespond Ikkyu'sIkkyu's lifelife withwith LadyLady ShinShin exemplifiedexemplified MahayanaMahayana Bud-Bud• ttoo thethe callcall ooff sufferingsuffering alalll arounaroundd himhim,, anandd hhee wenwentt ououtt intointo dhisdhismm iinn itsits tantrictantric sexualsexual forms,forms, indicatingindicating thatthat nirvananirvana andand thethe worldworld toto ameliorateameliorate it.it. HellHell andand heaven,heaven, priestpriest andand layman,layman, thithiss ververyy worlworldd ooff humanhuman lovelove anandd sufferingsuffering ararce ononee anandd thethe highighh anandd lowlow,, brilliantbrilliant andand stupidstupid werewere equallyequally sacresacredd ttoo IkkyuIkkyu same,same, thatthat thisthis veryvery bodybody isis thethe Buddha.Buddha. HisHis populapopularr formsforms ofof inin beingbeing "just"just this."this." WithWith nono conceptconcept ofof ultimateultimate truthtruth behindbehind ZenZen practicepractice broughtbrought meditationmeditation toto laypeoplelaypeople inin everydayeveryday lifelife thingsthings,, nonott eveneven ththee conceptconcept ooff emptinessemptiness,, hhee cucutt thethe linklink toto activitiesactivities liklikee cookingcooking,, farmingfarming,, creatincreatingg artart,, oror caringcaring forfor ththee anguisanguishh anandd sufferingsuffering thathatt characterizecharacterize ththee persopersonn besebesett byby children.children. ItIt suitedsuited thethe newlynewly growinggrowing populationpopulation ofof "lay"lay dualityduality.. YetYet IkkyIkkyuu neveneverr deniedeniedd hihiss "ordinariness."ordinariness."" HeHe glo-glo• monks"monks" whowho gatheredgathered aroundaround him,him, peoplepeople whowho werewere dedi-dedi• rieriedd iinn ththee worlworldd anandd celebratedcelebrated iitt witwithh ththee songsong ofof thethe divinedivine catedcated ttoo Zen,Zen, butbut inin thethe contextcontext ofof secularsecular lifelife outsideoutside thethe fooltool.. monasteries.monasteries. IkkyIkkyuu taughtaughtt anandd livedlived hishis brandbrand ofof Rinzai'sRinzai's "action"action Zen"Zen" onon thethe mostmos thuman human level. level . SecularizingSecularizing itit eveneven furtherfurther thanthan RinzaiRinzai did,did, hehe usedused passionate,passionate, eveneven shockingshocking imageryimagery andand languagelanguage toto getget hishis pointpoint across.across. SkirtinSkirtingg ththee dangerousdangerous wratwrathh ooff thethe shogunate,shogunate, hehe waswas highlyhighly criticalcritical ooff thethe religiousreligious authoritiesauthorities overover whichwhich thethe governmentgovernment exertedexerted directdirect control.control. EvenEven asas hehe overthrewoverthrew thethe monasticmonastic formformss anandd structuresstructures,, hihiss poetrpoetryy anandd commitmencommitmentt toto thethe practice o off Ze Zenn shoshoww thathatt hhee waswas profoundlyprofoundly religiousreligious andand profoundlprofoundlyy democratic,democratic, inin thethe mostmost spiritualspiritual andand politicalpolitical sensesense ooff ththee word.word. NothingNothing couldcould confineconfine thethe individualindividual onceonce hhee oror shshee wawass frefreee ooff dualismdualism.. MoreoverMoreover,, nnoo earthlyearthly powerpower hahadd thethe righrightt toto inhibitinhibit individualindividual freedomfreedom either.either. Ikkyu'Ikkyu'sfiryu,s juryu, oror "far"far out"out" ZenZen isis thatthat ofof Hotel,Hotei, thethe Bodhi-Bodhi- sattvsattvaa ooff thethe marketplacemarketplace withwith hishis candy-filledcandy-filled knapsackknapsack forfor childrechildrenn anandd hihiss "bliss-bestowing"bliss-bestowing hands.hands."" RadicalRadical iinn itsits non-non- dualismdualism,, thithiss forformm ofof ZenZen BuddhismBuddhism includesincludes thethe entireentire uni-uni• versversee iinn ititss realizatiorealizationn anandd iiss nonott confineconfinedd ttoo ththee traditionallytraditionally holyholy oror sacredsacred realms.realms. If,If, asas thethe BuddhaBuddha discovered,discovered, allall beingsbeings havehave BuddhBuddhaa naturnaturee anandd araree perfectperfect jusjustt aass theythey are,are, thenthen liberationliberation iiss nonott a mattermatter ofof stylestyle andand etiquette,etiquette, butbut aa livingliving experience.experience. Ikkyu'Ikkyu'ss mentorsmentors KenoKeno andand KasoKaso feltfelt thatthat austereaustere training,training, suitedsuited forfor aa fewfew veryvery devoteddevoted seekers,seekers, wouldwould mostmost likellikelyy brinbringg aboutabout thisthis deepdeep realization.realization. IkkyuIkkyu nevernever denieddenied theirtheir method,method, andand hishis exampleexample ofof followingfollowing thisthis wayway closelyclosely foforr moremore thanthan fifteenfifteen yearsyears untiluntil hehe reachedreached greatgreat realizationrealization

82 Crazy CloudsClouds 11 Ikkyu 8383 5 Bankei: The PopularPopular Preacher

WheWhenn BankeBankeii wawass eleven,eleven, hhee waswas soso dissatisfieddissatisfied withwith thethe priest'spriest's answersanswers ttoo hishis searchingsearching spirituaspirituall questionquestionss thathatt hhee hidhid inin a smalsmalll villagvillagee shrinshrinee anandd stuffestuffedd hihiss moutmouthh fullfull ofof poisonouspoisonous spidersspiders.. ThiThiss eccentric,eccentric, fortunatelyfortunately unsuccessful,unsuccessful, suicidesuicide at-at• temptemptt marksmarks thethe beginningbeginning ofof Bankei'sBankei's uniqueunique andand fearlessfearless ZeZenn pilgrimage.pilgrimage. HHee waswas bornborn inin 1622,1622, thethe samesame yearyear thethe thirdthird TokugawaTokugawa shogunshogun lemitsuIemitsu tooktook powerpower andand inauguratedinaugurated oneone ofof thethe mostmost repressiverepressive anandd autocratiautocraticc regimesregimes JapaJapann hahadd everever seenseen;; anandd hehe dieddied inin 1693,1693, fivefive yearsyears afterafter Tsunayoshi,Tsunayoshi, thethe fifthfifth TokugawaTokugawa shogun,shogun, hadhad usheredushered inin thethe GenrokuGenroku period,period, aa loose,loose, corruptcorrupt neneww orderorder ledled byby aa recentlyrecently emergedemerged bourgeoisie.bourgeoisie. LikeLike thethe timestimes hhee livelivedd inin,, Bankei'Bankei'ss personalitypersonality andand religiousreligious stylestyle oftenoften expresseexpressedd themselvethemselvess iinn extremesextremes.. TakeTake foforr exampleexample,, ththee pow-pow• erfuerfull BakufBakufuu shogunateshogunate that,that, inin aa sixty-yearsixty-year span,span, expelledexpelled allall foreignerforeignerss frofromm JapanJapan,, quelledquelled a rebellionrebellion bbyy forbiddingforbidding allall JapaneseJapanese frofromm travelingtraveling abroadabroad,, andand soso centralizedcentralized govern-govern• mentalmental powerpower asas toto paralyzeparalyze individualindividual landowners,landowners, villagevillage chieftains,chieftains, farmersfarmers,, andand townspeopletownspeople inin aa bureaucraticbureaucratic webweb thatthat helheldd eveevenn ththee imperiaimperiall courcourtt a ceremonialceremonial prisonerprisoner.. AllAll majormajor traffitrafficc routeroutess throughouthroughoutt thethe countrycountry werewere closedclosed offoff bbyy barri-barri• ererss toto keepkeep would-bewould-be travelerstravelers andand potentialpotential conspiratorsconspirators atat homehome,, andand thethe government,government, nownow centralizedcentralized iinn Edo,Edo, mademade suresure thatthat nono bridgesbridges werewere constructedconstructed toto makemake itit easyeasy toto getget toto hishis succession,succession, definedefinedd ththee samuraisamurai codecode inin detaildetail andand main-main• ththee capital.capital. SinceSince BankeBankeii wawass aa populapopularr preacherpreacher,, anan anarchistanarchist tainedtained aa strictstrict ConfucianConfucian know-your-placeknow-your-place disciplinediscipline overover inin aa feudalfeudal dictatorship,dictatorship, itit isis alalll ththee moremore amazingamazing thatthat hehe everyoneeveryone elseelse.. ThThee hereditaryhereditary daimyodaimyo werweree richericherr thathann thethe managedmanaged ttoo comecome andand gogo asas hehe pleasedpleased inin thisthis impassableimpassable emperoremperor andand heldheld allall ththee landland,, bubutt soso quicklquicklyy wawass ththee economyeconomy networknetwork ofof spiesspies andand borderguards,borderguards, thatthat hehe gatheredgathered large,large, beinbeingg transferretransferredd frofromm agriculturagriculturee ttoo tradetrade,, frofromm countrycountry toto sociallysocially mixemixedd audiencesaudiences anandd preachepreachedd somesome veryvery antiestablish-antiestablish- citycity,, thatthat thethe heavilyheavily taxetaxedd outsideoutsiderr samurasamuraii soosoonn founfoundd them-them• mentment ZenZen intointo thethe bargain.bargain. selveselvess povertpovertyy strickenstricken.. BByy 1637,1637, a groupgroup ofof suchsuch masterlessmasterless ThThee paranoidparanoid seclusionseclusion policpolicyy thathatt dominatedominatedd mosmostt ooff thethe samurasamuraii frofromm thethe ShimaburaShimabura peninsula,peninsula, seeingseeing nothinnothingg toto lose,lose, TokugawaTokugawa perioperiodd wawass a responseresponse toto aa strongstrong andand successfulsuccessful converteconvertedd ttoo ChristianityChristianity andand startedstarted anan unsuccessfulunsuccessful rebellionrebellion missionarymissionary campaigncampaign leledd largelylargely byby PortuguesePortuguese JesuitsJesuits andand thathatt leftleft thirty-seventhirty-seven thousandthousand JapanesJapanesee ChristianChristianss deaddead.. ThisThis FranciscansFranciscans whwhoo hadhad alsoalso managedmanaged toto insinuateinsinuate themselvesthemselves singlsinglee eveneventt sparkesparkedd ththee closurclosuree ooff JapaJapann ttoo thethe WestWest andand intintoo JapanesJapanesee politicspolitics.. SoSo pervasivepervasive wawass ththee ChristiaChristiann influenceinfluence resulteresultedd iinn a brutalbrutal persecutionpersecution ofof ChristiansChristians thatthat lastedlasted forfor iinn seventeenth-centuryseventeenth-century AsiAsiaa thathatt China,China, Korea,Korea, andand VietnamVietnam almosalmostt fiftyfifty years.years. followefollowedd ththee JapanesJapanesee examplexamplee anandd restricterestrictedd allall culturalcultural andand TheThe ShimaburaShimabura rebellionrebellion onlyonly exacerbatedexacerbated BakufuBakufu paranoia.paranoia. tradintradingg tiesties withwith thethe WestWest asas well.well. TheThe rigidrigid physicalphysical stricturesstrictures SpiesSpies werweree postepostedd everywhereverywheree iinn aa chaotichaoticc administratioadministrationn thatthat laidlaid inin placeplace byby thethe BakufuBakufu officialsofficials werewere nono moremore suffocatingsuffocating hahadd nnoo legallegal codecode,, bubutt dependeddepended onon thethe capriciouscapricious decisionsdecisions ofof thathann thethe socialsocial scene.scene. YouYou werweree borbornn intointo eithereither aa samurai,samurai, localocall Tokugawa-appointedTokugawa-appointed magistratesmagistrates.. StreetStreet billboardsbillboards as-as• peasant,peasant, artisan,artisan, oror merchantmerchant family,family, andand therethere youyou remained.remained. saultedsaulted ththee eyeyee witwithh theitheirr harangueharanguess onon properproper ethicalethical behavior;behavior; IndividuaIndividuall samurasamuraii chieftains,chieftains, oorr daimyo,daimyo, werweree ooff twotwo types:types: childrenchildren werweree warnewarnedd ttoo bebe loyalloyal toto parents,parents, citizenscitizens werewere hereditaryhereditary (descendants(descendants ooff thosthosee warriorwarriorss whwhoo hahadd foughfoughtt withwith admonishedadmonished abouaboutt frugalitfrugalityy anandd harhardd workwork,, anandd membersmembers ofof thethe winningwinning sideside underunder shogunshogun IeyasuIeyasu aatt ththee greatgreat battlbattlee ofof allall classeclassess werweree warnewarnedd ttoo sticstickk ttoo theirtheir stationstation inin life.life. ToTo drivedrive Sekigahara),Sekigahara), anandd outsideoutsiderr (those(those whwhoo hadhad surrenderedsurrendered toto joinjoin thethe pointpoint home,home, allall sortssorts ofof torturetorture andand hideoushideous publicpublic formsforms him)him).. TheThe outsidersoutsiders werewere nevernever trusted;trusted; punishedpunished withwith heavyheavy ofof punishmenpunishmentt werewere designedesignedd ttoo maintaimaintainn ththee shogun'shogun'ss ideideaa ofof taxestaxes anandd helheldd hostaghostagee iinn a systemsystem thatthat requiredrequired themthem toto livelive "law"law andand order.order."" ThisThis meantmeant thatthat aa townsmantownsman oror farmerfarmer wouldwould foforr a yearyear atat courtcourt atat EdoEdo andand thenthen forcedforced themthem toto leaveleave wiveswives bebe beheadedbeheaded,, drawndrawn anandd quartered,quartered, andand hishis corpsecorpse hunghung upup inin anandd vassalsvassals behinbehindd whewhenn thetheyy returnedreturned home,home, thesethese samuraisamurai thethe villagevillage square,square, asas anan exampleexample forfor thethe samesame misdemeanormisdemeanor loosedloosed theirtheir frustrationsfrustrations onon thethe peasantspeasants andand townspeopletownspeople thatthat wouldwould costcost a samuraisamurai onlonlyy a fefeww yenyen.. EverEveryy manman,, woman,woman, occupyinoccupyingg ththee nexnextt lowerlower runrungg onon thethe socialsocial ladder.ladder. SinceSince child,child, animal,animal, andand resourceresource wawass puputt onon Japan'sJapan's earthearth forfor thethe lemitsu'sIemitsu's JapaJapann waswas aa militarymilitary dictatorshipdictatorship thatthat permittedpermitted useuse anandd delighdelightt ooff ititss militarymilitary.. ButBut byby cuttingcutting offoff allall tradtradee withwith virtuallyvirtually anyany membermember ofof thethe warriorwarrior classclass unrestrictedunrestricted powerpower thethe West,West, ththee shogunshogun hadhad placedplaced himselfhimself inin a doubledouble bind:bind: thethe overover hihiss vassalsvassals,, iitt wawass nonott uncommouncommonn foforr a samurasamuraii ttoo "test""test" demandsdemands ofof hishis largelarge andand idleidle warriorwarrior classclass couldcould nono longerlonger bebe hishis swordsword onon thethe neckneck ofof anyany haplesshapless victimvictim whowho crossedcrossed hishis memett bbyy Japan'Japan'ss limitelimitedd locallocal supplsupplyy ofof materialmaterial resources.resources. path. Bankei's sermons are in fact laced with references to path. Bankei's sermons are in fact laced with references to UntiUntill thethe installationinstallation ofof thethe seclusionseclusion lawslaws ofof 1638,1638, wealthwealth pious travelers and violent samurai coming face to face in pious travelers and violent samurai coming face to face in hahadd beebeenn measuremeasuredd iinn ricerice.. PeasantsPeasants,, callecalledd ththee "machine"machiness whowho encounters of this sort. encounters of this sort. producproducee ricricee foforr thethe samuraisamurai toto swallow,"swallow," werewere totallytotally op-op• TheThe BakufuBakufu constitution,constitution, aa rigidlyrigidly fixedfixed documentdocument drafteddrafted pressepressedd bbyy theitheirr masters,masters, whowho,, inin turn,turn, werewere perenniallyperennially inin bbyy thethe earlyearly shogunateshogunate andand reaffirmedreaffirmed byby eacheach neneww shogushogunn onon debdebtt ttoo thethe merchantsmerchants whowho suppliedsupplied thethemm withwith hardhard goods.goods.

86 Crazy CloudsClouds 0 Bankei 87 AAss ththee samuraisamurai transferredtransferred theirtheir financialfinancial burdenburdenss toto thethe farm-farm• ofof Hamada,Hamada, intointo aa samuraisamurai familyfamily thatthat hadhad comecome uponupon hardhard ersers,, theythey succeededsucceeded iinn destroyindestroyingg ththee agriculturaagriculturall economeconomyy onon timestimes,, BankeBankeii wawass ththee fourtfourthh ooff fivefive sonssons,, andand oneone ofof ninenine whicwhichh thethe countrycountry hadhad restedrested forfor centuries,centuries, andand unwittinglyunwittingly childrenchildren.. WitWithh ththee helhelpp ooff a locallocal samuraisamurai patropatronn inin betterbetter relayerelayedd ththee financiafinanciall powepowerr ttoo monemoneyy brokerbrokerss andand ricerice traders,traders, financiafinanciall conditioconditionn thathann hehe,, hishis fatherfather hadhad openedopened aa medicalmedical oror chonin.chonin. ThiThiss clasclasss ooff townspeopltownspeoplee nonott onlyonly accommodatedaccommodated practicpracticee iinn a nearbnearbyy villagevillage.. ThenThen,, whenwhen BankeiBankei waswas ten,ten, hishis thethe insatiableinsatiable demanddemandss ooff ththee samuraisamurai atat highhigh interestinterest rates,rates, fatherfather died,died, leavingleaving hishis eldesteldest sonson MasayasuMasayasu ttoo continuecontinue thethe bubutt inin thethe processprocess developeddeveloped thethe hugehuge commercialcommercial centerscenters thatthat practice.practice. TheThe familyfamily followedfollowed thethe typicaltypical ConfucianConfucian religiousreligious werweree ttoo becomebecome Nagasaki,Nagasaki, EdoEdo (modern(modern Tokyo),Tokyo), Osaka,Osaka, andand lineline thatthat characterizedcharacterized thethe TokugawaTokugawa periodperiod,, butbut adheredadhered inin Sakai.Sakai. TradTradee gregreww ssoo fasfastt thathatt byby thethe endend ofof thethe seventeenthseventeenth spiritspirit toto thethe Buddhist-inspiredBuddhist-inspired samuraisamurai code.code. ZenZen hadhad beenbeen centurycentury,, monemoneyy hahadd entirelyentirely replacereplacedd ricricee aass aa meansmeans ofof organizedorganized intintoo anan authoritarianauthoritarian esotericesoteric secsectt supportesupportedd bbyy thethe exchange.exchange. shogunshogun iinn hishis efforteffort toto rootroot outout Christianity,Christianity, butbut itit waswas ThougThoughh stillstill lowlow onon thethe socialsocial ladder,ladder, thethe despised despised choninchonin essentiallyessentially drainedrainedd ooff ititss vigovigorr byby thethe timetime BankciBankei beganbegan hishis helheldd allall thethe financialfinancial power,power, leavingleaving thethe samuraisamurai toto holdhold swaysway religioureligiouss searchsearch atat thethe ageage ofof eleven.eleven. oveoverr traditionaltraditional artsarts likelike swordsmanship,swordsmanship, Noh,Noh, tea,tea, flowerflower HHee wawass a brighbrightt andand difficultdifficult boyboy who,who, thoughthough assertiveassertive andand arrangingarranging,, andand ConfucianConfucian philosophy,philosophy, whilewhile thethe merchantmerchant almostalmost unmanageablyunmanageably independentindependent,, harboreharboredd suchsuch aa terribleterrible clasclasss developedevelopedd ththee KabukKabukii theater,theater, thethe artsarts ofof wood-blockwood-block fearfear ooff deathdeath thatthat thethe adultsadults inin hishis familyfamily couldcould disciplinediscipline himhim printingprinting,, andand proseprose fiction,fiction, andand maintainedmaintained populapopularr formformss ofof immediatelyimmediately bbyy pretendinpretendingg ttoo liliee dowdownn anandd die.die. SentSent toto thethe BuddhismBuddhism thatthat hadhad beenbeen displaceddisplaced byby thethe ConfucianConfucian aristoc-aristoc• typicaltypical ConfucianConfucian rote-methodrote-method learninglearning schoolschool ofof thethe day,day, racy.racy. IItt waswas thisthis groupgroup ofof nouveaunouveau richeriche merchantsmerchants whowho BankeBankeii annoyeannoyedd hihiss calligraphcalligraphyy teacheteacherr bbyy refusinrefusingg ttoo copcopyy thethe formedformed thethe bulkbulk ofof Bankci'sBankei's religiousreligious audience,audience, forfor ZenZen inin samsamee characterscharacters asas everyoneeveryone else,else, andand callecalledd dowdownn ththee wratwrathh ofof particulaparticularr markemarkedd thethe distinctiondistinction betweenbetween thethe neo-Confucianneo-Confucian hihiss oldeolderr brothebrotherr byby playingplaying hooky.hooky. WhenWhen MasayasuMasayasu trietriedd toto intelligentsiaintelligentsia,, witwithh itsits strictstrict TokugawaTokugawa hierarchyhierarchy,, anandd thethe punispunishh hihimm byby instructinginstructing thethe ferrymanferryman notnot toto taketake himhim acrossacross newlynewly emergingemerging populistpopulist bourgeoisie.bourgeoisie. Bankei'sBankei's sometimessometimes ththee riverriver dividindividingg schoolschool fromfrom home,home, Bankei.Bankei jusjustt plungeplungedd intointo stridentstrident denunciationsdenunciations ofof hierarchicalhierarchical Zen,Zen, hishis attacksattacks onon time-time- thethe waterwater and,and, gasping,gasping, walkedwalked acrossacross withwith hishis toestoes barelybarely wornworn institutionsinstitutions likelike monasticism,monasticism, koankoan practice,practice, officialofficial con-con• touchingtouching ththee muddmuddyy bottom.bottom. firmatiofirmationn ofof enlightenment,enlightenment, sutrasutra chanting,chanting, andand eveneven dharmadharma TheThe deathdeath ofof hishis fatherfather hadhad provokedprovoked thethe boy'sboy's moodymoody transmissiontransmission,, areare perfectlyperfectly appropriateappropriate toto hishis sociallysocially shiftingshifting searchsearch foforr aann answeanswerr ttoo ththee puzzlepuzzle ooff birtbirthh anandd deathdeath,, toto thethe timetimess anandd ttoo thethe needsneeds ofof hihiss mixemixedd audience.audience. EvenEven ththee samuraisamurai poinpointt wherewhere eveneven hishis learnedlearned teachersteachers coulcouldd nonott satisfysatisfy hishis whwhoo camecame toto listenlisten toto hishis down-homedown-home sermonsermonss werewere con-con• penetratinpenetratingg philosophicaphilosophicall questionsquestions.. OnOnee day,day, hearinghearing thethe verted. verted. ConfuciaConfuciann dictum:dictum: "The"The wayway ofof greatgreat learninglearning lieslies inin clarifyingclarifying SpurreSpurredd bbyy hishis emphasisemphasis onon homelyhomely everydayeveryday reality,reality, onon brighbrightt virtue,"virtue," BankeiBankei asked,asked, "What"What isis brightbright virtue?"virtue?" HisHis conductingconducting one'one'ss affairsaffairs iinn thethe herehere andand nownow,, Bankei'sBankei's pupilspupils teacheteacherr repliedreplied,, "Th"Thee intrinsicintrinsic naturenature ofof goodgood inin eacheach person."person." werweree increasinglincreasinglyy drawdrawnn frofromm a literateliterate populationpopulation ofof towntown Dissatisfied,Dissatisfied, BankeBankeii approacheapproachedd otheotherr teacherteacherss anandd gogott an-an• dwellerdwellerss mormoree interesteinterestedd iinn thethe floatingfloating worldworld ofof prostitutesprostitutes swersswers likelike,, "fundamental"fundamental nature,"nature," andand "the"the ultimateultimate truthtruth ofof andand teahousesteahouses thanthan inin thethe BuddhistBuddhist fleetingfleeting naturenature ofof existence.existence. heaven."heaven." BByy nonoww BankeiBankei waswas drivendriven wilwildd withwith thethe desiredesire toto AnAndd hhee addresseaddressedd thethemm iinn theitheirr owownn languagelanguage andand voice.voice. findfind andand experienceexperience thithiss "brigh"brightt virtue"virtue" that,that, hehe instinctivelyinstinctively BorBornn onon Buddha'sBuddha's birthday,birthday, 88 April April 1622,1622, inin thethe smallsmall villagevillage believed,believed, helheldd ththee kekeyy toto lifelife anandd death.death. SeeingSeeing thatthat thethe answersanswers

88 Crazy CloudsClouds M Bankei 8989 dididd notnot lielie atat school,school, hehe stoppedstopped attendingattending classesclasses altogetheraltogether impulsiveimpulsive,, BankeiBankei demandeddemanded toto havehave hishis headhead shavedshaved anandd ttoo bebe anandd wawass dismisseddismissed frofromm ththee familfamilyy homhomee bbyy hihiss brotherbrother.. AtAt ordainedordained oonn thethe spot.spot. UmpoUmpo obligedobliged him,him, givinggiving himhim thethe ththee agagee ooff twelvetwelve,, alreadalreadyy aa passionatpassionatee attendeattenderr ooff sermonssermons andand dharmdharmaa namnamee Yotaku—"lonYotaku-"longg polishingpolishing ofof thethe mindmind gem.."gem." HeHe lectureslectures givengiven byby ConfucianConfucian scholarsscholars andand BuddhistBuddhist priests,priests, waswas nonott toto bebe calledcalled BankeiBankei untiluntil ththee ageage ooff thirtythirty,, fourfour yearsyears nevernever missinmissingg a religioureligiouss meetinmeetingg foforr milemiless aroundaround,, BankeiBankei setset afterafter hihiss enlightenmentenlightenment,, whenwhen hehe waswas installedinstalled asas a MyoshinMyoshin-j jii outout toto findfind thethe meaningmeaning ooff "brigh"brightt virtue."virtue." ZenZen priestpriest inin Kyoto.Kyoto. LikLikee IkkyuIkkyu,, alsoalso castcast awaawayy earlearlyy frofromm hihiss mother'mother'ss lovingloving UmpUmpoo usedused traditionaltraditional koakoann practicepractice aass onlonlyy oneone ofof hishis care,care, BankeiBankei waswas passionatelpassionatelyy devotedevotedd ttoo hihiss mothemotherr allall hishis life,life, teachingteaching methodsmethods,, preferringpreferring thethe "direct""direct" approachapproach ofof sittingsitting vowinvowingg ttoo shareshare witwithh herher hishis religiousreligious quesquestt andand toto liberateliberate herher meditationmeditation.. ThusThus,, BankeBankeii sasatt oonn hishis questionquestion untiluntil hehe waswas onconcee hhee hahadd foundfound anan answeranswer toto hishis burningburning question.question. Later,Later, nineteennineteen,, whenwhen,, stillstill unenlightened,unenlightened, hehe leftleft onon aa pilgrimagepilgrimage inin whewhenn hihiss mother,mother, asas aa ninety-year-oldninety-year-old nununn whowho hadhad becomebecome ththee hophopee ooff casingeasing hihiss minmindd oonn hihiss ownown.. LivingLiving inin templestemples onon hishis disciple,disciple, diediedd iinn hihiss armsarms,, BankeiBankei remarkeremarkedd thatthat hehe hadhad notnot ththee wayway,, oorr iinn huts,huts, butbut mostlymostly sleepingsleeping ououtt iinn thethe open,open, hehe spentspent hishis lifelife searchingsearching iinn vainvain,, foforr hehe hadhad seenseen hishis mothermother wanderewanderedd aass fafarr aass OsakaOsaka,, emulatinemulatingg ththee greagreatt ZeZenn teacherteacherss ofof becombecomee enlightenedenlightened asas a resultresult ofof hishis teaching.teaching. Umpo'sUmpo's lineagelineage byby spendingspending severalseveral yearyearss witwithh thethe beggarsbeggars ThoughThough banishedbanished fromfrom home,home, BankeiBankei wawass luckylucky inin hishis undeunderr thethe GojoGojo bridgebridge inin Kyoto.Kyoto. friendshifriendshipp witwithh hishis father'father'ss patropatronn Sukeshizu,Sukeshizu, whwhoo offeredoffered himhim TheThe extremistextremist boy,boy, who,who, inin hishis frustrationfrustration atat encounteringencountering a littlelittle huthut inin thethe woodswoods behindbehind hishis ownown property.property. TheThe boyboy death,death, hadhad swallowedswallowed a mouthfulmouthful ofof poisonouspoisonous spiders,spiders, nownow carvedcarved ththee wordswords "practice"practice hermitage"hermitage" onon a shingle,shingle, placedplaced itit developeddeveloped intintoo a fanaticafanaticall asceticascetic,, intenintentt upouponn a lifelife ooff hardshiphardship outsideoutside thethe entranceentrance door,door, andand movedmoved inside.inside. WhenWhen hehe waswas andand privationprivation asas a meansmeans toto solvingsolving hishis dilemma.dilemma. InIn hishis ownown notnot sittingsitting inin contemplationcontemplation ofof brightbright virtue,virtue, BankeiBankei spentspent hishis words:words: timetime recitingreciting thethe nembutsunembutsu aatt a nearbynearby ShinShin BuddhistBuddhist temple.temple. BByy thethe timetime hehe waswas fifteen,fifteen, hehe hadhad enrolledenrolled inin a ShingonShingon I pressedpressed myselmyselff withouwithoutt mercy,mercy, drainingdraining myselfmyself mentallymentally andand physicallyphysically;; aatt timetimess I practicepracticedd deedeepp iinn ththee mountainsmountains,, inin placesplaces templetemple,, wherwheree hhee studiedstudied esoteriesotericc BuddhisBuddhismm i nin ththee hophopee ofof completelycompletely cutcut offoff frofromm allall humahumann contact.contact. II fashionedfashioned primitiveprimitive findinfindingg hishis answer.answer. Buddhism,Buddhism, ratherrather thanthan Confucianism,Confucianism, sheltersshelters ououtt ofof paper,paper, pulledpulled thatthat overover me,me, andand diddid zazenzazen seatedseated seemedseemed ttoo offeroffer ththee bestbest wayway ttoo enlightenment,enlightenment, butbut eveneven here,here, insideinside;; sometimesometimess II woulwouldd makmakee aa smalsmalll lean-tlean-too bbyy puttinputtingg upup BankciBankei discovereddiscovered aann emptemptyy ritualritual habit,habit, a religionreligion givengiven toto twotwo wallswalls ooff thickthick paperpaper boards,boards, andand sitsit inin solitarysolitary darknessdarkness formform andand letterletter overover livingliving spiritualspiritual experience.experience. insideinside,, doingdoing zazen,zazen, nevernever lyinlyingg downdown toto restrest eveneven foforr a moment.moment. OneOne BuddhistBuddhist priestpriest advisedadvised thethe boyboy thatthat hehe mightmight findfind whatwhat WheneverWhenever II hearheardd ooff somsomee teacheteacherr whwhoo I thoughthoughtt mightmight bebe ableable he was looking for in a Zen temple about he was looking for in a Zen temple about twenttwentyy milesmiles fromfrom toto givegive meme advice,advice, II wentwent immediatelyimmediately toto visitvisit him.him. I livedlived thatthat HamadHamadaa iinn AkoAko,, withwith aa RinzaiRinzai priestpriest namenamedd UmpoUmpo.. ItIt wawass inin wawayy foforr severaseverall yearsyears.. TherTheree werewere fewfew placesplaces inin thethe countrycountry II diddid 16381638,, ththee ververyy yeayearr thathatt ththee shogunshogun institutedinstituted hihiss policpolicyy ofof notnot setset foot.foot. seclusion,seclusion, thathatt BankeiBankei walkedwalked toto ZuioZuio-j jii andand memett hishis firstfirst ZenZen teacher.teacher. TheThe seventy-year-oldseventy-year-old UmpUmpoo waswas heirheir ttoo thethe samesame IInn 1645,1645, foufourr yearyearss afteafterr hhee hahadd lefleftt Zuio-jiZuio-ji,, hehe returnedreturned toto incorruptiblincorruptiblee OtokanOtokan lineagelineage thatthat thethe youngyoung IkkyuIkkyu hadhad foundfound UmpoUmpo,, hishis questionquestion stillstill unresolved.unresolved. Tearfully,Tearfully, hehe approachedapproached iinn Kaso'sKaso's shabbyshabby KatadaKatada templetemple twotwo centuriescenturies before.before. OnOn firstfirst hishis teacherteacher witwithh hishis sadsad reportreport ofof failure.failure. "It's"It's youryour desiredesire toto interviewinterview,, BankeBankeii askeaskedd hihiss "brigh"brightt virtue"virtue" questionquestion andand waswas find someonsomeonee thathatt keepkeepss yoyouu fromfrom youryour goal,"goal," saidsaid Umpo.Umpo. toltoldd toto gogo sitsit zazenzazen andand findfind thethe answeranswer forfor himself.himself. TypicallyTypically BankeBankeii turneturnedd andand setset offoff onceonce againagain onon hishis wanderings.wanderings. InIn aa go Crazy CloudsClouds M Bankei gi lonellonelyy hermitaghermitagee iinn thethe countrysidecountryside toto thethe northnorth ofof Ako,Ako, hehe venerablvenerablee wordwordss iinn ththee mouthmouthss ofof unenlightenedunenlightened priests.priests. SotoSoto resolveresolvedd ttoo carrcarryy ououtt hishis meditationmeditation ttoo thethe death.death. HisHis ten-footten-foot practitionerpractitionerss lookelookedd bacbackk t too ththee writingwritingss ooff DogenDogen,, ththee thir-thir• celcelll consisteconsistedd ooff onlonlyy ononee openinopeningg larglargee enougenoughh forfor a peasant'speasant's teenth-centuryteenth-century founderfounder ofof theirtheir sect,sect, whilewhile thethe RinzaiRinzai schoolschool armarm toto slipslip throughthrough aa bowlbowl ofof foodfood twicetwice aa day.day. AA second,second, followedfollowed aa stricstrictt Myoshin-jMyoshin jii linlinee ooff koakoann ZenZen.. ZenZen scholarshipscholarship smallersmaller holholee provideprovidedd hihimm withwith a privy,privy, andand hehe shutshut outout allall Hourished—whilNourished-whilee ZenZen experienceexperience languished.languished. SeveralSeveral noncon-noncon• lighlightt andand noisenoise bbyy plasteringplastering ththee doodoorr witwithh mud.mud. SittingSitting onon formistformist monksmonks wanderedwandered aboutabout inin searchsearch ooff enlightenmenenlightenmentt forfor ththee coldcold rockrock floorfloor untiluntil hishis buttocksbuttocks andand thighsthighs bledbled andand themselves;themselves; eccentriceccentricss liklikee SuzukSuzukii Shosan,Shosan, anan ex-samuraiex-samurai festeredfestered,, hhee ofteoftenn neglecteneglectedd ththee foofoodd thathatt waswas passedpassed inin toto him.him. turnedturned ZenZen priest,priest, UngoUngo Kiyo,Kiyo, andand DaiguDaigu SochikuSochiku rejectedrejected thethe FightinFightingg againsagainstt whawhatt hhee callecalledd "th"thee demondemon ofof sleep,"sleep," hehe confirmationconfirmation ofof theirtheir teachersteachers asas lifelesslifeless transmissionstransmissions fromfrom splashedsplashed hihiss faceface withwith coldcold waterwater atat thethe slightestslightest hinhintt ofof oldold menmen whowho hadn'thadn' t beenbeen enlightened enlightened themselves.themselves. SuzukiSuzuki drowsiness.drowsiness. StillStill hhee remaineremainedd unenlightenedunenlightened.. Finally,Finally, hihiss bodybody ShosanShosan preachepreachedd thathatt worworkk iinn ththee fieldsfields anandd wieldinwieldingg ththee swordsword had become so weakened by his asceticism that he contracted had become so weakened by his asceticism that hecontracted inin battlebattle werewere sufficientsufficient practice.practice. TheThe otherother twotwo wanderedwandered tuberculosis and could not eat at all. Spitting up huge gobs of tuberculosis and could not eat at all. Spittingup huge gobs of aboutabout teachingteaching theitheirr ownown brandbrand ofof Zen,Zen, confidentconfident inin theirtheir blood, Bankei resigned himself to dying where he sat. Sud• blood, Bankei resigned himself to dying where hesat. Sud- enlightenmentenlightenment withoutwithout formalformal transmissiontransmission fromfrom anyone.anyone. denly he felt "a strange sensation" in his throat and spat a huge denly he felt "a strange sensation" in his throat andspat a huge AAss a resultresult ofof thethe BuddhistBuddhist persecutionspersecutions ooff thethe MingMing dy-dy• ball of bloody phlegm against the wall opposite. Watching it ball of bloody phlegm against the wall opposite. Watchingit nastynasty,, severalseveral ChinesChinesee refugerefugeee ZeZenn teachersteachers mademade theirtheir wayway toto slide, Bankei was instantly enlightened with the realization slide, Bankei was instantly enlightened with the realization Japan,Japan, holdingholding swaysway largellargelyy iinn NagasakiNagasaki,, ththee onlonlyy citcityy permit-permit• that "all things are perfectly resolved in the Unborn." Fourteen that "all things are perfectly resolved in the Unborn." Fourteen tetedd toto foreigners.foreigners. TheThe twotwo mostmost famousfamous ChineseChinese ZenZen teachersteachers years of relentless struggle were rewarded in a split second years of relentless struggle were rewarded in a split second amonamongg them,them, DoshaDosha ChogenChogen andand IngenIngen Ryuki,Ryuki, bothboth rejectedrejected with the deep, keen, and immediate resolution of his question. with the deep, keen, and immediate resolution of his question. bbyy thethe Myoshin-ji-dominatedMyoshin-ji-dominated ZenZen hierarchy,hierarchy, werewere suchsuch bitterbitter And with it, his health and appetite were immediately re• And with it,his health and appetite were immediatelyre- rivalrivalss themselvethemselvess thathatt IngeIngenn trietriedd toto havehave DoshaDosha poisonedpoisoned andand stored. Gulping down the half-cooked rice his attendant had stored. Gulping down the half-cooked rice his attendant had ultimatelyultimately succeededsucceeded iinn drivindrivingg hihimm backback ttoo China.China. RemainingRemaining fixed for him, Bankei returned from his Great Death experi• fixed for him, Bankei returned from his Great Deathexperi- asas thethe solesole "legitimate""legitimate" ChineseChinese RinzaiRinzai ZeZenn master,master, IngenIngen ence a transformed man. Later, while washing his face in a ence a transformed man. Later, while washing his face ina stayedstayed oonn iinn JapaJapann ttoo founfoundd a linlinee ooff ObakObakuu ZeZenn thatthat gatheredgathered nearby stream, the scent of plum blossoms spurred yet another nearby stream, the scent of plum blossoms spurredyet another manymany disciplesdisciples andand deeplydeeply influencedinfluenced ththee artsarts ofof paintingpainting andand insight, further confirming his confrontation with that which insight, further confirming his confrontation with that which calligraphy.calligraphy. ZeZenn "reformers""reformers" werewere everywhere,everywhere, bubutt nonenone was "unborn" and "undying." Returning to Umpo, Bankei's was "unborn" and "undying." Returning to Umpo, Bankei's could inject life into the practice. satori was confirmed, as the "marrow of Bodhidharma's could inject life into the practice. satori was confirmed, as the "marrow of Bodhidharma's ThThee twenty-six-year-oldtwenty-six-year-old BankeiBankei tootookk hishis placeplace oonn thethe roadroad bones." Then Umpo recommended that the young man visit bones." Then Umpo recommended that theyoung man visit alongside his fellow Zen pilgrims. Disappointed to hear that the great Gudo Toshaku, the most renowned Zen master of alongside his fellow Zen pilgrims. Disappointed to hear that the great Gudo Toshaku, the most renowned Zenmaster of Gudo was away from his temple in Mino, Bankei tried other the day, for a further confirmation of his enlightenment expe• Gudo was away from his temple in Mino, Bankei tried other the day, for a further confirmation of his enlightenmentexpe- Zen teachers in the Gifu province. To his disgust, he foundfound rience. Zen teachers in the Gifu province. To his disgust, he rience. thathatt nonenone ofof themthem couldcould confirmconfirm hishis experience,experience, foforr nonenone ofof AAtt ththee timetime ofof Bankei'sBankei's satori,satori, ZenZen waswas a fossilizedfossilized remnantremnant themthem werewere enlightenedenlightened themselves!themselves! OneOne kindlykindly oldold priestpriest eveneven ofof thethe twotwo precedingpreceding centuries.centuries. RinzaiRinzai andand SotoSoto schoolsschools werewere hadhad thethe decencydecency ttoo admiadmitt this,this, urgingurging BankeiBankei toto acceptaccept hishis ownown iinn aa constanconstantt "dialogue"—rivalry "dialogue"-rivalry,, really-overreally—over thethe bestbest wawayy toto confirmationconfirmation andand nonott relyrely onon thethe ZenZen writingswritings ofof others.others. restorrestoree a livingliving practice.practice. BothBoth werewere clearlyclearly awareaware thathatt whatwhat ForFor aa year,year, BankeiBankei livedlived inin aa seriesseries ofof hermitageshermitages inin GifuGifu passedpassed foforr koanskoans hadhad degenerateddegenerated intointo thethe meremere parrotingparroting ofof provinceprovince untiluntil,, inin 165o,1650, hhee returnereturnedd toto Harima,Harima, hishis hometownhometown

92 Crazy CloudsClouds I Bankei 9393 areaarea,, ponderinponderingg howhow toto teachteach thethe BuddhaBuddha WayWay ttoo others.others. InIn werewere openlopenlyy expressingexpressing theirtheir resentmentresentment ofof hishis specialspecial statusstatus 16511651,, aatt Umpo'sUmpo's suggestion,suggestion, hehe traveledtraveled toto seesee thethe ChineseChinese witwithh Dosha.Dosha. TheThe oldold teacherteacher secretlysecretly advisedadvised BankeiBankei toto leaveleave priespriestt DoshaDosha ChogenChogen inin Nagasaki.Nagasaki. BeggingBegging hishis wayway acrossacross thethe ththee templetemple forfor aa while,while, whichwhich suitedsuited thethe nonconformistnonconformist wellwell InlanInlandd SeaSea,, hhee crossedcrossed oonn a tradingtrading shipship and,and, asas soonsoon asas hehe enoughenough.. HeHe returnedreturned toto thethe HarimaHarima area,area, thenthen movedmoved onon againagain landedlanded,, walkewalkedd ttoo ththee templetemple,, Sofuku-jiSofuku ji,, wherwheree ththee ololdd Chi-Chi• toto YamatoYamato provincprovincee neanearr NaraNara,, a remoteremote placeplace knowknownn forfor thethe nesenese mastermaster receivedreceived him.him. abundanceabundance ooff hermithermit asceticsascetics sprinklesprinkledd amonamongg ititss hills.hills. HereHere "You"You havhavee penetratepenetratedd througthroughh ttoo ththee mattermatter ofof thethe self.self. ButBut BankeiBankei sasatt inin aa crudelycrudely fashionedfashioned hut,hut, composingcomposing religiousreligious yoyouu stillstill havhavee ttoo clarifclarifyy ththee mattematterr beyondbeyond,, whichwhich isis thethe essenceessence rainmakingrainmaking songssongs forfor thethe peasantspeasants inin returnreturn forfor food.food. ofof ourour school,"school," saidsaid Dosha.Dosha. ThisThis qualifiedqualified confirmatioconfirmationn urgingurging IInn 16531653 hhee movemovedd bacbackk ttoo hihiss owownn smalsmalll hermitaghermitagee inin MinoMino BankeiBankei toto taketake hishis satorisatori ououtt ofof thethe rarifiedrarified realmrealm ofof emptinessemptiness provincprovincee anandd continuedcontinued deepeningdeepening hishis realizationrealization inin solitude.solitude. andand putput itit toto workwork inin thethe worldworld ofof ordinaryordinary lifelife experienceexperience soso FromFrom earlyearly onon hehe hadhad shownshown signssigns ofof psychicpsychic intuitionintuition,, which,which, miffedmiffed ththee youngyoung manman thatthat hehe turnedturned andand leftleft withoutwithout eveneven inin 1653,1653, duringduring aa particularlyparticularly hardhard winter,winter, discloseddisclosed toto himhim makingmaking a bowbow ofof respect.respect. ButBut somethingsomething iinn thethe oldold priest'spriest's thatthat UmpoUmpo waswas ill.ill. SeveralSeveral monkmonkss hahadd gatheregatheredd ttoo sisitt withwith wordswords mustmust havehave struckstruck home,home, forfor BankeiBankei remainedremained andand be-be• Bankei;Bankei; oneone,, a manman namednamed Sen,Sen, waswas especiallyespecially dubioudubiouss aboutabout camecame Dosha'Dosha'ss student,student, takingtaking hishis placeplace inin thethe meditationmeditation hallhall Bankei'sBankei's announcementannouncement thatthat hehe wouldwould havehave toto traveltravel toto seesee thethe alonalongg witwithh thethe otherother monks.monks. ThoughThough hehe couldcould notnot communi-communi• sicksick UmpoUmpo.. "How"How dodo youyou knowknow thattha tyour you rteacher teacher is is ill? ill? HeHe isis catecate withwith hishis teacherteacher inin conversationalconversational Chinese,Chinese, andand DoshaDosha milemiless frofromm here,"here," SenSen challengedchallenged him.him. BankeiBankei confidentlyconfidently understoounderstoodd nono Japanese,Japanese, BankeiBankei managedmanaged toto havehave interviewsinterviews reiteratedreiterated hishis intuitionintuition thatthat UmpoUmpo waswas ill.ill. SenSen accusedaccused himhim ofof bbyy meansmeans ofof writtenwritten notesnotes inin formalformal Chinese.Chinese. StillStill thethe rebel,rebel, beingbeing a concon manman andand laughinglylaughingly offeredoffered ttoo accompanaccompanyy hihimm toto BankeBankeii refusedrefused,, howeverhowever,, ttoo ggoo alongalong withwith thethe Chinese-styleChinese-style provprovee ththee fraud.fraud. monastimonasticc chantinchantingg anandd otherother foreignforeign ritualritual practices.practices. WhenWhen BankeBankcii accepteacceptedd ththee challengechallenge,, anandd ththee twtwoo monkmonkss setset outout DoshDoshaa reprimandereprimandedd hi himm foforr thisthis,, BankeiBankei saidsaid,, "The"The onlyonly towartowardd AkoAko.. HalfwayHalfway therethere,, BankeiBankei insistedinsisted oonn aa detour,detour, reasoreasonn I'vI'vee comcomee herheree aatt allall isis becausebecause II wantwant toto clarifyclarify thethe claiminclaimingg thathatt ththee wifwifee ooff anan oldold friendfriend hahadd jusjustt diediedd iinn OsakaOsaka greatgreat matter.matter. HowHow cancan II affordafford toto wastewaste valuablevaluable timetime learninglearning andand thatthat hehe waswas wantedwanted there.there. additionaladditional waysways ooff chantinchantingg sutras?sutras?"" SeeingSeeing whawhatt kinkindd ooff monkmonk AgaiAgainn SenSen criedcried "Fake!""Fake!" asas hehe hastenedhastened alongalong afterafter BankeiBankei hehe wouldwould havhavee ttoo puputt uupp withwith,, DoshaDosha lelett ththee mattematterr restrest,, andand inin thethe directiondirection ofof Osaka.Osaka. WhenWhen theythey arrivedarrived atat thethe friend'sfriend's mademade BankeiBankei tenzo, monastermonasteryy cook,cook, forfor aa year.year. house,house, theythey werewere greetedgreeted byby Bankei'sBankei's friend,friend, whowho waswas dresseddressed OnOn thethe twenty-firsttwenty-first ofof AprilApril inin thethe yearyear 1652,1652, whilewhile sittingsitting iinn mourningmourning clothes.clothes. "My"My wifewife dieddied threethree daysdays ago.ago. StrangeStrange iinn thethe meditationmeditation hall,hall, BankeiBankei hadhad anotheranother profoundprofound enlight-enlight• yoyouu shouldshould comecome now.now. SheShe calledcalled youryour namename duringduring herher finalfinal enmenenmentt experienceexperience.. HHee rusherushedd ttoo Dosha'Dosha'ss interviewinterview rooroomm andand illness. "" wrotewrote:: "What"What isis thethe ultimateultimate mattermatter ofof Zen?"Zen?" BankeBankeii squaresquaredd ofofff witwithh SenSen,, sayingsaying,, "A"Amm I suchsuch aa concon "Whose"Whose matter?"matter?" waswas Dosha'sDosha's writtenwritten response.response. artistartist,, then?"then?" Sen'sSen's responseresponse waswas toto swearswear allegianceallegiance ttoo BankeiBankei BankeBankeii helheldd ououtt hishis arms;arms; DoshaDosha waswas aboutabout toto writewrite again,again, foreverforever.. bubutt thisthis timetime BankeiBankei grabbegrabbedd ththee brusbrushh andand,, tossintossingg iitt ttoo thethe SuchSuch youthfuyouthfull displaysdisplays ooff supernormasupernormall powerpower werewere temperedtempered floor, stalkedstalked ououtt ofof thethe room.room. iinn Bankei'sBankei's middlemiddle life,life, however,however, foforr hishis reputationreputation asas aa seerseer Bankei'Bankei'ss aloofnessaloofness frofromm thethe ritualritual practicepractice andand hishis cocksurecocksure onlonlyy hinderedhindered hishis effortsefforts toto teachteach peoplepeople howhow toto discoverdiscover theirtheir attitudeattitude dididd nonott endearendear hihimm toto thethe otherother monks.monks. SoonSoon theythey basibasicc unborunbornn naturenature forfor themselves.themselves. ManyMany ignorantignorant andand super-super-

9944 Crazy CloudsClouds I Bankei 9595 _ <5g mrfr

stitioustitiouss folfolkk appeareappearedd aatt hihiss sermonsermonss anywaanywayy iinn ththee hophopee ofof ofof thethe countrycountry preachingpreaching "unborn"unborn"" ZenZen inin hishis populistpopulist style.style. witnessinwitnessingg a miraclemiracle.. Bankei'Bankei'ss usualusual responsresponsee waswas ttoo turnturn theirtheir ThreeThree majormajor templestemples spransprangg uupp toto accommodateaccommodate hishis two-two- mind-readinmind-readingg requestrequestss bacbackk oonn thethemm witwithh humor.humor. montmonthh retreats:retreats: Ryumon-jiRyumon ji,, builtbuilt byby aa loyalloyal childhoodchildhood school-school• WheWhenn BankeBankeii arrivearrivedd aatt Zuio-jZuio-jii oonn thathatt triptrip,, hehe wawass toltoldd thatthat matmatee whwhoo hahadd becombecomee a wealthwealthyy shipowneshipownerr iinn Bankei'Bankei'ss homehome-• UmpoUmpo hadhad dieddied thethe nightnight before,before, leavingleaving instructioninstructionss withwith hishis towtownn ooff HamadaHamada;; Nyoho-jiNyoho ji,, inin OzuOzu onon thethe islandisland ofof Shikoku;Shikoku; successosuccessorr BokuBokuoo SogySogyuu ttoo encourageencourage BankeBankeii ttoo teach.teach. ItIt waswas anandd Korin-jKorin jii iinn EdoEdo.. AtAt first,first, BankeiBankei trietriedd sequesteringsequestering himselfhimself 16541654,, anandd BankeBankeii hahadd pickedpicked upup fivefive disciplesdisciples iinn hishis wander-wander• witwithh hihiss smalsmalll grougroupp ooff disciplediscipless aatt Nyoho-ji Nyoho-ji,, intenintentt oonn contin-contin• ingsings.. AllAll accompanieaccompaniedd hihimm ttoo NagasakNagasakii ttoo visivisitt DoshaDosha,, who,who, uinuingg ttoo polishpolish hishis realizationrealization anandd guidguidee ththee otherotherss iinn hihiss Heart-Heart- meanwhilemeanwhile,, wawass havinhavingg hihiss ownown politicalpolitical troublestroubles withwith hishis of-the-Matteof-the-Matterr hermitagehermitage;; bubutt popularpopular demanddemand forfor hishis appear-appear• ChinesChinesee rivarivall IngenIngen.. AlwaysAlways readreadyy forfor a goodgood fight,fight, BankeiBankei ancancee iinn larglargee publipublicc gatheringgatheringss wawass ssoo greagreatt thathatt hhee wawass forcedforced joinedjoined thethe DoshaDosha factionfaction andand triedtried toto gaingain thethe supporsupportt ofof ououtt intointo thethe open.open. KorinKorin-ji ji,, Bankci'sBankei's EdoEdo temple,temple, builtbuilt byby importanimportantt patronspatrons forfor hishis beleagueredbeleaguered teacherteacher.. Ingen'Ingen'ss studentsstudents daimyo Kyogok Kyogokuu TakatoyTakatoyoo aatt ththee specifispecificc requesrequestt ooff hihiss mother,mother, stoppestoppedd atat nothing;nothing; theythey eveneven burnedburned Dosha'sDosha's officialofficial trans-trans• a nunnun,, waswas populatedpopulated largelylargely bbyy powerfulpowerful governmengovernmentt bureau-bureau• missiomissionn paperpaperss ttoo makmakee hihimm "unfit"unfit"" toto teachteach Zen.Zen. WhenWhen thatthat cratscrats,, wealthwealthyy anandd not-so-wealthynot-so-wealthy samurai,samurai, retainers,retainers, andand didn'didn'tt work,work, theythey resortedresorted toto stillstill lowerlower methods,methods, whichwhich lowelowerr levelevell aristocratsaristocrats.. Bankei'Bankei'ss otheotherr twtwoo templestemples werewere inin thethe includeincludedd ththee attemptattempt atat poisoningpoisoning him.him. BankeiBankei waswas offoff inin countrcountryy andand thereforetherefore collectedcollected a mormoree variedvaried sociasociall assortmentassortment HiradHiradoo inin searchsearch ofof helphelp fromfrom feudalfeudal lordlord MatsuraMatsura Shigenobu,Shigenobu, ooff monksmonks,, nuns,nuns, laylay practitionerspractitioners,, fishermenfishermen,, farmersfarmers,, wealthywealthy a powerfupowerfull discipldisciplee ooff Dosha'sDosha's,, whewhenn thethe situationsituation grewgrew soso badbad merchanmerchantt upstartsupstarts,, townsmen,townsmen, andand housewives,housewives, whwhoo satsat outout thathatt DoshDoshaa hadhad toto sailsail backback ttoo ChinaChina inin disgrace.disgrace. oonn thethe grassgrass raptrapt atat hishis words.words. ByBy 1679,1679, hehe waswas deliveringdelivering sermons in over forty temples throughout Japan, maintaining MatsurMatsuraa ShigenobuShigenobu hahadd becomebecome acquaintedacquainted withwith BankeiBankei sermons in over forty temples throughout Japan,maintaining a steady band of disciples on the road as he traveled. In Bankei's whewhenn hhee waswas aann anonymousanonymous monmonkk begginbeggingg iinn EdoEdo.. OnOnee ofof a steady band of disciples on the road as he traveled. In Bankei's hands, the ailing Zen sect miraculously sprang to life in an ththee lord'slord's vassalsvassals overheardoverheard .Bankei'sBankei's commentcomment atat seeingseeing a hands, the ailing Zen sect miraculously sprang to life in an entirely original form. masterlesmasterlesss horshorsee teatearr througthroughh ththee streetsstreets ououtt ofof control:control: "It"It isis entirely original form. becausebecause mastemasterr anandd horshorsee araree separateseparate,, nonott one."one." SureSure thatthat thisthis Bankei'Bankei'ss smalsmalll privatprivatee retreatretreatss turneturnedd intointo hugehuge kessei,kessei, two-two- couldcould onlonlyy bbee ththee remarremarkk ooff aann "enlightened"enlightened"" ZenZen priest,priest, LordLord andand three-montthree-monthh intensiveintensive trainingtraining periodsperiods helheldd iinn winterwinter andand ShigenobuShigenobu inviteinvitedd himhim toto hishis homehome andand eventuallyeventually sesett hihimm upup summer.summer. Here,Here, however,however, traditionaltraditional meditationmeditation andand personalpersonal aass retrearetreatt mastemasterr ofof ththee familyfamily templetemple inin Hirado.Hirado. koakoann interviewsinterviews gavegave wawayy ttoo groupgroup practice,practice, openopen question-question- IInn 16581658 BankeBankeii wawass appointeappointedd dharmdharmaa heiheirr ooff UmpoUmpo byby and-answerand-answer sessionssessions,, anandd sometimesometimess asas manymany asas threethree publicpublic BokuoBokuo,, thethe oldold teacher'steacher's primarprimaryy successor.successor. NowNow,, aass aann officialofficial talkstalks a day.day. UnlikeUnlike allall otherother ZenZen templetemple kessei,kessei, Bankei'sBankei's per-per• teacheteacherr iinn ththee Myoshin-jMyoshin-jii lineline,, BankeiBankei couldcould aatt laslastt communi-communi• mittedmitted nono beatingbeating oror scoldingscolding ofof students,students, nono beggingbegging byby thethe catcatee hihiss messagmessagee abouaboutt ththee UnborUnbornn inin hishis uniqueunique andand originaloriginal monksmonks inin hishis congregation,congregation, andand nnoo particularparticular sesett scheduleschedule.. OOff fashionfashion.. AAss soosoonn aass ththee worwordd waswas out,out, hordeshordes beganbegan flockingflocking thethe traditionaltraditional forms,forms, onlyonly periodsperiods forfor dailydaily zazenzazen andand sutrasutra ttoo hearhear thethe rivetingriveting sermonssermons ofof thethe iconoclasticiconoclastic reformerreformer.. ForFor chantingchanting werweree helheldd foforr thosethose whowho wishedwished toto participate.participate. AsAs aa thirty-sithirty-sixx yearyearss thereafter,thereafter, BankeiBankei wouldwould teachteach inin temples,temples, BuddhistBuddhist priest,priest, BankeiBankei himselfhimself continuedcontinued toto offeroffer traditionaltraditional monasteries,monasteries, meetinmeetingg groundsgrounds,, andand atat thethe estatesestates ofof wealthywealthy ceremoniesceremonies anandd privatprivatee interviewsinterviews,, wherewhere,, dependingdepending onon thethe students.students. MosMostt oftenoften accompaniedaccompanied oonn ththee roaroadd bbyy hishis smallsmall individualindividual facinfacingg himhim,, hehe gavegave adviceadvice onon everythingeverything fromfrom banbandd ofof full-timefull-time disciples,disciples, hhee roameroamedd thethe lengthlength andand breadthbreadth personalpersonal familfamilyy problemproblemss toto koankoan practice.practice. AndAnd hehe officiatedofficiated

96 Crazy CloudsClouds Bankei 97 atat funerals,funerals, weddings,weddings, andand BuddhistBuddhist preceptprecept ritualsrituals asas longlong asas "How"How dodo youyou expectexpect ttoo seesee meme,, iiff yoyouu loolookk aatt mmee iinn termtermss ofof peoplpeoplee askedasked forfor them.them. birthbirth andand death?"death?" WhenWhen oneone discipledisciple askedasked hihimm toto composecompose aa ThougThoughh hehe hadhad nono useuse forfor keepingkeeping formalformal recordsrecords ofof hishis traditionaltraditional ZenZen deathdeath poem,poem, hehe said:said: talktalkss anandd forbadeforbade hishis studentsstudents fromfrom doingdoing so,so, Bankei'sBankei's oraloral I'vI'vee livelivedd foforr seventy-twoseventy-two yearsyears.. I'veI've beenbeen teachingteaching peoplepeople forfor teachingteachingss werweree transmittetransmittedd iinn thethe formform ofof personalpersonal diariesdiaries andand forty-fiveforty-five.. WhaWhatt I'vI'vee beebeenn tellintellingg yoyouu andand othersothers everyevery dayday journalsjournals writtenwritten byby hishis closestclosest disciples.disciples. OneOne ofof thesethese waswas aa durinduringg thathatt timetime isis alalll mmyy deatdeathh verseverse.. I'I'mm nonott goinggoing toto makemake womawomann namednamed DenDen Sutejo,Sutejo, anan accomplishedaccomplished seventeenth-cen-seventeenth-cen• anotheanotherr ononee now,now, beforebefore I diedie,, justjust becausebecause everyoneeveryone elseelse turturyy poetpoet whowho hadhad marriedmarried ata tseventeen, seventeen, hadhad sixsix children,children, doedoess it.it. becamebecame a widowidoww aatt forty,forty, and,and, finally,finally, aa nun.nun. FromFrom 16811681 toto 1696,1696, whewhenn shshee dieddied,, Teikan,Teikan, aass BankeBankeii namenamedd herher,, kepkeptt a BankeBankeii diediedd peacefullypeacefully aatt Ryumon-jiRyumon-ji,, andand hishis ashesashes werewere diarydiary documentingdocumenting Bankei'sBankei's travels,travels, meetings,meetings, retreats,retreats, andand divideddivided betweenbetween thathatt templetemple andand hishis Heart-of-the-MatterHeart-of-the-Matter her-her• illnesses, meticulously recording the types and numbers of illnesses, meticulously recording the types and numbers of mitagemitage atat Nyoho-ji.Nyoho-ji. FourFour hundredhundred priestspriests andand twotwo hundredhundred people in attendance at every occasion. A famous entry occurs people in attendance at every occasion. A famous entry occurs seventseventyy nunnunss werweree iinn attendanceattendance atat hishis funeral;funeral; fivefive thousandthousand in 1690, when one thousand six hundred and eighty clergymen in 169o, when one thousand six hundred and eighty clergymen laypeoplelaypeople frofromm everyevery sociasociall clasclasss anandd ranrankk camcamee ttoo honohonorr theirtheir and -women—not to mention the throngs of laypeople who and -women-not to mention the throngs of laypeople who teacherteacher.. Forty-seveForty-sevenn year yearss afte afterr hi hiss deathdeath,, thougthoughh hehe hadhad had come from as far north as Hokkaido and as far away as the had come from as far north as Hokkaido and as faraway as the openlopenlyy rejectedrejected ththee ZeZenn hierarchyhierarchy ofof hishis dayday bbyy institutinginstituting hishis Ryuku Islands—attended a winter retreat at Ryumon-ji, Bank• Ryuku Islands-attended a winter retreat at Ryumon ji, Bank- owownn populistpopulist formform ofof practice,practice, thethe governmentgovernment bestowedbestowed onon ei's home temple. So many appeared, in fact, writes Teikan, ei's home temple. So many appeared, in fact, writes Teikan, hihimm thethe greatestgreatest honorhonor a ZenZen priestpriest couldcould attain,attain, thethe titletitle thathatt ththee town'town'ss "barns"barns,, sheds,sheds, anandd storeroomsstorerooms"" hahadd ttoo serve as serve as KokushiKokushi,, NationalNational Teacher.Teacher. sleepinsleepingg quarterquarterss foforr thethe participants.participants. InIn 1691,1691, sheshe reports, reports, WhaWhatt diddid BankeiBankei teach?teach? HisHis jushoJusho ZenZen,, teachinteachingg ththee UnbornUnborn BankeiBankei leledd a ninety-daninety-dayy wintewinterr retrearetreatt aatt Gyokuryu-jGyokuryu jii inin MinoMino throughthrough sermons,sermons, andand hogo,hogo, instruction,instruction, waswas anomalousanomalous eveneven forfor overover sixsix thousandthousand people.people. duringduring thethe TokugawaTokugawa perioperiodd whewhenn allall sortssorts ofof footloosefootloose ZenZen BuButt Bankei'sBankei's earlyearly asceticascetic practicepracticess hahadd taketakenn theirtheir tolltoll onon memenn wanderewanderedd abouaboutt iinn ththee hophopee ooff reformingreforming andand revivingreviving aa hihiss health,health, andand hishis teachingteaching yearsyears werewere plaguedplagued byby stomachstomach dyingdying practice.practice. Moreover,Moreover, iitt waswas dangerousdangerous duringduring thosethose spasmsspasms,, coughs,coughs, andand generalgeneral collapsescollapses thathatt forcedforced himhim toto retireretire antihereticaantihereticall daydayss ooff persecutiopersecutionn ttoo preachpreach anythinganything foreignforeign foforr weekweekss aatt a timetime.. ByBy 16931693 hihiss healthealthh hahadd ssoo deterioratedeterioratedd thatthat thathatt couldcould bebe eveneven vaguelyvaguely construeconstruedd aass "Christian."Christian."" YetYet hishis hishis disciplesdisciples begabegann buildinbuildingg hihimm a buriaburiall pagodpagodaa aatt Ryumon-Ryumon- wordwordss cucutt throughthrough thethe dictatorialdictatorial ConfucianConfucian socialsocial codescodes de-de• jiji.. WithWith theirtheir ownown fundsfunds andand laborlabor,, laypeople,laypeople, monksmonks,, samurai,samurai, signesignedd ttoo smothersmother allall individualindividual thoughtthought andand expression,expression, richrich andand poor,poor, peasantspeasants andand townsfolktownsfolk workedworked sideside byby sideside dayday reachinreachingg ththee earsears andand heartshearts ofof commonerscommoners andand samurai,samurai, andand nightnight toto completecomplete thethe project.project. ItIt waswas onon a hothot dayday oonn thethe mastermasterss anandd servants,servants, laylay andand clergy.clergy. HisHis messagemessage waswas soso tenthtenth ofof AugustAugust whenwhen BankeiBankei waswas carriedcarried toto RyumonRyumon-j jii oonn aa litterlitter.. TheThe nextnext day,day, hehe toldtold anan attendantattendant inin secretsecret thatthat hehe simplsimplee thathatt ononee dididd notnot havehave ttoo bebe literateliterate oorr aa BuddhistBuddhist toto woulwouldd bbee deadeadd withiwithinn threthreee monthsmonths.. ForFor thethe timetime leftleft toto him,him, comprehencomprehendd itit.. Bankei'sBankei's teachingsteachings allall boilboil downdown toto lettingletting gogo BankeBankeii continuecontinuedd seeinseeingg studentstudentss frofromm hishis bed.bed. ImmediatelyImmediately ooff allall ideasideas anandd findinfindingg youyourr ownown "unborn,"unborn, originaloriginal mind"mind" beforbeforee hhee diediedd iinn November,November, asas he'dhe'd predicted,predicted, hehe stoppedstopped rightright herehere andand nownow withoutwithout indulgingindulging inin anyany particularparticular reli-reli• takintakingg foofoodd andand medicine.medicine. GivingGiving instructionsinstructions toto hishis mostmost giousgious disciplinediscipline oorr beliefbelief.. ThougThoughh hehe remainedremained loyalloyal toto UmpoUmpo intimatintimatee studentsstudents,, hehe admonishedadmonished themthem forfor theirtheir tears,tears, saying,saying, andand Dosha,Dosha, hehe waswas quitequite openopen aboutabout theirtheir failingsfailings asas ZenZen

98 Crazy CloudsClouds Bankei 9999 masters,masters, eveneven goingoingg ssoo fafarr aass ttoo telltell hishis audience,audience, "I"I cacann seesee hahass dondonee thithiss beforebefore meme.. I'mI'm thethe first,"first," BankeiBankei toldtold hishis nownow .... . that. tha Dosha'st Dosha' realizations realization waswas lessless thanthan complete.complete. IfIf audiencesaudiences.. HHee mighmightt havehave addeaddedd thathatt hhee waswas alsoalso thethe last,last, forfor onlonlyy hehe werewere alivealive todaytoday,, I coulcouldd makmakee hihimm intointo a finefine teacher.teacher. whenwhen hehe died,died, hishis marvelousmarvelous teachinteachingg gifgiftt diediedd witwithh him.him. It'It'ss a greatgreat shame.shame. HeHe dieddied tootoo soon."soon." BankeiBankei eveevenn turnedturned InIn workingworking withwith individualindividual studentsstudents onon specificspecific questionsquestions ofof himselfhimself intintoo aa figurefigure ofof derision,derision, urgingurging hishis studentsstudents ttoo avoidavoid practice,practice, hhee managedmanaged ttoo touchtouch onon universaluniversal concerns.concerns. Anger,Anger, followingfollowing hishis ownown earlierearlier misguidemisguidedd self-punishingself-punishing exampleexample ofof forfor example,example, becamebecame aa mediummedium forfor refiningrefining spiritualspiritual vision.vision. ZenZen practice.practice. ThThee Unborn,Unborn, hehe toldtold them,them, isis notnot somethingsomething toto WhenWhen a farmefarmerr describedescribedd hi hiss tendenc tendencyy t oto giv gi.'e wayway ttoo fitsfits ofof bbee reachedreached foforr oror attainedattained byby discipline;discipline; itit isis nonott a conditioncondition ofof rage,rage, BankeiBankei responded:responded: mindmind oror religiousreligious ecstasy;ecstasy; iitt isis rightright wherewhere youyou stand,stand, perfectperfect justjust asas itit is.is. AllAll oneone needneed dodo toto realizerealize itit isis toto bebe oneself,oneself, exactlyexactly YoYouu makmakee yoursel yourselff inwardl inwardlyy a afirst-clas first-classs animal animal...... Therefore,Therefore, transforming the aass ononee isis,, doindoingg exactlexactlyy whawhatt ononee iiss doingdoing,, withouwithoutt commen-commen• yoyouu mustmust thoroughlythoroughly understandunderstand aboutabout notnot transforming the . Until you transform it, tarytary,, self-consciousness,self-consciousness, oorr judgment.judgment. Buddha-minBuddha-mindd intintoo otherother things.things...... Until you transform it, youyou livelive jusjustt aass yoyouu areare iinn thethe unbornunborn Buddha-mind;Buddha-mind; youyou aren'taren't ThThee mindmind isis a mirror;mirror; thoughtsthoughts riserise andand fallfall on it. There is on it. There is deludeddeluded oorr unenlightened.unenlightened. Th Thee momenmomentt yoyouu ddoo turturnn itit intointo nnoo needneed toto eithereither holdhold oror rejectreject thesethese thoughts,thoughts, onlyonly toto letlet somethingsomething elseelse [like[like anger]anger],, yoyouu becomebecome anan ignorant,ignorant, deludeddeluded thethemm comecome andand go.go. WhatWhat keepskeeps usus fromfrom realizingrealizing thisthis plainplain person.person...... ByBy gettinggetting upsetupset andand favoringfavoring yourselfyourself youyou turnturn andand essentialessential truthtruth aboutabout ourselvesourselves isis ouourr self-preoccupationself-preoccupation youryour Buddha-mindBuddha-mind intointo aa fightingfighting spirit-andspirit—and fall fal l intointo aa deludeddeluded andand ourour acquiredacquired habit.habit. Bankei'sBankei's ZenZen isis a processprocess ofof decondi-decondi- existenceexistence ooff youyourr ownown making.making. tioningtioning impulsesimpulses andand conceptsconcepts thatthat areare accumulatedaccumulated frofromm birthbirth andand frozenfrozen inin memory.memory. TheseThese impulsesimpulses andand conceptsconcepts havehave ledled Thus,Thus, inin Bankei'sBankei's ZenZen therethere isis nevernever a momentmoment whenwhen wewe areare uuss intointo delusiondelusion aboutabout thethe realreal naturenature ofof ourselvesourselves andand thethe notnot enlightened,enlightened, onlyonly deludeddeluded byby thoughtsthoughts withoutwithout substancesubstance worldworld.. TheThe originaloriginal mindmind fromfrom whichwhich wewe comecome forthforth isis thathatt appearappear momentarilymomentarily andand disappeardisappear asas soonsoon asas wewe disregarddisregard exchangedexchanged forfor thesethese dualisticdualistic perceptionsperceptions thatthat causcausee uuss ttoo bebe themthem.. Consequently,Consequently, BankeiBankei nevernever sesett asidasidee aa fixedfixed timtimee forfor bornborn intointo variousvarious statestatess anandd conditions—humanconditions-human,, beast,beast, god-god— "practice,""practice," saying:saying: alalll psychologicalpsychological manifestationsmanifestations ooff anger,anger, greed,greed, andand igno-igno• rancerance.. ThThee onlyonly wayway ououtt ofof thesethese perpetualperpetual "transmigrations""transmigrations" WhenWhen you'reyou're awake,awake, you'reyou're awakeawake inin thethe samesame Buddha-mindBuddha-mind yoyouu werewere sleepingsleeping in.in. YouYou sleepsleep iinn thethe Buddha-minBuddha-mindd whilewhile youyou iiss bbyy constantlyconstantly returninreturningg ttoo ththee UnbornUnborn inin thethe experientialexperiential sleesleepp anandd araree uupp anandd abouaboutt iinn ththee Buddha-minBuddha-mindd whilwhilee you'ryou'ree upup moment.moment. anandd about.about. ThatThat way,way, youyou alwaysalways staystay iinn thethe Buddha-mind-Buddha-mind. UnlikUnlikee otheotherr ZenZen teachersteachers withwith laylay disciples,disciples, BankeiBankei refusedrefused You'rYou'ree neveneverr apar apartt fro fromm it itfo forr a nan instant instant...... NowNow 1I don'tdon't urgeurge to rely on traditional modes for inducing realization of the to rely on traditional modes for inducing realization of the peoplpeoplee ttoo sleepsleep arounaroundd herehere.. BuButt onceonce theythey areare asleep,asleep, you'reyou're UnbornUnborn,, insistinginsisting insteadinstead thatthat hishis listenerslisteners wouldwould catccatchh aa makingmaking aa seriouseriouss mistak mistakee if ifyo youu hi thit them them...... There'sThere's notnot a glimpsglimpsee ooff iitt merelymerely uponupon hearinghearing hishis words.words. RatheRatherr thanthan momentmoment whenwhen you'reyou're notnot aa Buddha.Buddha. offeringoffering thethemm meditationmeditation oror koankoan practice,practice, hehe usedused dialoguedialogue andand exhortationexhortation,, callingcalling attentionattention ttoo thethe eventsevents ooff ththee immedi-immedi• Nonetheless,Nonetheless, hhee concedeconcededd ttoo thethe wisheswishes ofof hishis studentsstudents andand ateate momentmoment toto shock,shock, prod,prod, andand drivedrive thethe questionerquestioner toto allowedallowed thethemm ttoo sitsit zazenzazen whewhenn thetheyy wishedwished toto.. HisHis preferredpreferred experiencexperiencee ththee UnbornUnborn.. BankeiBankei himselfhimself wawass thethe vehicle;vehicle; thethe approach,approach, however,however, wawass ttoo calcalll attentioattentionn ttoo thethe soundssounds ofof thethe daildailyy lifelife,, problemsproblems,, andand situationssituations ofof hishis studentsstudents werweree thethe birds,birds, dogs,dogs, bells,bells, coughs,coughs, andand breezesbreezes rustlingrustling thethe leavesleaves ofof fuelfuel.. NNoo ononee coulcouldd sasayy "tha"thatt theythey havehave hearheardd ooff anyonanyonee whowho ththee treestrees asas hhee talked.talked. HeHe illustratedillustrated ththee totallytotally naturalnatural func-func-

100 Crazy CloudsClouds I Bankei 101for

praypray,, tradetrade,, sing,sing, oror keepkeep house,house, you are never without it. you are never without it. ThiThiss wawass tantamountantamountt ttoo heresyheresy forfor a societysociety steepedsteeped iinn Con-Con• Nonetheless,Nonetheless, hehe cautionedcautioned hishis enlightenedenlightened students to continue students to continue fuciafuciann hierarchyhierarchy,, wherewhere women,women, likelike vassalsvassals andand farmfarm animals,animals, penetratinpenetratingg ththee fathomlesfathomlesss wisdowisdomm ooff the Unborn, for there is the Unborn, for there is werweree nnoo mormoree thathann ththee dumbdumb propertyproperty ofof theirtheir lords.lords. TheThe nono endend toto it.it. ThisThis waswas hishis justificationjustification forfor refusingrefusing to confirm to confirm UnborUnbornn waswas thethe greatgreat equalizer.equalizer. EvenEven samuraisamurai couldcould notnot avoidavoid a "great"great satori,"satori," thoughthough hehe diddid declaredeclare DairyoDairyo Sokyo as his Sokyo as his Bankei'Bankei'ss pungenpungentt remarksremarks.. IIff angeangerr coulcouldd turturnn a farmerfarmer intointo successor.successor. WheWhenn DairyDairyoo dieddied twotwo years before him, Bankei years before him, Bankei aann animalanimal,, thethenn a cowardlycowardly oorr ignobleignoble warriowarriorr wawass nnoo betterbetter saidsaid,, "I"I havehave loslostt botbothh my arms." Without a formal successor, my arms." Without a formal successor, thathann a curcur asas well.well. HeHe fascinatedfascinated hishis audiencesaudiences withwith storiesstories Bankei'sBankei's lineagelineage waswas doomeddoomed to die out. to die out. abouaboutt thievesthieves turneturnedd monkmonk,, andand violentviolent monksmonks turnedturned thief,thief, ContraryContrary toto hishis wishes,wishes, Bankei'sBankei's eighteenth-centuryeighteenth-century dharmadharma anandd rampaginrampagingg samurasamuraii appeaseappeasedd bbyy aa moment'moment'ss realizatiorealizationn ofof heirs composed complicated classical heirs composed complicated classical ChinesChinesee collectionscollections ofof hishis ththee Unborn.Unborn. HeHe assuagedassuaged thethe fearsfears ofof restlessrestless laypeoplelaypeople andand teachingsteachings,, addinaddingg exactlexactlyy ththee kinkindd ooff technicatechnicall BuddhisBuddhistt jargonjargon clergyclergy,, tellintellingg thethemm thathatt theitheirr deludeddeluded efforeffortt ttoo eraseerase thoughtsthoughts he abhorred and he abhorred and neveneverr usedused.. LikLikee ssoo manmanyy otheotherr CrazCrazyy CloudCloud waswas likelike tryingtrying toto "wash"wash bloodblood withwith blood."blood." ToTo would-bewould-be teacherteacherss afteafterr theirtheir deaths,deaths, Bankei,Bankei, tootoo,, fellfell preyprey toto well-well- asceticasceticss whwhoo deniedeniedd thathatt iitt wawass enougenoughh ttoo listenlisten ttoo himhim toto gaingain meaninmeaningg legenlegendd makermakerss whowho perpetuatedperpetuated a forformm ofof ZenZen inin hishis realizationrealization,, hhee likenelikenedd himselhimselff ttoo a traveletravelerr whowho,, findingfinding him-him• namnamee thatthat contradictedcontradicted whatwhat hehe calledcalled hishis Clear-EyedClear-Eyed School.School. selselff anandd hihiss tou tourr grougroupp withouwithoutt waterwater,, mademade a longlong,, harhardd climbclimb SinceSince BuddhistBuddhist teachingteaching aatt thatthat timetime claimedclaimed thatthat womenwomen uupp a mountaimountainn toto fetchfetch some.some. Then,Then, bringingbringing itit back,back, hehe gavegave coulcouldd notnot gaingain enlightenment,enlightenment, manmanyy womenwomen appearedappeared atat hishis thirstythirsty companionscompanions a drink.drink. WhatWhat needneed forfor themthem nownow toto Bankei'sBankei's sermonssermons toto agonizeagonize overover theirtheir evilevil fatefate.. ToTo themthem makemake thethe samesame enervatingenervating climb?climb? BankeBankcii said:said: MMyy owownn strugglestruggle waswas undertakenundertaken mistakenly,mistakenly, becausebecause I didn'tdidn't Here'sHere's somethingsomething thatthat willwill provprovee ttoo youyou thatthat thethe Buddha-mindBuddha-mind happenhappen ttoo meetmeet upup withwith a aclear-eyed clear-eyed master.master. Eventually,Eventually, though,though, II discovereddiscovered thethe Buddha-mindBuddha-mind forfor myself.myself. II havehave beenbeen iiss thethe samesame inin menmen andand womenwomen...... Suppose. Suppose that tha toutside outside thethe tellingtelling otherotherss abouaboutt theirstheirs,, ssoo they'llthey'll knowknow aboutabout itit withoutwithout templtemplee wallswalls someonesomeone startedstarted toto beatbeat oonn a drumdrum oror strikestrike aa bell.bell. goinggoing throughthrough thatthat ordeal.ordeal. WheWhenn yoyouu heardheard thesethese soundssounds wouldwould thethe womenwomen herehere mistakemistake thethe drumbeatdrumbeat forfor thethe bell,bell, oorr thethe bellbell for thethe drumbeat?drumbeat? No.No. AsAs ToTo philosopherphilosopherss anandd scholarscholarss whwhoo camecame ttoo argue,argue, BankeiBankei fafarr asas hearinghearing thosethose soundssounds isis concernedconcerned,, nono differencedifference existsexists dismissedismissedd ththee ideideaa thatthat reasonreason oror thethe discriminatingdiscriminating intellectintellect betweebetweenn ththee memenn andand thethe womenwomen.. It'sIt's nonott onlyonly truetrue ofof menmen andand coulcouldd brinbringg enlightenment,enlightenment, foforr thethe veryvery notionnotion ofof seekingseeking womenwomen,, therethere areare peoplepeople ofof allall kindskinds inin thisthis hall:hall: oldold peoplepeople andand young,young, priestspriests andand laity,laity, andand soso on.on. ButBut therethere wouldn'twouldn't bbee anyany BuddhahooBuddhahoodd distractedistractedd ononee frofromm thethe Buddha-mindBuddha-mind toto beginbegin differencdifferencee iinn ththee wayway thatthat a youngyoung person,person, oorr a monk,monk, oror aa withwith.. ItIt waswas impossibleimpossible toto becomebecome somethingsomething thatthat oneone alreadyalready laymanlayman hearheardd ththee soundssounds eithereither.. TheThe placplacee iinn whicwhichh there'there'ss nono waswas.. Similarly,Similarly, hehe criticizedcriticized thosethose whowho believedbelieved thatthat oneone couldcould differencedifference iinn ththee hearinhearingg ooff thosethose soundsoundss iiss ththee UnborUnbornn ...... and and meditatmeditatee oneselfoneself intintoo satori,satori, sayinsayingg thathatt meditation,meditation, oror zazen,zazen, it'it'ss perfectlyperfectly equalequal andand absolutelyabsolutely thethe samsamee iinn eacheach ononee ooff you.you. wawass itselfitself nothinnothingg moremore thanthan thethe UnbornUnborn doingdoing peacefulpeaceful When we say "This is a man," or "This is a woman," those are When we say "This isa man," or "This is a woman," thoseare sittingsitting.. JusJustt sittingsitting,, jusjustt walking-nothingwalking—nothing extraneous.extraneous. HisHis designations that result from the arising of thought. They come designations that result from the arisingof thought. They come scorscornn foforr religioureligiouss hocus-pocuhocus-pocuss pourepouredd outout whenwhen aa practitionerpractitioner afterward.afterward. AtAt thethe placeplace ooff ththee UnbornUnborn,, before the thought arises, before the thought arises, ooff ththee ShinShin (Nembutsu)(Nembutsu) sectsect claimedclaimed thatthat Shinran,Shinran, itsits founder,founder, attributeattributess sucsuchh aass "man"man"" oorr "woman""woman" don'tdon't eveneven exist.exist. hadhad pointedpointed aa writingwriting brushbrush atat aa piece piece ofof paperpaper heldheld acrossacross aa

104 Crazy CloudsClouds Bankei Io5105 riveriverr frofromm wherewhere hehe stoodstood andand miraculouslymiraculously causedcaused thethe sixsix "chuu-chuu""chuu-chuu" ofof thethe sparrowsparrow rangrang outout thethe songsong ofof thethe UnbornUnborn charactercharacterss ooff AmidAmidaa Buddha'Buddha'ss namnamee ttoo appeaappearr oonn it.it. Laughing,Laughing, wawass equaequall ttoo BankeBankcii himselfhimself.. SSoo totooo waswas ththee benightebenightedd monkmonk BankeBankcii replierepliedd thathatt eveneven mentioninmentioningg sucsuchh a personperson waswas likelike whowho approachedapproached thethe master'smaster's chairchair andand accusedaccused himhim ofof beingbeing "puttin"puttingg dogsdogs andand menmen onon anan equalequal footing.footing."" ItIt waswas betterbetter,, hehe "foolish.""foolish." adviseadvisedd ththee nembutsu follower follower,, t oto avoiavoidd clutterin clutteringg uupp ththee mindmind "It's"It's byby beingbeing `foolish''foolish' thatthat theth eTathagata Tathagata savessaves sentientsentient witwithh suchsuch nonsensnonsensee bbyy lettinlettingg iitt functionfunction asas a mirromirrorr thatthat onlyonly beings.beings. ToTo neitheneitherr comcomee nonorr go,go, butbut toto remainremain asas youyou innatelyinnately reflectereflectedd whawhatt passepassedd iinn fronfrontt ooff iitt anandd nothinnothingg more.more. are,are, withoutwithout allowingallowing ththee minmindd ttoo becomebecome obscured—thiobscured-thiss isis LikLikee manmanyy ZeZenn teachers,teachers, BankeiBankei founfoundd thatthat educatededucated peoplepeople what'swhat's meantmeant byby Tathagata.Tathagata. AndAnd suchsuch waswas thethe wayway ofof allall thethe hahadd a particularlyparticularly harhardd timtimee graspingraspingg ththee UnborUnbornn iinn itsits sim-sim• patriarchspatriarchs ofof thethe past,"past," BankeiBankei replied.replied. plicityplicity.. IlliterateIlliterate memenn anandd womenwomen werewere oftenoften muchmuch quickerquicker atat AsAs hhee coulcouldd nonott bebe insultedinsulted oror putput offoff byby humanhuman challengers,challengers, itit,, goinggoing rightright toto thethe heartheart ofof thethe mattermatter withoutwithout aa lolott ofof BankciBankei couldcould notnot bebe frightenedfrightened eveneven byby wildwild animals.animals. Once,Once, ratiocinatioratiocinationn anandd questioningquestioning.. SeekerSeekerss whwhoo lookelookedd foforr thethe whenwhen aa wolfwolf stoodstood inin hishis pathpath,, Bankei,Bankei, noticingnoticing thatthat thethe animalanimal experiencexperiencee iinn bookbookss couldcould onlyonly blindblind themselves,themselves, hehe said.said. hadhad a bonebone caughtcaught inin itsits throat,throat, walkedwalked upup andand dislodgeddislodged itit ReadinReadingg abouaboutt iitt afterwarafterwardd iinn ththee sutrasutrass anandd writingwritingss ofof greatgreat withwith hishis fingers.fingers. TheThe wolfwol f acknowledgedacknowledged itsits gratitudegratitude byby ZeZenn teachersteachers wawass interesininteresingg onlonlyy iinn thathatt iitt confirmeconfirmedd whawhatt oneone waggingwagging itsits tail;tail; thenthen itit disappeareddisappeared intointo thethe forest.forest. ButBut fromfrom hahadd alreadyalready foundfound forfor oneself.oneself. thatthat dayday on,on, wheneverwhenever BankeiBankei traveledtraveled alongalong thatthat particularparticular IInn oneone dramaticdramatic confrontationconfrontation witwithh a priestpriest whowho hadhad comecome road,road, thethe wolfwolf wouldwould comecome boundinboundingg ououtt inin frontfront ofof himhim andand ttoo publiclypublicly debundebunkk himhim,, crying,crying, "How"How cancan youyou savesave mmee whenwhen accompanyaccompany himhim forfor aa fewfew milesmiles towardtoward hishis destination.destination. ToTo hishis I don'tdon't acceptaccept youryour teaching?"teaching?" BankeiBankei onlyonly liftedlifted hishis fanfan andand fellowfellow travelerstravelers BankeBankeii hahadd illustratedillustrated hishis ownown teachingteaching inin askeaskedd ththee mamann toto movemove forwardforward aa fewfew steps.steps. WhenWhen thethe priestpriest action:action: "Hesitate"Hesitate andand it'sit's lost;lost; waverwaver andand itit drawsdraws furtherfurther andand dididd so,so, BankeiBankei askedasked hihimm toto comecome stillstill further.further. TheThe priestpriest furtherfurther away."away." advancedadvanced,, anandd BankeBankeii saidsaid,, "Loo"Lookk howhow wellwell youyou acceptaccept it!"it!" ThougThoughh hehe refusedrefused toto writewrite anan officialofficial deathdeath poempoem andand waswas VanquishedVanquished,, ththee debunkedebunkerr mademade a quickquick exit.exit. onlyonly privatelyprivately aa finefine poetpoet andand talentedtalented painterpainter andand calligrapher,calligrapher, WheWhenn askeaskedd hohoww hhee fitfit intointo thethe lineline ofof greatgreat ZenZen teachers,teachers, BankeiBankei dididd leaveleave hihiss wordwordss behinbehindd iinn thethe sermonssermons thatthat werewere BankeiBankei repliedreplied,, "Tokusa"Tokusann anandd RinzaRinzaii knekneww hohoww ttoo useuse thethe secretlysecretly recordedrecorded byby hishis disciplesdisciples andand inin thethe folkfolk poetrypoetry hehe hadhad stickstick anandd shoutshout;; I knowknow howhow toto useuse thethe threethree inchesinches [of[of mymy writtenwritten forfor thethe mountainmountain farmersfarmers whowho keptkept himhim alivealive duringduring tongue].tongue]."" HeHe likenedlikened hishis golden-tonguedgolden-tongued teachingteaching toto aa ballball hishis pilgrimagepilgrimage years.years. OneOne suchsuch poempoem celebratingcelebrating thethe NewNew YearYear thathatt hadhad beenbeen smashedsmashed toto bitsbits andand scatteredscattered amongamong hishis listen-listen• encompassesencompasses Bankei'Bankci'ss entireentire teachingteaching inin hishis ownown unmistakableunmistakable ersers,, eacheach gaininggaining a piecepiece aass larglargee aass hihiss oorr heherr capacitycapacity ttoo holdhold voice.voice. itit.. IInn thethe samesame vein,vein, hehe condemnedcondemned hishis contemporariescontemporaries forfor makinmakingg prisonsprisons ofof theirtheir monasteries,monasteries, wherewhere eveneven thethe smallestsmallest WhaWhatt doedoess iitt mattermatter,, thethe newnew year,year, thethe oldold year?year? infractioinfractionn resulteresultedd iinn corporacorporall punishmenpunishmentt andand publicpublic humili-humili• I stretcstretchh outout mymy legslegs andand all al lalone alone have have aa quietquiet sleepsleep Don'Don'tt telltell meme thethe monksmonks aren'taren't gettinggetting theirtheir instructioninstruction ationation.. Bankei'sBankei's simple,simple, individuallyindividually orientedoriented Zen,Zen, hishis respectrespect HerHeree anandd thertheree thethe nightingalenightingale isis singing;singing; thethe highesthighest Zen.Zen. forfor thethe UnbornUnborn residingresiding inin allall formsforms ofof life,life, hadhad nono placeplace forfor ththee kinkindd ooff "prying"prying oror bullying"bullying" thatthat mademade studentsstudents sicksick oror resentfuresentfull ooff ththee practicepractice,, oorr causedcaused thethemm toto gogo mad.mad. ThThee farmefarmerr foforr whowhomm thethe "kaa"kaa kaa"kaa" ofof thethe crowcrow andand thethe io6106 Crazy CloudsClouds I Bankei 107 6

Hakuin: The OldOld HereticHeretic under thethe SalaSola TreeTree

ThThee childchild IwajiroIwajiro Nagasawa,Nagasawa, whowho,, laterlater,, underunder hishis BuddhistBuddhist namnamee HakuiHakuinn EkakEkakuu woulwouldd becombecomee ththee greagreatt reformerreformer ofof JapaneseJapanese RinzaRinzaii ZenZen,, wawass borbornn oonn ChristmasChristmas Day,Day, 1685,1685, iinn thethe littllittlee towtownn ofof HaraHara inin thethe JapaneseJapanese prefectureprefecture ofof Shizuoka.Shizuoka. ItIt wawass eigheightt yearsyears beforbeforee Bankei'Bankei'ss deathdeath,, a timetime thatthat witnessedwitnessed ththee overshadowinovershadowingg ooff ZeZenn BuddhisBuddhismm bbyy mormoree populapopularr formsforms liklikee NichireNichirenn anandd Shin.Shin. BuddhisBuddhismm itselitselff hahadd loslostt ititss primaryprimary positiopositionn withiwithinn JapanesJapanesee religioreligionn ttoo ththee Neo-ConfucianisNeo-Confucianismm ooff scholarscholarss liklikee HayashHayashii RazanRazan,, KaibarKaibaraa EkikenEkiken,, andand TaniTani Jichu,Jichu, whwhoo excoriatedexcoriated thethe BuddhistBuddhist doctrinesdoctrines ofof celibacycelibacy anandd retire-retire• mentment fromfrom thethe worldworld asas antisocialantisocial forcesforces destructivedestructive ooff thethe cosmicosmicc order.order. ThThee glitterglitter andand gloryglory ofof thethe reignreign ofof thethe firstfirst fourfour TokugawaTokugawa shoguns,shoguns, IeyasuIeyasu (1603-1616),(1603-1616), HidetadaHidetada (1616-1622),(1616-1622), IernitsuIernitsu (1622-1651)(1622-1651),, an andd Ietsun letsunaa (1651-1680)(1651-168o),, ha hadd wor wornn offoff.. TheThe powerpower anandd intelligenceintelligence o off thesthesee rulersrulers,, whwhoo hadhad beenbeen sur-sur• roundedrounded byby traditional,traditional, well-educatedwell-educated ministersministers andand advisers,advisers, gavegave wawayy ttoo a shortshort periodperiod ofof unrestrainedunrestrained fugitivefugitive pleasurespleasures andand amusements.amusements. TheatersTheaters andand restaurants,restaurants, wrestlingwrestling boothsbooths andand "houses"houses ofof joy,"joy," dwellingsdwellings forfor countlesscountless actors,actors, dancers,dancers, storytellers,storytellers, jestersjesters,, courtesans,courtesans, bathgirls,bathgirls, andand dissolutedissolute samu-samu• rairai werewere centerecenteredd mainlmainlyy iinn ththee BakufuBakufu capitacapitall ooff EdoEdo.. TheThe neneww shogunshogun Tsunayoshi,Tsunayoshi, whwhoo triggeretriggeredd thithiss shorshortt ereraa ofof e bourgeoibourgeoiss frivolityfrivolity andand extravaganceextravagance knownknown asas thethe GenrokuGenroku yetyet degenerateddegenerated intintoo apathyapathy anandd whenwhen heroesheroes couldcould notnot bebe (1688-1711)(1688-1711),, wawass aa superstitiousuperstitiouss anandd spendthrifspendthriftt pedantpedant.. De-De• boughtbought byby thethe highesthighest bidder.bidder. TheThe spiritspirit ofo fbushido bushido isis bestbest fyingfying hishis ConfucianConfucian advisers,advisers, andand neglectingneglecting theirtheir soundsound andand reflectedreflected iinn ththee bookbook Hagakure,Hagakure, publishepublishedd arounaroundd 1720,1720, whichwhich sobersober politics,politics, TsunayoshiTsunayoshi embarkedembarked onon aa campaigncampaign toto renewrenew containscontains ththee teachingsteachings ooff twtwoo elderlyelderly membermemberss ofof thethe samuraisamurai thethe artsarts andand education,education, andand startedstarted anan extensiveextensive buildingbuilding pro-pro• class,class, YamamotYamamotoo TsunetomTsunetomoo andand TashiroTashiro TsuramotoTsuramoto.. TheseThese gramgram inin thethe capital.capital. TheThe exorbitantexorbitant fundingfunding ofof thesethese socialsocial andand menmen triedtried toto conveyconvey thethe truesttruest spiritspirit ofo f theth eold-fashioned old-fashioned aestheticaesthetic reformsreforms succeededsucceeded inin devastatingdevastating statestate finances,finances, andand samuraisamurai bbyy stressingstressing ththee importancimportancee o off ththee "ar"artt ofof dying."dying." thethe shogun'sshogun's clumsyclumsy attemptsattempts ttoo remedyremedy thethe situationsituation byby AbsoluteAbsolute lovlovee anandd loyaltyloyalty ttoo one'sone's deceaseddeceased lordlord foundfound itsits enhancinenhancingg ththee circulatiocirculationn ooff metametall coinagcoinagee iinn placplacee ooff thethe expressionexpression inin thethe practicepractice ot~of oibara, oibara, joininjoiningg hihimm bbyy committingcommitting traditionatraditionall "ric"ricee currency,"currency," pairedpaired withwith draconiandraconian cutcutss iinn thethe rituarituall suicidesuicide,, oror seppuku.seppuku. FoForr YoshimunYoshimunee warriorwarriorss thithiss wawass thethe salariesalariess ooff retainerretainerss anandd a cucutt inin thethe annualannual allowanceallowance foforr thethe romanticromantic equivalentequivalent ooff dyindyingg togethetogetherr witwithh one'one'ss lorlordd onon thethe imperialimperial courtcourt inin Kyoto,Kyoto, onlyonly ledled toto anan intolerableintolerable increaseincrease inin battlefieldsbattlefields ofof thethe past.past. foodfood prices.prices. Bushido wa wass nurture nurturedd b byy aa misguidemisguidedd interpretatiointerpretationn ooff ZenZen ObliviouObliviouss ttoo popularpopular resentmentresentment andand surroundingsurrounding himselfhimself BuddhisBuddhismm thathatt likenedlikened ththee fortitudefortitude andand disciplinediscipline ooff thethe withwith small-mindedsmall-minded advisers,advisers, TsunayoshiTsunayoshi extendedextended hishis privateprivate warriowarriorr iinn battlebattle toto thethe ZenZen monk'smonk's singlemindedsingleminded concentra-concentra• sensibilitiessensibilities eveevenn furthe furtherr intintoo ththee publipublicc domaidomainn byby declaringdeclaring tiontion.. BothBoth disciplinesdisciplines focusedfocused onon eliminatingeliminating "worldly""worldly" ththee killingkilling ofof animalsanimals aa capitalcapital offense.offense. ThisThis necessitatednecessitated thethe thoughtthoughtss andand attainingattaining aa statestate ofof perfectperfect serenityserenity inin thethe realiza-realiza• creationcreation ooff anan enormousenormous bureaucracybureaucracy consistingconsisting ofof policepolice andand tiotionn ofof thethe emptinessemptiness ofof allall appearances.appearances. HagakureHagakure authorauthor inspectorinspectorss ttoo keekeepp tractrackk ooff allall newbornnewborn litterslitters andand toto makemake YamamotYamamotoo TsunetomTsunetomoo himselfhimself becamebecame a ZeZenn priestpriest inin hishis oldold accurataccuratee listlistss ooff ththee sesexx anandd markingmarkingss ooff ththee animals.animals. SamuraiSamurai ageage,, preachingpreaching ththee perverseperverse notionotionn thatthat humanshumans areare "like"like whwhoo defieddefied thisthis decreedecree werewere mercilesslymercilessly puputt ttoo deathdeath aatt thethe superblsuperblyy contrivecontrivedd marionettesmarionettes,, whwhoo withoutwithout stringsstrings attached,attached, shogun'sshogun's personalpersonal orders.orders. NicknamingNicknaming himhim Inu-Kobo,Inu-Kobo, oror cancan strut,strut, jumpjump,, andand utterutter wordswords onon thethe stagestage ofof emptyempty Dog-ShogunDog-Shogun,, thethe citizenscitizens ooff EdEdoo diddid notnot grievegrieve whewhenn Tsuna-Tsuna• dreams. " yoshyoshii waswas murderedmurdered byby hishis wifewife inin 1709.1709. DovetailinDovetailingg witwithh thithiss warriorwarrior code,code, shogunshogun YoshimuneYoshimune in-in• Tsunayoshi'Tsunayoshi'ss culturalcultural bloombloom,, withwith allall itsits corruptcorrupt deviations,deviations, auguratedaugurated a powerfulpowerful reactioreactionn againsagainstt ththee funlovinfunlovingg spirispiritt ofof hahadd comcomee ttoo anan end.end. AfterAfter sixsix yearsyears ofof rulrulee byby hishis successors,successors, thethe Genroku,Genroku, whichwhich hadhad underminedundermined thethe samuraisamurai classclass and,and, byby twtwoo weakweak TokugawaTokugawa shogunsshoguns,, a newnew strongman,strongman, TokugawaTokugawa extension,extension, thethe BakufuBakufu government.government. InIn keepingkeeping withwith thethe spar-spar• YoshimunYoshimunee (1716-1745)(r716-1745),, tootookk powepowerr anandd reinforcereinforcedd ththee tradi-tradi• tantan codecode ofof thethe samurai,samurai, hehe cutcut downdown onon allal l statestate expenses,expenses, tionaltional samuraisamurai valuevaluess ooff frugality,frugality, honorhonor,, andand loyalty.loyalty. AsAs firstfirst andand foremostforemost onon hishis ownown shogunalshogunal householdhousehold expendi-expendi• cultivatedcultivated bbyy thethe YoshimuneYoshimune regime,regime, thisthis revivalrevival ofof earlierearlier turestures,, makingmaking itit a poinpointt toto dressdress inin simplesimple cottocottonn garmentsgarments andand TokugawTokugawaa attitudeattitudess anandd values—particularlvalues-particularlyy bushido,bushido, thethe "Way"Way eaeatt simplsimplee foodfood.. HiHiss policiespolicies werweree deliberateldeliberatelyy construeconstruedd ttoo hihitt ooff thethe Warrior"-pervadedWarrior"—pervaded everyevery aspectaspect ofof ZenZen mastemasterr Hak-Hak- ththee merchantmerchant class,class, especiallespeciallyy i nin ththee capitacapitall aatt EdoEdo,, homhomee toto uin'uin'ss lifelife andand teaching.teaching. SymbolizingSymbolizing samuraisamurai rejectiorejectionn ooff thethe larglargee numbernumberss ooff governmentgovernment contractorscontractors anandd purveyorpurveyorss ooff neneww industriaindustriall andand commercialcommercial wealthwealth ofof thethe choninchonin (townspeo-(townspeo• luxuryluxury.. YoshimuneYoshimune passepassedd lawlawss prohibitinprohibitingg suitsuitss betweebetweenn samsam-• ple)ple),, bushido revive revivedd th thee freewheelin freewheelingg warrio warriorr spirispiritt ooff ththee latelate urauraii anandd merchantsmerchants overover loans,loans, andand townspeopletownspeople werewere forbid-forbid• sixteenthsixteenth centurycentury,, representinrepresentingg "th"thee googoodd ololdd days,"days," whenwhen dedenn toto assembleassemble outsidoutsidee samuraisamurai househousess ttoo collectcollect debtsdebts.. ButBut power,power, loyaltyloyalty,, anandd thethe braverybravery ofof fightingfighting warriorswarriors hadhad notnot eveevenn thesthesee stricstrictt measuremeasuress coulcouldd nonott preventprevent ththee impoverish-impoverish- no110 Crazy CloudsClouds Hakuin 111in mennientt ofof thethe warriorwarrior eliteelite andand aa slowslow dissolutiondissolution ofof thethe oldold classclass governmengovernmentt troopstroops,, killingkilling thousandsthousands ofof malemale householderhouseholderss inin structure.structure. ByBy thethe timetime YoshimuneYoshimune died,died, socialsocial dividingdividing lineslines ththee procesprocesss andand leavingleaving manymany familiesfamilies toto starve.starve. werewere ssoo blurredblurred thatthat merchantsmerchants coulcouldd bubuyy entryentry intointo thethe AlAlll efforteffortss ooff thethe BakufuBakufu governmentgovernment toto regulateregulate thethe priceprice samurasamuraii class.class. EvenEven thethe spiritspirit ofof bushidobushido hahadd beebeenn appropriatedappropriated ooff rice,rice, toto fixfix ratesrates ofof interest,interest, andand toto annihilateannihilate outstandingoutstanding bbyy thethe chonin, whwhoo mergemergedd ththee traditionatraditionall valuesvalues ooff ththee warriorwarrior samurasamuraii debtdebtss remainedremained unsuccessful.unsuccessful. InIn addition,addition, aa successionsuccession clasclasss witwithh bourgeoibourgeoiss notionnotionss ofof self-importance.self-importance. ooff incapablincapablee shogunshogunss furthefurtherr weakeneweakenedd ththee government'government'ss holdhold ParadoxicallyParadoxically,, however,however, YoshimunYoshimunee alsalsoo reopenereopenedd thethe doordoor oonn thethe country.country. TheThe destructiondestruction ooff thethe oldold lifelonglifelong feudalfeudal toto WesternWestern learninglearning.. SinceSince ththee ExclusionExclusion EdictEdictss ofof 1637,1637, thethe relationshiprelationship betweebetweenn lorlordd andand retainer,retainer, whichwhich hadhad beenbeen basedbased onlyonly channelchannel ofof communicationcommunication withwith thethe WestWest hadhad beenbeen thethe oonn loyaltyloyalty ratherrather thanthan onon cash,cash, hahadd progressedprogressed totooo far.far. TheThe littllittlee DutchDutch settlementsettlement atat Nagasaki,Nagasaki, andand JapaneseJapanese couldcould learnlearn newnew wealthywealthy merchantmerchant classclass andand ththee moneylendersmoneylenders nownow con-con• ooff ththee outsidoutsidee worlworldd onlonlyy througthroughh merchantsmerchants andand shipmasters.shipmasters. trolledtrolled thethe economyeconomy ofof JapanJapan.. SlowlySlowly bubutt surelysurely,, theythey changedchanged WitWithh ththee exceptioexceptionn ofof ChristiaChristiann religiousreligious literature,literature, YoshimuneYoshimune ththee societalsocietal structurstructuree ssoo thoroughlthoroughlyy thatthat,, withinwithin aa hundredhundred liftedlifted ththee babann oonn ththee importatioimportationn ofof foreignforeign books,books, andand WesternWestern yearsyears,, thethe TokugawaTokugawa shogunatshogunatee disappeared,disappeared, givinggiving wayway toto thethe sciencesciencess liklikee medicinmedicinee anandd astronomyastronomy immediatelyimmediately begabegann toto commercializationcommercialization ofof powerpower andand thethe restorationrestoration ofof thethe imperialimperial penetratpenetratee JapanesJapanesee lifelife.. AlthougAlthoughh YoshimuneYoshimune appearsappears toto havehave houshousee ofof Meiji.Meiji. IItt waswas againstagainst thisthis transitionaltransitional turn-of-the-turn-of-the- beebeenn a manman ofof considerableconsiderable talentstalents andand somsomee originalityoriginality ofof centurcenturyy JapanesJapanesee backdrobackdropp thatthat HakuinHakuin lived.lived. mindmind,, itit isis hardhard toto understandunderstand whywhy hehe underminedundermined hishis ownown IwajiroIwajiro NagasawaNagasawa wawass ththee youngesyoungestt sosonn inin a familyfamily ofof fivefive effortsefforts toto reviverevive traditionaltraditional samuraisamurai valuesvalues byby passingpassing lawslaws thatthat childrenchildren.. HiHiss fatherfather andand grandfather,grandfather, thoughthough ofof high-classhigh-class indirectlindirectlyy benefitedbenefited thethe merchantmerchant class.class. PerhapsPerhaps asas a followerfollower samuraisamurai birthbirth,, workedworked aass postmasterspostmasters iinn ththee littlelittle towntown ofof ooff orthodoxorthodox Confucianism,Confucianism, hehe waswas notnot willingwilling toto deprivedeprive HaraHara,, which,which, locatedlocated inin thethe immediateimmediate vicinityvicinity ofof MountMount Fuji,Fuji, himselhimselff ooff knowledgknowledgee frofromm otherother culturalcultural sourcessources.. ByBy bestow-bestow• servedserved aass a restinrestingg placeplace foforr tiredtired travelerstravelers oonn theitheirr wayway fromfrom inging hishis patronagepatronage uponupon ConfucianistsConfucianists ofof variousvarious schools,schools, hehe ththee imperiaimperiall capitalcapital,, KyotoKyoto,, ttoo thethe BakufuBakufu capital,capital, EdoEdo,, andand further weakened the influence of Buddhism, leaving the costs further weakened the influence of Buddhism, leavingthe costs hack.back. HisHis mother'smother's familyfamily werewere devoutdevout followersfollowers ofof thethe LotusLotus for the maintenance of temples and the priesthood to the for the maintenance of temples and the priesthoodto the Sutra secsectt (Nichiren)(Nichiren),, aa forformm ofof BuddhismBuddhism thatthat IwajiroIwajiro wouldwould individual daimyos, or feudal lords. individual daimyos, or feudal lords. trtryy toto reformreform laterlater onon inin hishis life.life. FromFrom thethe timetime ofof Yoshimune'sYoshimune's deathdeath inin 17417455 ttoo Hakuin'sHakuin's UndeUnderr ththee influenceinfluence ooff hihiss pioupiouss mothermother,, IwajiroIwajiro soonsoon beganbegan deatdeathh iinn 1768,1768, thethe countrycountry wawass frequentlyfrequently strucstruckk byby plagueplague ttoo showshow extraordinaryextraordinary talenttalent forfor aa religiousreligious lifelife.. WhenWhen stillstill aa andand famine,famine, thethe resultresult ofof unbearableunbearable taxtax burdensburdens andand livingliving younyoungg boy,boy, hehe expoundedexpounded longlong sutrasutra passagespassages frofromm memory,memory, conditionsconditions bornbornee bbyy thethe ruralrural population.population. TheThe lifelife ooff thethe anandd meditatemeditatedd onon thethe transitorinesstransitoriness ofof allall thingthingss asas hhee watchedwatched peasanpeasantt hahadd beenbeen constrictedconstricted byby fluctuatingfluctuating ricerice pricesprices andand a ththee passingpassing cloudsclouds.. IwajiroIwajiro,, whicwhichh meanmeanss "bo"boyy ooff rock,"rock," wideninwideningg gapgap iinn ththee livinlivingg standardstandard.. Farmers,Farmers, whowho werweree forcedforced quicklyquickly developeddeveloped a stronstrongg bodbodyy andand anan ironiron will.will. BiographicalBiographical ttoo borrowborrow fromfrom moneylendersmoneylenders chargingcharging exorbitantexorbitant interestinterest recordrecordss describdescribee aa younyoungg mamann withwith aa determineddetermined faceface andand big,big, ratesrates,, resorteresortedd ttoo abortionabortion andand infanticideinfanticide iinn ordeorderr toto keepkeep roundround,, shiningshining eyes.eyes. HakuinHakuin laterlater recalledrecalled himselfhimself asas aa fearless,fearless, familiesfamilies smalsmalll enougenoughh ttoo sustainsustain whatwhat littlelittle waswas leftleft afterafter debtsdebts impulsivimpulsivee fellofelloww whwhoo delighteddelighted inin catchingcatching andand killingkilling insectsinsects andand taxes.taxes. ThisThis unbearableunbearable situationsituation drovedrove manmanyy farmersfarmers toto anandd smalsmalll birds.birds. desperatedesperate measuresmeasures,, anandd soonsoon thethe countrysidecountryside eruptederupted iinn or-or• OnOnee day,day, hishis mothermother tooktook himhim toto aa NichirenNichiren sermonsermon eluci-eluci• ganizeganizedd masmasss uprisingsuprisings.. SuchSuch riotsriots werewere brutallybrutally quelledquelled byby datindatingg ththee agonyagony ofof thethe eighteight burningburning hells.hells. Iwajiro,Iwajiro, closeclose toto

112 Crazy CloudsClouds Hakuin 113113 physicaphysicall breakdownbreakdown,, rarann ououtt ooff ththee temple,temple, hishis bodybody shakingshaking piesples,, wawass teachinteachingg ththee artart ofof composingcomposing linkedlinked ZenZen versesverses inin witwithh fearfear anandd terrorterror forfor hishis sins.sins. FromFrom thatthat dayday on,on, thethe meremere Chinese.Chinese. ForFor a time,time, Ekaku'sEkaku's inherentinherent artisticartistic talenttalent overpow-overpow• sighsightt ooff aa firefire promptedprompted long,long, uninterrupteduninterrupted musingsmusings aboutabout eredered ththee spiritualspiritual seekerseeker iinn himhim,, anandd hhee decidedecidedd ttoo remairemainn withwith helhelll anandd ititss avoidanceavoidance.. TToo cal calmm him him,, hihiss mothemotherr taughtaughtt himhim toto Bao.Bao. BuButt itit waswas notnot longlong beforebefore hishis oldold fearfear ofof hellhell returnedreturned recitrecitee certaicertainn passagepassagess frofromm variouvariouss BuddhisBuddhistt sutrasutrass anandd toto andand drovedrove hihimm backback toto Zen.Zen. invokinvokee ththee namnamee ooff ththee ShintoShinto gogodd TemmanTemman TenjinTcnjin.. ImpressedImpressed OnOnee day,day, closingclosing hishis eyeseyes andand invokinginvoking ththee aidaid ofof allall thethe bbyy thethe BuddhistBuddhist sutras,sutras, IwajiroIwajiro soosoonn startedstarted ttoo testtest theirtheir BuddhasBuddhas anandd ancestralancestral teacherteacherss ttoo guideguide hishis hands,hands, EkakuEkaku effectivenesseffectiveness empiricallyempirically.. FoForr severaseverall daydayss hhee reciterecitedd a sutrasutra pickedpicked a boobookk fromfrom Bao'sBao's library.library. ToTo hishis delightdelight hehe discovereddiscovered thathatt wawass saidsaid ttoo preventprevent thethe zealouszealous followefollowerr frofromm ththee harmfulharmful thatthat hehe hadhad selectedselected UrgingUrging throughthrough thethe ZenZen Barriers,Barriers, aa seven-seven• effectseffects ooff firfiree anandd waterwater.. TakinTakingg aa glowinglowingg iroironn frofromm thethe hearthhearth teenth-centuryteenth-century collectioncollection ofof lectureslectures andand storiesstories describingdescribing thethe witwithh hishis barebare hand,hand, IwajiroIwajiro painfullypainfully realizedrealized thatthat hehe hadhad mademade rigorousrigorous practicepractice ooff ChinesChinesee ZeZenn mastersmasters.. HHee openeopenedd ththee bookbook nnoo progressprogress onon thethe pathpath toto purification.purification. ThisThis experienceexperience con-con• atat randomrandom andand readread aboutabout thethe famousfamous RinzaiRinzai mastermaster SekisoSekiso vincevincedd hihimm thathatt thethe onlyonly thingthing leftleft toto dodo waswas toto becomebecome aa KeishoKeisho (Shih-shuan(Shih-shuangg Ch'ing-shu)Ch'ing-shu),, whowho,, meditatingmeditating dayday andand monkmonk,, andand hehe askedasked hishis parentsparents foforr permissiopermissionn ttoo enteenterr a ZenZen nighnightt withoutwithout interruption,interruption, hadhad piercedpierced hishis legslegs witwithh a sharpsharp monasterymonastery.. AfteAfterr mucmuchh pleadinpleadingg oonn hihiss partpart andand denialdenial onon woodenwooden stickstick atat thethe slightestslightest hinthint ofof drowsiness.drowsiness. Ekaku'sEkaku's zealzeal theirstheirs,, IwajiroIwajiro finallyfinally gogott hishis wayway andand waswas formallyformally ordainedordained waswas ssoo arousearousedd bbyy SekisSekisoo Keisho'Kcisho'ss examplexamplee that that,, oonn hearinhearingg ofof aatt thethe ageage ofof fifteen.fifteen. TheThe abbotabbot TanrciTanrei SodenSoden ofof Shoin-jiShoin-ji inin hishis hishis mother'mother'ss death,death, hehe resolvedresolved toto dedicatededicate himselfhimself entirelentirelyy toto nativnativee HarHaraa gavgavee hihimm ththee BuddhisBuddhistt namename,, EkakuEkaku,, CranCranee ofof thethe realizationrealization ooff hishis BuddhaBuddha naturenature regardlessregardless ofof thethe conse-conse• WisdomWisdom.. SoonSoon afterafter thethe ordinationordination ceremony,ceremony, AbbotAbbot TanreiTanrei quences.quences. DispensingDispensing eveneven witwithh ththee obligatoryobligatory funeralfuneral ceremo-ceremo• felfelll illill,, anandd EkakuEkaku waswas sentsent offoff toto continuecontinue hishis ZenZen trainingtraining nieniess foforr hihiss mother,mother, EkakuEkaku leftleft Bao'sBao's templetemple andand resumedresumed hishis witwithh AbbotAbbot SokudoSokudo ooff DaishoDaisho-j jii iinn thethe nearbynearby towntown ofof Nu-Nu- spirituaspirituall searchsearch.. AAtt JokJokoo monasterymonastery inin WakasaWakasa province,province, a mazumazu.. lecturlecturee oonn thethe jojoyy ooff realizatiorealizationn ssoo movemovedd hihimm thatthat,, withwith tearstears DisappointeDisappointedd bbyy ththee stylisticstylistic approacapproachh ttoo sutrasutra studystudy hehe iinn hishis eyes,eyes, hhee decideddecided ttoo burburnn alalll hihiss arartt work-includingwork—including foundfound atat thethe temple,temple, EkakuEkaku soonsoon lostlost interestinterest inin hishis newnew poemspoems,, calligraphiescalligraphies,, an andd paintings—i paintings-inn thethe ultimateultimate efforeffortt toto surroundingssurroundings anandd sesett ououtt onon aa journejourneyy toto findfind aa "true"true teacherteacher devotdevotee hihiss liflifee exclusivelexclusivelyy ttoo realizinrealizingg ththee Unborn.Unborn. ooff Zen"Zen" whowho wouldwould bringbring himhim toto satori. satori. NowNow nineteennineteen yearsyears DuringDuring hishis travels,travels, EkakEkakuu hahadd begunbegun toto sitsit withwith Joshu'sJoshu's ololdd andand physicallyphysically veryvery strong,strong, EkakuEkaku visitedvisited severalseveral temples,temples, "Mu,"Mu,"" thethe famousfamous firstfirst koankoan ofof thethe thirteenth-centurythirteenth-century ChineseChinese bubutt foundfound nonenone ofof themthem satisfactory.satisfactory. DuringDuring hishis travelstravels hehe classiclassicc koakoann collection,collection, TheThe GatelessGateless Gate.Gate. camcamee acrosacrosss aa biographybiography ooff thethe ChineseChinese T'angT'ang periodperiod ZenZen A monmonkk askedasked JoshuJoshu,, "Doe"Doess thethe dogdog havehave BuddhBuddhaa naturnaturee oror mastemasterr GantoGanto (Yen(Yen T'ou)T'ou),, famousfamous forfor shoutingshouting soso loudlyloudly atat hishis not?not?"" assassinatioassassinationn b byy banditbanditss tha thatt hhee hahadd beenbeen heardheard forfor milesmiles JoshuJoshu saidsaid,, "Mu.""Mu." aroundaround.. DismayedDismayed thatthat suchsuch aa distinguisheddistinguished ZenZen adeptadept couldcould Mu literallliterallyy meanmeanss "nothing "nothing"" oror "no,""no," butbut Joshu'sJoshu's answeranswer isis stilstilll bbee touchetouchedd byby fearfear ofof deathdeath afterafter devotingdevoting hishis lifelife ttoo thethe notnot aa negationnegation ofof thethe monk'smonk's question;question; instead,instead, iti treveals reveals thethe developmendevelopmentt o off aa purpuree andand detacheddetached mindmind,, EkakuEkaku fellfell intointo qualitqualityy ooff BuddhBuddhaa naturnaturee inin thethe spontaneityspontaneity ofof thethe interaction.interaction. doubtdoubt aboutabout thethe validityvalidity ofof hishis ownown quest.quest. InIn thisthis condition,condition, CombineCombinedd witwithh attentionattention toto thethe breath,breath, mumu isis thethe meditationmeditation hhee arrivearrivedd aatt a littlelittle templtemplee iinn thethe provinceprovince ooff Mino,Mino, wherewhere devicdevicee thathatt leadleadss ththee studenstudentt toto kensho,kensho, aa glimpsglimpsee intintoo hihiss oror BaoBao,, a poorpoor poet-monkpoet-monk whowho hadhad collectedcollected aa handfulhandful ofof disci-disci- heherr owownn BuddhaBuddha nature.nature.

114 Crazy CloudsClouds I Hakuin 115 ToTo resolvresolvee thithiss ultimatultimatee questionquestion,, EkakEkakuu workedworked onon mumu withwith iinn a statstatee ooff single-mindedsingle-minded focufocuss oonn one'sone's koan;koan; 2)2) daishi,daishi, thethe characteristicharacteristicc determinationdetermination.. WheWhenn iinn ththee compancompanyy ofof otherother GreatGreat Death,Death, aa suddensudden expansionexpansion ofof one'sone's consciousnessconsciousness thatthat travelintravelingg monk monkss whwhoo hahadd stoppestoppedd ttoo restrest andand admireadmire thethe includeincludess ththee wholwholee universuniversee iinn ththee experienceexperience ooff bodbodyy andand beautifubeautifull landscapelandscape,, hhee woulwouldd remairemainn seatedseated iinn zazen,zazen, mur-mur• minmindd droppingdropping away;away; andand 3)3) daikangi,daikangi, ththee GreaGreatt Joyjoy,, reemer-reemer- muringmuring,, "What"What goodgood isis itit toto indulgeindulge inin sensualsensual pleasurepleasure whenwhen gcncegence intintoo ththee worlworldd ooff thingthingss witwithh a fundamentafundamentall understand-understand• one'sone's ultimateultimate questionquestion iiss notnot yetyet resolved?"resolved?" Once,Once, whenwhen iningg ofof nonseparatenessnonseparateness accompaniedaccompanied byby overwhelmingoverwhelming lovelove sittingsitting inin aa templetemple shakenshaken byby earthquakeearthquake duringduring thethe 17071707 andjoyand joy.. eruptioneruption ofof MountMount Fuji,Fuji, EkakuEkaku remainedremained fixedfixed onon hishis cushioncushion EkakEkakuu hahadd finallyfinally reachereachedd hihiss goalgoal.. NoNoww eageeagerr ttoo confirmconfirm whilewhile allall thethe otherother monksmonks fledfled thethe meditationmeditation hallhall inin aa panic.panic. hihiss "huge"huge"" satori,satori, hhee decidedecidedd ttoo gegett formaformall approvaapprovall frofromm thethe A yeayearr laterlater,, atat Eigan-jiEigan-ji iinn ththee provincprovincee ooff EchigoEchigo,, thethe twenty-twenty- ZeZenn masters.masters. ToTo hihiss greagreatt disappointment,disappointment, ththee teachers,teachers, whowho four-year-olfour-year-oldd EkakEkakuu waswas meditatingmeditating assiduouslyassiduously dayday andand didn'didn'tt regardregard hishis experienceexperience aass anythinanythingg mormoree thanthan a "small""small" nightnight,, sleepingsleeping onlonlyy forfor minutesminutes atat aa time.time. Suddenly,Suddenly, hehe waswas kensho, refuse refusedd t too givgivee hihimm theitheirr sealseal ooff approval.approval. SomewhatSomewhat overcomovercomee bbyy enormousenormous tensiontension manifestingmanifesting itselitselff iinn ththee formform humbledhumbled,, bubutt stillstill convincedconvinced ofof hishis enlightenment,enlightenment, EkakuEkaku ooff a GreatGreat Doubt.Doubt. ThisThis waswas followedfollowed byby hishis firstfirst spiritualspiritual turneturnedd uupp atat thethe littlelittle hermitaghermitagee ooff DokyDokyoo EtanEtan,, ththee OlOldd ManMan breakthroughbreakthrough,, describeddescribed laterlater iinn a letteletterr ttoo aann ololdd ZeZenn nun.nun. ooff ShojuShoju,, a ZeZenn mastemasterr inin hishis sixtiessixties whwhoo waswas asas renownedrenowned forfor ththee deptdepthh ofof hishis ZenZen understandingunderstanding asas forfor hishis eccentricity.eccentricity. SuddenlySuddenly aa greagreatt doubtdoubt manifestedmanifested itselitselff beforbeforee meme.. ItIt waswas asas BorBornn intointo aa samuraisamurai family,family, DokyoDokyo hadhad earlyearly developeddeveloped a thougthoughh II werewere frozenfrozen solidsolid inin thethe midstmidst ofof anan iceice sheetsheet extendingextending desirdesiree ttoo becombecomee a monkmonk.. AfterAfter aa yearyear ofof severesevere trainingtraining withwith tentenss ooff thousandthousandss ooff milesmiles.. A puritpurityy filledfilled mmyy breastbreast andand I couldcould ththee famousfamous ShidoShido Bu'nanBu'nan ZenjiZenji atat hishis mountainmountain hermitage,hermitage, neitherneither gogo forwardforward nornor retreat.retreat. ToTo allall intentsintents andand purposespurposes II waswas DokyDokyoo experiencedexperienced profounprofoundd satori anandd receivedreceived ththee sealseal ofof outout ofof mmyy minmindd anandd ththee "Mu"Mu"" alonalonee remained remained...... ThisThis statestate lastedlasted foforr severalseveral daysdays.. TheThenn I chancechancedd ttoo heahearr ththee soundsound ofof thethe approvaapprovall frofromm hishis teacher.teacher. StillStill inin hishis twenties,twenties, hehe resolvedresolved toto templetemple bellbell andand I waswas suddenlysuddenly transformed.transformed. ItIt waswas asas ifif aa sheetsheet follofolloww ththee exampleexample ooff thethe eccentriceccentric ChineseChinese T'anT'angg dynastydynasty ofof iceice hahadd beenbeen smashedsmashed .... . and. an dI Ireturned returned to to my my senses.senses. II feltfelt monmonkk Bokushu,Bokushu, andand cutcut himselfhimself ofofff frofromm thethe world,world, sittingsitting inin thatthat I hadhad achievedachieved ththee statustatuss ooff GantoGanto,, whowho,, throughthrough thethe threethree desertedesertedd graveyardgraveyardss wit withh wolvewolvess howlin howlingg a att hihiss backback,, andand periodperiodss ooff timetime,, encounteredencountered notnot thethe slightestslightest lossloss [although[although hehe finallfinallyy retirinretiringg aatt ththee Shoju-aShoju-ann hermitaghermitagee a ass th thee OlOldd MaMann ooff hahadd beebeenn murderemurderedd bbyy bandits]bandits].. AlAlll mmyy formeformerr doubtsdoubts vanishedvanished ShojuShoju.. . . . and in a loud voice I called: "Wonderful, wonderful. There ... and in a loud voice I called: "Wonderful, wonderful. There IInn hihiss firsfirstt intervieintervieww witwithh ththee ololdd hermithermit,, EkakuEkaku boastedboasted ofof iiss nnoo cyclecycle ooff birthbirth andand deathdeath throughthrough whichwhich oneone mustmust pass.pass. ththee "depth"depth"" andand "clarity""clarity" ofof hishis ownown ZenZen understandingunderstanding iinn thethe There is no enlightenment one must seek. ..." Smugly I There is no enlightenment one must seek. .. ." Smugly I forformm ofof anan eleganelegantt versversee puputt dowdownn oonn a sheesheett ooff paperpaper.. Dokyo,Dokyo, thoughthoughtt ttoo myself,myself, "In"In thethe pastpast twotwo oror threethree hundredhundred yearsyears nono crushincrushingg ththee papepaperr witwithh hishis leftleft hand,hand, heldheld outout hishis rightright handhand oneone couldcould havehave accomplisheaccomplishedd suchsuch a marvelousmarvelous breakthroughbreakthrough asas this.this. " anandd saidsaid,, "Puttin"Puttingg learninglearning aside,aside, whatwhat havehave youyou seen?"seen?" "If"If I'dI'd seenseen somethingsomething I couldcould presentpresent ttoo you,you, I'dI'd vomitvomit itit TheThe threethree crucialcrucial elementselements ofof thethe mysticalmystical experienceexperience areare out,out,"" repliedreplied Ekaku,Ekaku, and,and, makingmaking aa gagginggagging sound,sound, hehe pre-pre• clearlclearlyy discernibldiscerniblee iinn thithiss remarkablremarkablee accounaccountt ooff Ekaku'Ekaku'ss firstfirst tendetendedd ttoo vomivomitt oonn Dokyo'Dokyo'ss hand.hand. satori: 1)1) daigi, ththee GreaGreatt Doubt,Doubt, aa heightenedheightened tensiontension con-con• ThThee oldold manman camecame closer.closer. "How"How dodo youyou understandunderstand Joshu'sJoshu's nectenectedd witwithh thethe strenuousstrenuous efforteffort ofof uninterrupteduninterrupted absorptionabsorption MJM?mu?"" hhee testetestedd ththee younyoungg monk.monk.

116 Crazy CloudsClouds I Hakuin 117117 "In"In Joshu'Joshu'ss mumu thertheree iiss nnoo placplacee ttoo putput handshands oorr feet, "" EkakuEkaku extraordinaryextraordinary rumorrumorss anandd villagevillage taletaless ooff a "two-hundred-"two-hundred- repliedreplied,, implicitlimplicitlyy ridiculinridiculingg ththee ololdd man'man'ss outstretcheoutstretchedd hand.hand. year-olyear-oldd mountaimountainn deity"deity" equippedequipped withwith supernaturalsupernatural powers.powers. DokyDokyoo immediatelyimmediately grabbedgrabbed Ekaku'sEkaku's nosenose,, gavegave iitt a goodgood EkakuEkaku,, a truetrue believerbeliever iinn villagevillage folklorefolklore,, setset outout immediatelyimmediately twisttwist,, andand laughed.laughed. "I"I foundfound somesome placeplace ttoo putput handshands andand ttoo findfind thethe miraclemiracle worker.worker. IInn hishis mostmost famoufamouss bookbook YasenYasen feet!feet!"" kanna (Chat on a BoatBoat inin thethe Evening),Evening), HakuiHakuinn latelaterr gavegave aa NonplussedNonplussed,, EkakuEkaku concededconceded defeatdefeat anandd askeaskedd ththee hermihermitt toto detailedetailedd descriptiodescriptionn o off hihiss encounteencounterr witwithh ththee hermithermit whowho teltelll hihimm whatwhat waswas missingmissing inin hishis realization.realization. eventualleventuallyy curecuredd hihimm ooff hihiss "Ze"Zenn sickness."sickness." DokyDokyoo assignedassigned hihimm a neneww koankoan.. FromFrom thatthat dayday on,on, atat anyany DiagnosinDiagnosingg ththee monk'monk'ss pitiablepitiable conditioconditionn ttoo bbee ththee resulresultt ofof signsign ofof Ekaku'Ekaku'ss returningreturning arrogance,arrogance, thethe oldold mamann wouldwould rejectreject strenuoustrenuouss meditatiomeditationn practicepractice,, HakuyHakuyuu introduceintroducedd hihimm ttoo thethe hishis presentationpresentation byby callingcalling hihimm a "poor"poor hole-dwellinghole-dwelling devil"devil" practicpracticee ooff naikan, a mentalmental imageryimagery techniquetechnique designeddesigned toto toto prodprod himhim outout ofof hishis "emptiness"emptiness addiction."addiction." inducinducee healinghealing.. FirsFirstt hhee hadhad EkakuEkaku concentrateconcentrate hishis breathbreath TakingTaking uupp permanentpermanent residenceresidence aatt thethe hermitage,hermitage, EkakuEkaku energenergyy oonn thethe tiara,hara, a poinpointt twotwo inchesinches belobeloww thethe navel.navel. SoonSoon mercilesslmercilesslyy threthreww himselhimselff intintoo lonlongg periodperiodss ooff uninterrupteduninterrupted EkakEkakuu experiencedexperienced aa feelinfeelingg ooff warmtwarmthh thatthat enshroudedenshrouded hishis meditationmeditation,, onlyonly toto bebe rejectedrejected andand ridiculedridiculed bbyy DokyoDokyo timetime entirentiree bodbodyy anandd inuredinured hihimm toto thethe bitingbiting JanuaryJanuary cold.cold. HeHe andand again.again. LongLong painfulpainful weeksweeks passedpassed andand nothingnothing happened.happened. scrupulouslscrupulouslyy followefollowedd Hakuyu'Hakuyu'ss wholesomwholesomee dietdiet andand regimenregimen TheThe youngyoung monkmonk feltfelt hehe wouldwould ratherrather diedie thanthan leave leave thethe placeplace ooff physicalphysical andand mentalmental exercises,exercises, whichwhich includedincluded visualizingvisualizing withoutwithout Dokyo'sDokyo's approval.approval. HisHis physicalphysical strengthstrength diminished,diminished, anan exquisitelyexquisitely colored,colored, fragrantfragrant lumlumpp ofof creamcream onon hishis headhead andand,, forcingforcing himselfhimself beyondbeyond eveneven hishis powerfulpowerful endurance,endurance, slowlyslowly meltinmeltingg andand graduallygradually filteringfiltering dowdownn throughouthroughoutt hishis EkakEkakuu virtuallyvirtually stoppedstopped eatingeating andand sleeping.sleeping. OneOne day,day, oonn aa entireentire body.body. TheThe deliciousdelicious fragrance,fragrance, combinedcombined withwith aa feelingfeeling tritripp toto a nearbnearbyy villagevillage whilwhilee begginbeggingg foforr foodfood,, EkakEkakuu encoun• encoun- ofof gentlegentle pricklinpricklingg anandd warmthwarmth,, would,would, accordingaccording toto Hakuyu,Hakuyu, tereteredd a manman whowho fiercelyfiercely despiseddespised beggingbegging monks.monks. ChasingChasing cleaclearr awaawayy adhesionadhesionss anandd obstructionsobstructions,, tranquilizetranquilize thethe organs,organs, EkakEkakuu ofofff anandd callingcalling hihimm a publicpublic nuisance,nuisance, ththee man hit him man hit him anandd restorrestoree a degredegreee ooff healthealthh "fa"farr surpassingsurpassing one'one'ss conditioncondition on the head several times with a broom and knocked him out. on the head several times with a broom and knocked him out. at the peak of youth." AAtt thethe momentmoment hehe regainedregained consciousness,consciousness, EkakuEkaku suddenlysuddenly at the peak of youth." EkakEkakuu practicedpracticed naikan evereveryy dadayy foforr threethree years,years, duringduring penetratepenetratedd hihiss koakoann ttoo thethe depths.depths. LaughingLaughing aloudaloud andand clap-clap• whicwhichh allall hihiss physicaphysicall anandd mentamentall maladiesmaladies disappeared.disappeared. NaikanNaikan pinpingg andand dancingdancing withwith joyjoy alongalong thethe dustydusty villagevillage streets,streets, hehe changechangedd Ekaku'Ekaku'ss ZeZenn practice,practice, too;too; hehe becamebecame lessless extremeextreme soonsoon attractedattracted thethe attentionattention ofof onlookers.onlookers. ConvincedConvinced thatthat thethe poopoorr monkmonk hadhad beenbeen knockedknocked silly,silly, theythey mademade aa largelarge berthberth andand mormoree balanced.balanced. WorkingWorking alonealone onon variousvarious koans,koans, especiallyespecially on the difficult "Five Ranks ofof MasterMaster TozanTozan Ryokai"Ryokai" hehe arounaroundd himhim,, yelling,yelling, "A"A madman,madman, a madmanmadman!! GeGett ououtt ofof hishis on the difficult "Five Ranks way!way!"" experiencedexperienced severaseverall kenshokensho withi withinn onl onlyy aa fefeww monthsmonths,, some-some• times breaking into loud, joyous laughter and rolling on the WheWhenn EkakEkakuu returnedreturned toto thethe hermitage,hermitage, DokyoDokyo immedi-immedi• times breaking into loud, joyous laughter and rolling on the ground in rapture. Again passersby took him for a madman, atelyately recognizedrecognized thethe changechange inin hishis disciple.disciple. AfterAfter a fewfew testingtesting ground in rapture. Again passersby took him for a madman, and soon stories about the "crazy itinerant monk" began to questions,questions, hehe gavegave himhim hishis approvalapproval andand a heartheartyy papatt oonn thethe and soon stories about the "crazy itinerant monk" began to back.back. Then,Then, admonishingadmonishing himhim toto givegive upup hishis austereaustere practicespractices spreadspread.. EkakEkakuu enjoyeenjoyedd roamin roamingg abou aboutt i nin ththee countrcountryy aass a andand ttoo restorerestore himselfhimself ttoo health,health, DokyoDokyo recommendedrecommended hehe seesee "madman,""madman," butbut thatthat diddid notnot keepkeep himhim fromfrom interruptinginterrupting hishis ththee famedfamed TaoistTaoist healehealerr HakuyHakuyuu inin hishis mountainmountain cavecave oonn thethe traveltravelss foforr severaseverall monthmonthss ttoo deependeepen hihiss practicepractice anandd testtest hishis outskirtoutskirtss ofof Kyoto.Kyoto. understandinunderstandingg witwithh thethe variousvarious ZenZen mastersmasters ooff ththee templestemples hehe ParPartt sagesage andand partpart madman,madman, HakuyuHakuyu wawass thethe subjectsubject ofof visitedvisited eenn routeroute.. Finally,Finally, inin thethe winterwinter ofof 1715,1715, hehe builtbuilt himselfhimself

118rib Crazy CloudsClouds 11 Hakuin rrg119 a littlelittle hermitagehermitage closeclose toto thethe villagevillage ofof Yamanoue,Yamanoue, wherewhere returnereturnedd toto Shoin-jiShoin-ji asas soosoonn aass ththee three-montthree-monthh periodperiod ended,ended, KanzanKanzan ZenjiZenji,, thethe founderfounder ofof thethe famoufamouss monastermonasteryy Myoshin-Myoshin- rejectingrejecting aann offeofferr ttoo stastayy oonn anandd becombecomee a trainingtraining master.master. jiji inin Kyoto,Kyoto, hadhad spentspent severalseveral yearsyears inin seclusion.seclusion. HakuiHakuinn waswas soonsoon joinedjoined byby aa youngyoung disaffecteddisaffected Myoshin-jiMyoshin-ji TwTwoo yearyearss latelaterr Ekaku'Ekaku'ss idylliidyllicc liflifee camcamee ttoo anan abruptabrupt endend novicenovice.. OtherOtherss followedfollowed,, an andd withi withinn a ashor shortt time—t time-too thethe whenwhen aa servantservant fromfrom hishis homehome villagevillage ofof HaraHara arrivedarrived atat hishis outragoutragee ooff thethe religiousreligious establishment—Hakuiestablishment-Hakuinn hadhad collectedcollected huthut andand reportedreported thatthat Ekaku'sEkaku's fatherfather waswas gravelygravely ill.ill. ToTo fulfillfulfill asas disciplediscipless aa mixemixedd babagg ooff monkmonkss andand nuns,nuns, andand laymenlaymen andand hishis father'father'ss laslastt wiswishh ttoo seseee him him,, EkakEkakuu returne returnedd t oto HaraHara-— laywomenlaywomen.. A spirituallyspiritually giftedgifted sixteen-year-oldsixteen-year-old girlgirl namednamed onlyonly toto findfind thatthat hishis fatherfather hadhad died.died. HopingHoping toto visitvisit hishis SatsuSatsu wawass amonamongg ththee firstfirst toto joinjoin whatwhat HakuinHakuin calledcalled hishis ordinationordination temple,temple, ShoinShoin-ji ji,, EkakuEkaku waswas furtherfurther dismayeddismayed toto ThornbusThornbushh ThicketThicket Community,Community, anan ironicironic responseresponse toto accu-accu• findfind itit withoutwithout anan abbotabbot andand inin aa statestate ofof nearnear collapse.collapse. OnceOnce aa sationssations thathatt hehe waswas "entangling"entangling peoplepeople inin delusion."delusion." HakuinHakuin beautifulbeautiful littllittlee templetemple,, Shoin-jShoin jii wawass nonoww nothinnothingg mormoree thanthan a wawass a dedicatededicatedd teacherteacher,, availableavailable ttoo hihiss littllittlee communitcommunityy dailydaily roofless,roofless, floorlessfloorless ruinruin.. EkakEkakuu hahadd ttoo wearwear a rairainn hahatt anandd high-high- foforr almostalmost twentytwenty years,years, thoughthough ShoinShoin-j jii boastedboasted onlyonly eighteight heeleheeledd woodewoodenn sandalssandals ttoo avoidavoid beinbeingg soakedsoaked byby rainfallrainfall andand residenresidentt monkmonkss andand a fefeww temporartemporaryy laylay personspersons.. ThroughoutThroughout enormouenormouss puddlespuddles iinn whatwhat hadhad onceonce beenbeen thethe mainmain hall.hall. AllAll hihiss tenure,tenure, HakuinHakuin himselfhimself continuedcontinued toto havehave majormajor experi-experi• ththee templetemple propertyproperty waswas iinn thethe handshands ofof creditors,creditors, andand itsits encesences ooff insightinsight.. LikeLike ononee ooff hihiss greagreatt idolsidols,, thethe ChineseChinese SungSung priestlpriestlyy belongingbelongingss werweree mortgagemortgagedd ttoo merchantsmerchants.. Undaunted,Undaunted, dynastydynasty ZenZen mastermaster DaleDaie SokoSoko (Ta-hui(Ta-hui Tsung-Kao),Tsung-Kao), hehe EkakEkakuu decidedecidedd thethenn anandd thertheree thathatt hehe wouldwould movemove inin andand claimedclaimed toto havehave experiencedexperienced eighteeneighteen greatgreat satorisatori andand countlesscountless becombecomee ththee mastermaster ofof ShoinShoin-ji ji.. FilledFilled witwithh optimism,optimism, hehe "small""small" openingsopenings (kensho)(kensho) throughouthroughoutt hishis lifetime.lifetime. performed the "ceremony of entering the monastery" alone in performed the "ceremony of entering the monastery" alone in ByBy 1740,1740, withwith HakuinHakuin nownow middle-agedmiddle-aged andand gaininggaining aa the empty ruin and installed himself as abbot on the spot. Here the empty ruin and installed himself as abbot on the spot. Here reputationreputation beyonbeyondd Hara,Hara, thethe communitycommunity expanded,expanded, addingadding he would spend the rest of his life. In celebration of this event, he would spend the rest of his life. In celebration of this event, neneww buildingsbuildings forfor practicepractice andand residence.residence. HakuinHakuin stillstill insistedinsisted Ekaku gave himself a new dharma name—Hakuin—Hidden in Ekaku gave himself a new dharma name-Hakuin-Hidden in onon teachingteaching lalayy studentsstudents,, bubutt nownow onlyonly monksmonks werewere allowedallowed toto the Whiteness. In Buddhism, whiteness symbolizes essential the Whiteness. In Buddhism, whiteness symbolizes essential taketake uupp residenceresidence iinn ththee monasterymonastery.. Here,Here, hishis colorfulcolorful diatribesdiatribes nature, the place beyond life and death where all suffering has nature, the place beyond life and death where all suffering has againsagainstt ththee PurePure LandLand SchoolSchool ofof BuddhismBuddhism andand thethe "silent"silent ceased. It is said that when Shakyamuni Buddha died, two ceased.Itis said that when Shakyamuni Buddha died, two illuminatioilluminationn ZenZen"" ofof variousvarious SotoSoto andand RinzaiRinzai teachersteachers espe-espe• blooming sala trees grieved so deeply that they withered and blooming sala trees grieved so deeply that they withered and ciallycially attracteattractedd eageeagerr younyoungg monks.monks. TheseThese inexperiencedinexperienced nov-nov• turned white. Alluding to this "white" place of original inno• turned white. Alluding to this "white" place of original inno- iceicess werweree greatlygreatly movedmoved byby Hakuin'sHakuin's insistenceinsistence thatthat theythey cence and purity, the new abbot of Shoin-ji would sign all his cence and purity, the new abbot of Shoin-ji would sign all his cultivatcultivatee "heroi"heroicc determinationdetermination"" onon thethe pathpath toto enlightenment.enlightenment. letters and documents, "Hakuin, the old heretic who sits under letters and documents, "Hakuin, the old heretic who sits under HarkeninHarkeningg ttoo hishis example,example, they,they, too,too, werewere willingwilling toto faceface the sala tree." the sala tree." painfupainfull trialtrialss asas theythey fashionedfashioned themselvesthemselves intintoo a newnew genera-genera• NoNott longlong afterafter HakuinHakuin arrivedarrived atat ShoinShoin-ji ji,, hehe waswas honoredhonored tiotionn ofof JapanesJapanesee RinzaRinzaii ZeZenn monks.monks. witwithh anan invitationinvitation toto becomebecome shuso,shuso, thethe headhead monkmonk ofo fa a kessei kessei TheThe successsuccess ooff Hakuin'Hakuin'ss lectureslectures resulteresultedd iinn manmanyy invitationsinvitations atat Myoshin-jiMyoshin-ji inin Kyoto.Kyoto. MostMost JapaneseJapanese monksmonks wouldwould havehave usedused ttoo givegive dharmdharmaa talkstalks atat variousvarious otherother ZenZen temples,temples, andand eveneven atat thithiss excellenexcellentt opportunitopportunityy toto establishestablish themselvesthemselves atat Myoshin-Myoshin- feudafeudall castles.castles. ThisThis boostedboosted hishis innateinnate self-confidence self-confidence eveneven jiji,, thethe country'scountry's mostmost famousfamous RinzaiRinzai monastery;monastery; itit representedrepresented further,further, asas reflectedreflected iinn contemporarcontemporaryy writingswritings describingdescribing Hak-Hak• thethe almostalmost suresure pathpath toto becomingbecoming anan "old"old teacher,"teacher," a aroshi. roshi. uinuin asas anan "extraordinary"extraordinary figure,"figure," "glaring"glaring atat peoplepeople likelike aa NotNot Hakuin.Hakuin. HeHe reluctantlyreluctantly acceptedaccepted ththee temporartemporaryy postpost andand tiger,"tiger," andand "walking"walking likelike aa bull."bull." DuringDuring thisthis period,period, hehe

120 Crazy CloudsClouds Hakuin 121

122 Crazy CloudsClouds I Hakuin 123123 wroughwroughtt devicedevice forfor deepeningdeepening ZeZenn insightinsight afterafter thethe initialinitial thethe bodybody isis thethe vehiclevehicle forfor enlightenment,enlightenment, iitt isis importantimportant toto realizatiorealizationn experience.experience. preservepreserve iitt carefully.carefully. HakuinHakuin painfullypainfully realizedrealized thatthat mercilessmerciless HakuinHakuin,, whwhoo keptkept upup hishis remarkablyremarkably goodgood healthhealth intointo hishis treatmenttreatment ooff thethe bodybody inin orderorder toto achieveachieve aa mysticmystic break-break• latlatee seventies,seventies, spenspentt hihiss laslastt threthreee yearyearss ofteoftenn illill andand unableunable toto throughthrough couldcould endend inin prematurepremature deathdeath andand therebythereby accomplishaccomplish teachteach.. ButBut hishis ironiron willwill keptkept himhim going,going, nourishingnourishing hishis callig-callig• nothing.nothing. raphy and painting, whose simplified, flat, and liberated brush raphy and painting, whose simplified, flat, and liberated brush ItIt isis importantimportant toto examineexamine inin detaildetail thesethese twotwo pillarspillars ofof strokes came to represent the acme of Zen art. Feeling his life strokes came to represent the acme of Zen art. Feeling his life Hakuin'sHakuin's teachingteaching iinn ordeorderr ttoo finfindd ououtt howhow theythey connectconnect withwith ebbing, he tried to spend as much time as possible with his ebbing, he tried to spend as much time as possible with his dailydaily life.life. students, still holding to the passionate teaching style that had students, still holding to the passionate teaching style that had HakuinHakuin recognizedrecognized thathatt ththee patterpatternn ooff GreaGreatt DoubtDoubt,, GreatGreat characterized his entire career. Three days before his death, he characterized his entire career. Three days before his death, he Death,Death, andand GreatGreat JoyJoy waswas thethe fundamentalfundamental processprocess ofof anyany validvalid put one of his eleven main dharma successors in charge of all put one of his eleven main dharma successors in charge of all religiousreligious experienceexperience.. IInn ordeorderr toto getget thisthis processprocess started,started, itit waswas monastery affairs and, on 10 December 1768, at the age of monastery affairs and, on io December 1768, at the age of firstfirst necessarnecessaryy ttoo evokevokee th thee GreaGreatt DoubtDoubt.. AccordinAccordingg ttoo himhim,, itit eighty-three, died peacefully in his sleep. Hakuin did not leave eighty-three, died peacefully in his sleep. Hakuin did not leave waswas ththee tastaskk ooff a genuingenuinee teacheteacherr ttoo ddoo thathatt witwithh thethe helphelp ofof a a traditional death poem, but he left Japanese Rinzai Zen a traditional death poem, but he left Japanese Rinzai Zen beginnebeginnerr koankoan,, preferablpreferablyy "Joshu'"Joshu'ss MuMu"" oorr "Th"Thee SoundSound ofof thethe invigorated and reformed, ready to continue for generations invigorated and reformed, ready to continue for generations SingleSingle Hand.Hand."" TheseThese koanskoans servedserved asas mentalmental devicesdevices designeddesigned to come. to come. toto breakbreak thethe habitualhabitual patternpattern ofof sequentialsequential thoughtthought withwith itsits never-endinnever-endingg cyclcyclee ooff conceptconceptss anandd mentamentall imagesimages.. UsinUsingg partsparts Hakuin'Hakuin'ss teachingteaching cacann bbee dividedividedd intintoo twtwoo majormajor partsparts thatthat ooff Hakuyu'sHakuyu's naikannaikan practicepractice,, HakuiHakuinn adviseadvisedd hihiss studentstudentss toto toto thisthis veryvery dayday formform thethe corecore ofof JapaneseJapanese RinzaiRinzai Zen.Zen. connectconnect theirtheir koan-focusedkoan-focused consciousnessconsciousness witwithh thethe areaarea belowbelow 1i)) ZenZen studentsstudents mustmust developdevelop thethe GreatGreat DoubtDoubt throughthrough ththee navel.navel. "I"Iff thisthis settledsettled concentrationconcentration powerpower cancan bebe main-main• uninterrupteduninterrupted meditationmeditation practicepractice oonn anan ultimateultimate questionquestion tainetainedd foforr severalseveral hours,hours,"" hehe counseled,counseled, "the"the studentstudent willwill (koan).(koan). AfterAfter aa certaincertain periodperiod ofof timetime thisthis GreatGreat DoubtDoubt willwill bebe advanceadvance determinedldeterminedlyy anandd ththee GreaGreatt DoubDoubtt willwill appear."appear." TheThe splitsplit openopen byby anan experienceexperience ooff GreatGreat Death,Death, inin whichwhich thethe importantimportant thingthing waswas toto discarddiscard allall emotions,emotions, concepts,concepts, andand essentialessential naturnaturee ooff allall thingsthings isis realized.realized. TheThe ensuingensuing intenseintense thoughtsthoughts byby maintainingmaintaining single-mindedsingle-minded concentrationconcentration oonn oneone feelingfeeling ooff GreaGreatt Jojoyy opensopens upup aa wellwell ofof lovelove andand compassioncompassion koan-thought.koan-thought. HakuinHakuin maintainedmaintained thatthat itit waswas notnot alwaysalways ab-ab• andand providesprovides thethe necessarynecessary incentiveincentive toto continuouslycontinuously deependeepen solutelysolutely necessarnecessaryy ttoo sisitt iinn meditatiomeditationn iinn a quiequiett placeplace,, bubutt thatthat one'sone's ZenZen practice.practice. itit waswas essentialessential ttoo carrycarry thethe koankoan aboutabout inin one'sone's consciousnessconsciousness 2)2) HavinHavingg achieveachievedd aa glimpsglimpsee ooff ththee undivideundividedd fundamentalfundamental inin allall situations—activsituations-activee oror static,static, noisynoisy oror quiet.quiet. ThisThis statestate ofof realityreality,, iitt becomesbecomes ththee tastaskk ooff thethe ZenZen studentstudent toto applyapply thisthis nonconceptualnonconceptual awarenessawareness,, ofte oftenn comparecomparedd ttoo aa "fiel"fieldd ofof ice"ice" experiencexperiencee iinn ththee differentiateddifferentiated worlworldd ooff thethe myriadmyriad things;things; oror a "dry"dry desertdesert wherewhere nothingnothing grows,"grows," isis whatwhat hehe referredreferred toto moralitmoralityy anandd practicpracticee blenblendd iinn sucsuchh a wayway thatthat thethe directdirect asas ththee GreatGreat Doubt.Doubt. AndAnd hehe usedused allall kindskinds ofof devicesdevices toto prodprod applicatioapplicationn ooff one'one'ss experienceexperience iiss ththee actioactionn ooff lovlovee anandd com-com• hishis studentsstudents intointo thisthis promisingpromising condition.condition. SometimesSometimes hehe passiopassionn towartowardd al alll beings beings.. "I "I"" anandd "others,"others,"" thoughthough onon thethe wouldwould inspirinspiree thethemm withwith fantasticfantastic storiesstories aboutabout ZenZen studentsstudents phenomenaphenomenall levellevel clearlclearlyy distinctdistinct,, araree understoounderstoodd aass fundamen-fundamen• ofof earlierearlier timestimes whowho hadhad satsat completelycompletely motionlessmotionless iinn thethe talltallyy identicalidentical.. WithouWithoutt moralitymorality therethere cancan bebe nono truetrue practice.practice. middlemiddle ofof aa swampswamp surroundedsurrounded byby millionsmillions ofof bloodthirstybloodthirsty Thus,Thus, thethe mythmyth ofof thethe "enlightened""enlightened" ZenZen mastermaster whosewhose ac-ac• mosquitoes;mosquitoes; oorr hhee wouldwould repeatrepeat hishis teacherteacher Dokyo'sDokyo's storystory tiontionss areare beyonbeyondd thethe levellevel ofof goodgood andand evilevil isis destroyed.destroyed. SinceSince aboutabout sittingsitting allall nightnight inin anan abandonedabandoned graveyard,graveyard, obliviousoblivious toto

124 Crazy Clouds Crazy Clouds I Hakuin 125 a packpack ofof hungry,hungry, circlingcircling wolves.wolves. AlthoughAlthough intendedintended toto freefree cient,cient, butbut havehave nevernever eveevenn iinn a dreamdream achievedachieved ththee statestate ofof ththee student'sstudent's latentlatent joriki, oror concentrationconcentration power,power, Hakuin'sHakuin's enlightenment.enlightenment. PeoplePeople ooff thisthis sortsort spendspend allall dayday practicinpracticingg non-non• storiesstories werewere nevernever quitquitee freefree ofof exaggerationexaggeration borneborne ofof hishis ownown actionaction andand endend upup byby havinghaving practicedpracticed actionaction allall ththee while;while; theythey spendspend allall dayday practicingpracticing non-creatinnon-creatingg anandd enendd uupp byby havinghaving fascinationfascination witwithh ththee "determined"determined warrior.warrior."" ArousedAroused byby suchsuch practicedpracticed creatincreatingg alalll ththee whilewhile.. WhWhyy isis thisthis so?so? ItIt isis becausebecause stories,stories, andand oftenoften movedmoved toto tears,tears, severalseveral ofof hishis disciplesdisciples tooktook theirtheir insightinsight intointo thethe WayWay iiss nonott clear,clear, becausebecause thetheyy can'can'tt arrivearrive hishis adviceadvice totooo literally.literally. TheThe gravesgraves ooff thesthesee younyoungg ZeZenn monksmonks atat ththee truttruthh ofof thethe Dharma-nature.Dharma-nature. atat ShoinShoin-j jii cemeterycemetery bearbear witnesswitness toto thisthis majormajor weaknessweakness inin Hakuin'sHakuin's personality.personality. HHee hadhad equallyequally harshharsh wordswords foforr practitionerspractitioners ooff thethe PurePure TheThe transitiontransition fromfrom thethe GreatGreat DoubtDoubt toto thethe GreatGreat DeathDeath isis LanLandd SchoolSchool ofof BuddhismBuddhism whowho believedbelieved inin aa paradiseparadise distinctdistinct beyonbeyondd descriptiondescription,, andand,, accordinaccordingg t oto HakuinHakuin,, aa mattematterr ofof frofromm thisthis world,world, andand aa mythicalmythical intermediaryintermediary calledcalled AmidaAmida "sudden"sudden transformationtransformation beyonbeyondd one'one'ss will.will."" OftenOften aa smallsmall BuddhaBuddha,, withouwithoutt whosewhose helphelp nono salvationsalvation wawass possiblepossible.. "Out-"Out• perceptionperception,, likelike thethe soundsound ofof aa bell,bell, thethe smellsmell ofof incense,incense, oror aa sidsidee youyourr owownn mindmind therethere isis nono PurePure Land;Land; outsideoutside youyourr ownown feelinfeelingg ooff physicalphysical painpain couldcould triggertrigger thisthis experienceexperience ofof seeingseeing bodybody,, therethere isis nono Buddha,"Buddha," HakuinHakuin preached,preached, addingadding thatthat allall intintoo one'sone's ownown nature.nature. InIn thisthis context,context, hehe describeddescribed ththee "ab-"ab• "true"true ancestors"ancestors" ofof thethe ZenZen traditiontradition "never"never once,once, eveneven inad-inad• solutsolutee certaintcertaintyy ooff a knowledgknowledgee ooff TruthTruth"" thathatt occursoccurs aatt thatthat vertentlyvertently,, spokespoke ofof a rebirthrebirth inin thethe PurePure Land.Land. " HeHe taughtaughtt thatthat momentmoment.. LaterLater reflectionsreflections oror rationalrational explanationsexplanations ofof thethe ex-ex• onlonlyy witwithh thethe experienceexperience ooff seeinseeingg int intoo one' one'ss ow ownn naturenature-— periencperiencee coulcouldd onlonlyy enendd iinn errorerror andand thethe stalestale feelingfeeling ofof effecteeffectedd bbyy genuingenuinee koakoann practice—coulpractice-couldd oneone seesee thatthat "this"this "talking"talking aboutabout something."something." ButBut outout ofof thethe immediacyimmediacy ofof beingbeing bodbodyy isis thethe BuddhaBuddha fromfrom thethe veryvery beginning."beginning." HeHe deploreddeplored confirmedconfirmed byby thethe templetemple bellbell oror thethe fragrancefragrance ofof incenseincense arisesarises ZeZenn mastersmasters whowho triedtried toto incorporateincorporate PurePure LandLand elementselements intointo ththee wavewave ooff GreatGreat Joyjoy,, thethe feelingfeeling thatthat everythingeverything isis allall rightright thethe techniqutechniquee ooff sittinsittingg meditation,meditation, andand warned:warned: frofromm thethe veryvery beginningbeginning,, oror,, toto putput itit inin Hakuin'sHakuin's ownown words:words: "There"There isis nono enlightenmentenlightenment oneone mustmust seek.seek. "" SomeSome twotwo hundredhundred yearsyears agoago evilevil andand carelesscareless ZenZen followersfollowers decimatedecimatedd ththee ZeZenn monasteriemonasteriess anandd corruptecorruptedd ththee trutruee stylestyle ofof FoForr HakuinHakuin,, koankoan practicepractice wawass ththee absolutabsolutee focafocall poinpointt ofof ZenZen,, spreadingspreading thethe vulgarvulgar andand debaseddebased hereticalheretical understandingunderstanding ZenZen training.training. HeHe sawsaw itit asas ththee onlyonly methodmethod byby whichwhich aa studentstudent ooff thethe PurePure LandLand School.School...... IIff ZeZenn isis combinedcombined withwith PurePure couldcould bbee broughtbrought toto genuinegenuine insight,insight, andand hehe nevernever tiretiredd ofof LandLand,, iitt cannotcannot lastlast forfor longlong andand willwill surelysurely hebe destroyed.destroyed. railingrailing againstagainst ththee "silent"silent illumination"illumination" practicepractice ofof otherother ZenZen masters,masters, particularlyparticularly thosthosee ofof ththee SotoSoto sect.sect. ZeZenn withoutwithout strictstrict TToo thosthosee PurPuree LandLand followerfollowerss whwhoo wouldwould listenlisten,, hehe suggestedsuggested koankoan practicepractice wawass a perversioperversionn ooff ththee "true"true teachingsteachings ooff thethe alterinalteringg theitheirr practicepractice iinn suchsuch a wayway thatthat callingcalling thethe Buddha'sBuddha's ancients,"ancients," andand muchmuch worse,worse, thethe wastewaste ofof aa humanhuman being'sbeing's life,life, namnamee oror recitingreciting thethe firstfirst lineline ofof thethe LotusLotus SutraSutra wouldwould becomebecome a birthbirth "so"so difficultdifficult toto attain."attain." PullingPulling outout allall thethe oratoricaloratorical moremore liklikee concentratinconcentratingg oonn a koakoann withouwithoutt ananyy expectatioexpectationn ofof stops,stops, HakuinHakuin admonishedadmonished hishis studentsstudents againstagainst eveneven thinkingthinking beingbeing "save"savedd frofromm outside.outside."" RememberingRemembering hishis mother'mother'ss devo-devo• aboutabout suchsuch practices.practices. tiontion toto thethe NichirenNichiren school,school, HakuinHakuin setset upup aa detaileddetailed courscoursee ofof meditationmeditation foforr NichirenNichiren followers,followers, whicwhichh ooff courscoursee turneturnedd outout ThereThere areare somesome blind,blind, baldbald idiotsidiots whowho standstand inin aa calm,calm, unper-unper• toto bebe nothinnothingg butbut aa variationvariation onon thethe themetheme ofof koankoan practice.practice. turbed,turbed, untouchableuntouchable placeplace anandd considerconsider thathatt ththee statestate ofof mindmind producedproduced inin thisthis atmosphereatmosphere comprisescomprises seeingseeing intintoo theirtheir ownown ThThee practicepractice ooff ththee LotuLotuss sutrsutraa iiss frofromm todaytoday oonn toto determine,determine, natures.natures. TheTheyy thinkthink thatthat toto polishpolish andand perfectperfect puritypurity isis suffi-suffi- despitdespitee happineshappinesss anandd painpain,, sadnesssadness andand joyjoy,, whetherwhether asleepasleep oror

126 Crazy CloudsClouds I Hakuin 127 awake,awake, standinstandingg oorr recliningreclining,, ttoo intonintonee withouwithoutt interruptiointerruptionn thethe WitWithh handshands ofof emptinessemptiness II taketake holdhold ofof thethe plow;plow; titletitle ofof thethe sutrasutra alone:alone :Namu Namu MyohoMy oho rengerenge kyo.kyo. WhetheWhetherr youyou useuse WhileWhile walkingwalking,, II rideride thethe waterwater buffalo.buffalo. thisthis titletitle asas a staffstaff oorr asas a sourcesource ooff strengthstrength,, youyou mustmust reciterecite itit witwithh thethe ferventfervent desiredesire toto seesee withoutwithout failfail thethe TrueTrue FaceFace ooff thethe Kikan koankoanss lealeadd ththee ZeZenn studenstudentt toto aa betterbetter understandingunderstanding LotusLotus.. MakeMake eacheach inhalatioinhalationn anandd exhalatioexhalationn ooff youyourr breathbreath thethe ofof thethe differentiated,differentiated, phenomenaphenomenall worlworldd aass seeseenn witwithh thethe titltitlee ooff ththee sutrasutra...... Then. The nyou yo uwill wil lawaken awaken toto thethe GreatGreat MatterMatter "enlightene"enlightenedd eye.eye."" ThesThesee koankoanss araree extremelyextremely importanimportantt inin ooff truetrue meditation.meditation...... YoYouu wilwilll seseee righrightt beforbeforee youyou,, iinn thethe placplacee wherwheree yoyouu stand,stand, thethe TrueTrue FaceFace ooff ththee Lotus,Lotus, andand atat onceonce helpinghelping ththee studenstudentt toto avoidavoid "Ze"Zenn sickness,"sickness," oror gettinggetting stuckstuck youyourr bodybody andand mindmind willwill dropdrop off.off. inin thethe realmrealm ofof emptinessemptiness anandd beinbeingg robberobbedd ooff thethe energyenergy toto dealdeal witwithh thethe distinctlydistinctly differentiateddifferentiated levellevel ooff reality.reality. CaseCase 3737 HakuiHakuinn waswas unsuccessfulunsuccessful aatt convertinconvertingg PurPuree LandLand andand Ni-Ni• inin TheThe GatelessGateless Gate iiss sucsuchh aa koan.koan. chirenchiren BuddhisBuddhismm intintoo ZenZen.. BuButt thathatt dididd nonott stopstop himhim fromfrom preachinpreachingg hishis viewsviews widelywidely andand forcefully.forcefully. ToTo thethe last,last, hehe nevernever A monkmonk askedasked JoshuJoshu,, "What"What isis thethe meaningmeaning ofof BodhidharmaBodhidharma changedchanged hishis mindmind onon thisthis subject.subject. comincomingg fromfrom thethe West?"West?" AlthoughAlthough hhee himselfhimself passepassedd onlonlyy a fewfew koanskoans withwith hishis JoshJoshuu saidsaid,, "Oaktre"Oaktreee iinn ththee garden."garden." teacheteacherr DokyDokyoo EtanEtan andand nevernever botheredbothered toto finishfinish hishis koankoan practicpracticee witwithh himhim,, HakuinHakuin wentwent onon toto createcreate a koakoann curriculumcurriculum AnotheAnotherr examplexamplee iiss ththee "Thre"Threee Barriers"Barriers" koankoan ofof thethe SungSung thathatt eventuallyeventually replacereplacedd alalll previoupreviouss methodmethodss ooff ZeZenn instruc-instruc• dynastdynastyy mastermaster TosotsuTosotsu JuetsJuetsuu (Tou-shuai(Tou-shuai Ts'ung-yueh)Ts'ung-yueh),, de-de• tiontion.. WhatWhat hashas comecome toto bebe knownknown asas HakuinHakuin ZenZen isis thethe finalfinal visevisedd ttoo testestt ththee ZenZen understandingunderstanding ofof hishis students.students. producproductt ooff hishis work,work, refinedrefined byby GasanGasan JitoJito,, lnzanInzan Ien,Ien, andand TakujTakujuu KosenKosen.. Hakuin'Hakuin'ss koakoann systesystemm demanddemandss thathatt afterafter aa ThThee purposepurpose ofof goinggoing toto abandoned,abandoned, grassygrassy placesplaces andand doingdoing kensho experienc experiencee wit withh th thee initia initiall koa koann "Mu "Mu"" oorr "Th"Thee SoundSound zazezazenn iiss ttoo searchsearch foforr ourour self-nature.self-nature. NowNow,, atat thisthis moment,moment, ooff thethe SingleSingle Hand,Hand,"" thethe studentstudent mustmust progressprogress throughthrough aa wherwheree isis youryour self-nature?self-nature? specifiespecifiedd serieseriess ooff koankoanss compilecompiledd inin oldold ChineseChinese collectionscollections WheWhenn yoyouu havehave attaineattainedd youyourr self-natureself-nature,, yoyouu cancan frefreee your-your• self from birth and death. How would you free yourself when liklikee TheThe BlueBlue CliffCliff Record,Record, TheThe Gateless Gate,Gate, oorr TheThe RecordRecord of self from birth and death. How would you free yourself when you are about to die? Rinzai. ThThee koankoanss varvaryy iinn ordeorderr anandd type,type, andand thethe studentstudent you are about to die? When you have freed yourself from birth and death, you will engageengagess inin a longlong andand intensiveintensive processprocess ofof clarifyingclarifying thethe When you have freed yourself from birth and death, you will knoknoww wherwheree toto go.go. AfterAfter youryour death,death, wherewhere dodo youyou go?go? essentiaessentiall pointpointss ooff uupp ttoo five hundrehundredd ooff themthem.. UsingUsing aa fivefoldfivefold classificatioclassificationn system system,, HakuiHakuinn anandd hihiss dharmadharma heirsheirs systema-systema• OfOf course,course, thesethese barriersbarriers correspondcorrespond toto thethe perennialperennial ques-ques• tizetizedd anandd categorizecategorizedd ththee mosmostt importanimportantt koans.koans. tiontionss ooff humankind:humankind: "Wh"Whoo amam I?I? WhereWhere ddoo II comecome from?from? Hosshin koans koans** ar aree intende intendedd ttoo deepedeepenn initiainitiall insighinsightt intintoo thethe WherWheree wilwilll I go?go?"" Generally,Generally, thesethese questionquestionss araree considereconsideredd ttoo undifferentiateundifferentiatedd realrealmm ofof shunyatashunyata (emptiness,(emptiness, oror suchness).suchness). bbee unanswerableunanswerable,, bubutt foforr ththee ZeZenn studentstudent whowho hashas hadhad a truetrue OnOnee ofof thethe mostmost famousfamous ofof thesethese isis thethe verseverse ofof thethe sixth-sixth- realizatiorealizationn experienceexperience,, thetheyy cancan bebe answeredanswered oonn thethe spot.spot. centurcenturyy ChineseChinese ZenZen mastermaster FuFu DaishiDaishi (Shan(Shan Hui).Hui). Gonsen koan koanss hel helpp ththee studenstudentt ttoo clarifyclarify ththee difficultdifficult wordswords anandd phrasesphrases ofof ZenZen ancestors.ancestors. TheseThese exchangesexchanges opeopenn upup aa * WeWe areare indebteindebtedd toto IsshuIsshu MiuraMiura andand RuthRuth FullerFuller SasakiSasaki forfor theirtheir explanationexplanation ooff Hakuin'sHakuin's koankoan systemsystem inin ZenZen DustDust (New(New York:York: Harcourt,Harcourt, Brace,Brace, andand hiddehiddenn worldworld ofof beautybeauty andand wisdom,wisdom, which,which, onceonce penetrated,penetrated, WorldWorld,, 1c966).1966). iiss aass cleaclearr aass ththee sonsongg ooff ththee thrush.thrush.

128 Crazy CloudsClouds ( Hakuin 129129 A monkmonk askedasked thethe priest pries tFuketsu Fuketsu (Feng-hsueh (Feng-hsueh Yen-chao)Yen-chao) completioncompletion ofof thethe goi koankoanss thathatt formallformallyy endeendedd hihiss program.program. "Speech"Speech andand silencesilence araree concerneconcernedd witwithh subjectsubject anandd object.object. HowHow EspousingEspousing moralmoral conductconduct inin dailydaily lifelife asas thethe practicalpractical corner-corner• cacann I transcentranscendd bothboth subjectsubject andand object?"object?" stonestone ofof hishis teaching,teaching, HakuinHakuin hadhad hishis studentsstudents gogo overover thethe TenTen FuketsFuketsuu saidsaid,, ""II alwaysalways thinthinkk ofof KonanKonan [a[a provincprovincee iinn China]China] BuddhistBuddhist Precepts.Precepts. HeHe urgeurgedd themthem toto bebe guidedguided byby theirtheir ethicalethical in March. Partridges chirp among the many fragrant blossoms." in March. Partridges chirp among the many fragrant blossoms." spiritspirit inin applyingapplying ZenZen toto theirtheir lives,lives, forfor thethe preceptsprecepts werewere indeedindeed ththee ultimateultimate aiaimm ofof ZenZen practice.practice. AndAnd hehe furtherfurther AnotherAnother famousfamous examplexamplee ooff a gonsen koakoann iiss thethe "Three"Three insistedinsisted thathatt thethe practicepractice nevernever reallreallyy reachereachedd aann endend,, bubutt ratherrather TurninTurningg WordsWords"" ooff ththee earlyearly SungSung ZenZen mastermaster HaryoHaryo KokanKokan progressed and deepened throughout one's life. The Ten Bud• (Pa(Pa Ling).Ling). progressed and deepened throughout one's life. The Ten Bud- dhistdhist Precepts,Precepts, whichwhich areare nonott killing,killing, notnot stealing,stealing, notnot misus-misus• A monkmonk askedasked Haryo,Haryo, "What"What isis thethe DevaDeva sect?"sect?" inging sex,sex, notnot lying,lying, notnot givinggiving oror takingtaking drugs,drugs, notnot discussingdiscussing HaryoHaryo said,said, "Snow"Snow inin a silversilver bowl."bowl." faultsfaults ooff others,others, notnot praisingpraising yourselfyourself whilewhile abusingabusing others,others, "What"What isis thethe Tao?"Tao?" notnot sparingsparing thethe DharmaDharma assets,assets, notnot indulgingindulging iinn anger,anger, andand "The"The clearlyclearly enlightenedenlightened manman fallsfalls intintoo a well."well." notnot defamingdefaming thethe Buddha,Buddha, Dharma,Dharma, andand Sangha,Sangha, areare guidelinesguidelines "What"What isis thethe sharpestsharpest sword?"sword?" ratherrather thanthan commandmentscommandments etchedetched inin stone.stone. FollowingFollowing thethe "The"The dewdew onon thethe toptop ofof eacheach branchbranch ofof coralcoral reflectsreflects thethe lightlight wayway ofof thethe BodhisattvaBodhisattva ideal,ideal, theythey pointpoint thethe ethicallyethically moti-moti• ofof ththee moon."moon." vatedvated BuddhistBuddhist towardtoward thethe ultimateultimate goalgoal ofof savingsaving allall beings.beings. NantoAlanto koan koanss ar aree difficul difficultt t too pas passs through through,, sincsincee thetheyy pointpoint toto ThougThoughh renownedrenowned forfor hishis roughrough mannersmanners andand crudecrude speech,speech, a subtlesubtle placplacee beyonbeyondd righrightt anandd wrongwrong,, wherewhere,, iinn ththee midsmidstt ofof HakuinHakuin waswas motivatedmotivated byby aa strongstrong ethicalethical sensesense throughoutthroughout dailydaily activity,activity, thethe ZenZen studentstudent cancan developdevelop composurcomposuree andand hishis lifelife.. HHee wawass committecommittedd ttoo ththee commonfolkcommonfolk,, oftenoften interced-interced• peacpeacee ooff mindmind.. HakuinHakuin advisedadvised hishis studentsstudents toto "quickly"quickly settlesettle inging onon theirtheir behalfbehalf withwith theirtheir samuraisamurai overlordsoverlords inin aa pleaplea forfor thesethese nanto koankoanss onconcee anandd foforr all,all,"" sincsincee ththee tranquillittranquillityy ofof compassiocompassionn andand socialsocial justicejustice.. HeHe openlyopenly enjoinedenjoined feudalfeudal lordslords minmindd thatthat followedfollowed waswas,, forfor him,him, thethe suresure signsign ofof thethe confidentconfident toto proveprove theirtheir spiritualspiritual attainmentattainment bbyy provingproving inin wordword andand ZenZen person.person. HeHe feltfelt thatthat CaseCase 3838 inin The The GatelessGateless GateGate wawass anan deeddeed thatthat asas "enlightened"enlightened rulers"rulers" theythey hadhad thethe well-beingwell-being ofof excellentexcellent exampleexample ofof anan especiallyespecially difficultdifficult nantonanto koan.koan. theirtheir subjectssubjects iinn mindmind.. OnOn hishis variousvarious lecturelecture tours,tours, hehe wouldwould oftenoften stopstop inin smallsmall villagesvillages andand deliverdeliver freefree talkstalks toto laypeople,laypeople, ThThee priespriestt GosoGoso (Wu-tsu(Wu-tsu Fa-yen)Fa-yen) said,said, "It"It isis likelike a watewaterr buffalobuffalo alwaysalways findinfindingg simplesimple wordwordss toto conveyconvey hishis teaching.teaching. HakuinHakuin passingpassing througthroughh a window.window. ItsIts head,head, horns,horns, andand fourfour legslegs allall hadhad thethe remarkableremarkable giftgift ofof adaptingadapting hishis stylestyle andand languagelanguage toto paspasss throughthrough.. WhyWhy can'tcan't itsits tailtail paspasss througthroughh too?"too?" hishis audience.audience. HeHe alwaysalways spokespoke extemporaneously,extemporaneously, usingusing thethe power and spontaneity of the moment to get his point across. ThThee lastlast group,group, thethe highlyhighly valuedvalued goigoi koans,koans, werewere,, accordingaccording power and spontaneity of the moment to get his point across. toto Hakuin,Hakuin, "spiritual"spiritual jewels,"jewels," forfor theythey hadhad triggeredtriggered severalseveral ButBut HakuinHakuin couldcould nevernever escapeescape hishis samuraisamurai heritage;heritage; hishis enlightenmentenlightenment experiencesexperiences iinn ththee greatgreat mastermaster himself.himself. TheseThese fascinatiofascinationn wit withh ththee "stron"strongg warrior"warrior" ledled himhim toto elevateelevate thethe koanskoans areare associatedassociated witwithh thethe "Five"Five RanksRanks ofof MasterMaster TozanTozan samurasamuraii classclass,, eveevenn ttoo ththee extenextentt ofof praisingpraising thethe strengthstrength andand Ryokai,"Ryokai," a T'angT'ang ZenZen mastermaster whowho hadhad composedcomposed versesverses onon "wisdom""wisdom" ofof thethe cruelcruel shogunshogun Icyasu,Ieyasu, founderfounder ofof thethe Toku-Toku• ththee "five"five modemodess ooff ththee apparentapparent andand thethe real."real." HakuinHakuin wrotwrotee a gawagawa clanclan.. UsinUsingg thethe samuraisamurai preoccupationpreoccupation withwith deathdeath asas aa lengthlengthyy commentarycommentary onon thesethese verses,verses, laudinglauding themthem aass "the"the teachingteaching tooltool,, hehe advisedadvised feudalfeudal lordslords andand high-statushigh-status retainersretainers shishipp thathatt carriescarries ththee ZeZenn studentstudent acrossacross ththee poisonouspoisonous sea."sea." toto investigateinvestigate ththee worwordd shi, "death,"death,"" inin thethe samesame wayway thatthat hehe StillStill hhee feltfelt itit necessarynecessary ttoo addadd oneone moremore stepstep afterafter thethe assignedassigned ttoo hihiss monkmonkss ththee koakoann "Mu."Mu."" OnceOnce thethe warriorwarrior hadhad i;o130 Crazy CloudsClouds , Hakuin 131 e escapeescapedd ththee realmrealm ofof lifelife andand deathdeath inin thethe experienceexperience ofof satori,satori, absolutabsolutee equalityequality.. OneOne famousfamous anecdoteanecdote involvesinvolves anan elderlyelderly hhee couldcould reemergereemerge asas a bravebrave anandd moralmoral fighter,fighter, loyalloyal toto hishis HarHaraa womawomann whwhoo hadhad heardheard HakuiHakuinn saysay iinn aa lecturelecture,, "Min"Mindd isis lorlordd andand compassionatecompassionate towartowardd ththee commoncommon people.people. SuchSuch ththee PurPuree Land,Land, thethe bodybody itselfitself isis AmidaAmida Buddha."Buddha." PonderingPondering reasoninreasoningg ledled HakuinHakuin toto exaltexalt thethe contemporarycontemporary hushido bushido code.code. thithiss forfor days,days, thethe oldold womanwoman hadhad a akensho kensho experienceexperience oneone morninmorningg whilewhile washingwashing a potpot.. SheShe immediatelimmediatelyy rusherushedd overover toto A warriowarriorr mustmust fromfrom thethe beginningbeginning toto thethe endend bebe physicallyphysically Shoin-jShoin-jii anandd appeareappearedd beforbeforee HakuinHakuin,, cryincryingg "Amida"Amida BuddhaBuddha strong.strong. InIn hishis attendanceattendance onon hishis dutiesduties andand inin hishis relationshipsrelationships hashas crashecrashedd intintoo mmyy bodybody.. MountainsMountains andand riversrivers shineshine wonder-wonder• withwith othersothers thethe mostmost rigidrigid punctiliousnesspunctiliousness andand proprietypropriety areare fully.fully. HowHow marvelous!"marvelous!" requiredrequired.. HiHiss haihairr musmustt bbee properlproperlyy dresseddressed,, hihiss garmentgarmentss iinn ththee stricteststrictest order,order, andand hishis swordsswords mustmust bebe fastenedfastened atat hishis sideside.. WithWith "What's"What's that?"that?" HakuinHakuin snorted.snorted. "Nothing"Nothing cancan shineshine inin youryour thisthis exactexact andand properproper deportment,deportment, thethe truetrue meditationmeditation standsstands asshole!"asshole!" forthforth withwith anan overflowingoverflowing splendorsplendor.. MountedMounted onon aa sturdysturdy horse,horse, PushingPushing himhim asideaside anandd jumpinjumpingg witwithh joyjoy,, thethe oldold womanwoman thethe warriorwarrior cancan rideride forthforth toto faceface anan uncountableuncountable hordehorde ofof criedcried outout,, "Hakuin"Hakuin isis notnot enlightenedenlightened yet!"yet!" enemiesenemies aass thougthoughh hehe werewere ridingriding intointo aa placeplace emptyempty ofof people.people. HearingHearing thisthis,, HakuinHakuin clappedclapped heherr oonn thethe backback andand roaredroared TheThe valiantvaliant undauntedundaunted expressionexpression onon hishis faceface reflectsreflects hishis practicepractice witwithh laughter.laughter. ofof thethe peerless,peerless, truetrue,, uninterrupteduninterrupted meditationmeditation sitting.sitting. Meditat-Meditat• TheThe sixteen-year-oldsixteen-year-old Satsu,Satsu, whowho frequentlyfrequently sawsaw HakuinHakuin inin ing in this way, the warrior can accomplish in one month what ing in this way, the warrior can accomplish in one month what privatprivatee interviewsinterviews (dokusan),(dokusan), lovelovedd ttoo teasteasee ththee ololdd mastermaster.. OneOne it takes the monk a year to do; in three days he can open up for it takes the monk a year to do; in three days he can open up for dadayy hhee explaineexplainedd ttoo herher aa difficultdifficult passagepassage iinn a sutrasutra andand asked,asked, himselfhimself benefitbenefitss thathatt woulwouldd taktakee thethe monkmonk aa hundredhundred days.days. "Do"Do youyou understand?"understand?" SheShe respondedresponded,, "Please,"Please, couldcould youyou explainexplain itit again?"again?" Then,Then, OOnn anotheranother occasion,occasion, however,however, hhee couldcould justjust asas ferventlyfervently jusjustt asas hehe waswas abouaboutt ttoo openopen hishis mouth,mouth, sheshe gotgot upup andand leftleft thethe admonisadmonishh aa feudafeudall lordlord,, urginurgingg hihimm toto givegive upup hishis riches,riches, room,room, leavingleaving behindbehind aa laughinglaughing Hakuin.Hakuin. "clean"clean uupp thethe garden,garden, changechange thethe watewaterr iinn ththee basinsbasins,, anandd withwith "I've"I've beenbeen mademade a foolfool byby thisthis girl!"girl!" hehe shoutedshouted afterafter her.her. a laughinglaughing faceface waswashh ththee feefeett ooff a retainer'retainer'ss horse.horse."" HeHe couldcould Hakuin'Hakuin'ss humorhumor isis especiallyespecially evidentevident inin thethe manymany paintingspaintings alsalsoo ventvent hishis publicpublic contemptcontempt forfor power-hungrypower-hungry "idiotic""idiotic" hehe leftleft behind.behind. AlwaysAlways pokinpokingg fufunn ofof people,people, hehe indulgedindulged inin generalgeneralss whwhoo didn'didn'tt carecare aboutabout thethe welfarewelfare ofof thethe commoncommon caricaturescaricatures anandd ofteoftenn accompanieaccompaniedd thethemm withwith funnyfunny verses.verses. HeHe peoplepeople.. CautioninCautioningg "tyrannical"tyrannical officials"officials" whwhoo plunderedplundered thethe alsoalso lovelovedd ttoo makmakee fufunn ooff himselfhimself,, anandd delightedelightedd iinn comparingcomparing citizenrcitizenryy anandd madmadee thethemm suffer,suffer, HakuinHakuin wrotewrote:: "When"When thethe his own tumbledown Shoin-ji to rich Kyoto temples like commocommonn peoplepeople decline,decline, ththee nationationn wilwilll surelsurelyy perish.perish."" OnlyOnly his own tumbledown Shoin-ji to rich Kyoto temples like Daitoku-jDaitoku-jii andand Myoshin-ji.Myoshin-ji. LikeLike hihiss greagreatt idolidol,, ththee MuromachiMuromachi ththee benevolentbenevolent lorlordd "whos"whosee heartheart isis deeplydeeply motivatedmotivated byby mastermaster Ikkyu,Ikkyu, hehe railedrailed againstagainst thethe "establishment"establishment priests"priests" compassioncompassion"" hadhad a naturanaturall righrightt toto rule.rule. whwhoo hadhad lostlost touchtouch withwith thethe truetrue wayway ofof thethe unsui, ththee "drifting"drifting InIn a nationnation wherewhere aa woman'swoman's statusstatus waswas oftenoften lessless thathann thatthat cloud.cloud."" ooff a horshorsee oorr a cow,cow, HakuinHakuin pleadedpleaded witwithh feudalfeudal lordlordss ttoo alteralter the situation, claiming that "women, after all, araree humanhuman the situation, claiming that "women, after all, OftenOften ZenZen masters,masters, andand theirtheir studentsstudents asas well,well, makemake constantconstant beingsbeings"" deservingdeserving ooff ththee "greatest"greatest respectrespect anandd dignity.dignity."" HisHis abundanceabundance intintoo luxuriouluxuriouss livingliving,, anandd thethe prosperityprosperity ofof thethe owownn conductconduct towardtoward womenwomen waswas quitequite inin advanceadvance ofof hishis time.time. templetemple givesgives ththee stylstylee ttoo ththee teachingteaching.. TheyThey thinkthink thatthat eloquenceeloquence AmonAmongg hishis laylay studentsstudents therethere werewere severalseveral witwithh whomwhom hehe anandd a cleverclever tongutonguee makemake forfor wisdom,wisdom, equateequate finefine foodfood andand enjoyeenjoyedd livellivelyy ZeZenn exchangeexchangess characterizecharacterizedd b byy aa standarstandardd ofof clothingclothing withwith thethe BuddhaBuddha Way,Way, makemake haughtinesshaughtiness andand beautybeauty

132 Crazy CloudsClouds E Hakuin ?33133 intintoo moralmoral qualities,qualities, andand taketake thethe faithfaith exhibitedexhibited bbyy othersothers asas anan (1089-1163),(1089—1163), whwhoo hahadd emphasizedemphasized ththee importanceimportance ofof contin-contin• indicatioindicationn thathatt theythey themselvesthemselves havhavee attaineattainedd ththee DharmaDharma_...... uedued practicepractice afterafter thethe initialinitial awakening.awakening. HakuinHakuin single-single- TheTheyy adornadorn themselvesthemselves lavishlylavishly iinn silkensilken gownsgowns andand preachpreach handedlyhandedly createdcreated a koakoann systesystemm thathatt hashas helpehelpedd generationgenerationss ofof recklesslyrecklessly...... IInn deftlydeftly acquiringacquiring offeringofferingss ooff moneymoney thatthat ZenZen practitionerspractitioners toto realizerealize theitheirr owownn nature.nature. ItIt waswas he,he, too,too, represenrepresentt mucmuchh backbreakingbackbreaking toitoill oonn ththee partpart ofof thethe populace,populace, whowho stronglystrongly emphasizedemphasized thethe needneed forfor dharmadharma successorssuccessors whowho thetheyy wouldwould appeaappearr ttoo havhavee gaine gainedd miraculou miraculouss powers powers...... ButBut would transmit "true Zen practice" to future generations. whewhenn thethe timetime toto diedie arrivesarrives andand thethe solitarysolitary lamplamp flickersflickers asas would transmit "true Zen practice" to future generations. According to Hakuin, a Zen master must be completely de• thetheyy lielie halfwayhalfway betweenbetween liflifee anandd deathdeath,, theythey crycry andand moan.moan. According to Hakuin, a Zen master must be completely de- DriveDrivenn madmad,, withwith nono placeplace toto putput theirtheir handshands andand feet,feet, theythey diedie votedvoted toto teachingteaching Zen,Zen, butbut hehe mustmust nevernever believebelieve thatthat hehe hashas ssoo agonizingagonizing a deathdeath thatthat theirtheir disciplesdisciples andand followersfollowers cannotcannot "completed""completed" hishis ownown practice,practice, forfor moralmoral refinement,refinement, com-com• beabearr ttoo loolookk atat them.them. binedbined withwith everever deeperdeeper experiencesexperiences ooff insight,insight, continuescontinues for-for• ever.ever. HakuiHakuinn enjoyedenjoyed indulginindulgingg iinn humoroushumorous folktalesfolktales andand oftenoften ThThee lastlast sixsix lineslines ofof hishis "Zazen"Zazen Wasan"Wasan" ("A("A SongSong inin PraisePraise usedused themthem toto teachteach commoncommon peoplepeople thethe importanceimportance ofof basicbasic ofof SittingSitting Meditation"),Meditation"), aa shortshort religiousreligious poempoem thatthat isis recitedrecited ethics.ethics. HisHis superstitioussuperstitious beliefbelief iinn thethe supernaturalsupernatural powerspowers ofof toto thisthis veryvery dayday inin every every JapaneseJapanese RinzaiRinzai ZenZen monastery,monastery, certaincertain BuddhisBuddhistt sutrassutras standsstands inin contrastcontrast toto hishis strictstrict adherenceadherence expresseexpressess ththee essencessencee ooff "Hakui"Hakuinn Zen."Zen." toto koankoan practicepractice andand hishis tiradestirades againstagainst thethe dualismdualism ofof PurePure BoundlesBoundlesss andand freefree isis thethe skysky ofof samadhisamadhi [absorption][absorption],, LandLand followers.followers. BuButt hihiss interactiointeractionn withwith thethe TaoistTaoist hermithermit andand BrighBrightt thethe fullfull moonmoon ofof wisdom!wisdom! healerhealer HakuyuHakuyu,, andand thethe successsuccess ofof thethe latter'slatter's naikannaikan therapy,therapy, TrulyTruly,, iiss anythinanythingg missingmissing now?now? had convinced him of the existence of certain "inexplicable had convinced him of the existence of certain "inexplicable NirvanNirvanaa iiss righrightt here,here, beforebefore ourour eyes;eyes; powers,"powers," which,which, asas longlong asas theythey diddid notnot conflictconflict witwithh hishis ZenZen ThiThiss veryvery placeplace iiss ththee LotusLotus Land,Land, practicepractice,, shouldshould bebe takentaken seriously.seriously. ThisThis veryvery bodybody,, thethe Buddha.Buddha. HakuiHakuinn waswas a giftedgifted artist;artist; hishis paintingspaintings andand calligraphy,calligraphy, asas welwelll aass hihiss voluminousvoluminous writings,writings, reflectreflect aa universallyuniversally talentedtalented personalitypersonality.. FollowingFollowing ththee traditiontradition ofof JapaneseJapanese inkink paintingpainting knowknownn asas suiboku-ga, h hee developedevelopedd hi hiss owownn dynamidynamicc ZeZenn stylestyle anandd carriedcarried iitt beyondbeyond thethe traditionaltraditional boundaries.boundaries. InIn hishis inimi-inimi• tabletable,, eccentriceccentric way,way, hehe depicteddepicted humanehumane andand earthyearthy subjects,subjects, executeexecutedd iinn lightlight shadesshades ofof blackblack ink,ink, exchangingexchanging formalformal aesthetiaestheticc valuevaluess foforr aann appreciatioappreciationn ooff thethe coarsecoarse andand ugly.ugly. ToTo ththee jojoyy ofof lower-classlower-class peoplpeoplee whwhoo lovedloved hihiss ruderude humor,humor, HakuiHakuinn expressedexpressed hihiss owownn idiosyncraticidiosyncratic viewviewss iinn hishis roughrough paintingspaintings.. UsingUsing animalsanimals toto conveyconvey humanhuman characteristics,characteristics, hehe pokepokedd funfun atat conventionalizedconventionalized TokugawaTokugawa notionnotionss ooff morality.morality. AlAlll currentcurrent JapaneseJapanese RinzaRinzaii ZeZenn mastersmasters tracetrace theirtheir lineagelineage bacbackk ttoo HakuinHakuin EkakEkakuu Zenji.Zenji. ItIt waswas hishis meritmerit toto developdevelop thethe raraww conceptconcept ooff thethe famousfamous ChineseChinese ZenZen mastermaster DaieDaie SokoSoko

134 Crazy CloudsClouds I Hakuin 135135 7 Nyogen Senzaki:Senzaki: The HomelessHomeless Mushroom

NyogeNyogenn SenzakiSenzaki waswas borbornn inin 1876,1876, a yeayearr beforbeforee ththee enendd ooff thethe ereraa ooff thethe samuraisamurai iinn JapanJapan.. ThiThiss momentoumomentouss breabreakk witwithh thethe paspastt playedplayed itselitselff ououtt inin thethe lifelife ofof thisthis homelesshomeless wanderingwandering monkmonk,, whowho single-handedlysingle-handedly broughbroughtt a modernmodern formform ofof de-de• mocratizemocratizedd ZeZenn toto thethe West.West. NyogenNyogen Senzaki'sSenzaki's path,path, likelike thethe revolutionarrevolutionaryy eventeventss thathatt characterizedcharacterized ththee MeijiMeiji ereraa iinn whichwhich hhee developeddeveloped hihiss radicaradicall principlesprinciples,, wawass difficultdifficult anandd fraughtfraught witwithh obstacles.obstacles. ItIt isis essentialessential ttoo taktakee a closclosee loolookk aatt thethe societysociety thathatt formeformedd him.him. ThThee MeijiMeiji regimeregime prohibitedprohibited alalll samuraisamurai fromfrom bearingbearing swords,swords, thethe symbolsymbol ofof theirtheir superiorsuperior status.status. InIn addition,addition, thethe warriowarriorr castecaste loslostt ititss stipendsstipends,, whichwhich werewere compulsorilcompulsorilyy con-con• vertedverted intintoo governmentgovernment bondsbonds representingrepresenting onlyonly aboutabout halfhalf theirtheir value.value. InIn a desperatedesperate laslastt attempattemptt toto turnturn backback thethe clock,clock, SaigoSaigo TakamoriTakamori,, a samuraisamurai endoweendowedd witwithh ththee virtuesvirtues ofof hishis birth-courage,birth—courage , generosity,generosity, lacklack ofof ostentation,ostentation, andand contemptcontempt forfor money—organizemoney-organizedd aa rebellion rebellion toto overthrowoverthrow thethe eight-yeareight-year rulerule ofof EmperorEmperor Meiji.Meiji. ThisThis "civil"civil warwar ofof Seinan"Seinan" endedended inin 18771877 witwithh thethe devastatingdevastating defeatdefeat ofof Takamori'sTakamori's forces.forces. TheThe proudproud rebelrebel samuraisamurai leaderleader waswas forcedforced toto commitcommi tseppuku, seppuku, leavinleavingg aa triumphantriumphantt neneww regimeregime inin placeplace ooff a two-hundred-two-hundred- sixty-yearsixty-year orderorder thatthat hadhad outlivedoutlived itsits usefulness.usefulness. TheThe beginningsbeginnings ooff thethe MeijiMeiji restorationrestoration areare tracedtraced toto thethe appearanceappearance o off foufourr AmericaAmericann "blac"blackk ships,ships,"" leledd bbyy Com-Com• nosekinoseki,, anandd forcingforcing ChoshChoshuu anandd SatsumSatsumaa ttoo a trucetruce andand thethe mandermander MatthewMatthew PerryPerry,, offshoreoffshore ooff thethe JapaneseJapanese towtownn ofof TokugawTokugawaa regim regimee t too ththee paymenpaymentt ooff aann indemnityindemnity.. TheThe irra-irra• UragaUraga inin thethe summersummer ofo f 1853.1853. ThreateningThreatening thethe TokugawaTokugawa tionaltional,, antiforcignantiforeign sentimentsentiment ofof thethe JapaneseJapanese rulingruling eliteelite waswas regimeregime withwith attack,attack, PerryPerry eventuallyeventually forcedforced ththee openinopeningg ofof twotwo coolecooledd bbyy thesethese belligerentbelligerent eventsevents,, anandd thetheyy werweree forcedforced toto JapanesJapanesee portportss ttoo AmericaAmericann tradtradee shipsships,, thuthuss endinendingg mormoree thanthan makmakee peacpeacee witwithh foreigforeignn infiltratioinfiltrationn ooff ththee country.country. twotwo hundredhundred yearsyears ofof self-imposedself-imposed isolationisolation.. SooSoonn otheotherr pow-pow• TheiTheirr defeatdefeat hahadd taughttaught thethe lordslords ofof thethe Satsuma,Satsuma, Choshu,Choshu, ersers liklikee GreatGreat Britain,Britain, Russia,Russia, France,France, andand GermanyGermany followed,followed, NagatoNagato,, andand HizenHizen districtsdistricts anotheranother lessonlesson too:too: sincesince thethe andand withinwithin fivefive years,years, treatiestreaties foforr thethe furtherfurther openingopening ofof JapanJapan BakufBakufuu wawass totooo weakweak toto punishpunish theirtheir rebelliousrebellious districtsdistricts forfor toto foreignforeign tradetrade werewere putput intointo effect.effect. TheseThese events,events, anandd theirtheir engagingengaging inin independentindependent warfarewarfare againstagainst thethe WesternWestern powers,powers, ineffectualineffectual handlinhandlingg bbyy thethe TokugawaTokugawa regimeregime,, convincedconvinced thethe iitt wouldwould probablprobablyy bebe tootoo weakweak ttoo withstandwithstand a unitedunited actionaction toto JapanesJapanesee thathatt ththee weakweak BakufBakufuu governmengovernmentt wawass readreadyy ttoo bebe establisestablishh aa neneww regimregimee undeunderr ththee flagflag ooff thethe youngyoung emperoremperor donedone awayaway withwith.. InIn 186o,i860, aa groupgroup ofo fnationalistic nationalistic samuraisamurai MeijiMeiji.. OOnn thethe morningmorning ofof 33 JanuaryJanuary 1868,1868, troopstroops underunder thethe assassinatedassassinated ththee powerfupowerfull regenregentt IIii NaosukeNaosuke,, whwhoo ruleruledd foforr thethe leadershileadershipp ooff SatsumaSatsuma seizedseized ththee imperialimperial palacepalace iinn Kyoto.Kyoto. AA minorminor shogunshogun lemochiIemochi Tokugawa,Tokugawa, thusthus openingopening thethe wayway forfor aa councicouncill waswas summoned,summoned, thethe lastlast shogunshogun YoshinobuYoshinobu TokugawaTokugawa seriesseries ooff challengeschallenges ttoo TokugawaTokugawa rulrulee thathatt werewere toto becomebecome wawass strippestrippedd ooff hishis landslands andand power,power, andand EmperorEmperor MeijiMeiji waswas steadilysteadily moremore effectiveeffective witwithh thethe years.years. formallformallyy restorerestoredd toto politicalpolitical leadership.leadership. AlmosAlmostt threethree centu-centu• BetweeBetweenn i86i86o0 andand 1867,1867, thethe BakufuBakufu triedtried desperatelydesperately toto rieriess ooff TokugawaTokugawa rulrulee thuthuss endedended,, andand a newnew era,era, thethe MeijiMeiji regainregain ititss ololdd strength,strength, implementingimplementing policiespolicies designeddesigned toto givegive restorationrestoration,, began.began. ththee governmengovernmentt controlcontrol ofof allall trade.trade. InIn MayMay i i860860,, aa decreedecree waswas Twenty-fivTwenty-fivee year yearss later later,, ththee newnew regimeregime hadhad completelycompletely issuedissued grantingrantingg monopolmonopolyy rightsrights inin thethe majormajor exportexport consign-consign• changechangedd JapanesJapanesee societysociety,, makinmakingg ththee empirempiree a worldworld powerpower mentmentss ooff grainsgrains,, rawraw silk,silk, andand waxwax toto certaincertain EdoEdo wholesalers.wholesalers. equaequall ttoo ititss EuropeaEuropeann counterparts.counterparts. TheThe architectsarchitects ofof thethe MeijiMeiji AllAll shipmentsshipments hahadd toto departdepart fromfrom Yokohama,Yokohama, Edo'sEdo's port,port, regimregimee werweree a smalsmalll elitelitee ooff relativelrelativelyy younyoungg menmen,, a mixturemixture ensuringensuring ththee Bakufu'sBakufu's controlcontrol overover principalprincipal itemsitems ofof export.export. ooff lower-classlower-class samurasamuraii anandd courtcourt nobility.nobility. IInn thethe so-calledso-called However,However, ththee governmengovernmentt dididd nonott havehave ththee powerpower toto enforceenforce CharteCharterr OathOath,, thethe regime,regime, inin thethe namename ooff ththee younyoungg emperor,emperor, thethe decreedecree inin thethe domainsdomains ofof thethe increasinglyincreasingly powerfulpowerful daimyo,daimyo, adoptedadopted neneww principlesprinciples aass guidelineguideliness foforr ththee nationnation.. OldOld To-To• thethe feudalfeudal lords,lords, andand finally,finally, inin 1864,1864, thethe monopolymonopoly waswas kugawakugawa ruleruless regulatinregulatingg iinn detaildetail thethe activitiesactivities ooff menmen andand abolished,abolished, leavinleavingg tradtradee ttoo developdevelop accordinaccordingg ttoo thethe freefree womewomenn werweree abolishedabolished,, anandd alalll classeclassess werweree urgeurgedd ttoo unitunitee inin market.market. anan efforteffort toto establishestablish aa modernmodern nation-state,nation-state, whichwhich includedincluded AAtt thethe samesame time,time, jingoisticjingoistic lower-classlower-class samuraisamurai murderedmurdered openinopeningg JapaJapann ttoo WesternWestern technologtechnologyy anandd culture.culture. TheThe newnew severalseveral BritisBritishh anandd AmericaAmericann tradtradee officialsofficials,, provokinprovokingg WesternWestern governmengovernmentt initiatedinitiated aa westernizedwesternized educationaleducational system,system, postalpostal retaliation.retaliation. IInn 1863,1863, ththee lordlordss ooff twtwoo southersouthernn domainsdomains,, Cho-Cho- serviceservice,, militarmilitaryy conscriptionconscription,, telegraph,telegraph, railroads,railroads, andand finally,finally, shushu anandd Satsuma,Satsuma, decideddecided toto startstart theirtheir ownown privateprivate warwar againstagainst inin 1889,1889, aa constitutioconstitutionn anandd a nationanationall assemblyassembly,, ththee DietDiet.. MeijiMeiji thethe hatedhated gaijin. ChoshChoshuu steamerssteamers attackedattacked American,American, French,French, governmengovernmentt officialsofficials studiestudiedd variouvariouss EuropeanEuropean andand AmericanAmerican andand DutchDutch vesselsvessels inin thethe ShimonosekiShimonoseki Straits.Straits. SatsumaSatsuma forcesforces societiessocieties,, takintakingg frofromm eaceachh whawhatt thetheyy thoughtthought wouldwould bestbest fitfit attackedattacked a BritishBritish squadronsquadron nearnear Kagoshima,Kagoshima, inflictinginflicting heavyheavy JapanJapan.. TheyThey basedbased thethe legallegal systemsystem onon thethe FrenchFrench NapoleonicNapoleonic damagedamage oonn thethe BritishBritish ships.ships. TheThe alliedallied forcesforces ofof France,France, CodeCode,, thethe educationeducation systemsystem onon AmericanAmerican pragmatismpragmatism,, andand thethe Britain,Britain, andand thethe UnitedUnited StatesStates retaliated,retaliated, bombardingbombarding Shimo-Shimo- constitutioconstitutionn oonn ititss authoritarianauthoritarian GermaGermann twintwin.. MostMost impor-impor-

1381.38 Crazy CloudsClouds I Nyogen SenzakiSenzaki 139 tantlytantly,, thethe oldold feudalfeudal systemsystem waswas abolished,abolished, andand thethe divisiondivision ForcedForced ttoo conductconduct ShintoShinto ceremonies,ceremonies, BuddhistBuddhist clergyclergy triedtried toto ooff ththee countrcountryy intointo prefecturesprefectures turneturnedd powerfupowerfull daimyo intointo savesave theitheirr religioreligionn bbyy aligninaligningg themselvethemselvess witwithh thethe nationalisticnationalistic localocall governorsgovernors,, responsiblresponsiblee foforr keepinkeepingg lalaww andand orderorder inin thethe sentimentsentiment ofof thethe MeijiMeiji regimeregime.. InIn additionaddition,, bothboth ShintoismShintoism andand namnamee ooff ththee emperor.emperor. BuddhismBuddhism attackedattacked thethe newlynewly legalizedlegalized ChristiaChristiann religionreligion onon TheThe citycity ofof EdoEdo waswas renamedrenamed TokyoTokyo andand designateddesignated thethe groundsgrounds thatthat aa doctrinedoctrine ofof lovelove andand forgivenessforgiveness wawass "inherently"inherently imperialimperial capitalcapital.. ThThee neneww spirispiritt ofof "modernity""modernity" infusedinfused thethe antinationalisticantinationalistic anandd unun-Japanese. Japanese."" automatioautomationn ofof agricultureagriculture andand thethe developmentdevelopment ooff industryindustry.. InIn ByBy ththee earlearlyy r89os,1890s, ththee MeijMeijii governmengovernmentt felfeltt stronstrongg enoughenough orderorder toto fulfillfulfill itsits dreamdream ofof turningturning JapanJapan intointo aa first-class,first-class, toto competecompete withwith thethe WesternWestern powerspowers inin theirtheir imperialisticimperialistic modermodernn nationnation statestate asas quicklyquickly asas possible,possible, thethe governmentgovernment advancesadvances aimeaimedd aatt exploitinexploitingg ChinaChina.. UsinUsingg disputesdisputes oveoverr Chi-Chi• supportedsupported "corporate"corporate capitalism,"capitalism," placingplacing economiceconomic powerpower inin nesnesee influencinfluencee iinn KoreKoreaa aass a pretense,pretense, JapaJapann declareddeclared wawarr onon ththee handhandss ofof zaibatsu,zaibatsu, aann exclusiveexclusive cliqucliquee ooff privatprivatee entrepre-entrepre• ChinaChina inin thethe summersummer ofof 1894,1894, andand soonsoon controlledcontrolled KoreaKorea andand neursneurs whowho enjoyedenjoyed a virtualvirtual monopolymonopoly inin finance,finance, industry,industry, ththee southernsouthern partpart ofof Manchuria.Manchuria. InIn FebruaryFebruary 1895,1895, JapaneseJapanese andand commerce,commerce, inin closeclose cooperatiocooperationn witwithh thethe militarymilitary andand thethe forceforcess tootookk thethe LiaotungLiaotung peninsula,peninsula, includingincluding PorPortt Arthur,Arthur, imperialimperial court.court. TheThe newnew JapaneseJapanese capitalism,capitalism, characterizedcharacterized byby forcinforcingg ChinChinaa toto acceptaccept defeadefeatt anandd aa harsharshh peacpeacee treatytreaty.. ChinaChina a predominantpredominant statestate enterpriseenterprise supportedsupported byby aa financialfinancial oligar-oligar• loslostt TaiwaTaiwann ttoo JapanJapan,, bubutt witwithh ththee helhelpp ooff ththee "tripl"triplee interven-interven• chy,chy, heavilyheavily taxetaxedd ththee populationpopulation,, particularlyparticularly thethe agriculturalagricultural tiontion"" powerspowers ofof Germany,Germany, France,France, andand Russia,Russia, thethe MeijiMeiji gov-gov• community.community. ernmenernmentt waswas forceforcedd ttoo returreturnn thethe LiaotungLiaotung peninsulapeninsula.. BuButt onlyonly five years later, Japan helped Great Britain subdue the Chinese FollowingFollowing thethe ancientancient JapanesJapanesee modemodell ofsaisei-itchi,o£saisei-itchi, ththee unitunityy five years later, Japan helped Great Britain subdue the Chinese Boxer rebellion, and was rewarded by the government in ofof religionreligion andand government,government, thethe MeijiMeiji regimeregime createdcreated StateState Boxer rebellion, and was rewarded by the government in London with an alliance treaty. Now backed by Britain, Japan Shinto,Shinto, a mixturemixture ofof emperoremperor worship,worship, obedienceobedience toto statestate London with an alliance treaty. Now backed by Britain, Japan felt strong enough to attack expansionist Russian forces that authorities,authorities, anandd thethe worshipworship ofof kami,kami, variousvarious ShintoShinto naturenature felt strong enough to attack expansionist Russian forces that had crossed the frontier into Korea. Within one year, the godsgods thathatt werewere thoughthoughtt ttoo protectprotect thethe "superiority""superiority" ofof Japa-Japa• had crossed the frontier into Korea. Within one year, the Japanese inflicted major defeats on the Russian army and navy nesnesee societysociety.. RatheRatherr thathann relegatinrelegatingg religioureligiouss mattermatterss ttoo templetemple Japanese inflicted major defeats on the Russian army and navy at Port Arthur and Tsushima. Plagued by internal problems, authoritiesauthorities,, ththee governmentgovernment itselfitself controlledcontrolled ththee activitiesactivities ofof at Port Arthur and Tsushima. Plagued by internal problems, Russia was forced to sign a peace treaty in 1905, ceding to StateState ShintoShinto,, gearinggearing itit carefullycarefully towardtoward ethnocentricethnocentric nation-nation• Russia was forced to sign a peace treaty in 1905, ceding to Japan its holdings in southern Manchuria, the southern half of alismalism.. IInn thisthis vein,vein, deifyingdeifying thethe emperoremperor asas aa "living"living kami"kami" Japan its holdings in southern Manchuria, the southern half of the island of Sakhalin, and the Liaotung peninsula. wawass a cleverclever movmovee oonn thethe partpart ofof powerfulpowerful bureaucratsbureaucrats andand the island of Sakhalin, and the Liaotung peninsula. militaristimilitaristicc nationalistsnationalists,, whwhoo useusedd ththee exaltatioexaltationn ooff ththee thronethrone Japan'Japan'ss militarymilitary successsuccess propellepropelledd ththee nationationn ttoo worldworld powerpower ttoo promotepromote nationalisticnationalistic fervofervorr amongamong thethe masses.masses. FarFar fromfrom status,status, whichwhich manifestedmanifested itselfitself inin a jingoistijingoisticc frenzfrenzyy thathatt forcedforced directingdirecting affairaffairss o off statestate,, ththee emperoemperorr wawass nnoo moremore thanthan aa thethe half-Russian,half-Russian, half-Japanesehalf-Japanese pacifispacifistt monmonkk NyogenNyogen SenzakiSenzaki convenientconvenient figureheafigureheadd foforr a smallsmall despoticdespotic oligarchy.oligarchy. InIn anan ttoo leaveleave hihiss countrcountryy anandd startstart aa newnew lifelife inin thethe UnitedUnited States.States. attemptattempt toto spreadspread StateState Shinto,Shinto, thethe governmentgovernment movedmoved toto IndeliblIndeliblyy markemarkedd oonn hishis mindmind werewere thethe perniciouspernicious effectseffects ofof weakenweaken BuddhismBuddhism byby instigatinginstigating anti-Buddhistanti-Buddhist propagandapropaganda nationalismnationalism,, anandd ththee opportunismopportunism ofof thethe BuddhistBuddhist establish-establish• thatthat linkedlinked BuddhismBuddhism toto thethe hatedhated TokugawaTokugawa regime.regime. AsAs aa menmentt inin thethe faceface ofof statestate power.power. result,result, manymany BuddhistBuddhist templestemples werewere destroyeddestroyed oror damaged,damaged, aa larglargee numbenumberr ooff monksmonks andand nunsnuns werewere forceforcedd ttoo taketake upup ThThee circumstancescircumstances ooff Nyogen'sNyogen's birthbirth andand earlyearly childhoodchildhood secularsecular lifelife,, anandd alalll BuddhisBuddhistt priestpriestss werweree encourageencouragedd ttoo marrymarry.. araree nonott wellwell knowknownn andand withwith thethe coursecourse ofof timetime havehave takentaken onon

140 Crazy CloudsClouds 0 Nyogen Senzaki 141 aann apocryphaapocryphall character.character. BornBorn toto aa JapanesJapanesee mothemotherr iinn OctoberOctober ChicagoChicago,, wherewhere hehe mademade contactcontact withwith AmericanAmerican BuddhistsBuddhists 18761876,, oonn thethe SiberianSiberian peninsulapeninsula ooff Kamchatka,Kamchatka, hehe waswas eithereither whwhoo wouldwould inviteinvite himhim backback tenten yearsyears later.later. abandoneabandonedd bbyy heherr atat birth,birth, oror leftleft toto survivesurvive afterafter sheshe dieddied inin ImmediatelImmediatelyy recognizinrecognizingg ththee talentalentt ooff "thi"thiss strangstrangee monk,"monk," childbirthchildbirth.. HiHiss fatherfather remainsremains unknownunknown,, butbut itit isis generallygenerally SoyenSoyen drovdrovee NyogeNyogenn hardhard,, oftenoften usingusing thethe traditionallytraditionally harshharsh assumeassumedd thathatt hehe waswas eithereither RussianRussian oror Chinese.Chinese. AA travelingtraveling RinzaRinzaii methodmethodss ooff shoutinshoutingg andand beatingbeating toto presspress hishis studentstudent toto JapaneseJapanese KegoKegonn BuddhisBuddhistt priespriestt decidedecidedd ttoo adopadoptt thethe babybaby andand self-realizationself-realization.. NyogeNyogenn felfelll ililll witwithh tuberculosis,tuberculosis, andand spentspent aa taktakee itit toto Japan.Japan. yeayearr iinn isolationisolation iinn a littlelittle woodenwooden huthut onon thethe monasterymonastery NyogeNyogenn waswas givengiven a first-clasfirst-classs educationeducation.. AtAt thethe ageage ofof five,five, groundsgrounds.. SensingSensing himselhimselff ttoo bbee closeclose ttoo death,death, NyogenNyogen askedasked hhee waswas alreadyalready studyingstudying thethe ChineseChinese classics,classics, anandd beforebefore thethe SoyeSoyenn foforr hihiss laslastt adviceadvice.. "I"Iff yoyouu diedie,, jusjustt die,die,"" waswas thethe crypticcryptic agagee ofof eighteen,eighteen, hehe hadhad finishedfinished readingreading thethe multi-volumemulti-volume answeanswerr ooff ththee stersternn abbotabbot.. StrangelStrangelyy enoughenough,, Nyogen'Nyogen'ss healthhealth ChinesChinesee TripitakaTripitaka,, ththee BuddhisBuddhistt "Bible."Bible."" DrawnDrawn toto medicine,medicine, begabegann ttoo improve,improve, andand itit waswas notnot longlong beforebefore hehe couldcould againagain NyogeNyogenn waswas lookinlookingg forwarforwardd toto startingstarting medicalmedical schoolschool,, whenwhen engageengage inin thethe usualusual demandingdemanding monasterymonastery schedule.schedule. IItt waswas suddenlsuddenlyy hihiss fosterfoster fatherfather passedpassed awayaway.. ThThee deatdeathh ofof hishis onlyonly durinduringg thithiss timtimee thatthat NyogenNyogen metmet D.D. T.T. Suzuki,Suzuki, aa youngyoung laylay familfamilyy membememberr leftleft deepdeep scarsscars oonn thethe psychepsyche ofof thethe eighteen-eighteen- studentstudent andand favoritefavorite ofof SoyenSoyen ShakuShaku,, whwhoo hadhad nono ideaidea thatthat hehe year-olyear-oldd youthyouth.. HHee resolvedresolved oonn ththee spotspot toto renouncerenounce thethe wawass harborinharboringg undeunderr hishis roofroof thethe twotwo twentieth-centurytwentieth-century pio-pio• seculasecularr liflifee anandd devotdevotee himselfhimself,, liklikee hihiss fostefosterr fatherfather,, toto reli-reli• neersneers ofof ZenZen BuddhismBuddhism inin America.America. giougiouss anandd moramorall teaching.teaching. NyogenNyogen waswas ordainedordained byby aa ShingonShingon Nyogen'Nyogen'ss practicepractice progressed,progressed, andand althoughalthough hehe nevernever spokespoke priestpriest,, but,but, soonsoon disappointeddisappointed byby thethe institutionalizedinstitutionalized formal-formal• ofof hishis ownown kensho experienceexperience,, hhee resolveresolvedd hihiss firsfirstt koankoanss durinduringg itityy ofof esotericesoteric Buddhism,Buddhism, hhee lefleftt ShingonShingon foforr ZenZen.. AA SotoSoto thethe fivefive yearyearss hhee spenspentt aatt Engaku-ji.Engaku-ji. BuButt here,here, too,too, hehe waswas priespriestt accepteacceptedd ththee younyoungg novice,novice, butbut NyogenNyogen wanderedwandered awayaway discomfiteddiscomfited byby monasticmonastic ceremonyceremony andand ritual,ritual, alienatedalienated byby thethe againagain,, thithiss timtimee turningturning upup atat thethe gatesgates ofof thethe RinzaiRinzai monasterymonastery traditionaltraditional lifelife ooff a BuddhisBuddhistt priespriestt oorr monkmonk.. TurningTurning toto booksbooks Engaku-jEngaku-jii iinn KamakuraKamakura.. ImpressedImpressed byby hishis previoupreviouss correspon-correspon• forfor intellectualintellectual stimulusstimulus,, NyogeNyogenn hihitt oonn ththee writingswritings ofof thethe dencdencee witwithh ititss younyoungg abbotabbot SoyenSoyen Shaku,Shaku, ththee twenty-year-oldtwenty-year-old GermanGerman educationaeducationall reformereformerr anandd foundefounderr ooff ththee kindergartenkindergarten NyogeNyogenn resolveresolvedd t oto sticstickk witwithh RinzaRinzaii Ze Zenn i nin ththee hophopee ofof system,system, FriedrichFriedrich FroebelFroebel (1782-1852).(1782-1852). Froebel'Froebel'ss ideaideass ssoo im-im• catchincatchingg a glimpsglimpsee ofof hishis essentialessential nature.nature. pressepressedd ththee younyoungg monkmonk thatthat hehe resolvedresolved toto leaveleave Engaku-jEngaku jii toto found a nursery school, which he called the Mentorgarten. AbboAbbott SoycnSoyen ShakuShaku wawass ththee ZeZenn prodigprodigyy ofof thethe day.day. HavingHaving found a nursery school, which he called the Mentorgarten. Believing in the natural power of children, Nyogen envisioned receivedreceived transmissiotransmissionn aatt ththee incrediblincrediblyy younyoungg ageage ofof twenty-twenty- Believing in the natural power of children, Nyogen envisioned himself guiding and watching them, and helping them learn fivefive frofromm KosenKosen RoshiRoshi,, ththee mosmostt celebratedcelebrated ZeZenn mastermaster ofof hishis himself guiding and watching them, and helping them learn about nature without religious instruction or ceremonies. He time,time, SoyenSoyen waswas sentsent forfor a yearyear toto KeioKeio UniversitUniversityy iinn TokyoTokyo toto about nature without religious instruction or ceremonies. He would later extend this concept of a Mentorgarten to his small studystudy Buddhism.Buddhism. StimulatedStimulated byby hishis newnew intellectualintellectual activity,activity, would later extend this concept of a Mentorgarten to his small Zen centers in San Francisco and Los Angeles. SoyeSoyenn decidedecidedd ttoo spenspendd somsomee timtimee inin SoutheastSoutheast AsiaAsia studyingstudying Zen centers in San Francisco and Los Angeles. TheravadTheravadaa BuddhismBuddhism.. TwTwoo yearyearss afteafterr hihiss returreturnn toto Japan,Japan, atat I coinecoinedd ththee worwordd "Mentorgarten"Mentorgarten"" asas II thoughtthought thethe wholewhole worldworld the death of his teacher Kosen Roshi, Soyen Shaku was installed the death of his teacher Kosen Roshi, Soyen Shaku was installed wawass a beautifulbeautiful gardengarden wherewhere allall friendsfriends couldcould associateassociate peace-peace• aass chiechieff abboabbott ooff Engaku-jEngaku jii aatt ththee unprecedenteunprecedentedd agagee ooff thirtythirty-- fullyfully,, anandd bebe mentorsmentors ofof oneone another.another...... AAss inin a kindergartenkindergarten threethree.. InIn 1893,1893, aass ththee representativrepresentativee oofJapanescf Japanese ZeZenn Buddhism,Buddhism, wwee hahadd nono teacher,teacher, butbut wewe encouragedencouraged oneone anotheranother andand triedtried SoyenSoyen ShakuShaku attendeattendedd thethe WorldWorld ParliamentParliament ofof ReligionsReligions inin ouourr bestbest toto growgrow upup naturally.naturally. AndAnd likelike aa nursenurse ofof thethe kinder-kinder-

142 142 Crazy CloudsClouds 1 Nyogen Senzaki 143143 garten,garten, I sometimessometimes presumedpresumed myselmyselff aass aa gardenegardenerr ttoo dodo allall SenzakiSenzaki,, whwhoo wawass nonoww almosalmostt thirtythirty,, andand whosewhose distastedistaste forfor sortssorts ofof labor,labor, butbut II nevernever forgotforgot thatthat II myself myself waswas alsoalso aa flower flower rampantrampant nationalismnationalism andand institutionalinstitutional religion,religion, whatwhat hehe calledcalled ofof thethe gardengarden,, minglinminglingg wit withh ol oldd an andd ne neww friends friends...... II waswas "cathedra"cathedrall Zen,Zen,"" promptedprompted himhim notnot toto returnreturn toto Japan.Japan. Sens-Sens• alwaysalways happhappyy iinn thithiss MentorgartenMentorgarten,, anandd whwhyy willwill I notnot bebe soso inin inging Nyogen'sNyogen's thoughts,thoughts, SoyenSoyen ShakuShaku tootookk himhim forfor aa walkwalk inin thethe future?future? ThisThis isis thethe . ... . spirispiritt ofof thethe SanghaSangha inin primitiveprimitive GoldenGolden GatGatee ParkPark,, and,and, settingsetting downdown Nyogen'sNyogen's suitcase,suitcase, thethe Buddhism,Buddhism, nay,nay, notnot onlyonly inin primitiveprimitive Buddhism,Buddhism, butbut inin modernmodern mastermaster said,said, "Just"Just faceface ththee greagreatt citcityy andand seesee whethewhetherr itit con-con• Buddhism,Buddhism, soso farfar asas itit isis truetrue Buddhism.Buddhism. quersquers yoyouu oror youyou conquerconquer it.it. Don'tDon't feelfeel obligedobliged toto serveserve meme any longer." Disappearing into the evening fog with a good• IInn 1901,1901, afterafter fivefive yearsyears atat EngakuEngaku-ji ji,, NyogenNyogen askedasked SoyenSoyen any longer." Disappearing into the evening fog with a good- bye on his lips, Soyen left his student, never to see him again. ShakShakuu foforr permissiopermissionn toto leaveleave ththee monastermonasteryy iinn ordeorderr toto devotedevote bye on his lips, Soyen left his student, never to see him again. The master never gave Nyogen formal transmission, and it is himselhimselff ttoo thethe creationcreation ofof a kindergarten.kindergarten. SoyenSoyen decideddecided toto letlet The master never gave Nyogen formal transmission, and it is not clear whether he gave him permission to teach. It seems hihiss "ma"madd monk"monk" go,go, andand gavegave hihimm a to-whom-it-may-concernto-whom-it-may-concern not clear whether he gave him permission to teach. It seems thatthat hehe intendedintended forfor NyogenNyogen toto ripenripen forfor atat leastleast twentytwenty yearsyears letteletterr thatthat read:read: untiuntill hhee wouldwould bbee readyready toto emergeemerge asas a ZenZen teacherteacher inin thethe BrotheBrotherr NyogenNyogen isis a namelessnameless anandd pennilesspenniless monkmonk.. HeHe goesgoes WestWest.. NyogeNyogenn hahadd achievedachieved hihiss goalgoal;; hhee woulwouldd remairemainn iinn thethe unrecognizeunrecognizedd botbothh iinn andand outout ofof monasteries.monasteries. HeHe hashas onlyonly anan UnitedUnited StateStatess foforr ththee resrestt ooff hishis life,life, returningreturning ttoo hishis homehome aspirationaspiration foforr loving-kindnessloving-kindness,, witwithh whichwhich nono honoredhonored positionposition countrcountryy onlyonly onceonce onon aa briefbrief triptrip toto visitvisit hishis friendfriend NakagawaNakagawa cancan comparecompare.. HeHe isis boldbold enoughenough toto establishestablish thethe MentorgartenMentorgarten SoenSoen RoshiRoshi inin 1955.1955. withwith nono otherother assetsassets thanthan hishis accumulatedaccumulated knowledgeknowledge ofof .Bud-Bud• FaFarr frofromm beingbeing disheartened,disheartened, NyogeNyogenn tootookk onon allall kindskinds ofof dhismdhism anandd modernmodern thought.thought. ToTo beginbegin with,with, hehe willwill startstart byby jobsjobs toto staystay alive.alive. HeHe waswas a houseboy,houseboy, aa cook,cook, elevatorelevator opera-opera• takingtaking carecare ofof children,children, tryingtrying toto influenceinfluence theirtheir parentsparents indi-indi• tortor,, clerk,clerk, andand hotelhotel manager.manager. InIn 19161916 hehe eveneven managemanagedd toto buybuy rectlyrectly.. HHee willwill plantplant thethe seedlingsseedlings ooff BuddhBuddhaa iinn thethe fieldfield ofof actuaactuall lifelife,, withouwithoutt dependingdepending oonn thethe modernmodern churchchurch systemsystem ofof a hotel,hotel, butbut afterafter onlyonly aa shortshort periodperiod ofof timetime hehe gavegave itit up,up, Japan.Japan. feelingfeeling ververyy uncomfortabluncomfortablee aatt "playin"playingg ththee boss.boss."" WhenWhen inin 19191919 hhee receivereceivedd ththee messagmessagee thathatt SoyenSoyen ShakuShaku hadhad dieddied inin AndAnd thatthat isis exactlyexactly whawhatt NyogeNyogenn setset ououtt toto do.do. DeterminedDetermined toto JapaJapann aatt thethe ageage ofof sixty,sixty, NyogenNyogen litlit incenseincense andand vowedvowed toto givgivee childrechildrenn ththee lovlovee anandd carcaree thathatt hehe hadhad receivedreceived fromfrom hishis commemoratecommemorate hishis teacher'steacher's deathdeath everyevery yearyear.. FroFromm thethe timetime ofof fosterfoster father,father, hehe createdcreated a kindergartenkindergarten ooff aboutabout twentytwenty toto hishis arrivalarrival,, hhee studiedstudied EnglishEnglish andand waswas a frequentfrequent visitorvisitor toto thethe thirtythirty youngsters.youngsters. EveryEvery morningmorning beforebefore openingopening thethe play-play• SanSan FranciscFranciscoo PubliPublicc LibraryLibrary,, wherewhere hehe spentspent hourshours readingreading househouse hehe wouldwould sitsit zazen;zazen; hhee spenspentt thethe restrest ofof thethe dayday withwith thethe authorsauthors likelike RalphRalph WaldoWaldo EmersoEmersonn andand WilliamWilliam JamesJames.. HeHe waswas children,children, callincallingg theitheirr attentioattentionn ttoo a sunrisesunrise oorr sunset,sunset, toto especiallespeciallyy fon fondd ooff GermaGermann cultureculture,, oftenoften referringreferring ttoo greatgreat differentlydifferently coloredcolored leaves,leaves, oorr ttoo ththee songsong ofof birds.birds. GermaGermann philosopherphilosopherss liklikee ImmanueImmanuell KanKantt aass "tru"truee giants,"giants," BuButt inin 1905,1905, thethe increasinglyincreasingly shrillshrill voicevoice ofof JapaneseJapanese nation-nation• whowho,, likelike everyevery manman,, onceonce inin a whilewhile neededneeded a "good"good kickkick inin alismalism lefleftt hihimm witwithh nono optionoption butbut toto leave.leave. HavingHaving beenbeen bornborn ththee pants.pants. "" iinn RussiaRussia,, perhapperhapss partlpartlyy RussianRussian himselfhimself,, NyogeNyogenn lookedlooked withwith IInn 1922,1922, atat thethe ageage ofof forty-six,forty-six, seventeenseventeen yearsyears afterafter hishis reliefrelief aatt thethe opportunityopportunity toto accompanyaccompany SoyenSoyen ShakuShaku asas hishis arrivaarrivall iinn ththee UnitedUnited States,States, hehe spentspent allall hishis savingssavings toto hirehire aa attendantattendant inin SanSan Francisco,Francisco, wherewhere thethe famousfamous abbotabbot hadhad beenbeen halhalll anandd givgivee aa lecturlecturee oonn "Th"Thee FirstFirst StepStepss iinn Meditation.Meditation."" HeHe inviteinvitedd toto visitvisit friendsfriends andand deliverdeliver lectureslectures onon BuddhismBuddhism andand repeaterepeatedd thithiss procedureprocedure severalseveral timestimes,, andand byby 19271927 hadhad estab-estab• Zen.Zen. AmericaAmerica seemedseemed a veryvery promisingpromising placeplace forfor NyogenNyogen lishelishedd aa "floatin"floatingg zendo,zendo,"" whichwhich becamebecame popularpopular inin SanSan Fran-Fran-

144 Crazy CloudsClouds 1H Nyogen Senzaki 145 ciscciscoo BuddhisBuddhistt circlescircles.. CarryinCarryingg witwithh hihimm a six-hundred-year-six-hundred-year- otheotherr oneone day.day. (See(See chaptechapterr 8 foforr a descriptiondescription ooff thethe meetingmeeting ololdd paintingpainting ofof thethe BodhisattvaBodhisattva ManjusriManjusri,, whwhoo cutcutss throughthrough betweenbetween NyogenNyogen SenzakiSenzaki andand NakagawaNakagawa SoenSoen Roshi.)Roshi.) alalll delusionsdelusions,, NyogeNyogenn establishedestablished a zendzendoo wherevewhereverr anandd when-when• NyogenNyogen spentspent thethe greatergreater partpart ofof thethe nineteen-thirtiesnineteen-thirties estab-estab• everever hhee couldcould affordafford itit.. HeHe thrivedthrived inin thisthis atmosphereatmosphere ofof lishinlishingg hihiss MentorgarteMentorgartenn MeditationMeditation Hall.Hall. UsingUsing simplesimple chairschairs impermanenceimpermanence,, stressinstressingg agaiagainn anandd agaiagainn ththee importanceimportance ofof insteainsteadd ofof traditionaltraditional JapaneseJapanese zafus, hhee perfectlperfectlyy matchedmatched thethe "tru"truee homelessness"homelessness" forfor thethe unconventional,unconventional, everydayeveryday ZenZen levelevell ooff hihiss instructionsinstructions ttoo hishis students'students' ability.ability. FarFar fromfrom practitionerpractitioner.. HiHiss ververyy namename,, Nyogen,Nyogen, meaningmeaning "like"like a fan-fan• resemblinresemblingg aann institutioninstitution,, hishis MentorgarteMentorgartenn providedprovided studentsstudents with the opportunity to learn the basics of zazen, Mahayana tasy,tasy,"" waswas thethe perfectperfect synonymsynonym foforr thethe ZenZen ofof aa homelesshomeless with the opportunity to learn the basics of zazen, Mahayana Buddhism, and Japanese art and culture. He patiently delivered wandererwanderer.. WitWithh helhelpp frofromm hishis newnew studentsstudents andand friends,friends, Ny-Ny• Buddhism, and Japanese art and culture. He patiently delivered lecturelecturess evereveryy weeweekk anandd inviteinvitedd studentstudentss toto seesee himhim privatelyprivately ogeogenn wawass ablablee ttoo rentrent anan apartmentapartment onon BushBush Street,Street, laterlater thethe iinn informainformall interviews.interviews. Steadily,Steadily, Nyogen'Nyogen'ss sanghasangha grew,grew, andand locatiolocationn ooff ththee firsfirstt ZeZenn centecenterr iinn ththee UniteUnitedd StatesStates.. AlthoughAlthough witwithh thethe generousgenerous helphelp ofof Mrs.Mrs. Tanahashi,Tanahashi, hhee boughboughtt appro-appro• hhee onconcee inviteinvitedd thethe JapanesJapanesee roshroshii GyodGyodoo FurukawFurukawaa foforr aa briebrieff priatpriatee furniturfurnituree andand establishedestablished a littllittlee library.library. stastayy iinn SanSan FranciscoFrancisco,, NyogeNyogenn soosoonn realizedrealized thathatt thethe culturalcultural ThThee yearyear 19421942 markemarkedd a hiatushiatus inin allall ofof NyogenNyogen Senzaki'sSenzaki's gagapp betweenbetween formaformall JapanesJapanesee "cathedra"cathedrall Zen, Zen,"" anandd hishis ownown efforts.efforts. TheThe outbreakoutbreak ofof WorldWorld WarWar IIII andand thethe ensuingensuing anti-anti- antihierarchicaantihierarchicall anandd informa informall "Mentorgarte"Mentorgartenn ZenZen"" hahadd becomebecome JapanesJapanesee hysterihysteriaa iinn ththee U.S.U.S. ledled toto President President Roosevelt'sRoosevelt's totooo widewide everever ttoo bebe bridgedbridged again.again. ExecutivExecutivee OrdeOrderr 90669066,, mandatinmandatingg ththee internmentinternment ofof bothboth IInn ththee earlyearly 193os,1930s, NyogeNyogenn movedmoved toto LosLos Angeles,Angeles, celebrat-celebrat• JapanesJapanesee alienalienss anandd naturalizenaturalizedd AmericanAmerican citizens.citizens. SenzakiSenzaki andand iningg ththee simplesimple liflifee ooff aa wandererwanderer,, witwithh "no"no excessexcess ooff foodfood oror hishis JapaneseJapanese communitcommunityy werweree interneinternedd aatt HeartHeart MountainMountain moneymoney,, sleepingsleeping quietlquietlyy withouwithoutt worries,worries, andand havinghaving nono poss-poss• RelocationRelocation CamCampp iinn Wyoming.Wyoming. NoNoww theirtheir "Mentorgarten""Mentorgarten" essions.essions."" SoonSoon hehe waswas ablablee ttoo renrentt anan apartmentapartment (in(in oneone ofof thethe ZeZenn trainingtraining paidpaid off,off; makingmaking thethe bestbest ofof theirtheir situation,situation, theythey dirtiesdirtiestt partpartss ooff town)town) andand slowlyslowly acquaintacquaint himselfhimself witwithh thethe practicepracticedd zazezazenn togethertogether,, chantechantedd BuddhisBuddhistt sutrassutras,, anandd spentspent JapanesJapanesee communitycommunity.. HeHe continuedcontinued givinggiving lectureslectures anandd medi-medi• manmanyy hourshours listeninglistening toto NyogenNyogen expoundexpound thethe Buddha-Buddha- tatiotationn instructioninstruction,, livinlivingg oonn thethe dollardollar billsbills thatthat hishis studentsstudents DharmaDharma.. RuthRuth StroutStrout McCandless,McCandless, aa devoteddevoted friendfriend inin LosLos woulwouldd leavleavee behind behind.. IInn 19321932,, NyogeNyogenn memett MrsMrs.. KinKin Tanahashi,Tanahashi, AngelesAngeles,, tootookk carcaree ooff Nyogen'sNyogen's librarylibrary andand stayedstayed iinn touchtouch ththee owneownerr ooff aa smallsmall business,business, whwhoo offeredoffered hihimm roomroom andand witwithh thethe almostalmost seventy-year-oldseventy-year-old monkmonk,, sendingsending hihimm bookbookss atat boardboard inin exchangeexchange forfor carecare ofof herher mentallymentally retardedretarded sonson hihiss request.request. TheThe threethree yearsyears inin thethe internmentinternment campcamp gavegave JimmyJimmy.. Nyogen,Nyogen, thethe "mcntorgartner,""mentorgartner," mademade friendsfriends witwithh thethe NyogeNyogenn ththee timetime andand thethe opportunityopportunity toto workwork onon lectures;lectures; every month he managed to send one back to Los Angeles, twelve-year-oltwelve-year-oldd boyboy,, whwhoo repairepaidd hihiss kindnesskindness bbyy learninlearningg thethe every month he managed to send one back to Los Angeles, where he had entrusted a friend with the administration of the firstfirst linlinee ooff ththee FourFour GreatGreat BodhisattvBodhisattvaa VowsVows,, "Sh"Shujou jo mumu henhen where he had entrusted a friend with the administration of the weeklweeklyy meetings.meetings. seisei gagann dodo"" ("Though("Though thethe manymany beingsbeings areare numberless,numberless, II vowvow ReturninReturningg ttoo LosLos AngelesAngeles iinn 1945,1945, NyogeNyogenn movemovedd intintoo aa ttoo savesave them").them"). `TheseThese werweree amonamongg thethe fewfew wordswords JimmyJimmy smallsmall apartmenapartmentt oonn ththee totopp floorfloor ofof thethe MiyakoMiyako hotel.hotel. TheThe TanahashiTanahashi eveeverr spokspokee iinn hihiss shortshort life.life. owner,owner, a fellow-internee,fellow-internee, hadhad beenbeen soso impressedimpressed byby NyogenNyogen IItt wawass MrsMrs.. TanahashiTanahashi whwhoo directeddirected Nyogen'Nyogen'ss attentionattention toto thatthat hehe gavegave hihimm thethe flatflat rent-free,rent-free, allowingallowing ththee ololdd monkmonk toto ththee poempoemss ofof thethe youngyoung JapaneseJapanese ZenZen monkmonk NakagawaNakagawa Soen,Soen, resumeresume hihiss usualusual dharmadharma activities.activities. TheThe followingfollowing thirteenthirteen whicwhichh werewere publishedpublished inin aa JapaneseJapanese languaglanguagee magazinemagazine.. TheThe years,years, untiuntill hishis deathdeath atat thethe ageage ofof eighty-two,eighty-two, werewere thethe mostmost twtwoo menmen beganbegan aa correspondencecorrespondence andand resolvedresolved ttoo meetmeet eacheach productivproductivee iinn Nyogen'Nyogen'ss life.life. ManyMany AmericanAmerican studentstudentss crowdedcrowded

146 Crazy CloudsClouds I Nyogen Senzaki 147 intointo hishis roomroom forfor zazenzazen andand aa lecture lecture twotwo eveningsevenings aa week.week. ooff writinwritingg thethe traditionaltraditional JapanesJapanesee deatdeathh poempoem,, NyogeNyogcnn provedproved AmonAmongg thesethese waswas RoberRobertt AitkenAitken,, whowho appearedappeared inin DecemberDecember himselhimselff ttoo bhee aa trutruee chilchildd ooff ththee twentiettwentiethh century—hcentury-hee tapedtaped 1947,1947, anandd soosoonn becamebecame ononee ofof Nyogen'sNyogen's mostmost devoteddevoted stu-stu• hihiss laslastt words.words. dentsdents.. AitkenAitken wouldwould departdepart threethree yearsyears laterlater forfor hishis firstfirst staystay asas a ZeZenn studentstudent inin JapanJapan,, returninreturningg toto thethe StatesStates toto becomebecome oneone FriendsFriends iinn ththee Dharma,Dharma, bebe satisifedsatisifed witwithh youyourr owownn head.head. DoDo ooff thethe firstfirst AmericansAmericans toto receivereceive dharmadharma transmissiontransmission andand thethe nonott putput anyany falsefalse headsheads aboveabove youyourr own.own. ThenThen minuteminute afterafter minute,minute, watchwatch youryour stepssteps closely.closely. AlwaysAlways keepkeep youryour headhead coldcold titltitlee Roshi.Roshi. andand youyourr feefeett warmwarm.. ThesThesee ar aree m myy las lastt word wordss to toyou you...... TheThe IInn thesethese lastlast yearsyears ooff hishis life,life, NyogenNyogen touchedtouched andand enrichedenriched funerafunerall musmustt bebe performedperformed inin thethe simplestsimplest way.way. AA fewfew friendsfriends the lives of many people who would later disseminate the the lives of many people who would later disseminate the whwhoo livelive nearbnearbyy mamayy attenattendd iitt quietlyquietly.. ThosThosee whwhoo knoknoww hohoww toto dharmdharmaa iinn thethe UnitedUnited States.States. InIn 1949,1949, hhee finallfinallyy memett hihiss long-long• recitrecitee sutrasutrass mamayy murmumurmurr ththee shortesshortestt oneone.. ThaThatt willwill bbee enough.enough. timtimee correspondentcorrespondent NakagawNakagawaa Soen Soen,, whwhoo wawass abouaboutt toto bebe DDoo notnot askask a priestpriest oror anyoneanyone toto makemake aa longlong serviceservice andand speechspeech made abbot of Ryutaku-ji monastery in Mishima, Japan. Ny• made abbot of Ryutaku-ji monastery in Mishima, Japan. Ny- anandd havehave othersothers yawn.yawn...... RememberRemember mmee aass a monk,monk, andand ogenogen waswas deeplydeeply impressedimpressed withwith SoenSoen andand sawsaw inin himhim aa likelylikely nothinnothingg else.else. I ddoo nonott belongbelong toto anyany sectsect oorr cathedral.cathedral. NonNonee ofof successorsuccessor iinn ththee West.West. "Som"Somee dayday thethe MentorgartenJVlentorgarten willwill dis-dis• thethemm shouldshould sensendd mmee a promotepromotedd priest'priest'ss ranrankk oorr anythinganything ofof appear,"appear," hehe saidsaid toto RobertRobert Aitken,Aitken, "but"but Soen-sanSoen-san willwill buildbuild aa thathatt sort.sort. II likelike toto bebe freefree fromfrom suchsuch trashtrash andand diedie happily.happily. greatgreat templetemple inin thethe UnitedUnited StatesStates andand thethe DharmaDharma willwill flour-flour• ish."ish." Nyogen'sNyogen's dreamdream waswas notnot toto be,be, forfor Soen'sSoen's taskstasks asas abbotabbot ThThee monkmonk NyogenNyogen SenzakiSenzaki dieddied onon 77 MayMay 1958.1958. TheThe funeralfuneral ofof aa JapaneseJapanese monastermonasteryy onlonlyy allowedallowed hihimm timetime forfor frequentfrequent serviceservice wenwentt ththee wawayy hhee hadhad envisionedenvisioned itit.. OnlyOnly thethe "few"few visitsvisits ttoo thethe UnitedUnited States,States, andand not,not, asas NyogenNyogen hadhad hoped,hoped, peoplepeople whwhoo livelive nearbynearby"" turnedturned out,out, enoughenough toto fillfill thethe halls,halls, permanenpermanentt residence.residence. sideside rooms,rooms, andand everyevery inchinch ofof space.space. HisHis ashesashes werewere divideddivided and interred in Hawaii, Japan, California, and New York. IInn 1955,1955, aatt ththee agagee ooff seventy-nineseventy-nine,, NyogenNyogen acceptedaccepted Soen'sSoen's and interred in Hawaii, Japan, California, and New York. invitatioinvitationn ttoo visitvisit JapanJapan.. ThougThoughh hehe spentspent mostmost ofof hishis timetime atat Ryutaku-jRyutaku-jii monasterymonastery,, hhee traveledtraveled ttoo KamakuraKamakura ttoo visitvisit thethe IItt iiss notnot easyeasy toto characterizecharacterize NyogenNyogen Senzaki'sSenzaki's teaching.teaching. gravgravee ooff hihiss belove belovedd teache teacherr Soye Soyenn Shaku—fro Shaku-fromm whowhomm hehe hadhad FirsFirstt anandd foremost,foremost, hehe taughttaught byby hishis ownown exampleexample andand waswas partepartedd inin SanSan FranciscoFrancisco exactlyexactly fiftyfifty yearsyears before.before. ItIt waswas aa veryvery keenlkeenlyy awarawaree thathatt hhee wawass onlonlyy aann introductorintroductoryy ZenZen instructorinstructor emotionaemotionall momenmomentt foforr ththee ololdd monkmonk,, whowho,, truetrue toto hishis vow,vow, iinn hihiss adopteadoptedd country.country. HeHe usedused thethe threethree elementselements ofof allall RinzaiRinzai hahadd celebratedcelebrated hihiss teacher'teacher'ss deatdeathh anniversaranniversaryy eaceachh yearyear.. Dur-Dur• teachers—lecturesteachers-lectures,, zazen,zazen, andand interviews—tinterviews-too conveyconvey thethe "Zen"Zen iningg hishis staystay iinn JapanJapan,, NyogeNyogenn waswas frequentlyfrequently overcomeovercome byby hishis ooff SoyeSoyenn Shaku."Shaku." emotionsemotions,, which,which, afterafter halfhalf aa centurycentury inin America,America, werewere stillstill BeingBeing botbothh extremelyextremely practicalpractical andand humble,humble, NyogenNyogen couldcould lodgelodgedd iinn hihiss homhomee countrycountry.. ForFor thethe monksmonks atat RyutakuRyutaku-ji ji,, thethe adjusadjustt ththee mostmost difficultdifficult andand theoreticaltheoretical BuddhistBuddhist conceptsconcepts toto silver-hairedsilver-haired,, barrel-chestebarrel-chestedd ol oldd mamann witwithh thethe strangelystrangely ac-ac• ththee potentialpotential ofof hishis audience,audience, alwaysalways offeringoffering ZenZen storiesstories andand centecentedd JapanesJapanesee wa wass aa rarraree attractionattraction,, bubutt allall werewere movedmoved byby concreteconcrete exampleexampless ttoo makemake hishis point.point. WidelyWidely readread andand wellwell hishis departingdeparting Talk.talk. schooledschooled iinn thethe culturalcultural backgroundbackground ofof hishis WesternWestern audience,audience, ReturningReturning ttoo thethe UnitedUnited States,States, NyogenNyogen spentspent thethe lastlast threethree hehe alwaysalways alludealludedd ttoo commoncommon pointspoints ofof referencereference thatthat wouldwould yearyearss ooff hihiss liflifee iinn aa flat thathatt MrsMrs.. TanahashiTanahashi hahadd renterentedd forfor himhim focufocuss ththee attentioattentionn ofof hishis students.students. TheThe topicstopics ofof hishis lectureslectures inin EastEast LosLos Angeles.Angeles. HeHe continuedcontinued toto seesee studentsstudents untiluntil thethe werweree widwidee rangingranging,, butbut mostmost ofof themthem presentedpresented basicbasic ZenZen end,end, nevernever losinlosingg hihiss optimistioptimisticc down-to-eartdown-to-earthh manner.manner. InsteadInstead BuddhisBuddhistt conceptconceptss liklikee zazen,zazen, satori, karmakarma,, sanghasangha,, dharma,dharma,

148 Crazy CloudsClouds 2 Nyogen Senzaki 149149 andand soso forth.forth. NyogenNyogen frequentlyfrequently emphasizedemphasized thatthat ZenZen waswas notnot NyogenNyogen feltfelt thatthat religiousreligious institutionsinstitutions andand sectssects werewere inter-inter• a religionreligion basebasedd oonn faithfaith,, nornor waswas itit somesome sortsort ofof speculativespeculative esteestedd iinn perpetuatingperpetuating thithiss mytmythh ofof "specialness""specialness" iinn orderorder toto philosophyphilosophy.. "I"Itt iiss nonott enough,"enough," NyogenNyogen said,said, "to"to telltell peoplepeople wielwieldd powepowerr anandd controcontroll thethe behaviorbehavior ooff ththee commoncommon people.people. thatthat itit isis possiblepossible toto becomebecome Buddha.Buddha. WhatWhat ZenZen actuallyactually doesdoes IInn JapanJapan,, especiallyespecially durinduringg thethe yearsyears immediatelyimmediately precedingpreceding isis toto produceproduce Buddhas.Buddhas. . . . ZenZen isis somethingsomething thatthat mustmust bebe ththee Russo-JapaneseRusso-Japanese War War,, h hee hahadd seeseenn hohoww StateState ShintoShinto andand experienced,experienced, notnot explained.explained. ScientificScientific knowledgknowledgee isis gainegainedd andand BuddhisBuddhismm hadhad beenbeen usedused toto activateactivate thethe religiousreligious fervorfervor ofof thethe developeddeveloped bbyy syllogism;syllogism; bubutt Zen,Zen, becausebecause itit isis basedbased solelysolely onon peoplpeoplee foforr thethe businessbusiness ofof killingkilling andand destruction.destruction. HeHe resolvedresolved intuition,intuition, hashas nono needneed forfor suchsuch a roundaboutroundabout method.method. ZenZen isis nevernever ttoo "belong""belong" toto anyany sectsect oror makemake himselfhimself dependentdependent onon aa ththee actualizationactualization ofof thethe unselfishunselfish life.life. "" religiousreligious institution.institution. NoNo religionreligion couldcould everever claimclaim toto possesspossess TherTheree waswas nothingnothing miraculousmiraculous aboutabout ZenZen andand enlighten-enlighten• thethe Truth,Truth, allall werewere likelike flowersflowers inin aa garden,garden, manifestingmanifesting oneone mentment,, nobodynobody shouldshould expectexpect ttoo emergeemerge asas aa personperson withwith particularparticular aspectaspect ooff ththee humanhuman experience.experience. CommentingCommenting onon aa supernaturalsupernatural powers.powers. HeHe railedrailed againstagainst whatwhat hehe calledcalled "Indian"Indian koankoan whosewhose centralcentral imageimage waswas thethe ocean,ocean, hhee said,said, "If"If anyoneanyone fakirs"fakirs" whowho hadhad comecome toto thethe WestWest andand performeperformedd allall kindkindss ofof makesmakes demarcationdemarcation foolishlyfoolishly,, thinkinthinkingg thathatt hehe alonealone hashas thethe miracles.miracles. rightright viewview ofof `water,''water,' whowho shouldshould notnot pitypity himhim forfor hishis igno-igno• rance?rance? TherTheree areare manymany schools,schools, monasteries,monasteries, andand sects,sects, eacheach SomSomee AmericanAmericanss papayy aa googoodd susumm ofof moneymoney toto learnlearn diversediverse consideringconsidering theitheirr owownn teachingteaching aass a lake,lake, ratherrather thanthan aa bay,bay, methodmethodss ofof meditationmeditation fromfrom so-calledso-called IndianIndian "teachers.""teachers." SomeSome forgettingforgetting ththee inletinlet toto thethe oceanocean ofof Dharma,Dharma, theth euniversal universal ooff thethemm givegive imaginaryimaginary namesnames toto theirtheir ownown bodies,bodies, andand believebelieve truth. "" thathatt eacheach partpart ofof themthem develops,develops, meditationmeditation afterafter meditation,meditation, NarrowNarrow sectariansectarian activitiesactivities werewere anathemaanathema toto thisthis unconven-unconven• untiuntill KundaliniKundalini,, ththee highesthighest stagestage,, iiss attained.attained. ItIt isis likelike a goodgood tional monk, especially when they were elevated to "holy carcardd gamgamee ofof solitaire.solitaire. YouYou cacann plaplayy iitt bbyy yourselyourselff aass lonlongg aass youyou tional monk, especially when they were elevated to "holy likelike.. YourYour physicaphysicall organsorgans,, youryour stomachstomach andand others,others, however,however, teachings"teachings" recorderecordedd foforr ththee "salvation""salvation" ooff humankindhumankind.. "Zen"Zen ggoo onon toto workwork constantlyconstantly inin spitespite ofof namingnaming them.them. Besides,Besides, teacherteacherss livlivee iinn thithiss worlworldd ttoo taktakee ofofff burdenburdenss frofromm theirtheir pupils'pupils' youyourr husbanhusbandd oorr wifewife wilwilll returreturnn fromfrom theirtheir work.work. IfIf youyou dodo shoulders,shoulders,"" SenzakiSenzaki insisted,insisted, "not"not toto leaveleave beautifulbeautiful recordsrecords oror notnot prepareprepare thethe dinnerdinner forfor two,two, meditationmeditation oror nono meditation,meditation, romantiromanticc anecdotes."ancedotes." AfterAfter hishis lectureslectures hehe alwaysalways urgedurged hishis somsomee "kick"kick"" isis comingcoming toto youyou justjust thethe same.same. studentstudentss ttoo "forget"forget everythingeverything I said,"said," andand findfind theirtheir ownown innerinner guideguide.. ForFor thisthis reason,reason, oneone hadhad toto bebe simplesimple andand compassion-compassion• AccordingAccording toto NyogenNyogen Senzaki,Senzaki, therethere waswas nono wayway toto dispensedispense ate,ate, alwaysalways keepinkeepingg thethe well-beingwell-being ofof othersothers inin mind.mind. witwithh karma,karma, thethe lawlaw ofof causation,causation. EvenEven passingpassing aa thousandthousand koankoanss woulwouldd nonott turturnn ""aa blondeblonde intintoo a brunette."brunette." TheThe truetrue WheWhenn mmyy mastermaster waswas alive,alive, I askedasked himhim toto excuseexcuse meme fromfrom allall teachinteachingg ooff ZeZenn waswas thatthat everyevery membermember ofof thethe phenomenalphenomenal officiaofficiall rankrankss anandd titletitless ooff ouourr churchchurch,, anandd allowallow mmee toto walkwalk freelfreelyy iinn ththee streetstreetss ooff ththee world.world. I dodo notnot wishwish toto bebe calledcalled worlworldd manifestsmanifests thethe gloryglory ofof thethe noumenon,noumenon, ofo fshunyata, shunyata, eacheach ReverendReverend,, BishopBishop,, oorr bbyy ananyy otheotherr churchchurch title.title. ToTo bbee a membermember iinn itsits ownown naturalnatural way.way. IfIf oneone wishedwished toto attainattain supernaturalsupernatural ofof thethe greatgreat AmericanAmerican peoplepeople andand walkwalk anyany stagestage ofof lifelife asas I powerspowers,, ononee hahadd bettebetterr stostopp ththee studystudy ofof Zen,Zen, sincesince iitt wouldwould please,please, iiss honorablhonorablee enougenoughh foforr me.me. I wantwant toto bebe anan AmericanAmerican bbee a wastewaste ooff timetime andand effort.effort. "Look"Look atat me,"me," SenzakiSenzaki wouldwould Hotci,Hotei, aa happyhappy JapJap inin thethe streets.streets. saysay,, ""II havehave beebeenn studyinstudyingg anandd practicingpracticing ZeZenn meditationmeditation forfor mormoree thanthan fortyforty years,years, yetyet II cannotcannot showshow youyou thethe slightestslightest signsign Nyogen'sNyogen's clothingclothing waswas alwaysalways tweedytweedy anandd rumpledrumpled;; forfor ZenZen ooff ananyy miracle!"miracle!" meetingsmeetings hhee wouldwould simplysimply wearwear a roberobe overover hishis streetstreet clothes.clothes.

150 Crazy CloudsClouds M` Nyogen Senzaki 151 AAss soosoonn asas someonsomeonee woulwouldd givgivee hihimm moneymoney,, hhee eithereither usedused itit drawdraw a picturpicturee ofof thethe everlastingeverlasting BuddhBuddhaa oonn ththee blackboardblackboard ofof toto paypay thethe rentrent forfor hishis variousvarious "floating"floating zendos"zendos" oror hehe wouldwould youryour dualisticdualistic mind,mind,"" hehe warned.warned. "Look"Look atat thethe world,world, thertheree isis savesave iitt foforr MrsMrs.. TanahashiTanahashi ttoo "repa"repayy heherr forfor herher kindness."kindness." InIn anan oceanocean ofof BuddhasBuddhas aroundaround you."you." AlwaysAlways addressingaddressing hishis thethe spiritspirit ofof aa truetrue MahayanaMahayana BuddhistBuddhist,, a BodhisattvaBodhisattva whowho hashas studentsstudents anandd audiencaudiencee aass "fello"felloww students students"" oorr "Bodhisattvas,""Bodhisattvas," thethe well-beingwell-being ooff otherotherss iinn mind,mind, NyogenNyogen nevernever tiredtired ofof NyogenNyogen indicatedindicated withwith absoluteabsolute certaintycertainty thatthat everyoneeveryone waswas remindingreminding hihiss studentstudentss thathatt hihiss "Mentorgarten""Mentorgarten" ZenZen move-move• alreadyalready a BodhisattvaBodhisattva,, readyready toto realizerealize thisthis factfact andand thenthen movemove mentment taughttaught nothingnothing butbut "to"to calmcalm yourselfyourself andand toto controlcontrol youryour toto helphelp others.others. HisHis uncompromisinguncompromising nondualismnondualism refusedrefused toto breathingbreathing,, untiluntil youyou becomebecome otherotherss anandd otherotherss becombecomee you."you." dradraww a lineline betweenbetween "Zen"Zen activities"activities" andand "ordinary"ordinary dailydaily SpeakingSpeaking ououtt againsagainstt ththee ideaidea ofof gradualismgradualism inin SotoSoto Zen,Zen, activities. " SenzakiSenzaki pointepointedd ttoo thethe possibilitypossibility ofof self-actualizationself-actualization rightright herheree anandd nownow,, withouwithoutt anyany thoughtthought ofof aa goalgoal oror anan endend state.state. I havhavee nnoo sucsuchh funnfunnyy businessbusiness asas preachinpreachingg ZenZen.. WhateverWhatever II saidsaid passed away before you recorded it. You only caught my yawns "Ther"Theree isis nono graduationgraduation iinn Zen.Zen. EachEach ofof usus takestakes aa vowvow toto passed away before you recorded it. You only caught my yawns anandd coughscoughs...... If IIf serveI serv eyou you a acup cup ofo f teatea andand say,say, "This"This isis a enlightenenlighten allall sentiensentientt beingsbeings andand,, asas thesethese araree countlesscountless,, ssoo ourour symbosymboll ooff Zen,Zen,"" nonnonee ooff you,you, thethe studentsstudents ooff ZeZenn ofof thethe vows are endless. From eternity to eternity, Buddhists work to vows are endless. From eternity to eternity, Buddhists work to MentorgartenMentorgarten,, willwill enjoyenjoy suchsuch aa lukewarmlukewarm beverage.beverage. enlighteenlightenn othersothers,, allall foforr ononee anandd ononee foforr all."all." AAss aa methodmethod,, NyogenNyogen stressedstressed ththee importancimportancee ooff meditationmeditation Nyogen'sNyogen's Zen,Zen, likelike Bankei'sBankei's teachingteaching ooff ththee UnborUnbornn inin thethe undeunderr thethe guidanceguidance ofof aa goodgood teacher.teacher. HavingHaving peoplepeople sitsit oonn aa herheree anandd now,now, emphasizedemphasized bringinbringingg fortforthh ththee ZenZen mindmind inin chaichairr foforr onlyonly fifteenfifteen minutesminutes perper zazenzazen periodperiod,, hehe taughttaught hishis daildailyy activitiesactivities,, unobstructeunobstructedd bbyy thoughtsthoughts ofof "specialness""specialness" oror studentstudentss ttoo "regulate"regulate youryour breathbreath andand workwork onon youryour koan!"koan!" "religious"religious activity.activity."" ItIt waswas ththee mindmind ofof thisthis ververyy momenmomentt thatthat OncOncee againagain matchinmatchingg thethe methodmethod withwith thethe needsneeds andand capacitiescapacities manifestemanifestedd itselitselff iinn ththee myriamyriadd thingsthings ofof thethe universe.universe. ooff hihiss studentsstudents,, NyogeNyogenn sometimessometimes dareddared ttoo changechange traditionaltraditional koans,koans, oror toto makemake upup newnew ones,ones, which,which, asas hehe felt,felt, wouldwould serveserve WhatWhat iiss thithiss mindmind thatthat perceivesperceives ththee moonmoon?? ZeZenn hahass a short-cutshort-cut hishis AmericanAmerican sanghsanghaa betterbetter.. HeHe highlyhighly esteemedesteemed ththee traditiontradition answeanswerr ttoo thithiss question.question. FoForr thethe momentmoment youyou formulateformulate thisthis ofof ChristianChristian mystics,mystics, especiallyespecially GermanGerman representativesrepresentatives likelike questionquestion,, yoyouu areare alreadalreadyy jusjustt a seconsecondd totooo latelate.. ThinkinThinkingg ooff ththee questionquestion,, yoyouu araree totooo latlatee ttoo findfind thethe answer.answer. IIff yoyouu thinkthink andand JohannesJohannes TaulerTauler anandd RichardRichard ofof St.St. VictorVictor.. LightingLighting oonn aa speaspeakk nothingnothing,, oonn ththee otherother hand,hand, youyou areare tootoo early.early. SoSo whatwhat famoufamouss passagpassagee ooff ththee GermanGerman mysticmystic MeisterMeister EckhartEckhart,, Sen-Sen• cacann yoyouu do?do? zakzakii createcreatedd ththee koankoan,, "Th"Thee eyeeye withwith whichwhich II seesee GodGod isis thethe very same eye with which God sees me. Show me that eye!" very same eye with which God sees me. Show me that eye!" LovinLovingg hihiss independenceindependence,, th thee liflifee o off aa "tru"truee mamann withoutwithout Other koans were, "After you enter your house, then let the Other koans were, "After you enter your house, then let the rank,"rank," NyogenNyogen taughttaught thethe importanceimportance ofof whatwhat hehe calledcalled "free-"free- house enter into you," or, "You and I met each other many house enter into you, " or, "You and I met each othermany thinking."thinking." ItIt waswas essentialessential ttoo becomebecome a confidentconfident persopersonn whowho millions of years ago. Now tell me where we have met!" millions of years ago. Now tell me where we have met!" hahass learnelearnedd "t"too standstand onon one'sone's ownown feet."feet." AlwaysAlways encouragingencouraging ThThee truetrue objectobject ofof zazen,zazen, accordingaccording toto Senzaki,Senzaki, waswas notnot toto questions,questions, hhee pointepointedd ttoo thethe strengthstrength andand powerpower dormantdormant inin havehave ananyy "object."object."" InIn thisthis practicepractice ofof nondualism,nondualism, oneone hadhad everyevery person,person, regardlessregardless ofof talent,talent, physicalphysical appearance,appearance, oror onlyonly toto devotedevote oneseloneselff ttoo ththee tasktask atat hand,hand, whetherwhether itit waswas mentamentall sharpness.sharpness. countingcounting one'sone's breathbreath oror workingworking onon aa koan.koan. SatoriSatori waswas nonott a meremere negationnegation,, onlonlyy a lettingletting gogo ofof allall clinging,clinging, eveneven thethe BuddhisBuddhismm counselscounsels independencindependencee ooff thoughtthought.. BuddhaBuddha inaugu-inaugu• clinginclingingg ttoo "negation""negation" oror thethe experienceexperience ofof shunyata.shunyata. "Don't"Don't rateratedd a religionreligion which,which, insteadinstead ofof forcingforcing thethe mindmind toto remainremain

152 Crazy CloudsClouds I Nyogen Senzaki 153 withinwithin thethe boundariesboundaries ofof narrownarrow creeds,creeds, actuallyactually encouragesencourages practicalitpracticalityy th thee "gospe"gospell o off energy.energy."" HHee felfeltt thathatt ZenZen andand free-thinking.free-thinking. TheThe systemsystem thethe BuddhaBuddha formulatedformulated explainedexplained thethe AmericaAmericann pragmatispragmatismm hahadd mucmuchh iinn commoncommon,, sincesince onlyonly thethe wholwholee reasonreason ofof things,things, throwingthrowing a newnew andand startlingstartling lightlight onon dailydaily,, practicalpractical lifelife,, "withou"withoutt greatgreat miracles"miracles" couldcould revealreveal thethe ththee mysterymystery ofof lifelife andand death.death. NoNo longerlonger aa bafflingbaffling riddle,riddle, lifelife wonderwonderss ooff eatingeating corncorn flakesflakes iinn ththee morningmorning andand catchingcatching aa becomebecomess a wonderfuwonderfull gifgiftt thathatt eaceachh mamann mamayy shapshapee foforr himselfhimself bubuss ttoo work.work. ResonatingResonating witwithh thethe sentimentssentiments ofof freedomfreedom andand asas hhee willwill.. HHee mamayy ruiruinn hihiss liflifee bbyy wrongdoingwrongdoing,, oror hehe maymay makemake equalityequality thathatt madmadee AmericanAmericanss "natura"naturall ZeZenn students,students,"" NyogenNyogen iitt aa beautifulbeautiful thing.thing. ManMan isis mastermaster ofof himselfhimself andand hishis fate.fate. HeHe pointed to eight aspects of American life and character that himselhimselff holdholdss thethe keykey toto thethe mysterymystery ofof life.life. pointed to eight aspects of American life and character that madmadee ththee countrcountryy a fertilefertile groungroundd forfor Zen.Zen. ThiThiss self-confidenceself-confidence combinecombinedd witwithh compassioncompassion waswas thethe hall-hall• 1I.. AmericaAmericann philosophyphilosophy isis practical.practical. marmarkk ooff ththee maturemature ZenZen person.person. NyogenNyogen nevernever forgotforgot toto stressstress 22.. AmericaAmericann liflifee doedoess nonott clingcling toto formality.formality. ththee importancimportancee ooff ththee "whol"wholee personperson beyonbeyondd sex,sex,"" someonesomeone 33.. ThThee majoritymajority ofof AmericansAmericans areare optimists.optimists. whwhoo hadhad learnedlearned toto realizerealize malemale qualitiesqualities asas wellwell asas femalefemale 4.4. AmericansAmericans lovelove nature.nature. qualitiesqualities.. SincSincee NyogeNyogcnn neveneverr knekneww ththee tendernestendernesss ooff aa moth-moth• 55.. TheyThey areare capablecapable ofof simplesimple living,living, beingbeing bothboth practicalpractical er'ser's love,love, hehe successfullysuccessfully developeddeveloped thisthis lovelove inin himself.himself. LikeLike anandd efficient.efficient. IkkyuIkkyu,, Nyogen,Nyogen, too,too, lovedloved children.children. HeHe rejectedrejected thethe ideaidea thatthat 66.. AmericansAmericans considerconsider trutruee happinesshappiness toto lielie inin universaluniversal disciplinediscipline,, punishmentpunishment,, oorr harsharshh wordswords werewere ththee rightright wayway toto brotherhoodbrotherhood.. educate the young; in their place he bestowed love and taught educate the young; in their place he bestowed love and taught 7.7. TheThe AmericanAmerican conceptionconception ofof ethicsethics isis rooterootedd inin individualindividual witwithh a respectfulrespectful leniencyleniency thatthat aimedaimed atat aa mutuallymutually beneficialbeneficial moralitymorality.. interaction,interaction, ratherrather thanthan thethe usualusual adult-childadult-child one-wayone-way street.street. 8.8. AmericansAmericans areare rationalrational thinkers.thinkers. HHee neveneverr tiretiredd ooff tellintellingg anecdoteanecdotess abouaboutt ththee yearyearss whenwhen,, asas a Nyogen'sNyogen's depictiondepiction ofof thethe AmericanAmerican nationalnational charactercharacter maymay younyoungg monkmonk inin chargecharge ofof aa kindergarten,kindergarten, he'dhe'd forgottenforgotten notnot holdhold truetrue withwith thethe passingpassing ofof thethe fortiesforties andand fifties,fifties, butbut hishis himselfhimself iinn thethe joyfujoyfull screamsscreams anandd wildwild playplay ofof children,children, enjoy-enjoy• emphasisemphasis oonn AmericanAmerican pragmatismpragmatism isis certainlycertainly validvalid today.today. inging thethe happiesthappiest timetime ofof hishis life.life. "American"American pragmatism,pragmatism,"" NyogeNyogenn woulwouldd insistinsist,, "i"iss bubutt an-an• WheWhenn II waswas a youngyoung monkmonk inin Japan,Japan, beingbeing iinn chargecharge ooff a otheotherr namename forfor oneone manifestationmanifestation ofof thethe sparklingsparkling raysrays ofof ZenZen kindergartenkindergarten,, I usedused toto playplay withwith thethe childrenchildren andand bebe defeateddefeated iinn ththee actual,actual, practicapracticall world."world." purposelpurposelyy iinn a gamgamee ooff wrestlingwrestling.. I hadhad nono wishwish toto cheatcheat them,them, WithWith thethe samesame vigorvigor thatthat hehe defendeddefended AmericanAmerican cultureculture asas bubutt I simplsimplyy enjoyedenjoyed beinbeingg defeatedefeatedd ttoo encouragencouragee ththee children.children. "ideal"ideal"" forfor thethe developmentdevelopment ooff Zen,Zen, hehe wouldwould condemncondemn for-for• malizemalizedd Japanes Japanesee "cathedral "cathedral"" ZeZenn aass "hollow"hollow,, dead,dead, andand mean-mean• NyogenNyogen SenzakiSenzaki heldheld thethe highesthighest hopeshopes forfor thethe developmentdevelopment ingless.ingless."" HavingHaving witnessedwitnessed thethe "Shintoization""Shintoization" ofof BuddhismBuddhism of Zen practice in America. Having read the major American of Zen practice in America. Having read the major American andand thethe clingingclinging ofof thethe BuddhistBuddhist clergyclergy toto theirtheir socialsocial statusstatus philosophersphilosophers anandd educators,educators, hehe hadhad acquaintedacquainted himselfhimself thor-thor• ratheratherr thathann ttoo thethe teachingsteachings ooff ththee BuddhaBuddha,, Nyogen'Nyogen'ss criticismscriticisms oughlyoughly withwith AmericanAmerican culture.culture. FindingFinding AmericanAmerican secularismsecularism werweree harsharshh anandd unrelentingunrelenting.. "I"Itt iiss aa pity,pity,"" NyogenNyogen said,said, "for"for especiallyespecially compatiblcompatiblee witwithh hishis anticlericalism,anticlericalism, NyogenNyogen ad-ad• ZenZen inin JapanJapan toto makemake connectionsconnections withwith churcheschurches andand cathe-cathe• miredmired AmericanAmerican "free-thinkers""free-thinkers" likelike ThomasThomas Paine,Paine, RalphRalph drals.drals. ProperlProperlyy speakingspeaking,, thetheyy araree iinn oppositionopposition ttoo ZenZen inin WaldoWaldo EmersonEmerson,, andand WilliamWilliam JamesJames.. TheThe latterlatter waswas aa specialspecial evereveryy respectrespect.. TherTheree shoulshouldd bbee nono bishopsbishops oror archbishopsarchbishops inin favoritefavorite ooff ththee ololdd monk,monk, whowho calledcalled James'sJames's philosophyphilosophy ofof ZenZen.. TheyThey allall carrycarry clumsyclumsy oldold stickssticks whichwhich werewere nevernever usedused

154 Crazy CloudsClouds 154 M Nyogen Senzaki 155155 —

toto climclimbb mountainsmountains...... Those Those priestspriests .... . imitate. imitat eold old symbolssymbols MMyy idealideal lifelife isis toto becomebecome aa uselessuseless mushroom,mushroom, havinghaving nono ofof ZeZenn withwith them.them. TheyThey havehave nnoo Zen."Zen." attractiveattractive flowersflowers oorr bothersombothersomee stemsstems oror leaves.leaves. WheWhenn yoyouu startstart BemoaninBemoaningg ththee "en"endd ofof Zen"Zen" inin JapanJapan andand praisingpraising ththee ZenZen likinlikingg mmee tootoo much,much, II willwill disappeardisappear fromfrom youyou.. I amam notnot likelike somesome otherother religiousreligious workerworkerss whwhoo sensendd ououtt reportsreports toto thethe ofof hishis latelate teacherteacher SoyenSoyen Shaku,Shaku, NyogenNyogen wrotewrote aa ChineseChinese cathedralscathedrals andand toto fellowfellow workers,workers, andand advertiseadvertise howhow splendidlysplendidly poempoem oneone NewNew Year'sYear's Day.Day. theythey areare doingdoing theirtheir parts.parts. InIn fact,fact, II havehave nono cathedralcathedral toto whichwhich II belong. I have no fellow workers as no-work is the work of Zen. OnOnee hundredhundred thousandthousand BonzesBonzes ofof JapanJapan areare intoxicatedintoxicated withwith belong. I have no fellow workers as no-work is the work ofZen. sake,sake, onon thisthis NewNew Year'sYear's Day.Day. AloneAlone,, BrotheBrotherr SoyeSoycnn iiss sobersober,, nothinnothingg beinbeingg ablablee ttoo tempttempt him.him. I laylay a lamlampp oonn thethe sillsill ooff mmyy windowwindow andand pinepine forfor him,him, fromfrom thisthis sideside ofof thethe ocean.ocean. HHee mustmust bebe veryvery happyhappy whenwhen thethe plumplum blossomsblossoms heraldherald thethe comingcoming spring!spring!

Nyogen'Nyogen'ss ZenZen waswas thethe gentlegentle streamstream thathatt touchetouchedd thethe lifelife ofof manmanyy practitionerpractitionerss botbothh iinn thethe UnitedUnited StatesStates andand inin Japan,Japan, helpinhelpingg ttoo implantimplant genuinegenuine practicepractice iinn foreignforeign soil.soil. AsAs RobertRobert AitkeAitkenn hahass pointepointedd outout,, Senzaki'sSenzaki's "Mentorgarten"Mentorgarten Zen"Zen" hashas manmanyy descendants.descendants. AfteAfterr Nyogen'sNyogen's death,death, NakagawaNakagawa SoenSoen RoshRoshii tootookk onon manymany "Mentorgarten""Mentorgarten" studentsstudents himself,himself, oror urgeurgedd themthem toto continuecontinue theirtheir trainingtraining withwith similarlysimilarly pro-pro- WesterWesternn ZeZenn teachers,teachers, likelike HakuunHakuun YasutaniYasutani RoshiRoshi oror YamadaYamada KouKounn RoshiRoshi.. ThThee DiamondDiamond SanghaSangha inin Hawaii,Hawaii, thethe ZenZen CenterCenter ooff LosLos AngelesAngeles,, anandd TheThe ZenZen StudiesStudies SocietySociety inin NewNew YorkYork allall cacann tracetrace theirtheir heritageheritage ttoo thethe untiringuntiring effortsefforts ofof NyogenNyogen Senzaki.Senzaki. HHee neveneverr proposeproposedd ttoo bbee a "foundin"foundingg patriarch"patriarch" oror aa "venerable"venerable teacher.teacher."" HHee jusjustt wantewantedd ttoo providprovidee aann opportunitopportunityy foforr practicpracticee ttoo anyoneanyone whowho waswas interestedinterested inin Zen.Zen. IfIf hishis guestsguests wishewishedd ttoo meditate,meditate, hehe wouldwould shoshoww thethemm howhow.. IfIf theythey wishedwished ttoo studystudy thethe scriptures,scriptures, hehe wouldwould assistassist themthem.. IfIf theythey wishedwished ttoo taketake thethe vowsvows toto keepkeep thethe precepts,precepts, hehe wouldwould givegive themthem aa jukai ceremony.ceremony. LikeLike a storehousestorehouse ofof ancientancient treasurestreasures thatthat openopenss bbyy itselfitself,, NyogeNyogenn woulwouldd simplsimplyy "b"bee there."there." FascinateFascinatedd b byy ththee simplicitysimplicity anandd starkstark beautybeauty ofof plants,plants, SenzakiSenzaki lovelovedd ttoo comparcomparee himselhimselff t too aa "homeles "homelesss mushroom.mushroom."" IInn oneone passagepassage hhee encompasseencompassedd hishis wholewhole teaching.teaching.

156 Crazy CloudsClouds Nyogen Senzaki 157 88

Soen: The MasterMaster of PlayPlay

NakagawaNakagawa SoeSoenn RoshRoshii wawass aann enigma.enigma. TheThe detailsdetails ofof hishis life,life, likelike thethe storystory Rashomon,Rashomon, varvaryy witwithh eacheach witness:witness: hehe waswas bornborn inin Formosa,Formosa, hehe waswas bornborn nearnear Hiroshima;Hiroshima; hehe waswas aa teetotaler,teetotaler, hehe waswas anan alcoholic;alcoholic; hehe waswas manicmanic depressive,depressive, hhee hadhad anan accidentaccident thathatt affectedaffected hihiss brainbrain;; hhee workedworked oonn koanskoans withwith WesternWestern studentsstudents,, hehe nevernever acceptedaccepted WesternWestern studentstudentss forfor koankoan practicpracticee ...... andand onon andand onon itit goes.goes. HeHe waswas tiny,tiny, butbut seemedseemed enormousenormous;; hhee hahadd a boomingbooming voicevoice anandd thethe lightlight stepstep ofof aa balleballett dancerdancer;; hhee waswas entirelyentirely WesternWestern iinn hishis tastes;tastes; andand soso completelcompletelyy aann orientaorientall ZeZenn mastermaster thatthat hehe seemedseemed toto havehave steppesteppedd ououtt ofof anan ancientancient koankoan collection.collection. PerlPerlee BessermaBessermann memett SoenSoen RoshiRoshi inin 1982,1982, oonn hishis lastlast visitvisit toto ththee UnitedUnited States,States, twotwo yearsyears beforebefore hehe died:died:

WWee tootookk teteaa togethertogether,, hhee stirrinstirringg thethe bitterbitter greengreen powder,powder, andand II pourinpouringg thethe boilingboiling waterwater andand passingpassing himhim chocolatechocolate chipchip cook-cook•

ieiess oonn aa platter.platter. HeHe toldtold stories,stories , endlessendless storiesstories .. . . aboutabout wanderinwanderingg iinn ChinaChina,, pointingpointing outout toto meme thatthat wewe werewere drinkingdrinking frofromm nonenone otherother thanthan thethe preciousprecious bowlbowl ofof mastermaster RinzaiRinzai himselfhimself!! SoeSoenn wawass anticantic,, aass mmyy ZeZenn friendsfriends hahadd warnedwarned me.me. InIn ththee middlemiddle ofof tea,tea, hehe orderedordered hishis dharmadharma successorssuccessors toto massagemassage himhim,, oneone roshiroshi aatt hihiss heaheadd anandd necneckk anandd ththee otherother atat hishis feet.feet. AllAll ththee whilewhile hhee wentwent onon talking,talking, charmingcharming hishis audienceaudience withwith hishis talestales,, compelled—likcompelled-likee Scheherazade-toScheherazade—to spin spin stories. stories. EvenEven then,then, asas hehe nearedneared thethe endend ofof hishis life,life, SoenSoen RoshiRoshi waswas himselfhimself bothboth tics,tics, itsits bureaucracy,bureaucracy, andand itsits religiousreligious hierarchy.hierarchy. TheThe RussianRussian herohero andand narratornarrator ofof aa fantasticfantastic storystory,, on onee thathatt h hee hahadd beebeenn RevolutionRevolution provokeprovokedd aa tinytiny resurgenceresurgence ofof JapaneseJapanese radicalism,radicalism, improvisinimprovisingg forfor halfhalf aa century.century. eveneven a fewfew strikesstrikes inin thethe cities,cities, butbut JapaneseJapanese societysociety diddid notnot lendlend itselfitself toto socialism.socialism. ItsIts ConfucianConfucian structurestructure andand itsits Toku-Toku- IInn 1905,1905, twotwo yearsyears beforebefore NakagawaNakagawa SoenSoen waswas bornborn toto a gawa-inspiredgawa-inspired hierarchhierarchyy werweree totooo entrenched.entrenched. FarmersFarmers re-re• physiciaphysiciann armarmyy officeofficerr anandd hihiss wifwifee iinn aa smallsmall towntown nearnear mainemainedd clanclan orientedoriented andand reactionaryreactionary inin theirtheir politics;politics; eveneven HiroshimaHiroshima,, thethe JapaneseJapanese hahadd conqueredconquered thethe RussiansRussians andand ex-ex• urbanurban laborerslaborers reveredrevered ththee emperoremperor asas aa divinedivine being;being; andand tendedtended theirtheir empireempire asas farfar asas thethe LiaotungLiaotung peninsulapeninsula andand Korea.Korea. factoryfactory workersworkers werewere contentcontent toto livelive underunder traditionaltraditional pater-pater• TheThe "Meiji"Meiji Miracle"Miracle" coincidecoincidedd wit withh ththee birtbirthh ofof thisthis ZenZen nalisticnalistic companycompany codescodes thatthat areare stillstill inin placeplace inin JapanJapan today.today. prodigy,prodigy, thethe emblematicemblematic triumphtriumph ofof JapaneseJapanese nationalism,nationalism, andand TheThe built-inbuilt-in tendencytendency toto acceptaccept andand submitsubmit toto authorityauthority gavegave thethe dharmadharma spreadingspreading westward.westward. TheThe Sino-JapaneseSino-Japanese WarWar inin wawayy ttoo aann occasionaloccasional ricricee riotriot,, butbut thesethese werewere nono moremore effectiveeffective 18918955 hahadd alreadalreadyy convinceconvincedd th thee nationationn thathatt iitt waswas nownow thethe inin provokingprovoking massmass socialsocial changechange thathann theythey hadhad beenbeen duringduring wellsprinwellspringg ooff cultureculture foforr allall ofof EastEast Asia,Asia, a modernizingmodernizing forceforce Ikkyu'Ikkyu'ss times.times. foforr establishingestablishing WesterWesternn civilizatiocivilizationn amonamongg ththee backwarbackwardd peo-peo• AlienationAlienation waswas thethe culturalcultural hallmarkhallmark ofof JapanJapan inin thethe nineteennineteen plepless ofof ChinaChina andand Korea.Korea. NakagawaNakagawa SoenSoen personifiedpersonified thisthis twentietwentiess anandd thirtiesthirties,, andand NakagawaNakagawa SoeSoenn gregreww uupp asas aa poetpoet interestininterestingg amalgamamalgam ofof EastEast andand West,West, findinfindingg hihiss ZeZenn rootrootss inin amonamongg itsits disaffecteddisaffected artistsartists andand intellectuals.intellectuals. NovelistsNovelists werewere ancienancientt ChinesChinesee culturculturee (livin(livingg witwithh hishis familyfamily inin FormosaFormosa seekinseekingg foforr individualityindividuality andand psychologicalpsychological identitidentityy inin thethe whilwhilee a veryvery youngyoung boy),boy), andand alsoalso developingdeveloping aa WesternWestern mosmostt rigidlyrigidly conformistconformist societysociety ooff ththee modermodernn world.world. Roman-Roman• personpersonaa iinn hihiss lovlovee foforr ththee artartss anandd civilizationcivilization ooff EuropeEurope,, andand titicc lifestyles,lifestyles, poetrypoetry,, music,music, painting,painting, andand philosophyphilosophy flour-flour• ththee anarchistianarchisticc individualisindividualismm ofof America.America. isheishedd iinn ththee demimonddemimondee ofof misfits.misfits. ContinuouslyContinuously atat oddsodds overover JapanesJapanesee politicpoliticss andand JapaneseJapanese ZenZen werewere nevernever democratic.democratic. "Eastern"Eastern spiritualityspirituality andand WesternWestern materialism,"materialism," JapaneseJapanese intel-intel• InfluenceInfluencedd bbyy oligarchyoligarchy,, emperoemperorr worship,worship, andand thethe samuraisamurai lectuallectualss ooff ththee post-Worldpost-World WarWar II periodperiod immersedimmersed themselvesthemselves codecode,, bothboth movedmoved inevitablyinevitably towardtoward thethe fascismfascism ooff thethe nine-nine- iinn a seseaa ooff populapopularr culturculturee importedimported fromfrom thethe West:West: bars,bars, cafes,cafes, teen-thirtiesteen-thirties,, whichwhich ultimatelyultimately broughtbrought Japan'sJapan's defeatdefeat inin WorldWorld AmericaAmericann cinema,cinema, dances,dances, music,music, eveneven architecturearchitecture changedchanged WaWarr II11.. Ther Theree ha hadd bee beenn severa severall short-live short-livedd attemptattemptss aatt establish-establish• ththee faceface ooff TokyoTokyo afterafter thethe greatgreat earthquakeearthquake ofof 1923.1923. Baseball,Baseball, inging aa partyparty democracy;democracy; butbut thethe universaluniversal manhoodmanhood suffragesuffrage golfgolf,, andand tennistennis sweptswept JapaJapann thenthen,, asas theythey diddid onceonce againagain afterafter establishedestablished iinn 19251925 resulteresultedd iinn twtwoo majormajor partiesparties whosewhose leadersleaders WorlWorldd WaWarr IIII.. IInn ththee midstmidst ofof thisthis floodflood ofof WesternWestern culture,culture, representedrepresented powerfupowerfull monopoliemonopoliess anandd werewere virtuallyvirtually asas un-un• SoenSoen thethe highhigh schoolschool boy,boy, enthralledenthralled byby EuropeanEuropean classicalclassical availableavailable ttoo ththee commoncommon peoplepeople asas thethe TokugawaTokugawa shogunateshogunate musicmusic,, persuadepersuadedd a a frienfriendd t too chichipp iinn witwithh hihimm andand buybuy aa hahadd beenbeen twotwo centuriescenturies before.before. SocialistsSocialists andand Christians,Christians, art-art• recordinrecordingg ooff Beethoven'sBeethoven's NintNinthh SymphonySymphony thatthat setset hishis "body"body istsists,, intellectuals,intellectuals, anandd anarchistanarchistss hahadd vieviedd witwithh eacheach otherother inin shiverinshiveringg foforr threethree daysdays afterwards."afterwards." search of a dissenting voice. But all were silenced in 1910, search of a dissenting voice. But all were silenced in1910, WithWith thethe greatgreat stockmarketstockmarket crash,crash, JapanJapan movedmoved awayaway fromfrom when a group of radical anarchists caught in a plot to assassi• when a group of radical anarchists caught in a plot to assassi- cooperationcooperation withwith thethe WestWest anandd towartowardd a mormoree forcefulforceful nation-nation• nate the emperor were executed. nate the emperor were executed. alisalistt approacapproachh thatthat ledled toto thethe usurpationusurpation ofo fManchuria Manchuria in in 193 1933 3 . WorlWorldd WaWarr II broughbroughtt JapaJapann itsits firstfirst headyheady wavewave ofof economiceconomic Militaristic,Militaristic, right-winright-wingg behaviobehaviorr wawass ththee orderorder ofof thethe day.day. successsuccess.. Zaibatsu,Zaibatsu, ththee powerfupowerfull monopoliemonopoliess linkinlinkingg rulinrulingg fam-fam• UsingUsing thethe emperoremperor asas thethe symbolsymbol ofof theirtheir platform,platform, ultrana-ultrana- ilieiliess liklikee MitsuMitsuii anandd MitsubishiMitsubishi,, controllecontrolledd ththee country'country'ss poli-poli- tionaliststionalists terrorizeterrorizedd eveevenn thethe powerfulpowerful capitalistscapitalists anandd theirtheir

16016o Crazy CloudsClouds I Soen 161 politicapoliticall pawnspawns.. AlAlll pretenspretensee aatt democraticdemocratic partyparty governmentgovernment ideideaa ooff clanclan loyalty,loyalty, anandd manymany ofof themthem stillstill believebelieve thathatt theythey camecame ttoo anan endend inin MayMay 1932,1932, whenwhen aa groupgroup ofof youngyoung navalnaval areare a superiorsuperior breedbreed ofof beingbeing surroundedsurrounded byby barbarians;barbarians; onlyonly officerofficerss assassinateassassinatedd ththee primprimee ministeministerr anandd assumedassumed controlcontrol nownow theythey enjoyenjoy barbarianbarbarian goods,goods, films,films, music,music, food,food, andand ooff thethe country.country. ByBy 1940,1940, inin thethe "name"name ofof nationalnational unity,"unity," lifestyles.lifestyles. ZeZenn monasteriesmonasteries continucontinuee ttoo maintainmaintain theirtheir tradi-tradi• fascisfascismm wawass inin thethe ascendant,ascendant, andand militarism,militarism ,bushido, bushido, itsits voice.voice. tionaltional ticsties toto thethe powerfulpowerful andand wealthy,wealthy, andand theirtheir barriersbarriers AAss inin thethe past,past, thisthis oldold samuraisamurai spiritspirit couldcould notnot toleratetolerate againstagainst westerners.westerners. CelebratedCelebrated roshisroshis publiclpubliclyy insisinsistt thathatt wester-wester• "foreigners"—excep"foreigners"-exceptt forfor thethe Germans,Germans, withwith whomwhom thethe mili-mili• nersners areare incapableincapable ofof experiencingexperiencing satori,satori, andand thosethose whowho havehave tarists signed a pact in hope of achieving their ultimate goal of tarists signed a pact in hope of achieving their ultimate goal of gonegone abroadabroad toto spreadspread thethe dharmadharma amongamong westernerswesterners areare annexing China, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. annexing China, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. largelylargely regardedregarded asas outcasts.outcasts. SoenSoen RoshiRoshi wawass amonamongg thethe firstfirst SoenSoen,, ththee armyarmy officer'sofficer's son,son, appliedapplied forfor militarymilitary serviceservice andand ofof thisthis newnew breedbreed ofof postwarpostwar wanderers.wanderers. HisHis lifelife andand teachingteaching wawass rejectedrejected foforr a mistakenlymistakenly diagnoseddiagnosed puncturedpunctured eardrum.eardrum. representrepresent thethe quintessentialquintessential JapanesJapanesee dilemmdilemmaa betweenbetween dutyduty ButBut byby thenthen therethere werewere twotwo Soens:Soens: oneone a monkmonk ordainedordained inin (giri)(girt) anandd ththee pulpulll ooff hihiss owownn emotionemotionss (ninjo).(ninjo). HiHiss storstoryy isis itselfitself 19301930,, immediatelimmediatelyy afteafterr graduatinggraduating fromfrom TokyoTokyo University,University, a modernmodern NohNoh dramadrama ofo fconflicting conflicting loyalties,loyalties, poeticpoetic vision,vision, alreadyalready a celebratedcelebrated haikuhaiku poetpoet andand specialistspecialist inin JapaneseJapanese liter-liter• anandd worldlworldlyy betrayal,betrayal, a strugglstrugglee thatthat splitsplit himhim apart.apart. atureature andand Shakespeare;Shakespeare; ththee otherother,, hihiss widowewidowedd mother'mother'ss son,son, aa BornBorn onon 1919 MarchMarch 1907,1907, SoenSoen waswas thethe eldesteldest ofof threethree boys.boys. traditionaltraditional samurasamuraii willin willingg t oto didiee foforr hishis country.country. ToTo hishis WheWhenn hhee wawass twelvetwelve,, hihiss fathefatherr dieddied,, leavinleavingg hi hiss youn youngg mothemotherr mother'mother'ss dismay,dismay, SoenSoen ththee monmonkk triumphed.triumphed. a widowwidow inin straitenedstraitened circumstances.circumstances. A secondsecond tragedtragedyy struckstruck 19451945 sasaww ththee defeadefeatt ooff Japa Japann an andd ththee exhaustioexhaustionn ooff ititss people.people. whewhenn Tamotsu,Tamotsu, heherr middlemiddle son,son, dieddied inin childhood.childhood. Soen'sSoen's PostwarPostwar societsocietyy wawass pervadepervadedd bbyy a GIGI culturculturee ooff filmsfilms,, choco-choco• mothemotherr behavedbehaved likelike a veryvery unconventionaunconventionall JapanesJapanesee womawomann ofof lateslates,, stripstrip shows,shows, andand anan unprecedentedunprecedented displaydisplay ofof consumerconsumer ththee samurasamuraii classclass;; sh shee wen wentt t oto worworkk aass aa midwifemidwife,, ccrimpingcrimping goodsgoods.. ThThee UnitedUnited StatesStates wawass nnoo longelongerr ththee enemyenemy,, butbut thethe andand savingsaving ttoo supportsupport andand educateeducate herher childrenchildren herself.herself. "favorit"favoritee foreigforeignn countrycountry"" ofof thethe JapaneseJapanese people.people. GeneralGeneral AAss a boy,boy, SoenSoen waswas aa giftedgifted poetpoet andand actoractor whowho easilyeasily MacArthurMacArthur hopehopedd toto turnturn JapanJapan intointo thethe "Switzerland"Switzerland ofof thethe endearedendeared himselhimselff ttoo ththee adultsadults iinn hishis life.life. HeHe exhibitedexhibited anan FaFarr East,East,"" aa demilitarizeddemilitarized zonezone witwithh a democraticdemocratic constitution,constitution, unusualunusual appreciatioappreciationn ofof thethe artsarts eveneven aass aa childchild,, andand,, thougthoughh hehe decentralizationdecentralization ooff thethe nationalnational policepolice forceforce andand educationaleducational waswas trainetrainedd andand raisedraised asas a samuraisamurai,, andand waswas expecteexpectedd toto followfollow systemsystem,, andand anan endend toto emperoremperor worshipworship andand thethe samuraisamurai code.code. WhatWhat resultedresulted isis ththee stuffstuff ofof currentcurrent newspapernewspaper headlines:headlines: iinn hishis father'sfather's footsteps,footsteps, hehe displayeddisplayed a yearningyearning forfor thethe spiri-spiri• anotheanotherr "Japanese"Japanese miracle,miracle,"" anan economic-industriaeconomic-industriall booboomm thatthat tualtual lifelife whilewhile stillstill inin highhigh school.school. Soen'sSoen's lifelonglifelong friend,friend, thrusthrustt thethe vanquishedvanquished farfar aheadahead ofof theirtheir occupiers.occupiers. YamadYamadaa KouKounn RoshiRoshi,, entereenteredd Tokyo'Tokyo'ss FirsFirstt HigHighh SchooSchooll oonn thethe same day. The two boys became roommates, and though ImmediatelImmediatelyy afteafterr ththee wawarr thertheree wawass a rushrush forfor translationstranslations same day. The two boys became roommates, and though Yamada felt they were intimate friends, he was always sur• ofof WesternWestern literature;literature; JapanesJapanesee intellectualintellectualss no noww turneturnedd toto Yamada felt they were intimate friends, he was always sur- prised by Soen's "spiritual" confessions. WesterWesternn existentialismexistentialism,, ththee modismodishh philosophyphilosophy ofof thethe fortiesforties prised by Soen's "spiritual" confessions. andand fiftiesfifties,, andand,, finally,finally, toto a neneww forformm ofof dissolutdissolutee romanticismromanticism TheThe twotwo ofof usus wouldwould oftenoften gogo forfor aa walkwalk aroundaround thethe HongoHongo bordering on nihilism. The artist, the individualist, was still bordering on nihilism. The artist, the individualist, was still neighborhoodneighborhood iinn thethe latelate evening.evening. OneOne night,night, quitequite unexpect-unexpect• seeking a place in Japanese society; but there was no room. seeking a place in Japanese society; but there was no room. edly,edly, hehe saidsaid somethingsomething aa trifletrifle frightening.frightening. HeHe spokespoke ofof howhow ThThee JapanesJapanesee stilstilll livlivee iinn groupsgroups,, marrmarryy iinn groups,groups, bathe,bathe, almostalmost evereveryy evenineveningg h hee wawass sittinsittingg iinn zazezazenn oonn toptop ofof thethe workwork,, anandd vacationvacation iinn groupsgroups.. TheyThey areare stillstill weddedwedded toto thethe platformplatform ofof thethe balancingbalancing barsbars iinn ththee sportsground.sportsground. HeHe saidsaid thatthat

162 Crazy CloudsClouds Soen 163163 inin factfact thethe previousprevious evening,evening, hehe hadhad hadhad somesome kindkind ofof spiritualspiritual ernern andand JapanesJapanesee literarliteraryy classicsclassics,, whilwhilee frequentinfrequentingg thethe theater,theater, experienceexperience.. HHee toltoldd mmee I shouldshould nevernever speaspeakk ooff thithiss toto anyone.anyone. listeninglistening ttoo Schubert,Schubert, Beethoven,Beethoven, andand Wagner,Wagner, andand joininjoiningg aa QuitQuitee somesome timetime later,later, hehe gavegave ththee interpretatiointerpretationn thathatt itit shouldshould circlecircle ooff friendsfriends whwhoo werewere toto becomebecome thethe artisticartistic andand intellec-intellec• probablprobablyy bbee calledcalled a "natural"natural self-realization."self-realization." AAtt thatthat time,time, tualtual eliteelite ofof modernmodern Japan.Japan. AtAt thethe university,university, SoenSoen startedstarted aa althougalthoughh I diddid notnot understandunderstand atat all,all, I somehowsomehow feltfelt thatthat II hadhad smallsmall ZeZenn sittingsitting groupgroup thatthat isis stillstill activeactive todaytoday.. ""II willwill becomebecome hahadd a glimpsglimpsee ofof thethe deepdeep recessesrecesses ofof hishis heart.heart. a god,"god," hehe confidedconfided toto hishis youngeryounger brotherbrother Sonow.Sonow. "After"After graduation, I will work in society for ten years; for the next SoeSoenn ththee highhigh schoolschool boyboy waswas alreadyalready engagedengaged iinn a secretsecret graduation, I will work in society for ten years; for the next ten years I will go to the mountains on retreat and become spiritualspiritual searchsearch foforr hishis life'slife's meaning.meaning. InIn anan articlearticle publishedpublished ten years Iwill go to the mountains on retreat and become enlightened; and then I will return once again to society." afteafterr hhee hahadd becomebecome a monk,monk, hehe describesdescribes hishis freshmanfreshman yearyear inin enlightened; and then I will return once again to society." YamadYamadaa anandd SoeSoenn graduategraduatedd frofromm ththee universityuniversity togethetogetherr inin highighh schoolschool asas a periodperiod ofof "searching"searching forfor somethingsomething worth-worth• 19319300 anandd temporariltemporarilyy loslostt touchtouch.. OneOne day,day, Yamada,Yamada, nownow aa whilwhilee ttoo dedicatededicate mmyy lifelife to.to."" HeHe wouldwould settlesettle forfor nothingnothing lessless businessmanbusinessman,, wawass informeinformedd thathatt hehe hadhad a guest.guest. WalkingWalking intointo thathann a grandgrand andand worthyworthy goal,goal, andand waswas dispiriteddispirited atat findingfinding ththee receptionreception roomroom,, hehe waswas startledstartled toto seesee hishis oldold friendfriend SoenSoen nothinnothingg thatthat metmet hishis needsneeds "in"in thethe everydayeveryday world."world." HidingHiding sittinsittingg inin a chairchair dresseddressed iinn monk'smonk's robes.robes. "You"You certainlycertainly havehave hihiss desperationdesperation fromfrom Yamada,Yamada, hehe buriedburied himselfhimself everyevery eveningevening changed,changed,"" hehe said.said. LookingLooking atat Yamada'sYamada's spiffyspiffy businessbusiness suit,suit, iinn thethe library,library, poringporing overover thethe worksworks ofof philosophersphilosophers likelike SoeSoenn repliedreplied,, "You'v"You'vee changechangedd quit quitee aa bitbit,, too."too." SoenSoen hadhad SchopenhauerSchopenhauer iinn searcsearchh ooff aa purposepurpose.. OnceOnce,, hehe camecame uponupon aa carriecarriedd hihiss searcsearchh ttoo ititss inevitablinevitablee resolutionresolution.. AlmosAlmostt immedi-immedi• pagpagee thatthat shockedshocked him.him. atelatelyy afteafterr graduatingraduatingg frofromm ththee university,university, hhee hahadd attendedattended a MMyy minmindd ceasedceased searchingsearching.. IItt becambecamee lucilucidd anandd tranquiltranquil.. Scho-Scho• ZeZenn meetingmeeting atat ShorinShorin-ji ji,, aa monasterymonastery headedheaded byby KatsubeKatsube penhauepenhauerr saidsaid,, "I"Inn thethe realreal worldworld,, itit isis impossibleimpossible toto attainattain truetrue KeigakKeigakuu RoshiRoshi,, andand,, mucmuchh toto hishis mother'smother's consternation,consternation, happinesshappiness,, finafinall anandd eternaeternall contentmentcontentment.. ForFor thesethese areare visionaryvisionary askedasked ttoo bbee ordaineordainedd oonn hihiss birthday—nbirthday-noo doubtdoubt toto symbolizesymbolize flowerflowerss i nin ththee airair;; mermeree fantasies.fantasies. IInn truttruthh theythey cancan nevernever bebe hishis "rebirth."rebirth."" OrchestratingOrchestrating eveneven hishis ordination,ordination, SoenSoen insistedinsisted actualizedactualized.. IInn factfact,, thetheyy mustmust notnot bebe actualized.actualized. Why?Why? IfIf suchsuch thatthat thethe ceremonyceremony taketake placeplace atat Kogaku-ji,Kogaku-ji, ththee monasterymonastery ofof ideaideass werweree actualizedactualized,, th thee searcsearchh foforr ththee reareall meaninmeaningg ooff ourour hishis favoritefavorite ZeZenn mastermaster,, BassuiBassui,, whoswhosee koankoan,, "Wh"Whoo isis thethe existenceexistence woulwouldd ceasecease.. IIff thathatt happenedhappened,, iitt woulwouldd bbee ththee spiritualspiritual mastermaster ooff hearing?",hearing?", hehe hadhad beenbeen assigned.assigned. FollowingFollowing inin thethe endend ofof ourour being,being, andand lifelife wouldwould seeseemm totooo foolisfoolishh ttoo live.live."" legendarlegendaryy footstepfootstepss ooff ththee esteemeesteemedd BassuiBassui,, hhee tootookk uupp resi-resi• dencedence neanearr KogakuKogaku-ji ji,, onon DaiDai BosatsuBosatsu mountain.mountain. TravelingTraveling SchopenhauerSchopenhauer leledd ttoo ZenZen,, andand soon,soon, SoenSoen waswas tryintryingg toto engageengage bacbackk anandd fortforthh betweenbetween hishis homehome monasterymonastery andand DaiDai BosatsuBosatsu hihiss younyoungg friendfriend YamadaYamada iinn hihiss marveloumarvelouss findfind.. HandinHandingg himhim mountain,mountain, SoenSoen livedlived ththee mixemixedd liflifee ooff ththee monmonkk andand hermit-hermit- anan oldold bookbook byby ZenZen mastermaster Hakuin,Hakuin, thethe Orategama, Orategama, SoenSoen said,said, poetpoet,, dedicatingdedicating himselfhimself toto zazen,zazen, writingwriting articlesarticles andand verse,verse, "Please"Please trtryy andand readread thisthis book."book." YamadaYamada readread HakuinHakuin andand waswas fastinfastingg oorr subsistingsubsisting oonn wildwild plants,plants, andand bathingbathing inin freezingfreezing excitedexcited bbyy ZenZen,, butbut notnot enoughenough toto joinjoin hishis friendfriend inin zazenzazen atopatop mountaimountainn streams.streams. ItIt waswas herehere thatthat hehe waswas foundfound byby peasantspeasants a shakyshaky platform.platform. ononee dayday,, halhalff deadeadd frofromm havinghaving eateeatenn poisonoupoisonouss mushrooms.mushrooms. ThThee twotwo boysboys wentwent onon toto TokyoTokyo UniversityUniversity together;together; SoenSoen HiHiss rescuersrescuers nursenursedd hihimm backback toto healthhealth andand befriendedbefriended thethe majoredmajored iinn JapanesJapanesee literaturliteraturee anandd wrotwrotee hihiss finalfinal thesisthesis onon younyoungg poet-monkpoet-monk,, providingproviding himhim fromfrom thenthen onon withwith edibleedible Basho,Basho, thethe ZenZen haikuhaiku poet.poet. HeHe alsoalso wrotewrote hishis ownown poetrypoetry andand foofoodd anandd lookinlookingg toto himhim asas theirtheir priest;priest; itit waswas muchmuch thethe samesame immersedimmersed himselfhimself iinn BuddhistBuddhist scriptures,scriptures, thethe Bible,Bible, andand West-West- situationsituation enjoyeenjoyedd bbyy BassuiBassui,, whwhoo hahadd writtewrittenn folkfolk poemspoems forfor

164 Crazy CloudsClouds Soen 165 his peasanpeasantt congregatiocongregationn oonn thatthat samesame mountainmountain sixsix centuriescenturies [Soen][Soen] saidsaid,, 'Yamada`Yamada,, al alll yo youu ddoo iiss argueargue.. WhWhyy don'don'tt youyou trytry before.before. sitting?sitting?'' " ThatThat remarkremark promptedprompted Yamada'sYamada's interest,interest, butbut sev-sev• OnceOnce,, whenwhen accompanyingaccompanying KatsubeKatsube RoshiRoshi onon aa weekendweekend eraerall yearyearss woulwouldd paspasss beforbeforee hhee woulwouldd begibeginn ZeZenn practicepractice andand meditationmeditation retreatretreat forfor TokyoTokyo UniversitUniversityy studentsstudents,, SoenSoen discov-discov• becombecomee a roshi himselfhimself.. "Perhaps,"Perhaps,"" hehe concludes,concludes, "Nakagawa"Nakagawa eredered thatthat hehe waswas missingmissing aa kyosaku,kyosaku, ththee woodenwooden stickstick usedused forfor RoshRoshii wawass totooo mucmuchh ofof a poet."poet." "encouraging"encouraging"" sleepysleepy sitters.sitters. HopinHopingg ttoo borrowborrow one,one, hehe WorlWorldd WaWarr IIII preventepreventedd SoeSoenn frofromm meetinmeetingg NyogenNyogen SenzakiSenzaki walkewalkedd oveoverr ttoo HakusanHakusan DojoDojo,, a nearbynearby ZenZen center,center, andand inin thethe flesh;flesh; anandd iitt wawass nonott untiuntill 88 ApriAprill 1948,1948, oonn thethe traditionaltraditional enteredentered iinn thethe middlemiddle ofof aa dharmadharma talktalk givengiven byby YamamotoYamamoto datedate ofof Buddha'sBuddha's birthday,birthday, thatthat thethe twotwo actuallyactually facedfaced eacheach GempoGempo RoshiRoshi ooff Ryutaku-jRyutaku jii monasterymonastery inin Mishima,Mishima, anan hour'shour's otherother onon aa SanSan FranciscoFrancisco pier.pier. FindingFinding Senzaki'sSenzaki's "anticathe-"anticathe- tritripp fromfrom Tokyo.Tokyo. MovedMoved ttoo staystay andand listenlisten a bit,bit, SoenSoen soonsoon dral"dral" ZenZen andand thethe AmericanAmerican climateclimate perfectlyperfectly suitedsuited toto hishis foundfound himselfhimself "bathed"bathed inin aa universaluniversal oceanocean ofof warmthwarmth andand ownown unconventionalunconventional stylestyle,, SoeSoenn combinecombinedd ththee poet,poet, NohNoh i penetration."penetration." BeforeBefore long,long, hehe hadhad becomebecome aa frequentfrequent visitorvisitor atat actoractor,, andand ZenZen radicalradical inin himselfhimself toto createcreate anan inimitableinimitable per-per• HakusaHakusann DojoDojo,, attendingattending GempoGempo Roshi'sRoshi's talkstalks andand enjoyingenjoying sonasona.. Here,Here, inin thethe freefree atmosphereatmosphere ofof thethe AmericanAmerican West,West, hehe ththee universauniversall oceaoceann ooff warmtwarmthh untiuntill ononee dayday hhee heardheard,, "If"If youyou coulcouldd quotequote fromfrom FaustFaust asas wellwell aass frofromm HakuinHakuin andand BassuiBassui inin practicpracticee zazenzazen,, iitt mustmust bebe truetrue practice."practice." SoenSoen feltfelt thethe roshiroshi hadhad hihiss ZeZenn lectureslectures.. HerHeree hhee coulcouldd demonstratdemonstratee Bassui'Bassui'ss "master"master aimedaimed thathatt remarkremark directlydirectly atat him.him. WhenWhen thethe talktalk waswas over,over, hehe ooff hearinghearing"" iinn ththee forformm ooff a NoNohh dramadrama,, somethinsomethingg ththee monksmonks askeaskedd foforr aa privateprivate interviewinterview andand immediatelyimmediately offeredoffered toto bacbackk atat RyutakuRyutaku-j jii wouldwould findfind laughable.laughable. NyogenNyogen SenzakiSenzaki becombecomee GempGempoo Roshi'Roshi'ss monkmonk.. A truetrue childchild ofof Pisces,Pisces, SoenSoen hopehopedd thathatt SoenSoen wouldwould remainremain inin thethe UnitedUnited StatesStates andand be-be• wawass aass quicksilverquicksilveryy aass a a carcarpp iinn aa templtemplee pondpond.. OOnn thatthat day,day, comcomee hihiss successor,successor, bubutt becausebecause ooff Soen'sSoen's monasticmonastic commit-commit• hhee sesett ththee firstfirst scenescene foforr hihiss free-flowinfree-flowingg ZeZenn stylestyle,, hihiss mercu-mercu• mentsments inin JapanJapan,, thethe twotwo hadhad toto contentcontent themselvesthemselves witwithh fre-fre• riariall minmindd changes,changes, hishis dramaticdramatic entrancesentrances andand disappearances.disappearances. quentquent travelingtraveling visitsvisits.. SoenSoen maintainemaintainedd hishis tiesties witwithh American,American, IInn 1938,1938, YamadaYamada wawass transferretransferredd ttoo a jojobb inin Manchuria,Manchuria, European,European, andand IsraeliIsraeli students,students, travelingtraveling betweenbetween EastEast andand wherwheree ttoo hishis surprise,surprise, hehe againagain metmet hishis oldold friendfriend Soen,Soen, nownow WestWest foforr ththee nexnextt thirty-threethirty-three years.years. attendanattendantt ttoo GempoGempo Roshi.Roshi. TheThe twotwo werewere onon aa missionmission toto startstart InIn 195o,1950, GempGempoo RoshiRoshi decidedecidedd ttoo retireretire andand appointedappointed SoenSoen a branchbranch ofof MyoshinMyoshin-j jii ZenZen inin the th eJapanese Japanese colony.colony. YamadaYamada abbotabbot ofof Ryutaku-jiRyutaku-ji.. TheThe newnew abbotabbot waswas soso reluctanreluctantt toto assumeassume anandd GempoGempo RoshiRoshi werewere nationalistsnationalists withwith fewfew reservationsreservations ththee postpost thatthat hehe refusedrefused toto wearwear thethe traditionaltraditional goldengolden regaliaregalia abouaboutt JapanesJapanesee expansionismexpansionism.. BuButt SoeSoenn wawass impatienimpatientt withwith durinduringg thethe ceremonyceremony andand appearedappeared inin simplesimple blackblack monk'smonk's traditionatraditionall JapanesJapanesee ZeZenn anandd itsits rigidlyrigidly nationalisticnationalistic politicalpolitical robesrobes.. Moreover,Moreover, hhee disappeareddisappeared frofromm ththee monasterymonastery soonsoon connectionsconnections.. HHee toltoldd YamadaYamada thathatt hhee dreameddreamed ofof creatingcreating anan afterafter,, leavinleavingg GempGempoo RoshRoshii withouwithoutt aann abboabbott foforr ththee inauguralinaugural antiestablishmenantiestablishmentt practic practicee i nin th thee stylstylee ooff BassuBassuii uupp oonn DaiDai sesshin, an andd forcinforcingg ththee ololdd teacheteacherr ttoo standstand inin forfor hishis dharmadharma BosatsBosatsuu mountainmountain.. WhaWhatt hehe diddid notnot telltell YamadaYamada waswas thatthat hehe heiheirr himselfhimself!! OnlOnlyy Soen'sSoen's mothermother couldcould bringbring thethe eccentriceccentric hadhad alreadyalready begunbegun toto correspondcorrespond withwith NyogenNyogen SenzakiSenzaki inin younyoungg abboabbott downdown fromfrom hishis DaiDai BosatsuBosatsu mountainmountain hermitage.hermitage. AmericaAmerica,, anandd thatthat hehe waswas beingbeing injectedinjected withwith Senzaki'sSenzaki's rebel-rebel• WherWheree shshee wawass concernedconcerned,, therethere waswas nono conflictconflict ofof loyalty.loyalty. liouliouss "foreign"foreign"" ideas.ideas. Soen'Soen'ss tenurtenuree aass abbotabbot ofof Ryutaku-jiRyutaku-ji waswas byby nono meansmeans "We"We useusedd ttoo ggoo foforr walkwalkss togethetogetherr atat night,"night," YamadaYamada recalls,recalls, typicaltypical ooff a traditionatraditionall ZenZen abbot.abbot. HeHe dresseddressed inin thethe plainplain robesrobes "jus`justt asas wewe diddid whenwhen wewe werewere students.students. AAtt ononee poinpointt I mustmust ofof a monk,monk, ateate hishis mealsmeals inin thethe refectoryrefectory withwith hishis novices,novices, havhavee beebeenn quibblinquibblingg abouaboutt somethingsomething ratherrather heatedlyheatedly whenwhen bathebathedd iinn thethe communalcommunal bathbath withwith them,them, eveneven satsat zazenzazen withwith

Soen 167 166 Crazy CloudsClouds _ I Soen 167 I

themthem.. InsistingInsisting thatthat hehe hadhad himselfhimself completecompletedd "only"only"" thethe fivefive WesternWestern classicaclassicall musicmusic,, entertaininentertainingg patronpatronss atat teatea ceremony,ceremony, hundrehundredd requiredrequired koanskoans ofof Hakuin'sHakuin's curriculumcurriculum ofof seventeenseventeen andand advisingadvising hihimm oonn allall mattersmatters.. ThusThus,, womenwomen studentsstudents foundfound hundrehundredd RinzaiRinzai koanskoans,, hehe visitedvisited otheotherr notablnotablee ZeZenn mastersmasters toto SoeSoenn ththee mostmost respectfulrespectful ofof JapaneseJapanese ZeZenn teachers,teachers, forfor hehe sawsaw continucontinuee hishis "polishing-""polishing." TravelingTraveling greatgreat distances,distances, hehe studiedstudied themthem allall inin anan idealized,idealized, platonicplatonic lighlightt thatthat emanatedemanated fromfrom hishis witwithh HaradaHarada RoshiRoshi ofof Hosshin-ji,Hosshin-ji, himselfhimself aa renownedrenowned ZenZen adorationadoration ooff hihiss mother.mother. ThisThis ofof coursecourse diddid notnot endearendear himhim reformereformerr whowho weddedwedded RinzaiRinzai andand SotoSoto schoolsschools inin aa newnew lineagelineage withwith hishis machomacho ZenZen peers;peers; nonorr diddid hishis "effete""effete" lovelove forfor thatthat bemusedbemused thethe ZenZen establishmentestablishment anandd changedchanged ththee faceface ofof ceremony,ceremony, poetry,poetry, andand artart appealappeal toto thethe roughrough countrycountry novicesnovices ZeZenn practicepractice toto thisthis day.day. UnderUnder thethe influenceinfluence ofof HaradaHarada inin atat Ryutaku-jRyutaku jii either.either. JapanJapan andand SenzakiSenzaki iinn thethe UnitedUnited States,States, SoenSoen soonsoon developeddeveloped Soen'Soen'ss solitarsolitaryy retreatretreatss ttoo DaiDai BosatsuBosatsu mountainmountain increasedincreased hihiss ownown amalgamamalgam ofof ZenZen practicepractice andand performance,performance, usingusing afteafterr hihiss mother'smother's death.death. InIn 1965,1965, duringduring oneone ofof thesethese longlong "Nam"Namuu daldai bosa"bosa" ("I("I callcall uponupon thethe namename ofof thethe greatgreat Bodhi-Bodhi• periodperiodss ofof isolation,isolation, hehe slippedslipped fromfrom aa precipiceprecipice andand sufferedsuffered aa sattva")sattva") aass a kindkind ofof mantra,mantra, whichwhich he,he, andand hishis AmericanAmerican blobloww toto hishis head.head. LyingLying unconsciousunconscious forfor threethree daysdays untiluntil hehe studentsstudents atat least,least, repeatedrepeated overover anandd overover agaiagainn iinn a louloudd shoutshout wawass discovered,discovered, SocnSoen RoshiRoshi awoke,awoke, butbut asas hishis friendfriend YamadaYamada thathatt cascadedcascaded intintoo silentsilent meditation.meditation. HeHe particularlyparticularly lovedloved putput it,it, "he"he waswas nevernever thethe same."same." Nonetheless,Nonetheless, hehe continuedcontinued asas takintakingg studentstudentss ououtt intointo naturenature andand shoutingshouting thisthis self-styledself-styled abbotabbot ofof RyutakuRyutaku-j jii andand honoraryhonorary abbotabbot ofof DaiDai BosatsuBosatsu mon-mon• koankoan atat thethe moon,moon, thethe trees,trees, thethe sky,sky, andand thethe water.water. asteryastery inin BeecherBeecher Lake,Lake, NewNew York,York, andand thethe JerusalemJerusalem ZenZen AAss aann "American"American ZenZen master,"master," SocnSoen RoshiRoshi couldcould indulgeindulge SocietSocietyy oonn thethe MountMount ofof OlivesOlives inin Israel.Israel. HeHe stillstill traveledtraveled SoeSoenn ththee performerperformer eveneven aass hhee instructedinstructed hihiss students.students. HeHe aroundaround thethe world,world, heldheld retreats,retreats, andand gavegave interviewsinterviews toto hishis wrotwrotee haikuhaiku poetrypoetry andand usedused itit asas aa teachingteaching tool;tool; hehe recitedrecited adoringadoring WesternWestern studentsstudents,, andand hehe appointedappointed fivefive successorssuccessors ofof ShakespearShakespearee alonalongg witwithh RinzaRinzaii iinn hihiss dharmadharma talks;talks; hehe visitedvisited hihiss own.own. ButBut byby thethe mid-nineteenmid-nineteen seventies,seventies, SoenSoen waswas ener-ener• ththee greatgreat museumsmuseums ofof Europe,Europe, andand incorporatedincorporated hishis growinggrowing vated,vated, retreatingretreating intintoo isolationisolation foforr monthsmonths atat aa timetime toto escapeescape knowledgeknowledge ooff ChristianChristian andand JewishJewish traditionstraditions andand scripturescripture ththee painpain andand disappointmentdisappointment ooff a dreamdream betrayed,betrayed, foforr hehe hadhad intintoo hishis presentationpresentation ofof thethe Buddha-Dharma.Buddha-Dharma. AsAs aa JapaneseJapanese neveneverr successfullsuccessfullyy "sprea"spreadd ththee DharmDharmaa nenett EasEastt anandd West,"West," asas monastermonasteryy abbotabbot,, hhee waswas,, iinn thethe wordswords ofof D.D. T.T. Suzuki,Suzuki, "a"a hhee hahadd onconcee hopefullhopefullyy written.written. InIn MarchMarch 1984,1984, onlyonly aa fewfew daysdays ratheratherr peculiapeculiarr fellow.fellow."" BuButt SoenSoen consideredconsidered himselhimselff "Hak-"Hak• afteafterr hishis seventy-seventhseventy-seventh birthday birthday,, whil whilee takin takingg aa batbathh atat uin'uin'ss child,child,"" andand Hakuin,Hakuin, too,too, hadhad beenbeen thoughtthought ofof asas peculiarpeculiar Ryutaku-jiRyutaku-ji,, SoenSoen RoshiRoshi passepassedd quietlquietlyy frofromm thisthis world.world. bbyy ththee JapanesJapanesee ZeZenn establishment.establishment. Soen'sSoen's teachingteaching stylestyle waswas basedbased entirelyentirely oonn communicatingcommunicating IItt woulwouldd appeaappearr thathatt Soen'sSoen's deedeepp attachmenattachmentt ttoo hishis mothermother ththee suchnesssuchness ooff ththee momentmoment.. "Only"Only This,This, This!"This!" hehe wouldwould hahadd leftleft himhim aa perpetualperpetual boy,boy, whatwhat psychologistpsychologist CarlCarl JungJung crycry,, slappingslapping hihiss cushioncushion toto illustrateillustrate hishis point.point. WhetherWhether woulwouldd calcalll a puer,puer, ththee charmincharmingg eternaleternal childchild who,who, likelike PeterPeter discoursingdiscoursing oonn RinzaRinzaii oorr dancindancingg undeunderr ththee moon,moon, hishis singlesingle PanPan,, simplsimplyy refuserefusess ttoo grogroww upup.. WhenWhen hishis mothermother dieddied inin purpospurposee waswas toto locklock hishis studentsstudents intointo thethe realityreality ofof immediacy.immediacy. 1962,1962, onlonlyy aa yeayearr afteafterr GempGempoo RoshiRoshi,, SoeSoenn wawass trultrulyy orphanedorphaned RoberRobertt AitkeAitkenn RoshiRoshi,, ononee ofof Soen'sSoen's earliestearliest WesternWestern ZeZenn stu-stu• twicetwice.. GempoGempo RoshiRoshi hahadd oftenoften steppedstepped intointo thethe breachbreach forfor hishis dents,dents, writes,writes, "Soen"Soen RoshiRoshi waswas intimatelyintimately iinn touchtouch withwith hishis waywarwaywardd younyoungg successorsuccessor,, anandd Soen'Soen'ss mothermother,, inin a situationsituation BuddhisBuddhistt originsorigins,, anandd aass aann artisartistt ooff thethe body,body, hishis wayway waswas toto unhearunheardd ooff iinn ththee longlong historyhistory ofof Zen,Zen, waswas firmlyfirmly establishedestablished acactt thethemm outout,, andand toto encourageencourage othersothers toto actact themthem outout asas well.well. " aatt ththee monastery,monastery, seeingseeing heherr sosonn daily,daily, walkinwalkingg witwithh hihimm inin IntentIntent onon creatingcreating anan "international"international Zen,"Zen," SoenSoen addedadded toto hishis ththee mountains,mountains, listeninglistening toto theirtheir magnificentmagnificent collectioncollection ofof BuddhisBuddhistt originoriginss bbyy takingtaking communioncommunion atat SaintSaint Patrick'sPatrick's

168 Crazy CloudsClouds M Soen 169 9

CathedralCathedral inin NewNew YorkYork and,and, afterafter donningdonning aa blackblack caftancaftan andand OrdinaryOrdinary isis extraordinaryextraordinary...... Dramas. Drama sall al havel have only only oneone point.point. hat,hat, dancingdancing withwith HasidimHasidim inin Israel.Israel. SeekingSeeking toto combinecombine hishis ...... iti tis is toto understandunderstand thisthis GreatGreat Matter.Matter...... ttoo understandunderstand artisticartistic gifts,gifts, hishis playfulplayful naturenature,, andand hishis rolerole asas aa ZenZen teacher,teacher, thisthis,, toto realizerealize this,this, toto actualizeactualize thisthis inin everydayeveryday lifelife,, iinn ordinaryordinary hehe gatheredgathered fluteflute masters,masters, CatholicCatholic priests,priests, andand streetstreet peoplepeople asas life,life, iinn evereveryy ordinarordinaryy lifelife.. TherTheree iiss n noo nee needd t too ggoo ttoo KabukiKabuki.. OfOf course it is wonderful; I admire it very much. But the drama is playersplayers iinn hishis elaborateelaborate ZeZenn performances.performances. InsistingInsisting thathatt thethe course it is wonderful; I admire it very much. But the drama is notnot onlyonly withwith RinzaiRinzai anandd ObakObakuu anandd BokushuBokushu,, andand NohNoh actors,actors, spiritualspiritual andand physicalphysical worldsworlds,, thethe angels,angels, devils,devils, andand Bodhi-Bodhi- andand wonderfulwonderful NewNew YorkYork actorsactors andand actresses.actresses. EvenEven eating,eating, sattvassattvas werewere allall equallyequally real,real, hehe investedinvested everyevery dharmadharma talk,talk, cooking,cooking, andand sleeping-eachsleeping—each deeddeed ofo fyour your everyday everyday lifelife isis noth-noth• everyevery retrearetreatt anandd koakoann intervieintervieww witwithh thethe joyfujoyfull spontaneitspontaneityy ofof inging elseelse bubutt thisthis GreatGreat Matter.Matter. enlightenment.enlightenment. "This"This worldworld isis soso wonderful,wonderful, soso UnthinkableUnthinkable andand Ungraspable.Ungraspable. WhatWhat areare wewe touchingtouching rightright herehere now?"now?" hehe Soen'sSoen's insistencinsistencee thathatt ththee "real"real"" andand "spiritual""spiritual" worldsworlds werewere wouldwould cry,cry, gleefullygleefully thumpingthumping hishis cushion.cushion. ononee anandd thethe samesame extendedextended alsoalso toto hishis definitiondefinition ofof birthbirth andand JustJust hearing,hearing, jusjustt dancing,dancing, werewere thethe rallyingrallying criescries ofof hishis deathdeath.. TheThe onlyonly differencedifference betweenbetween thesthesee twtwoo conditions,conditions, hehe universaluniversal brotherhoodbrotherhood.. HHee chastisedchastised quietistquietistss foforr tryintryingg toto saidsaid,, lalayy iinn thethe namesnames wewe usedused toto expressexpress them.them. Otherwise,Otherwise, "empty"empty thethe mind,"mind," andand advocatedadvocated livingliving iinn ththee "presen"presentt mind"mind" eveneven birtbirthh andand deathdeath werewere thethe same.same. insteadinstead,, withoutwithout aa glimmerglimmer ofo f self-consciousself-conscious spirituality.spirituality. ToTo expungeexpunge ththee stinkstink ofof ZenZen fromfrom hishis students,students, hehe eveneven wentwent soso ToTo didiee iiss toto joijoinn thethe majority.majority. SomeSome ooff uuss wilwilll ggoo toto aa dark,dark, dismaldismal world,world, somesome toto aa beautiful,beautiful, transparenttransparent world,world, somesome toto aa farfar asas toto placeplace aa largelarge pumpkinpumpkin onon hishis cushioncushion inin thethe dokusan dokusan noisy,noisy, pilgrimagingpilgrimaging world.world. ButBut wewe willwill allall joinjoin thethe majority.majority. room,room, hidinghiding behindbehind aa screenscreen andand laughinglaughing asas theythey enteredentered andand CongratulationsCongratulations!! FoForr thithiss reasonreason wewe celebratecelebrate death-daydeath-day,, to-to• bowebowedd deepldeeplyy beforbeforee itit.. ToTo illustrateillustrate ththee dramadrama ofof perpetualperpetual gethergether withwith birth-day.birth-day. change,change, hehe enactedenacted hihiss dharmdharmaa talktalkss behinbehindd a reredd demodemonn maskmask anandd playeplayedd alalll ththee partpartss iinn hishis improvisedimprovised NoNohh playplay witwithh hishis FoForr hihimm nono distinctionsdistinctions existedexisted eveneven iinn ththee "Miserable"Miserable karmakarma robrobee pulledpulled upup overover hishis head.head. WhenWhen NyogcnNyogen SenzakiSenzaki dieddied inin relations,relations, worldworld warwar . . . miserablemiserable cruecruell karmakarma relations,"relations," 19581958,, SoeSoenn camcamee toto California,California, conductedconducted aa sesshinsesshin inin hishis whichwhich couldcould bebe immediatelyimmediately transformedtransformed intointo "wonderful"wonderful memorymemory,, anandd gavegave aa briebrieff talktalk.. TheThenn hhee disperseddispersed parpartt ofof dharmadharma relations"relations" witwithh thethe meremere recognitionrecognition ofof thethe interde-interde• Senzaki'Senzaki'ss asheashess aatt thethe TassajaraTassajara monastermonasteryy inin CaliforniaCalifornia andand pendencependence ooff thingsthings.. NothinNothingg bubutt thisthis cup,cup, thisthis drinking,drinking, thisthis conducted a ceremonial dance under the full moon, clapping conducted a ceremonial dance under the full moon, clapping birdbird chirpingchirping . .. .. nothinnothingg elseelse bubutt thisthis rightright herehere now!now! HeHe anandd singinsingingg TheThe Heart Sutra iinn hihiss friend'friend'ss honor.honor. warnedwarned studentsstudents againstagainst self-consciousself-conscious holiness,holiness, "neurotic"neurotic NNoo formform ofof celebrationcelebration waswas inappropriateinappropriate.. DancingDancing asas med-med• mindfulness,"mindfulness," usingusing hishis eccentriceccentric versionsversions ofof thethe teatea ceremonyceremony itationitation "should"should bebe fullfull ofof DharmaDharma delight;delight; wewe shouldshould feelfeel soso toto showshow thethe radiantradiant simplicitysimplicity inherentinherent inin "just"just boilingboiling waterwater fullfull ooff gratitudegratitude thatthat wewe cannotcannot sitsit still,still, thatthat wewe naturallynaturally startstart andand makinmakingg teatea,, jusjustt drinkindrinkingg itit.. NothinNothingg else."else." dancingdancing...... Both. Bot hare ar euniversal, universal, dancingdancing andand sitting.sitting."" Embod-Embod• InIn thethe middlemiddle ofof aa dharmadharma talktalk hehe would would spontaneouslyspontaneously yinyingg Bodhidharma'sBodhidharma's famoufamouss ZeZenn mottomotto,, "Nothing"Nothing holy,"holy," organizeorganize a bowinbowingg sessionsession,, encouraginencouragingg studentsstudents byby bowingbowing inin SoeSoenn conducteconductedd teteaa ceremonceremonyy witwithh coffeecoffee oorr sodsodaa poppop,, ateate fronfrontt ofof them,them, assuringassuring thethemm thatthat "each"each oneone ofof youyou isis a cherrycherry blossomsblossoms iinn fronfrontt ofof thethe CapitolCapitol inin Washington,Washington, D.C.,D.C., Bodhisattva.Bodhisattva."" Then,Then, directingdirecting themthem toto bowbow toto eacheach other,other, wifewife andand discourseddiscoursed oonn ththee virtuesvirtues ofof "shitting""shitting" asas anan equallyequally anandd husband,husband, friendfriend andand stranger,stranger, hehe exhortedexhorted everyoneeveryone toto importanimportantt formform ofof ZenZen asas "sitting.""sitting." "bow"bow toto thethe livingliving BodhisattvaBodhisattva thatthat isis eacheach ofof you."you." WordsWords

1170 jo CrazyCrazy CloudsClouds Soen 171 werweree neveneverr sufficiensufficientt t too communicatcommunicatee ththee GreaGreatt MatterMatter.. OnlyOnly CockroachCockroach wawass mmyy petpet.. CockroachCockroach iiss livingliving withwith hishis wholewhole experiencexperiencee conveyeconveyedd itit,, onlonlyy actioactionn anandd beingbeing.. ThThee TenTen Com-Com• heartheart,, withwith hishis wholewhole might.might. WonderfulWonderful wonderfulwonderful Zen!Zen! MoreMore

Zen than you...... Better than human beings. Human beings mandmentsmandments andand thethe BuddhistBuddhist preceptsprecepts themselvesthemselves werewere simplysimply Zen than you. Better than human beings. Human beings areare mormoree oorr lessless mastermasterss ooff ththee eartearthh now—wellnow-well,, onlyonly humanhuman words.words. "Don't,"Don't, don't,don't , don'tdon' tsee see them them asas bindings!bindings! TheyThey makemake beingsbeings cacann gegett trutruee enlightenmentenlightenment,, bu butt diseasdiseasee an andd cruelt crueltyy ...... usus freefree . .. . theythey areare importantimportant.. BuButt ddoo nonott bebe boundbound upup byby butbut thisthis I skiskipp foforr now now...... Anyway,. Anyway, inin mymy roomroom wherewhere therethere commandments.commandments. EverythingEverything isis yourself.yourself. EverythingEverything isis myself.myself. isis notnot foodfood oror anything,anything, aa bigbig cockroachcockroach camecame toto meme forfor thethe EacEachh ooff yoyouu isis mastermaster ofof hihiss wholwholee universe."universe." firsfirstt timetime.. ProbablyProbably thethe kingking ofof cockroaches.cockroaches. AndAnd hehe satsat byby meme ContactContact withwith hishis studentsstudents atat thethe JerusalemJerusalem zendozendo gavegave himhim ... I talketalkedd witwithh hihimm ofof wonderfuwonderfull mattersmatters.. ThThee nexnextt nightnight too,too, everever neneww insightsinsights anandd symbolssymbols forfor teaching.teaching. EvenEven thethe mostmost hehe came.came. EverEveryy nightnight.. AnAndd thenthen,, hehe stoppedstopped coming.coming. dualisticdualistic religiousreligious archetypesarchetypes suitedsuited hishis purpose.purpose. EveEvenn a cockroachcockroach waswas a worthyworthy conversationalistconversationalist iinn aa worldworld MyMy friendsfriends telltell meme therethere areare eighteight gatesgates inin thethe Jerusalem Jerusalem wall.wall. wherewhere:: OneOne ofof thethe gatesgates isis thethe Never-OpenNever-Open Gate.Gate. TheThe GoldenGolden Gate.Gate. TheThe MessiahMessiah wilwilll appearappear,, ridinridingg aa donkeydonkey,, anandd ggoo downdown thethe AlAlll beingsbeings areare flowersflowers hillside.hillside. AlAlll thethe spiritsspirits sleepingsleeping undeunderr thethe tombstombs willwill wakewake andand BloominBloomingg followfollow hihimm througthroughh ththee Never-OpeNever-Openn Gate Gate,, int intoo th thee temple temple...... InIn a bloominbloomingg universe.universe. Never-OpenedNever-Opened GateGate isis opened!opened! DoDo youyou believebelieve this?this? FromFrom thethe NyogeNyogenn SenzakSenzakii onconcee toltoldd anan AmericanAmerican student,student, "Soon"Soen beginningbeginning thethe doordoor isis open.open. ItIt cannotcannot openopen more.more. RoshRoshii iiss purpuree love.love."" NoNott onlyonly cockroaches,cockroaches, bubutt ferociousferocious dogsdogs anandd unquieunquiett babiesbabies werweree hypnotizehypnotizedd bbyy hishis presence.presence. LikeLike thethe NothingNothing waswas sacrosanct.sacrosanct. NotNot eveneven zazen.zazen. PiePiedd PiperPiper,, hhee couldcould drawdraw a grougroupp ofof hardenedhardened NewNew YorkYork ZenZen MeditatioMeditationn itselitselff i sis no nott ZenZen.. ZeZenn isis meditation,meditation, butbut itit isis alsoalso sittersitterss intintoo a "sutra-chanting"sutra-chanting contest"contest" andand defusedefuse theirtheir com-com• thinking,thinking, eatingeating,, drinkingdrinking,, sittingsitting,, standingstanding,, shittingshitting,, peeingpeeing-— petitivenespetitivenesss wit withh ththee laughinlaughingg assertioassertionn thathatt therethere werewere nono allall ooff thesthesee araree nothin nothingg els elsee bu butt Zen Zen...... Zazen Zazen isis sittingsitting Zen.Zen. winnerswinners,, forfor "everyone"everyone isis best!"best!" HiddenHidden inin thethe sleevessleeves ofof hishis BuButt thithiss iiss nonott the ZenZen.. Don'Don'tt bebe mistakenmistaken abouaboutt thisthis point.point. robrobee werweree fruitsfruits,, flowers,flowers, souvenirsouvenirss pickepickedd uupp oonn a walkwalk iinn thethe parkpark,, andand hehe dispenseddispensed thesthesee giftgiftss freelyfreely.. OnceOnce,, whewhenn a womanwoman ThThee enlightenmentenlightenment experienceexperience itselfitself disappeareddisappeared andand hadhad toto bebe studentstudent offeredoffered himhim aa BuddhistBuddhist piecepiece ooff sculpturesculpture thathatt hehe hadhad recallerecalledd oveoverr anandd oveoverr againagain.. "There'"There'ss nnoo end;end; nnoo graduation.graduation. admired,admired, hhee thankethankedd heherr foforr iitt andand said,said, "Bu"Butt don'tdon't bebe angryangry

EveEvenn BuddhBuddhaa ...... iiss trainingtraining,, training,training, trainingtraining .. . .. evereveryy day."day." whewhenn I givgivee iitt awayaway.. SomeonSomeonee elselsee mighmightt liklikee it.it."" BuButt studentstudentss werewere notnot toto makemake aa fetishfetish ofof theirtheir practice:practice: "When"When Nature'Nature'ss odditiesoddities fascinatedfascinated himhim.. DurinDuringg a retreatretreat inin Con-Con• meditatinmeditatingg oonn something,something, jusjustt meditatemeditate onon it.it. WhenWhen cooking,cooking, necticut,necticut, hehe wokewoke severalseveral studentstudentss iinn ththee middlemiddle ooff thethe night,night, justjust cook.cook. WhenWhen drinking,drinking, justjust drink.drink. NothingNothing elseelse butbut this.this. and,and, withwith hishis fingerfinger onon hishis lips,lips, tooktook themthem downstairsdownstairs inin ...... IInn ththee midsmidstt ofof allall ouourr doing,doing, therethere isis thisthis doingdoing nothing.nothing."" silence.silence. GatherinGatheringg thethemm beforebefore a windowsillwindowsill andand motioningmotioning EverEveryy occasionoccasion wawass richrich withwith possibilitiespossibilities forfor revealingrevealing thethe forfor a womanwoman withwith aa flashlightflashlight toto shineshine itit there,there, hehe pointedpointed toto aa dharmadharma,, particularlyparticularly thethe everydayeveryday varietyvariety,, ththee kinkindd thathatt usuallyusually night-bloomingnight-blooming cereuscereus inin aa pot.pot. RuthRuth Lilienthal,Lilienthal, oneone ofof Seen'sSoen's makemakess spirituaspirituall peoplpeoplee squeamishsqueamish.. OnceOnce,, hhee openeopenedd a taltalkk withwith oldestoldest students,students, waswas present.present. SheShe recalls,recalls, "The"The airair aboveabove thethe a storstoryy aboutabout aa cockroach.cockroach. open-mouthedopen-mouthed flowerflower wawass radiantradiant withwith energy.energy. TearsTears comecome

1721J2 Crazy CloudsClouds I Soen 17317j I

eveevenn nonoww aass I rememberremember thisthis exquisite,exquisite, wordlesswordless birth.birth."" AtAt ThThee headhead monkmonk atat Ryutaku-jiRyutaku-ji hadhad saidsaid itit waswas SoenSoen RoshRoshii whowho thathatt samesame retreatretreat hehe conductedconducted studenstudentt interviewsinterviews iinn a domeddomed inspireinspiredd hihimm ttoo finishfinish witwithh hishis Marxism,Marxism, hishis secularsecular studiesstudies aatt pupupp tent,tent, crawlingcrawling iinn onon allall fours,fours, andand urgingurging hishis studentsstudents toto ththee universityuniversity,, anandd becombecomee aa monkmonk.. "He"He waswas powerful,powerful, mag-mag• ddoo ththee same.same. NothingNothing holy.holy. netic. "" "Yes"Yes hhee was,"was," II repliedreplied,, rememberingremembering thethe teatea andand Rinzai'sRinzai's ButBut backback inin JapanJapan,, wherwheree hhee wawass ZeZenn mastemasterr ttoo thethe imperialimperial bowlbowl,, andand thethe chocolate-chipchocolate-chip cookiescookies,, anandd ththee boominboomingg magi-magi• princprincee anandd ththee primeprime minister,minister, SoenSoen RoshiRoshi wawass "ever"everyy inchinch"" a cian'cian'ss voicevoice weavingweaving stories.stories. traditionatraditionall abbotabbot.. WhichWhich waswas thethe realreal Soen,Soen, thethe mischievousmischievous impimp whowho playedplayed Beethoven'sBeethoven's NinthNinth SymphonySymphony atat meditationmeditation WaWass SoeSoenn RoshRoshii ultimatelultimatelyy "ineffectiv"ineffectivee aass aa ZeZenn teacher,teacher,"" asas retreats,retreats, thethe moonstruckmoonstruck dancerdancer whowho erasederased allall hierarchicalhierarchical somsomee ooff hishis studentsstudents laterlater claimed?claimed? WaWass hhee iinn facfactt "to"tooo eccen-eccen• differencesdifferences bbyy definindefiningg alalll humanhumanss aass "member"memberss ofof thethe samesame tric,tric,"" tootoo muchmuch thethe "poet""poet" andand notno tenough enough thethe roshi? roshi? ThoseThose noseholenosehole society,society,"" ththee teacheteacherr whwhoo leledd a studentstudent outout ofof thethe successorsuccessorss whwhoo seeseekk ttoo perpetuatperpetuatee ththee "Soe"Soenn mystique,mystique,"" eveneven interviewinterview rooroomm toto viewview aa magnificentmagnificent sunsetsunset,, thethe poetpoet whosewhose goingoingg soso farfar asas ttoo canonizecanonize hihimm onlyonly fivefive yearsyears afteafterr hihiss death,death, materialmaterial waswas everydayeveryday lifelife,, ththee artistartist whowho craftedcrafted enlightenedenlightened werweree themselvethemselvess ofteoftenn amonamongg hihiss greatestgreatest detractorsdetractors whilewhile hehe beings—obeings-or rthe th esomber, somber ,traditional traditiona lZen Zen abbot,abbot , nationalnational teacherteacher livedlived.. SeveraSeverall ooff hihiss closesclosestt student studentss attributattributee hihiss breakdowbreakdownn toto toto thethe imperialimperial house?house? ththee profoundprofound sensesense ofof betrayalbetrayal hhee sufferedsuffered aatt thethe handshands ofof hishis InIn searchsearch ofof thethe "real""real" SoenSoen Roshi,Roshi, PerlePerle BessermanBesserman mademade principaprincipall successorssuccessors.. WhaWhatt placplacee hahass ZeZenn foforr suchsuch anticsantics asas heherr wayway toto Ryutaku-jiRyutaku-ji inin 1983.1983. Soen'sSoen's?? WherWheree ttoo dradraww ththee linlinee betweebetweenn beinbeingg aa CrazCrazyy CloudCloud anandd jusjustt plainplain "crazy"?"crazy"? PerhapsPerhaps onlyonly artistsartists andand childrenchildren cancan I stoodstood withwith mymy giftgift ofof strawberries strawberries onon aa freezing freezing FebruaryFebruary day,day, answeranswer.. FoForr SoeSoenn spokspokee mosmostt intimatelintimatelyy ttoo alalll whwhoo refuserefusedd ttoo waiting for his attendant monk to give me the signal to see him. waiting for his attendant monk to give me the signal to see him. grogroww upup,, whwhoo soughsoughtt ttoo "play,"play,"" "dance,""dance," andand "wonder.""wonder." HisHis ThThee monksmonks inin thethe kitchenkitchen tittered.tittered. One,One, inin falteringfaltering English,English, reareall successorssuccessors araree nonott thethe black-robedblack-robed roshis bu butt ththee ZenZen saidsaid,, "Why"Why youyou wantwant toto seesee SoenSoen Roshi?Roshi? HHee crazy,crazy,"" andand hehe musicianmusicianss anandd writerswriters,, thethe painterspainters andand teatea ceremonyceremony masters,masters, madmadee circlincirclingg motionmotionss witwithh hishis fingerfinger atat hishis templetemple toto illustrateillustrate ththee littlelittle bandband ofof dharmadharma playersplayers forfor whomwhom "singing"singing andand ththee point.point. TheThe strawberriesstrawberries werewere acceptedaccepted bubutt nono invitationinvitation dancindancingg araree ththee voicvoicee ooff ththee Law."Law." camecame.. ThThee attendanattendantt monkmonk,, aa girlishgirlish fellowfellow witwithh longlong,, taperedtapered OnOnee winter,winter, whenwhen hehe waswas livingliving alonealone andand happyhappy inin anan fingerfingerss anandd ash-coloreash-coloredd eyeseyes,, onlonlyy shooshookk hishis headhead.. SoenSoen RoshiRoshi wawass nonott seeingseeing anyoneanyone.. He'He'dd gonegone backback intointo oneone ofof hishis long,long, unheateunheatedd cottagcottagee inin thethe Catskills,Catskills, bathingbathing inin icyicy BeecherBeecher LakeLake hermetichermetic retreatsretreats byby lockinglocking himselfhimself intointo hishis littlelittle cottagecottage onon thethe anandd eatingeating whawhatt plantsplants hhee couldcould findfind inin ththee snow,snow, SoenSoen monastermonasteryy groundsgrounds.. RumoRumorr hahadd iitt thathatt he'dhe'd growngrown hishis hairhair scratchescratchedd aa poepoemm intintoo a woodewoodenn boarboardd thatthat read:read: downdown toto hishis shoulders,shoulders, thatthat hehe hadhad long, long ,clawlike clawlike fingernails,fingernails, TeTenn yearsyears'' searchinsearchingg iinn ththee deepdeep forestforest thatthat hehe waswas wettinwettingg hishis pantpantss andand hadhad toto bebe tiedtied ttoo thethe bed.bed. EvenEven TodaTodayy greagreatt laughtelaughterr aatt thethe edgeedge ofof thethe lake.lake. iinn hidinghiding,, Soen'sSoen's lifelife hadhad assumedassumed ShakespeareanShakespearean proportionsproportions.. OnOnee day,day, asas I waswas sweepingsweeping ththee balconybalcony arounaroundd thethe monas-monas• ThaThatt laughterlaughter isis hishis ZenZen legacy,legacy. tery'stery's mainmain hall,hall, II heardheard thethe strainsstrains ofof aa SchubertSchubert sonatsonataa comingcoming frofromm thethe littlelittle mountainmountain huthut wherewhere hehe lived.lived. MaybeMaybe now,now, II thoughtthought,, maybemaybe he'lhe'lll comcomee ououtt nownow.. ButBut hhee didn'tdidn't.. II hopedhoped hehe mighmightt comecome ououtt withwith thethe fullfull moon.moon. ButBut hehe never never showedshowed himselhimselff onconcee iinn ththee twtwoo monthmonthss II spentspent there.there.

174 Crazy CloudsClouds Soen 175 EpiEpilogue: CrazyCra^y CloudCloud ZenZen for thethe West West

ItIt hashas beenbeen throughthrough thethe teachingsteachings ofof ZenZen mastersmasters likelike Naka-Naka• gawagawa SoeSoenn anandd NyogenNyogen SenzakiSenzaki thathatt thethe CrazyCrazy CloudCloud spiritspirit hashas beenbeen transmittedtransmitted toto thethe West,West. However,However, beforebefore wewe cancan speakspeak aboutabout thethe efficacyefficacy ooff CrazyCrazy CloudCloud ZenZen forfor thethe West,West, wewe mustmust firstfirst exploreexplore thethe effectseffects ofof hierarchicalhierarchical ZenZen,, anandd ofof JapanesJapanesee ZeZenn iinn particularparticular.. AA grougroupp ofof majormajor culturaculturall "incom-"incom• patibilities"patibilities" hashas alreadyalready causedcaused problemsproblems forfor WesternWestern practi-practi• tioners.tioners. TheseThese stickingsticking pointspoints includeinclude attitudesattitudes towardtoward thethe rolerole ofof thethe teacherteacher anandd thethe religiousreligious hierarchyhierarchy;; ththee statusstatus ooff womenwomen iinn ZenZen andand questionsquestions ofof sex,sex, celibacy,celibacy, andand family;family; andand thethe relationshiprelationship ooff ZeZenn toto ethics,ethics, asas wewe translatetranslate themthem intointo socio-socio• politicapoliticall involvementinvolvement,, an andd ththee traditionaltraditional "fligh"flightt fromfrom thethe world"world" associatedassociated withwith monasticmonastic BuddhismBuddhism inin general.general. InIn orderorder forfor aa newnew religionreligion toto taketake rootroot inin foreignforeign soil,soil, certaincertain charismaticcharismatic rolerole playersplayers oror veryvery specificspecific culturalcultural trendstrends musmustt appearappear toto spreadspread thethe word.word. InIn thisthis fashion,fashion, BuddhismBuddhism easileasilyy tootookk holdhold inin societiessocieties whosewhose castecaste structuresstructures providedprovided aa "royal"royal road"road" forfor itsits entry.entry. AppealingAppealing toto kingskings andand emperors,emperors, shogunsshoguns anandd warriors,warriors, thisthis portableportable religionreligion waswas perpetuatedperpetuated bbyy indigenousindigenous AsianAsian figurefiguress whwhoo paintedpainted itit inin locallocal colors.colors. NonethelessNonetheless,, BuddhisBuddhismm remainedremained unmistakablyunmistakably BuddhistBuddhist inin ititss religiousreligious contentcontent,, ritual,ritual, andand practice.practice. AfterAfter centuries,centuries, thethe feudafeudall contexcontextt ooff thethe faithfaith waswas forgotten,forgotten, andand anan evolvingevolving societysociety becambecamee ititss owownn religioureligiouss arbiterarbiter.. TheThe bestbest exampleexample forfor earthlearthlyy concerns.concerns. Thus,Thus, somesome ZenZen teachersteachers havehave eveneven allowedallowed thisthis absorbeabsorbedd statestate ofof BuddhismBuddhism isis JapanJapan,, whicwhichh iiss ssoo drencheddrenched theitheirr spiritualspiritual expertisexpertisee ttoo encroacencroachh oonn nondharminondharmicc aspectsaspects ofof iinn ZenZen thatthat thethe wordswords "Japan""Japan" andand "Zen""Zen" areare oftenoften usedused theitheirr students'students' lives,lives, givinggiving opinionsopinions andand guidanceguidance onon mattersmatters interchangeablyinterchangeably.. ArtArt,, literature,literature, thethe emperor,emperor, priests,priests, andand thethe ooff businessbusiness andand familyfamily affairs.affairs. ThisThis createscreates anan uncomfortableuncomfortable warriowarriorr codecode areare stillstill universaluniversal cue-giverscue-givers iinn JapanJapan,, andand,, al-al• paradoxparadox;; foforr iiff ththee roshi i sis "jus "justt a a norma normall guguyy oorr gal,gal,"" thenthen thethe thougthoughh thethe practicepractice andand influenceinfluence ooff ZenZen asas a religionreligion isis spirituaspirituall weighweightt ofof thethe traditiontradition andand titletitle areare superfluous,superfluous, eveneven diminishingdiminishing frofromm yearyear toto year,year, thethe JapaneseJapanese culturalcultural matrixmatrix ridiculouridiculouss iinn thethe contextcontext ofof everydayeveryday lifelife inin thethe West.West. IItt isis continuescontinues toto reinforcereinforce cuescues reflectivereflective ooff ththee BuddhistBuddhist experi-experi• "specialness"specialness"" afteafterr alalll thathatt makesmakes a roshi,roshi, bubutt beingbeing "special""special" enceence.. doesn'doesn'tt squaresquare wellwell withwith democraticdemocratic ideals.ideals. ThisThis conflictconflict be-be• ThThee situationsituation inin thethe WestWest iiss radicallradicallyy differentdifferent.. IInn ththee UnitedUnited tweetweenn EasterEasternn religioureligiouss hierarchicahierarchicall rolesroles,, anandd ththee individual-individual• States,States, wherewhere JeffersonianJeffersonian democratidemocraticc idealidealss anandd a puritanpuritan ismism ofof thethe WestWest isis inin greatgreat partpart responsibleresponsible forfor thethe confusionconfusion entrepreneuriaentrepreneuriall spirispiritt forformm thethe culturalcultural matrix,matrix, secularizationsecularization experiencedexperienced iinn manmanyy AmericanAmerican ZenZen centerscenters whenwhen studentsstudents putput hahass undermineunderminedd thethe validityvalidity ofof anyany hierarchyhierarchy atat all.all. SpiritualSpiritual theirtheir teachersteachers iinn a doubledouble bindbind byby demandingdemanding thatthat theythey bebe cuecuess areare mediatedmediated byby advertisements,advertisements, TV,TV, andand newspapers,newspapers, "authentic"authentic"" ZenZen mastersmasters oonn thethe oneone hand,hand, andand "the"the guyguy nextnext whicwhichh tendtend toto levellevel cultureculture forfor massmass consumption.consumption. "Royal""Royal" door"door" onon thethe other.other. IItt isis impossibleimpossible toto maintainmaintain thethe AsianAsian individualindividualss oorr institutioninstitutionss araree irrelevanirrelevantt iinn ththee "democrac"democracyy ofof authorityauthority ofof aa ZenZen teacherteacher inin anan egalitarianegalitarian society.society. ththee many."many." Thus,Thus, traditionaltraditional ZenZen practice,practice, withwith itsits roshi,roshi, oror SeveraSeverall second-generatiosecond-generationn ZeZenn centerscenters havehave donedone awayaway withwith venerablvenerablee teacherteacher,, aatt ththee totopp ooff thethe pyramid,pyramid, isis antitheticalantithetical toto JapaneseJapanese sutrsutraa recitation,recitation, bowlsbowls andand chopsticks,chopsticks, formalformal robes,robes, neneww generationsgenerations ofof AmericansAmericans and,and, increasingly,increasingly, Europeans,Europeans, andand traditionaltraditional JapanesJapanesee terminologyterminology,, includingincluding eveneven ththee titletitle whoswhosee scorscornn foforr authorityauthority ofof anyany kindkind wouldwould precludepreclude anyany roshi. IInn theitheirr placeplace wwee seseee "hikin"hikingg retreats,"retreats," NewNew England-England- forformm ofof teacherteacher worship.worship. Today'sToday's children,children, fromfrom veryvery earlyearly on,on, stylestyle towtownn meetingsmeetings withwith fullfull membershipmembership votingvoting andand consen-consen• araree encourageencouragedd ttoo forformm theirtheir ownown opinionsopinions andand toto expressexpress sus,sus, thethe separationseparation ofof administrativeadministrative anandd spiritualspiritual partpartss ofof thethe thethemm eloquentlyeloquently andand critically.critically. TheThe uniquenessuniqueness ofof eacheach andand ZenZen center,center, andand jojobb rotationrotation thatthat includesincludes thethe teacherteacher inin eveneven evereveryy AmericaAmericann individualindividual,, anandd hishis oror herher freedom,freedom, areare valuesvalues thethe mostmost menialmenial tasks.tasks. SometimesSometimes eveneven thethe wordword ZenZen itselfitself isis thathatt presentpresent aa majormajor obstacleobstacle toto AsianAsian expressionsexpressions ofof absoluteabsolute droppeddropped inin favorfavor ofof thethe nonsectarian nonsectarian term term meditation. meditation. VerticalVertical faithfaith inin "the"the oldold man."man." AmericanAmerican ZenZen teachersteachers likelike RobertRobert hierarchiehierarchiess collapscollapsee intintoo horizontallhorizontallyy shapeshapedd communitiescommunities,, andand AitkeAitkenn havehave redefineredefinedd ththee roshi aass aa "guid"guidee througthroughh aa tropicaltropical eveevenn ZeZenn centercenterss thathatt pridpridee themselvethemselvess oonn beinbeingg "traditional,""traditional," jungljunglee whowho requiresrequires certaincertain waywayss ttoo practice.practice."" ThThee degreedegree toto thathatt is,is, JapaneseJapanese oorr Korean,Korean, areare acknowledgingacknowledging thethe needneed forfor whicwhichh a ZeZenn teacher'steacher's wordswords andand actionsactions areare subjectsubject ttoo studentstudent greategreaterr distributiodistributionn ofof power,power, individualindividual initiative,initiative, anandd a fam-fam• criticiscriticismm iiss stillstill,, howeverhowever,, aann unresolvedunresolved issue.issue. EvenEven aann Amer-Amer• ily-orientedily-oriented practicepractice forfor laypeople.laypeople. icanican ZeZenn teacherteacher remainsremains hamperehamperedd byby thethe authoritativeauthoritative formsforms NothingNothing iinn thethe lastlast eightyeighty yearsyears hashas changedchanged ourour male-male- thatthat hehe oror sheshe hashas inheritedinherited fromfrom thethe veryvery heartheart ofof BuddhismBuddhism dominatedominatedd WesternWestern societsocietyy aass profoundlprofoundlyy asas thethe feministfeminist strug-strug• itself.itself. AfteAfterr allall,, iitt isis onlyonly thethe roshiroshi whwhoo cacann confirconfirmm aa "true""true" glglee foforr equalequal rightsrights inin allall domains.domains. AlthoughAlthough farfar fromfrom over,over, experienceexperience ooff enlightenmentenlightenment,, anandd onlyonly thethe roshiroshi whowho deter-deter• ththee strugglestruggle hashas placedplaced womewomenn aatt thethe forefrontforefront ofof aa socialsocial mineminess whwhoo hihiss oorr heherr successorsuccessorss wilwilll be—sometime be-sometimess inin aa veryvery revolutiorevolutionn thathatt cacann nnoo longelongerr bebe ignored.ignored. TheThe Judeo-ChristianJudeo-Christian arbitrararbitraryy anandd autocratiautocraticc wayway.. AAss aann experexpertt inin "ultimate"ultimate ques-ques• religionreligionss ooff ththee WestWest havhavee ha hadd ttoo facfacee uupp ttoo ththee neneww statusstatus ofof tions,"tions," thethe roshiroshi isis expectedexpected toto dealdeal effortlesslyeffortlessly witwithh mundanemundane womenwomen,, bubutt nonenone ofof thisthis hashas filteredfiltered intointo traditionaltraditional AsianAsian

Crazy CloudCloud ZenZen forfor thethe WestWest 179 178 EpilogueEpilogue I 179 .

BuddhistBuddhist modelsmodels.. FoForr manymany people,people, ZenZen stillstill representsrepresents a activelactivelyy experimenteexperimentedd witwithh neneww formformss ofof practice.practice. TheThe mostmost bastionbastion ofof malemale supremacy,supremacy, a warriorwarrior religionreligion setset onon combat,combat, visiblvisiblee changchangee iinn WesternWestern ZeZenn centerscenters iinn thethe lastlast decadedecade hashas bravery,bravery, anandd death.death. ZenZen practitionerspractitioners forfor moremore thanthan fivefive cen-cen• beebeenn ththee inclusioinclusionn ooff childrechildrenn anandd ththee recognitiorecognitionn ooff anan inte-inte• turieturiess havhavee beebeenn drilleddrilled iinn throwingthrowing awayaway suchsuch "negative""negative" gratedgrated familyfamily practicepractice alongsidealongside formalformal retreats,retreats, classes,classes, andand femininfemininee qualitiequalitiess aass emotionalemotional openness,openness, self-regard,self-regard, andand trainingtraining periods.periods. FamilyFamily practicepractice seemsseems toto bebe oneone ofof thethe mostmost sentimentsentiment.. ThThee veryvery stuffstuff ofof ZenZen practicepractice isis male:male: koanskoans thatthat successfulsuccessful innovationinnovationss resultinresultingg frofromm thethe women'swomen's liberationliberation monks; gregreww outout ofof spontaneousspontaneous dialoguesdialogues fashionedfashioned betweenbetween monks; movement.movement. InIn itsits idealideal form,form, iitt allowsallows forfor necessarynecessary silentsilent heroeheroess whwhoo bestbest theirtheir lessless enlighteneenlightenedd rivalrivalss iinn dharmdharmaa combat;combat; retreatretreatss andand focusedfocused meditationmeditation practice,practice, asas wellwell asas forfor socialsocial anandd a googoodd dealdeal ooff beatinbeatingg anandd sticstickk wieldingwielding.. NNoo mattermatter howhow anandd ritualritual gatheringsgatherings wherewhere childrenchildren assumeassume importantimportant rolesroles yoyouu looklook atat it,it, ZenZen hashas beenbeen anan unremittinglyunremittingly malmalee practice,practice, anandd functionsfunctions.. RecognizingRecognizing ththee neeneedd ttoo accommodateaccommodate families,families, sincsincee iitt wawass conceivedconceived anandd handehanded.d dowdownn almosalmostt exclusivelexclusivelyy byby AmericaAmericann ZeZenn centerscenters havehave shifteshiftedd theitheirr programsprograms towardtoward a memenn forfor almostalmost twenty-fivetwenty-five hundredhundred years.years. WeWe shoulshouldd notnot moremore balancedbalanced scheduleschedule thathatt takestakes familyfamily eventsevents jusjustt asas seri-seri• deceivdeceivee ourselveourselvess int intoo thinkinthinkingg thathatt ththee Buddha'Buddha'ss democrati-democrati• ouslyously asas traditionatraditionall monasticmonastic routines.routines. ItIt hashas becomebecome clearclear thatthat zatiozationn ooff thethe IndianIndian castecaste systemsystem includedincluded makingmaking womenwomen thisthis procesprocesss wilwilll continucontinuee throughouthroughoutt thethe nextnext decades,decades, furtherfurther roshi. MosMostt JapanesJapanesee Ze Zenn mastermasterss whwhoo camecame WestWest iinn thethe latelate changingchanging ththee faceface ooff ZenZen inin thethe West,West, andand reflectingreflecting women'swomen's nineteenineteenn fiftiesfifties anandd earlyearly sixtiessixties perpetuatedperpetuated thisthis malemale modelmodel roleroless iinn a BuddhistBuddhist practicepractice thathatt isis beingbeing forcedforced ttoo accommo-accommo• ofof spiritualspiritual soldierssoldiers whowho wouldwould penetratepenetrate delusionsdelusions andand winwin datdatee itselitselff ttoo ititss neneww homhomee iinn ordeorderr toto survive.survive. OutsideOutside ofof AsiaAsia ththee wawarr foforr enlightenment.enlightenment. ButBut whatwhat theythey encounteredencountered waswas a aatt least,least, thethe malemale dominationdomination ofof ZenZen hashas diminished.diminished. TheThe sanghsanghaa whoswhosee membermemberss werweree fiftfiftyy percenpercentt femalefemale,, anandd theythey deniadeniall ooff femalefemale sexualitysexuality isis nono longerlonger acceptableacceptable to a com• werweree nonott prepared.prepared. to a com- munitmunityy ofof practitionerpractitionerss whowho havehave nnoo culturaculturall connectioconnectionn ttoo thethe IInn JapanJapan,, eveevenn aass latlatee aass 1984,1984, womewomenn madmadee uupp onlonlyy 7.27.2 samuraisamurai code.code. Language,Language, therefore,therefore, changeschanges toto includeinclude stu-stu• percentpercent ofof thethe clergy,clergy, andand monasteries,monasteries, temples,temples, andand laylay centerscenters dents of both sexes, new rituals replace the old, and sexual The dents of both sexes, new rituals replace the old, and sexual araree stillstill exclusivelyexclusively gearedgeared towardtoward malemale practitioners.practitioners. The harassment by charismatic teachers is no longer tolerated. MeijMeijii restoratiorestorationn attempteattemptedd ttoo weakenweaken ZenZen BuddhismBuddhism byby harassment by charismatic teachers is no longer tolerated. revokinrevokingg ththee celibaccelibacyy requiremenrequirementt foforr ititss priestspriests.. BuButt farfar fromfrom ThThee ZenZen hierarchyhierarchy inin JapanJapan hashas eithereither beenbeen silentsilent inin mattersmatters beinbeingg a sigsignn ooff liberalizationliberalization anandd ththee inclusioinclusionn ooff womenwomen,, thethe ofof socialsocial andand politicalpolitical engagementengagement,, oorr itit hashas stridentlystridently sup-sup• enendd ofof celibacycelibacy waswas directeddirected towardtoward strengtheningstrengthening ShintoShinto portedported thethe military.military. TheThe apparentapparent nihilismnihilism ofof thethe sixteenth-sixteenth- nationalisnationalismm anandd ththee bourgeoisbourgeois constructionconstruction ooff aa corporatecorporate centurycentury swordmasterswordmaster andand ZenZen teacherteacher TakuanTakuan fueledfueled JapaneseJapanese statestate.. WomenWomen becamebecame priestlpriestlyy appendagesappendages whoswhosee mainmain func-func• militarismilitarismm iinn ZeZenn termtermss thatthat stillstill ringring loudlyloudly inin thethe earsears ofof tiotionn waswas toto provideprovide heirsheirs forfor thethe temple.temple. JapaneseJapanese women,women, nationalistnationalistss today.today. accustomeaccustomedd ttoo socialsocial structurestructuress supportinsupportingg thethe ConfucianConfucian idealideal TheThe uplifteduplifted swordsword hashas nono willwill ofof itsits own,own, itit isis allall ofof emptiness.emptiness. ooff submissiosubmissionn ttoo a malmalee heaheadd ooff ththee householdhousehold,, nevernever protestedprotested IItt iiss liklikee aa flashflash o off lightning lightning.. Th Thee mamann whwhoo iiss abouaboutt ttoo bbee struckstruck oorr triedtried toto changechange conditionsconditions thatthat woulwouldd bbee intolerableintolerable toto downdown isis alsoalso ofof emptiness,emptiness, asas isis thethe oneone whowho wieldswields thethe sword.sword. WesterWesternn women.women...... Do D onot no gett ge yourt you mindr min dstopped stoppe dwith with the th esword sword youyou raise;raise; InIn thethe earlyearly nineteennineteen eighties,eighties, afterafter aa seriesseries ofof sexsex scandalsscandals inin forgetforget abouaboutt whatwhat youyou areare doing,doing, andand strikestrike thethe enemy.enemy. DoDo notnot variousvarious AmericaAmericann ZeZenn centerscenters threatenedthreatened ththee stabilitystability ofof ZenZen keekeepp youyourr mindmind onon thethe personperson beforebefore you.you. TheyThey areare allall ofof institutioninstitutionss iinn thethe West,West, bothboth malemale andand femalefemale ZenZen studentsstudents emptinessemptiness,, bubutt bewarebeware ofof youyourr mindmind beingbeing caughtcaught inin emptiness.emptiness.

18o180 EpilogueEpilogue # Crazy CloudCloud ZenZen forfor thethe WestWest 181 cessfullycessfully incorporateincorporatedd socialsocial actioactionn programprogramss intointo theirtheir formalformal RecenRecentt exampleexampless ooff thithiss worldviewworldview areare thosethose jingoisticjingoistic ZenZen meditationmeditation practice.practice. mastersmasters whowho supportedsupported thethe Russo-Japanese Russo-Japanese WarWar,, andand thosethose Typically,Typically, whenwhen thethe JapaneseJapanese ZenZen mastermaster TaisenTaisen DeshimaruDeshimaru whwhoo contemplatedcontemplated suicidesuicide afterafter Japan'sJapan's defeatdefeat inin WorldWorld WarWar II.II. wawass askeaskedd bbyy hishis WesternWestern studentstudentss whawhatt peoplepeople shoulshouldd dodo inin TheThe ZenZen emphasisemphasis onon bushido,bushido, ththee warriowarriorr code,code, whichwhich justifiesjustifies theitheirr everydaeverydayy liveslives,, hhee respondedresponded,, "Work"Work,, gogo toto thethe toilet,toilet, eat;eat; breakinbreakingg ththee BuddhistBuddhist preceptprecept ofof notnot killing,killing, andand glorifiesglorifies whatevewhateverr yoyouu like.like. " ActivistActivist WesternWestern ZeZenn teachersteachers havehave addedadded militarismmilitarism,, hahass ledled manymany WesternWestern ZeZenn practitionerspractitioners ttoo askask toto Deshimaru'sDeshimaru's JapaneseJapanese versioversionn ooff ththee ZenZen life,life, urgingurging theirtheir themselvethemselvess whethewhetherr thertheree iiss anan ethicalethical systemsystem inherentinherent inin studentsstudents toto bebe sociallysocially activeactive asas well.well. PoliticallyPolitically andand sociallysocially JapaneseJapanese ZeZenn aatt all.all. CommentingCommenting onon Takuan'sTakuan's amorality,amorality, thethe aware,aware, thesthesee WesterWesternn ZeZenn BuddhistBuddhistss araree pavinpavingg a contemplativecontemplative AmericaAmericann ZeZenn teacherteacher RoberRobertt AitkeAitkenn pointpointss out:out: wayway thatthat blendsblends quitequite naturallynaturally witwithh "turning"turning thethe dharmadharma wheel." If the need for such spiritually inspired social action is ThThee separationseparation ooff ththee absoluteabsolute frofromm thethe relativerelative anandd ththee treat-treat• wheel." If the need for such spiritually inspired social action is menmentt ofof thethe absoluteabsolute asas somethingsomething impenetrableimpenetrable maymay bbee goodgood neglectedneglected,, ththee legitimacylegitimacy ooff ZenZen BuddhismBuddhism inin a societysociety thatthat HinduismHinduism,, butbut itit isis notnot thethe teachingteaching ofof thethe Buddha,Buddha, forfor whomwhom regardregardss ethicethicss andand religionreligion asas inseparableinseparable willwill eventuallyeventually bebe absolutabsolutee andand relativerelative werweree inseparablinseparablee excepexceptt whewhenn necessarnecessaryy ttoo underminedundermined..

highlighhighlightt themthem asas aspectsaspects ofof aa unifiedunified reality.reality...... ThThee vowvow ofof ThThee experienceexperience ooff mormoree thanthan fortyforty yearsyears hashas shownshown ZenZen toto TakuanTakuan ZenjZenjii ttoo savesave alalll beingbeingss dididd notnot encompassencompass thethe oneone hehe bebe flexibleflexible iinn adaptinadaptingg ttoo itsits newnew home.home. AccommodatingAccommodating toto callecalledd "th"thee enemy."enemy." democraticdemocratic decision-makingdecision-making,, aann inhereninherentt distastedistaste foforr hierar-hierar• chy,chy, feministfeminist demandsdemands,, andand a deep-seatedeep-seatedd impulsimpulsee t too ddoo "goo"goodd DoeDoess thethe stronglystrongly rootedrooted Judeo-ChristianJudeo-Christian ethicethic ofof thethe WestWest works,works,"" ZenZen isis changingchanging itsits monasticmonastic robesrobes forfor clothingclothing thatthat isis pointpoint toto thethe inevitableinevitable "pacification""pacification" ofof Zen?Zen? ThoughThough move-move• mormoree appropriateappropriate toto aa communitariancommunitarian laylay society.society. Inevitably,Inevitably, form of Zen menmentt towardtoward a moremore engaged,engaged, peace-promotingpeace-promoting form of Zen iitt willwill ceasecease ttoo reflectreflect AsianAsian structuresstructures ofof thethe lastlast twenty-fivetwenty-five hahass beebeenn slowslow andand isis farfar fromfrom all-inclusive,all-inclusive, manymany American,American, hundredhundred years.years. Happily,Happily, though,though, itit doesdoes notnot seeseemm ttoo bebe losinglosing European,European, andand LatinLatin AmericanAmerican studentsstudents havehave begunbegun toto seesee theirtheir itsits religiousreligious functionfunction ofof providingproviding aa wayway towardtoward spiritualspiritual practicpracticee aass a blenblendd ooff spirituaspirituall insighinsightt andand concreteconcrete socialsocial actionaction freedom.freedom. withiwithinn thethe spheresphere ofof historicalhistorical events.events. TheThe AmericanAmerican traditiontradition ByBy itsits veryvery nature,nature, ZenZen isi scontemplative. contemplative. ZazenZazen meansmeans ooff a separationseparation ofof churchchurch andand statestate hashas nevernever adverselyadversely affectedaffected settlingsettling oneseloneselff awaawayy fro fromm th thee world—fo world-forr halfhalf anan hourhour a day,day, strongstrong socio-politicalsocio-political movementsmovements thatthat tootookk offoff fromfrom reli-reli• foforr aa weekend,weekend, forfor aa seven-dayseven-day retreat,retreat, oror forfor aa year.year. ThatThat isis giouslygiously motivatedmotivated moralitymorality andand aa sensesense ofof socialsocial justicejustice.. Amer-Amer• thethe basisbasis forfor allall meditativemeditative traditions.traditions. TheThe Buddha,Buddha, a productproduct icaicann ProtestantismProtestantism,, withwith itsits inner-worldlyinner-worldly engagementengagement andand itsits ofof hishis IndianIndian culture,culture, cloisteredcloistered hishis studentsstudents asas celibatecelibate monksmonks action-orientedaction-oriented liflifee ooff "goo"goodd works,"works," isis beginningbeginning toto colorcolor anan andand nuns.nuns. AsAs WesternWestern laypeoplelaypeople followinfollowingg thethe Buddha'sBuddha's adviceadvice otherwisotherwisee neutralneutral ZenZen stance.stance. SeveralSeveral ZeZenn centercenterss iinn ththee UnitedUnited toto bebe ourour ownown authorities,authorities, wewe havehave begunbegun toto shapeshape aa practicepractice StateStatess araree activelactivelyy engageengagedd iinn ecumenicalecumenical sociasociall workwork,, linkinglinking thatthat befitsbefits ourour timetime andand place.place. ButBut thethe ZenZen messagemessage remainsremains uupp withwith Jews,Jews, Catholics,Catholics, anandd ProtestantsProtestants,, asas wellwell aass witwithh otherother thethe same,same, permittingpermitting usus toto see se eourselves ourselves everywhere:everywhere: some-some• BuddhisBuddhistt groupsgroups,, toto engageengage inin ethicalethical activismactivism ofof thethe kindkind thatthat timestimes asas JoshJoshuu puttinputtingg hishis sandalssandals onon hishis head,head, oorr asas UnmonUnmon evolveevolvedd durinduringg ththee VietnamVietnam WarWar inin SoutheastSoutheast Asia.Asia. FocusingFocusing shouting,shouting, "Sesame"Sesame ricerice cake!",cake!", sometimessometimes asas a foxfox,, andand some-some• specificallyspecifically oonn problemsproblems ofof homelessness,homelessness, environmentalenvironmental is-is• timestimes aass aann ololdd womawomann whowho getsgets insultedinsulted andand hitshits a monkmonk onon sues,sues, disarmament,disarmament, andand racism,racism, severalseveral ZeZenn centerscenters havehave suc-suc- thethe head.head. TheThe magicmagic ofof ZenZen liveslives inin thethe actact ofof sitting;sitting; itsits

Crazy CloudCloud ZenZen forfor thethe WestWest 183183 182 EpilogueEpilogue creativitcreativityy iiss expresseexpressedd iinn ththee koankoan,, ththee manifestmanifest worlworldd ofof formform inseparableinseparable frofromm thethe wordless,wordless, imagelessimageless experiencexperiencee ooff empti-empti• nessness.. IItt isis aa placeplace ofof ceaselessceaseless plaplayy wherwheree wewe shineshine withwith thethe morninmorningg starstar andand flyfly withwith thethe wildwild goose.goose. YetYet iitt isis weddedwedded toto ththee sortsort ofof disciplinediscipline iitt takestakes ttoo sitsit downdown andand meditatemeditate seriouslyseriously foforr a lifetimlifetimee whilewhile activelyactively engaginengagingg inin thethe worldworld asas aa teacher,teacher, NotesNotes onon a doctordoctor,, aa mother,mother, aa carpenter,carpenter, eveneven aa politician.politician. ThisThis isis CrazyCrazy CloudCloud Zen.Zen. EveryEvery chilchildd iiss borbornn ttoo itit.. ThosThosee whwhoo grogroww uupp toto livlivee iitt witwithh everyevery breatbreathh anandd croocrookk ooff thethe fingerfinger marchmarch along-along• SourceSourcess sideside IkkyIkkyuu throughthrough thethe streetsstreets ofof SakaiSakai onon NewNew Year'sYear's DayDay wavingwaving a woodewoodenn swordsword asas thetheyy makemake theirtheir wayway toto workwork inin thethe morning;morning; sitsit withwith BassuiBassui inin hishis cozycozy treetree househouse asas theythey bakebake bread;bread; anandd capturecapture ththee UnbornUnborn withwith BankeiBankei overover anan openopen campfircampfiree inin a mountainmountain sesshin.sesshin. ThThee CrazCrazyy Clouds—artistsClouds-artists,, poets,poets, actors,actors, individualindividualss all all-— Introduction were pushed out of view, their teachings laundered by tradi-tradi• were pushed out of view, their teachings laundered by pp.. 33 "There"There areare neitherneither BuddhasBuddhas .... . ":." Kenneth: Kennet hCh'en, Ch'en Buddhism, Buddhism inin tionalisttionalistss whoswhosee secularsecular connectionconnectionss ttoo ththee worlworldd ofof powerpower andand China. politicpoliticss overtooovertookk ththee CrazCrazyy ClouCloudd visiovisionn ooff ZenZen.. Ikkyu'Ikkyu'ss voicevoice criecriess ououtt toto callcall itit back,back, provokingprovoking usus toto leapleap fearlesslyfearlessly intointo 1. PangP'ang YunYun ouourr creativecreative depthsdepths,, openopen toto thethe samesame wellspringwellspring ofof ebullientebullient AlAlll direcdirectt quotationquotationss andand poemspoems inin thisthis chapterchapter araree frofromm RuthRuth FullerFuller energenergyy thathatt fueledfueled hihiss practice,practice, demandindemandingg thathatt wewe scrubscrub thethe Sasaki'sSasaki's translation,translation, AA ManMan of of Zen: Zen: The The Recorded Recorded Sayings Sayings ofof LaymanLayman harhardd stonstonee ooff ththee egegoo dowdownn ttoo a pebble,pebble, andand plumplumbb thethe darkestdarkest P'ang.Pang. depthdepthss ooff ourselves-asourselves—as artlesslyartlessly asas aa kittenkitten tusslingtussling a ballball ofof 2. RinzaiRinzai stringstring.. P'angP'ang andand Nyogen,Nyogen, RinzaiRinzai andand HakuinHakuin havehave nevernever stoppestoppedd urginurgingg uuss toto standstand onon ourour ownown feet.feet. WeWe jusjustt haven'thaven't AllAll directdirect quotationsquotations inin thisthis chapter chapte rare ar efrom from The The Record Record of of Lin-chi, Lin-chi, translatedtranslated byby RuthRuth FullerFuller SasakiSasaki andand fromfrom KennethKenneth Ch'en'sCh'en' sBuddhism Buddhism beebeenn listeninglistening.. FoForr totooo longlong theythey havehave beenbeen setset outsideoutside thethe in China.China. mainstreammainstream,, admiredadmired fromfrom afarafar asas religiousreligious geniusesgeniuses whwhoo werewere pp.. 2727 "Nowadays,"Nowadays, fewfew memenn ...":. . ." Buddhism: Buddhism inin China.China. nonott toto bebe emulateemulatedd foforr theitheirr "eccentricity,"eccentricity,"" theitheirr "anarchism,""anarchism," pp.. 3838 "1"I speakspeak thisthis wayway .... . ":." The: The Record Record of of Lin-chi. Lin-chi. oror,, asas iinn Ikkyu'lkkyu'ss case,case, theitheirr "licentiousness."licentiousness."" CrazCrazyy ClouCloudd ZenZen pp.. 4040 "Min"Mindd isis withoutwithout formform ...":. . ." The: The Record Record of of Lin-chi. Lin-chi. iiss neitheneitherr hedonistihedonisticc nonorr eccentric.eccentric. ItIt iiss ththee naturanaturall developmentdevelopment p.p. 4242 "There"There areare somesome studentsstudents ...":. . ." The: The Record Record of of Lin-chi. Lin-chi. ooff oneone whosewhose insightinsight intointo thethe ineffableineffable emergesemerges asas thethe mostmost p.p. 4242 "There"There areare somsomee BuddhistBuddhist...... ": The RecordRecord of Lin-chi.Lin-chi. spirituaspirituall formform ofo fself-expression self-expression in i nthis this very very body body andand inin thisthis veryvery place. IItt playplayss oonn a formlesformlesss stagestage,, itsits spiritspirit expressedexpressed inin Fuke'sFuke's 3. BassuiBassui cartwheel,cartwheel, Hakuin'sHakuin's caricatures,caricatures, Ikkyu'sIkkyu's comiccomic poetry.poetry. ItIt AlAlll directdirect quotationsquotations inin thisthis chapterchapter areare fromfrom ArthurArthur Braverman'sBraverman's speaksspeaks ttoo usus inin gestures.gestures. LikeLike thethe swayingswaying bamboobamboo oror thethe unpublisheunpublishedd 19891989 manuscript,manuscript ,Bassui Bassui Zenji:Zenji: TalksTalks WithWith Students,Students, sub-sub• stringstring beanbean aatt thethe tiptip ofof ourour fork,fork, itit investsinvests everyevery momenmomentt ofof sequentlsequentlyy publishedpublished as a sMud Mud andand Water: Water: AA CollectionCollection ofof TalksTalks by the ZenZen ourour liveslives withwith radiance.radiance. Master Bassui.Bassui.

184 EpilogueEpilogue 4. IkkyuIkkyu p.p. 132132 "A"A warriorwarrior mustmust .... .": ." The: The Zen Zen Master Master Hakuin.Hakuin. p.p. 133133 "Often"Often ZenZen mastersmasters .... . ":." The: The Zen Zen Master Master Hakuin.Hakuin. AlAlll directdirect quotationsquotations anandd poempoemss iinn thisthis chapterchapter areare fromfrom SonjaSonja Arntzen'sArntzen's IkkyuIkkyu andand thethe CrazyCrazy CloudCloud AnthologyAnthology anandd Jo Jonn Covell'Covell'ss ZenZen 7.7. NyogenNyogen SenzakiSenzaki Core: Ikkyu's Freedom.Freedom. AllAll directdirect quotationsquotations anandd poemspoems inin thisthis chapterchapter areare fromfrom SoenSoen p.p. 6868 "Fro"Fromm ththee worlworldd ooff passionpassionss ...... ": Zen Core.Core. NakagawaNakagawa eett al.,ah, NamuNamu DaiDai Bosa;Bosa; NyogenNyogen Senzaki,Senzaki, LikeLike aa Dream, Dream, pp.. 7711 "Robbers"Robbers nevernever strikestrike ... . .".':: Ikkyu and thethe CrazyCrazy CloudCloud Like a Fantasy;Fantasy; NyogeNyogenn SenzakiSenzaki,, On Zen Meditation; NyogeNyogenn Senzaki,Senzaki, Anthology. Comments on on the the Mumon Mumon Kan, Kan, unpublishe unpublishedd manuscript manuscript;; anandd NyogenNyogen p.p. 7171 "Gree"Greedd foforr luxurieluxuriess . ...":. ." :Zen Zen Core.Core. SenzakiSenzaki anandd RuthRuth StroutStrout McCandless,McCandless, TheThe IronIron Flute.Flute. pp.. 7474 "Afte"Afterr tenten daysdays .... . ":." : ZenZen Core.Core. pp.. 143143 ""II coinedcoined ththee worwordd ....": . ." On: On Zen Zen Meditation. Meditation. pp.. 7474 "I'"I'mm a simplesimple mamann .... . ":." :Zen Zen Core.Core. Pp. 144144 "Brothe"Brotherr NyogenNyogen iiss a ....": . ." :The The Iron Iron Flute. Flute. pp.. 7676 ""II amam ashamedashamed ...... "":: ZenZen Core.Core. Pp. 149149 "Friend"Friendss iinn ththee DharmDharmaa ...":. . ." Like: Like a aDream, Dream, LikeLike aa Fantasy. Fantasy. p.p. 7878 "My"My hand,hand, howhow iti t... . ":. ." Ikkyu: Ikkyu and and the the Crazy Crazy CloudCloud Anthology. Anthology. Pp. 150150 "I"Itt iiss nonott enougenoughh ....": . ." :Namu Namu DaiDai Bosa.Bosa. pp.. 7878 "Wh"Whoo carriescarries oonn ththee basibasicc ...... "":: ZenZen Core.Core. Pp. 150150 "Some"Some AmericansAmericans paypay .... .": ." Comments: Comments onon the the MumonMumon Kan.Kan. pp.. 7799 "Afte"Afterr mmyy deatdeathh ....": . ." :Zen Zen Core.Core. Pp. 151151 "I"Iff anyonanyonee make makess ...... ": Comments on the Mumon Kan.Kan. p. 151 1"Whe "Whenn m myy maste masterr ...... ": On Zen Meditation.Meditation. pp.. 8181 "Men"Men inin thethe midstmidst .... .": ." Ikkyu: Ikkyu and and the the Crazy Crazy CloudCloud Anthology.Anthology. P Pp. 152152 "There"There isis nono graduationgraduation .... .": ." Comments: Comments onon the the MumonMumon Kan.Kan. 55.. BankeiBankei Pp. 153153 "I"I havehave nnoo suchsuch funnyfunny ...":. . ." Comments: Comments onon the the MumonMumon Kan.Kan. Pp. 153153 "Wha"Whatt iiss ththee minmindd ....": . ." :Namu Namu DaiDai Bosa.Bosa. AlAlll direcdirectt quotationquotationss andand poemspoems areare fromfrom NormanNorman Waddell'sWaddell's transla-transla• Pp. 153153 "Buddhis"Buddhismm counselcounselss ....": . ." :Namu Namu DaiDai Bosa.Bosa. tiotionn TheThe Unborn:Unborn: TheThe LifeLife andand TeachingTeaching of ZenZen Master BankeiBankei anandd PeterPeter PP. 154154 "When"When II was was a a young youn g.._ . . ":." :Comments Comments onon thethe MumonMumon Kan.Kan. Haskel'Haskel'ss BankeiBankei Zen:Zen: TranslationsTranslations from from the the Record Record ofof Bankei.Bankei. PP. 155155 "I"Itt isis a pitypity ...":. . ." Comments: Comments onon the the Mumon Mumon Kan.Kan. The Unborn. pp.. 9911 ""II pressepressedd myself myself...... ": The Unborn. Pp. 156156 "On"Onee hundrehundredd thousanthousandd Bonze Bonzess ...... ": Comments on the MumonMumon p. 9999 "I'v"I'vee livelivedd fo for.r . ... .": The Unborn.Unborn. Kan. p. rot101 "You"You makmakee yourselfyourself...... ": The Unborn.Unborn. pp.. 157157 "M"Myy ideaideall lif lifee ...... ": Comments on the Mumon Kan.Kan. p. iol101 "When"When you'reyou're awakawakee ... The Unborn.Unborn. 8. Soen p. 102102 "Try"Try toto staystay .... . ":." :The The Unborn.Unborn. 8. Soen p. 104104 "Here'"Here'ss somethin somethingg ...... ": The Unborn.Unborn. AllAll directdirect quotationsquotations andand poemspoems are ar efrom from Soen Soen Roku: Roku: thethe DoingsDoings andand p. Io5105 "My"My ownown struggle.struggle . ..":. ." :The The Unborn. Unborn. Sayings ofof Zen"Zen Master Master Soen, Soen, ed ed.. Eid Eidoo Shimano Shimano,, anandd Namu Dai Bosa bbyy P, 107107 "Wha"Whatt doedoess iitt mattematterr ....": . ." :Bankei Bankei Zen.Zen. SoenSoen NakagawaNakagawa etet al.al. O h I61633 "Th"Thee twotwo ofof usus ...... "":: SoenSoen Roku.Roku. 6. HakuinHakuin p. I61644 "M"Myy minmindd ceaseceasedd ....": . ." :Soen Soen Roku.Roku. 171711 "Ordinar"Ordinaryy iiss extraordinarextraordinaryy ....": . ." :Soen Soen Roku.Roku. AlAlll direcdirectt quotationsquotations areare fromfrom PhilipPhilip Yamplosky'sYamplosky's TheThe ZenZen MasterMaster P- 171711 "T"Too didiee iiss ...... "":: NamuNamu DaiDai Bosa.Bosa. Hakuin anandd fromfrom HeinrichHeinrich Dumoulin'sDumoulin's A A History History ofof Zen Zen Buddhism,Buddhism, P- P- 172172 "M"Myy friendfriendss tel telll m mee ...... ": Soen Roku.Roku. volvol.. 2.2. P- 171722 "Meditatio"Meditationn itselitselff isis . ...":. ." :Namu Namu DaiDai Bosa.Bosa. pp.. 116116 "Suddenl"Suddenlyy a greagreatt doubdoubtt ...":. . ." A: AHistory History of of Zen Zen Buddhism. Buddhism. P- 117 733 "Cockroac "Cockroachh wawass mmyy petpet .... . ":." :Soen Soen Roku.Roku. p.p. 122122 "In"In thethe realmrealm .... . ":." The: The Zen Zen Master Master Hakuin.Hakuin. P. 173173 "Al"Alll beingbeingss araree flowerflowerss ...... ": Soen Roku.Roku. pp.. 122122 ""II madmadee uupp mmyy minmindd ...":. . ." The: The Zen Zen Master Master Hakuin.Hakuin. pp.. 126126 "Ther"Theree areare somsomee blindblind,, baldbald .... . ":." :The The Zen Zen MasterMaster Hakuin.Hakuin. Epilogue pp.. 127127 "Som"Somee twtwoo hundre hundredd year yearss ...... ": The Zen MasterMaster Hakuin.Hakuin. P.p. 181811 "Th"Thee uplifteupliftedd sworswordd .... . ":." :Robert Rober tAitken, Aitken ,The The Mind Mind ofof Clover. Clover. pp.. 127127 "Th"Thee practicepractice ofof thethe LotusLotus Sutra .... . ":.": The The Zen Zen MasterMaster Hakuin.Hakuin. pp-. 182182 "Th"Thee separationseparation ofof thethe absoluteabsolute .... . ":." :The The Mind Mind ofof Clover. Clover.

186 Notes on SourcesSources I Notes on Sources 187187 GlossarGlossaryy

Arhat (Pali)(Pali) A worthworthyy elder;elder; a BuddhisBuddhistt adepadeptt whwhoo hahass nonott yeyett gonegone beyonbeyondd hihiss oorr herher ownown enlightenmentenlightenment toto savesave alalll beingsbeings;; thusthus,, nonott yeyett a Bodhisattva.Bodhisattva. BakuBakufu fu gap.)(Jap.) TokugawaTokugawa militarmilitaryy government.government. Bodhisattva (Skt_)(Skt.) MahayanMahayanaa BuddhisBuddhistt archetypearchetype ofof compassion;compassion; ononee whwhoo putsputs offoff enteringentering nirvananirvana inin aa vowvow toto savesave thethe manymany beingsbeings.. Buddha-Dharma (Skt.)(Skt.) TeachingTeachingss ooff ththee Buddha.Buddha. Bushido Qap.)(Jap.) TheThe samuraisamurai spiritspirit ofof thethe warrior;warrior; JapaneseJapanese milita-milita• rismrism;; braverbraveryy iinn thethe faceface ofof death.death. Chinzo gap.)(Jap.) AAnn officialofficial ZeZenn portraiportraitt ofof anan abbot.abbot. Chonin Qap.)(Jap.) TownsmenTownsmen,, merchantmerchant classclass ofof TokugawaTokugawa Japan.Japan. Chu-shih (Chin.)(Chin.) LaLayy ZeZenn practitionerpractitionerss ooff ththee T'angT'ang era.era. Daimyo cap.)(Jap.) A samurasamuraii chieftain,chieftain, headhead ofof a clanclan ooff retainers.retainers. Furyu Qap.)(Jap.) Ikkyu'sIkkyu's "far"far outout"" oror "wild""wild" Zen.Zen. Fusho Zen cap.)(Jap.) Bankei'sBankei's forformm ofof teaching,teaching, withwith itsits emphasisemphasis onon discoursediscourse ratheratherr thathann meditationmeditation oror koans.koans. Gaijin cap.)(Jap.) Foreigner.Foreigner. Giri gap.)(Jap.) Duty.Duty. Goi koanskoans gap.)(Jap.) ThThee mostmost difficultdifficult formform ofof koankoan designeddesigned toto taketake thethe studentstudent throughthrough T'angT'ang mastermaster Tozan'sTozan's "Five"Five ModesModes ooff thethe ApparentApparent andand thethe Real."Real." Gonsen koans cap.)(Jap.) HelHelpp ttoo clarifyclarify thethe difficultdifficult wordswords andand phrasesphrases Kessei Gap.)(Jap.) A two-two- oror three-monththree-month trainingtraining periodperiod heldheld twicetwice aa ooff ZenZen ancestors.ancestors. yeayearr iinn ZenZen monasteries.monasteries. Gozan (Jap.)(Jap.) "Fiv"Fivee MountainMountain"" templetemple hierarchyhierarchy createdcreated inin JapaJapann toto Kikan koanskoans Gap.)(Jap.) LeaLeadd ttoo a bettebetterr understandinunderstandingg ofof thethe differenti-differenti• emulatemulatee a similarsimilar arrangementarrangement iinn China,China, wherewhere aa fewfew selectedselected ateatedd worlworldd ooff phenomenphenomenaa aass seeseenn througthroughh ththee "enlightene"enlightenedd eve."eye." monasteriemonasteriess werweree givengiven specialspecial privilegesprivileges,, statusstatus,, andand economiceconomic Koan Gap.)(Jap.) "The"The relativerelative anandd ththee absolute";absolute"; ZeZenn meditationmeditation tech-tech• supporsupportt byby thethe emperor.emperor. niquniquee employinemployingg vignettevignettess frofromm ancientancient exchangeexchangess betweebetweenn mastemasterr Great DeathDeath (Jap.(Jap .daishi) daishi) A metaphometaphorr forfor satori.satori. anandd discipledisciple aass a focusfocus forfor concentration;concentration; aa nonintellectualnonintellectual meansmeans Great DoubtDoubt Gap.(Jap. daigi)daigi) TheThe "dark"dark nightnight ofof thethe soul"soul" precedingpreceding foforr penetratinpenetratingg throughthrough dualisticdualistic thinkingthinking toto thethe Absolute.Absolute. satori. Kokushi Gap.)(Jap.) NationalNational ZenZen teacher;teacher; highesthighest honorhonor bestowedbestowed onon aa Great Joy (Tap.(Jap. daikangi)daikangi) ThThee flowflow ooff lovlovee anandd compassiocompassionn resultingresulting ZeZenn mastermaster byby thethe government.government. frofromm thethe satorisatori experience.experience. Koto Gap.)(Jap.) A JapanesJapanesee musicamusicall instrumeninstrumentt resemblingresembling aa lyre.lyre. Haiku (Tap.)(Jap.) A seventeen-syllableseventeen-syllable forformm ooff JapanesJapanesee poetrypoetry,, derivedderived Kyosaku Gap.)(Jap.) ThThee woodenwooden stickstick usedused inin ZenZen monasteriesmonasteries toto frofromm renga,renga, thathatt isis associateassociatedd witwithh ZenZen themes.themes. awakeawakenn sleepsleepyy sitters.sitters. Hara (Tap.)(Jap.) A pointpoint forfor concentrationconcentration inin zazenzazen locatedlocated twotwo inchesinches Kyo-un Gap.)(Jap.) "Crazy"Crazy Cloud";Cloud"; thethe termterm inventedinvented byby IkkyuIkkyu toto belobeloww ththee navel;navel; aa centecenterr ooff energenergyy (th(thee sitsitee ooff ththee vaguvaguss nerve).nerve). characterizcharacterizee hihiss forformm ofof Zen.Zen. Hogo Gap.)(Jap.) VerbalVerbal instructioninstruction,, usuallusuallyy iinn sermosermonn form.form. MahayanaMahay ana BuddhismBuddhism (Skt.)(Skt.) "The"The GreatGreat Vehicle";Vehicle"; thethe BuddhistBuddhist practicpracticee iinn ChinaChina,, Korea,Korea, TibetTibet,, Vietnam,Vietnam, andand JapanJapan,, witwithh itsits Hojo Qap.)(Jap.) ShogunShogun government.government. emphasiemphasiss oonn ththee BodhisattvaBodhisattva ideaideall ooff savingsaving ththee beingbeingss ooff thethe Hosshin koanskoans Gap.)(Jap.) IntendeIntendedd ttoo deepedeepenn ththee student'student'ss insighinsightt intointo his or her essential nature. worldworld.. his or her essential nature. Manjusri (Skt.)(Skt.) ThThee sword-wieldingsword-wielding BodhisattvBodhisattvaa ooff wisdowisdomm whowho Hotei (Tap; Chin. Pu-tai.)Chinese folklore character representing Hotel (Jap; Chin. Pu-tai.) Chinese folklore character representing Maitreya, the future Buddha, who bestows gifts on children. cutcutss througthroughh delusion.delusion. Maitreya, the future Buddha, who bestows gifts on children. Inka Gap.)Sea] of enlightenment granted by a Zen master to a Mentorgarten (Ger.)(Ger.) NyogeNyogenn Senzaki'sSenzaki's tertermm forfor hishis antihierarchicalantihierarchical Inka (Jap.) Seal of enlightenment granted by a Zen master to a disciple in confirmation. Zen,Zen, wherewhere everybodyeverybody waswas recognizedrecognized asas bothboth teacherteacher andand disciple.disciple. Ji Gap.)disciple Templein confirmation or monastery;. for example, Myoshin-ji. TakenTaken frofromm ththee GermanGerman educationaleducational reformereformerr Froebel'sFroebel's concepconceptt ofof Ji (Jap.) Temple or monastery; for example, Myoshin-ji. the kindergarten. Jizo (Tap.)A Japanese archetypal "savior Bodhisattva" particularly the kindergarten. Jizoidentified (Jap.) withA Japanes children.e archetypal "savior Bodhisattva" particularly Mondo Gap.)(Jap.) ZenZen dialoguedialogue betweenbetween teacheteacherr anandd studentstudent,, oorr anan identified with children. exchangeexchange betweebetweenn ZeZenn adeptsadepts expressinexpressingg ththee basibasicc truthtruthss ofof thethe Joriki Qap.)Concentration power in sitting meditation. realizationrealization experience.experience. JorikiJukai Gap.)(Jap.) ConcentratioCeremony ofn powetakingr i nthe sittin Buddhistg meditation Precepts;. public Mukei (Tap.)(Jap.) Ikkyu'Ikkyu'ss punpun denotingdenoting himselfhimself aass ththee "drea"dreamm boudoir"boudoir" Jukaideclaration (Jap.) ofCeremon becomingy oaf discipletaking ofth Shakyamunie Buddhist PreceptsBuddha.; public monk.monk. Kamideclaratio Gap.)n of becoming a disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha. Shinto nature gods. In the Meiji period, the emperor Naikan Gap.)(Jap.) VisualVisual imagerimageryy theraptherapyy givengiven ttoo HakuinHakuin byby HakuyuHakuyu Kamiwas revered(Jap.) Shintas a livingo natur kami.e gods. In the Meiji period, the emperor thethe hermit-healer.hermit-healer. Kannonwas revere (Tap.),d a Kuan-yins a living (Chin.)kami. Literally, "The one who perceives Nanto koanskoans Gap.)(Jap.) PoinPointt ttoo thethe undifferentiatedundifferentiated i nin ththee midsmidstt ofof Kannon (Jap.), Kuan-yin (Chin.) Literally, "The one who perceives the sounds of the world"; the Bodhisattva of mercy and compas- dailydaily activity.activity. thsion.e sounds of the world"; the Bodhisattva of mercy and compas• Nembutsu Gap.)(Jap.) "Nam"Namuu amidaamida butsu";butsu"; aa mantramantra recitingreciting thethe saviorsavior sion. Karma (Skt.) Buddhist concept of the law of cause and effect. BuddhBuddhaa Amida'Amida'ss namename overover andand overover againagain iinn prayeprayerr oorr meditation;meditation; Karma (Skt.) Buddhist concept of the law of cause and effect. Kensho Gap.)Seeing into one's essential nature; another expression practicpracticee instituteinstitutedd bbyy HonenHonen,, founderfounder ofof thethe PurePure LandLand SchoolSchool ofof Kensho (Jap.) Seeing into one's essential nature; another expression for satori. BuddhisBuddhismm iinn thethe twelfthtwelfth century.century. for satori.

19019o GlossaryGlossary Glossary 191 Nichiren (Jap.)(Jap.) ThThee LotusLotus Sutra sectsect,, a popularpopular formform ofof JapaneseJapanese ththee formula,formula, "Namu"Namu amidaamida butsu."butsu." ShinShin hashas been,been, andand continuescontinues BuddhisBuddhismm emphasizinemphasizingg devotiodevotionn an andd ththee prayeprayerr "Nam"Namuu myohomyoho ttoo be,be, thethe mostmost popularpopular BuddhistBuddhist sectsect inin Japan.Japan. rengrengee kyo"kyo":: "Hail"Hail toto thethe LotusLotus ofof thethe WondrousWondrous Dharma,Dharma,"" whichwhich Shingon (Jap.)(Jap.) LiterallyLiterally,, "Tru"Truee WordWord"" sectsect ooff Buddhism,Buddhism, foundedfounded iiss ththee firsfirstt lineline ooff TheThe Lotus Sutra.Sutra. Nichiren Nichiren,, ththee thirteenth-centurythirteenth-century bbyy thethe BuddhistBuddhist priestpriest KukaiKukai (774-835).(774-835). ItIt isis derivedderived fromfrom IndianIndian foundefounderr ooff thisthis school,school, proclaimedproclaimed thathatt ththee ultimateultimate truttruthh ofof anandd TibetaTibetann Tantrism.Tantrism. KnownKnown alsoalso aass "esoteric"esoteric Buddhism,"Buddhism," itit isis BuddhisBuddhismm couldcould bebe foundfound onlyonly inin TheThe LotusLotus Sutra.Sutra. centerecenteredd oonn thethe beliefbelief inin thethe cosmiccosmic BuddhaBuddha Vairochana,Vairochana, andand Ninjo (Jap.)(Jap.) Emotions.Emotions. emphasizesemphasizes properproper ritualritual performancesperformances ofof mantrasmantras (sacred(sacred syllables)syllables) Oibara (Jap.)(Jap.) A samurai'ssamurai's expressionexpression ofof hishis devotiondevotion toto hishis lordlord byby andand mandalasmandalas (cosmi(cosmicc icons).icons). joininjoiningg himhim inin death.death. Shinto Gap.)(Jap.) "The"The WayWay ofof thethe KamiKami (gods)";(gods)"; animisticanimistic religionreligion Paramitas (Skt.)(Skt.) TheThe sixsix "perfections""perfections" ofof Buddhism;Buddhism; forfor instance,instance, centeredcentered onon ancestorancestor worshipworship andand ritualritual purification.purification. JapaneseJapanese statestate thethe perfectionperfection ofof wisdom.wisdom. religionreligion connectedconnected withwith thethe figurefigure ofof thethe EmperorEmperor inin thethe MeijiMeiji era.era. Precepts TheThe ethicalethical guidelinesguidelines ooff BuddhismBuddhism,, liklikee nonott killing,killing, notnot Shunyata (Skt.)(Skt.) Emptiness;Emptiness; "suchness.""suchness." stealing,stealing, andand soso on;on; thethe corecore ofof ZenZen ethics.ethics. Shuso (Jap.)(Jap.) HeadHead monk.monk. Renga Gap.)(Jap.) AAnn open-endedopen-ended formform ofof JapaneseJapanese verseverse improvisedimprovised inin Soto Zen Gap.)(Jap.) DeriveDerivedd frofromm thethe ChineseChinese T'angT'ang mastersmasters TozanTozan ththee forformm ofof wittywitty reparteerepartee inin aa group.group. RyokaRyokaii (Tung-shan(Tung-shan Liang-chiehLiang-chieh)) anandd SozaSozann HonjakHonjakuu (Ts'ao(Ts'ao shanshan Rinzai ZenZen (Jap.)(Jap.) FoundedFounded bbyy thethe ChineseChinese T'angT'ang mastermaster RinzaiRinzai Pen-chi),Pen-chi), anandd introducedintroduced toto JapaJapann bbyy mastermaster EiheiEihei DogenDogen inin thethe GigeGigenn (Lin-chi(Lin-chi I-hsuan)I-hsuan),, anandd introducedintroduced toto JapanJapan byby mastersmasters EisaiEisai thirteenththirteenth century;century; emphasizesemphasizes shikantaza,shikantaza, "jus"justt sitting."sitting." anandd DaiDaioo inin thethe thirteenththirteenth century;century; emphasizesemphasizes koankoan practice.practice. Suiboku-ga Gap.)(Jap.) JapanesJapanesee ininkk painting.painting. Roshi Qap.)(Jap.) "Old"Old teacher";teacher"; ZenZen master.master. Sutra (Skt.)(Skt.) Scripture,Scripture, discoursediscourse,, oorr classic;classic; namnamee givegivenn ttoo thethe Saisen-itchi 0ap.)(Jap.) TheThe ancientancient JapanesJapanesee concep conceptt o off th thee unitunityy ofof sacredsacred textstexts ofof thethe BuddhistBuddhist canon.canon. religioreligionn anandd government,government, revivedrevived inin thethe MeijiMeiji period.period. Tathagata (Skt.)(Skt.) LiterallyLiterally,, "Th"Thee oneone whowho justjust comes";comes"; thethe BuddhaBuddha Sala treetree (Skt.)(Skt.) TheThe legendarylegendary tretreee thathatt turnedturned whitewhite atat thethe Bud-Bud• aspectaspect ooff potentialitypotentiality anandd creation;creation; ththee immanenimmanentt forformm ooff thethe dha'dha'ss death.death. Absolute.Absolute. Samadhi (Skt.)(Skt.) AbsorptioAbsorptionn inin meditation.meditation. Tenzo (Jap.)(Jap.) MonasteryMonastery cook.cook. Sangha (Skt.)(Skt.) Originally,Originally, monasticmonastic BuddhistBuddhist communitycommunity,, extendedextended Theravada Buddhism (Pali)(Pali) "The"The WayWay ooff ththee Elders";Elders"; thethe "ortho-"ortho• iinn ththee MahayanMahayanaa traditiotraditionn toto thethe laylay communitycommunity asas well.well. doxdox"" streamstream ofof BuddhismBuddhism practicedpracticed inin SoutheastSoutheast AsiAsiaa thathatt empha-empha• sizes monasticism and enlightenment with nirvana, or extinction, Sanzen (Jap.),(Jap.), Rinzai;Rinzai; dokusan,dokusan, Soto.Soto. ExpressionExpression foforr privateprivate inter-inter• sizes monasticism and enlightenment with nirvana, or extinction, asas itsits goal.goal. viewview betweebetweenn ZenZen teacherteacher andand disciple.disciple. Tripitaka (Pali)(Pali) EarliestEarliest extanextantt recordsrecords ofof thethe teachingsteachings ofof thethe Bud-Bud• Satori (Jap.)(Jap.) Self-realization;Self-realization; enlightenmentenlightenment;; realizatiorealizationn ooff emptiempti-• dha.dha. nessness.. Unborn Bankei'sBankei's expressionexpression forfor thethe Absolute,Absolute, realizedrealized inin thethe every-every• Seppuku (Jap.)(Jap.) RitualRitual suicide.suicide. day.day. Shi (Jap.) DeathDeath:: aann importanimportantt koankoan forfor samuraisamurai trainingtraining inin Zen.Zen. Shi (Jap.) Unsui Uap.)(Jap.) Monk;Monk; literally,literally, "cloud"cloud water,"water," indicatingindicating thethe monk'smonk's Shiki (Jap.)(Jap.) JapaneseJapanese civicivill bureaucracbureaucracyy ooff ththee MinamotMinamotoo periodperiod inin passingpassing througthroughh thethe worldworld withoutwithout leavingleaving aa trace.trace. ththee thirteentthirteenthh century.century. Wabi Gap.)(Jap.) TheThe JapanesJapanesee aesthetiaestheticc ideaideall ooff simplicitsimplicityy andand starkness.starkness. Shin (Jap.)(Jap.) A particularparticular sectsect ofof PurePure LandLand Buddhism,Buddhism, foundedfounded byby ZajuZafu (Jap.)(Jap.) MeditatioMeditationn cushionscushions usedused inin zazen.zazen. ththee BuddhistBuddhist monkmonk ShinranShinran (1173-1262),(i 173-1262), whowho promisedpromised salvationsalvation Zaibatsu (Jap.)(Jap.) JapanesJapanesee commerciacommerciall monopolisticmonopolistic elite.elite. ttoo allall whwhoo sincerelysincerely calledcalled upouponn ththee mythicalmythical BuddhBuddhaa AmidAmidaa withwith Zazen Gap.)(Jap.) SittinSittingg meditation.meditation.

191922 GlossaryGlossary Glossary 193 BibliographBibliographyy

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State and Scholars in in T'angTang China.China. NewNew York:York: . ZenZen and Japanese Japanese Buddhism. Buddhism. Tokyo Tokyo:: TraveTravell Bureau Bureau,, 1965.1965. CambridgCambridgee UniversityUniversity Press,Press, 1988.1988. MeyerMeyer,, Milton.Milton. China:China: AnAn Introduction.Introduction. NeNewJersey:w Jersey: LittlefielLittlefieldd Adams,Adams, TanahashiTanahashi,, KazuakiKazuaki,, trans.trans. PenetratingPenetrating Laughter. WoodstockWoodstock,, N.Y.:N.Y.: OverlooOverlookk Press,Press, 1984.1984. 19781978.. VarleyVarley,, HH.. Paul.Paul. JapaneseJapanese Culture. HonoluluHonolulu:: UniversityUniversity ofof HawaiiHawaii MiuraMiura,, isshu,Isshu, andand RuthRuth FullerFuller Sasaki.Sasaki. Zen Dust. NewNew YorkYork:: HarcourtHarcourt,, PressPress,, 1984.1984. BraceBrace,, andand World,World, 1966.1966.

196196 BibliographyBibliography Bibliography 197 WaddellWaddell,, NormanNorman,, trans.trans. TheThe Unborn:Unborn: TheThe LifeLife andand TeachingTeaching of ZenZen Master Bankei.Bankei. SaSann Francisco Francisco:: Nort Northh PoinPointt PressPress,, 1984.1984. WrightWright,, Arthur.Arthur. BuddhismBuddhism inin ChineseChinese History.History. Stanford:Stanford: StanfordStanford UniversitUniversityy Press,Press, 1959.1959. Wright,Wright, Arthur,Arthur, andand Denis Deni sTwitchett. Twitchett .Perspectives Perspectives on the Tang.T'ang. NewNew HavenHaven:: YalYalee UniversitUniversityy Press,Press, 1973.1973. YamadaYamada,, KounKoun.. TheThe GatelessGateless Gate.Gate. LoLoss AngelesAngeles:: CenteCenterr Publications,Publications, AbouAboutt thethe 19791979.. YampolskyYampolsky,, PhilipPhilip.. TheThe ZenZen MasterMaster Hakuin. NeNeww York:York: ColumbiaColumbia AuthorsAuthors UniversitUniversityy Press,Press, 1971.1971. YanagidaYanagida,, SS.. "The"The LifeLife ofof Lin-ChiLin-Chi I IHsuan." Hsuan. "Eastern Eastern BuddhistBuddhist 5-25-2 (1972)(1972):: 70-94.70-94.

PerlePerle BessermaBessermann holdholdss a doctoratedoctorate inin ComparativeComparative LiteratureLiterature fromfrom ColumbiaColumbia UniversityUniversity andand hashas writtenwritten severalseveral booksbooks onon mysticism,mysticism, includingincluding OrientalOriental MysticsMystics andand Magicians,Magicians, andand Kabbalah:Kabbalah: TheThe WayWay ofof thethe Jewish MysticMystic fo forr Doubleda Doubledayy (th(thee lattelatterr reissuereissuedd bbyy Shambhala),Shambhala), andand Pilgrimage, a nan accounaccountt ooff heherr spiritualspiritual adventures,adventures, forfor HoughtonHoughton Mifflin.Mifflin. SheShe isis thethe authorautho rof o Thef The Private Private Labyrinth Labyrinth ofof Malcolm Malcolm Lowry:Lowry: Under thethe Volcano and and the the Cabbala Cabbala (a (astud studyy o off contemporar contemporaryy ChristianChristian andand occultoccult versionsversions ofof JewisJewishh mysticism)mysticism),, publishepublishedd bbyy HoltHolt,, Rine-Rine- harthart,, Winston,Winston, numerousnumerous articlesarticles onon relatedrelated subjects,subjects, andand booksbooks forfor youngyoung adults.adults. SheShe hashas practicedpracticed ZenZen withwith variousvarious disciplesdisciples ofof SoenSoen NakagawaNakagawa RoshRoshii iinn IsraelIsrael,, EuropeEurope,, JapanJapan,, anandd thethe UnitedUnited States.States. CurrentlyCurrently livingliving inin Hawaii,Hawaii, sheshe isis aa studentstudent ofof RobertRobert AitkenAitken Roshi,Roshi, andand teachesteaches literaturliteraturee andand writingwriting atat thethe UniversityUniversity ofo fHawaii. Hawaii. SheShe isis marriedmarried toto ManfredManfred Steger.Steger. ManfreManfredd StegerSteger,, formerformer competitivecompetitive sportsman,sportsman, trucktruck driver,driver, bankerbanker,, andand ZenZen monk,monk, hashas beenbeen RobertRobert AitkenAitken Roshi'sRoshi's studentstudent sincesince 1986,1986, startinstartingg hihiss ZenZen trainingtraining inin hishis nativenative AustriaAustria withwith GenroGenro KoudelKoudelaa RoshRoshii aatt ththee BodhidharmBodhidharmaa ZendZendoo iinn Vienna,Vienna, anan affiliateaffiliate ofof JoshuJoshu SasakiSasaki Roshi'Roshi'ss MounMountt BaldyBaldy MonasteryMonastery inin California.California. A resi-resi• dendentt ofof Hawaii,Hawaii, StegerSteger holdsholds aa Bachelor'sBachelor's degreedegree inin ReligionReligion andand PoliticaPoliticall SciencSciencee fro fromm ththee UniversitUniversityy ooff HawaiiHawaii aatt Manoa,Manoa, andand isis currentlcurrentlyy completingcompleting hishis Master'sMaster's degreedegree inin PoliticalPolitical ScienceScience atat thethe samsamee universityuniversity.. AAss a studentstudent ofof RobertRobert AitkenAitken Roshi'sRoshi's "engaged"engaged Buddhism,Buddhism,"" hehe isis interestedinterested inin ethics,ethics, socialsocial justicejustice,, anandd environmenenvironmen--

198ig8 BibliographyBibliography taltal issueissuess anandd theitheirr relationshirelationshipp ttoo ththee practicepractice ooff ZenZen.. HeHe isis aa juniorjunior teacherteacher aatt ththee DiamonDiamondd SanghaSangha iinn HonoluluHonolulu,, Hawaii,Hawaii, andand forfor thethe pastpast twotwo yearsyears hehe hashas beenbeen leadingleading ZenZen retreatsretreats inin Princeton,Princeton, NewNew Jersey.Jersey. HeHe hashas publishedpublished severalseveral articlearticless oonn lalayy ZeZenn practicepractice iinn EnglishEnglish andand German.German. CreditsCredits

TheThe authorsauthors gratefullygratefully acknowledgeacknowledge permissiopermissionn t too quotquotee frofromm thethe followingfollowing works:works: A Man ofof Zen: TheThe RecordedRecorded SayingsSayings of of Layman Layman P'ang, Pang, translate translatedd bbyy RuthRuth FullerFuller SasakiSasaki eett al.al.,, copyrightcopyright ©© 1976,1976, publishedpublished byby WeatherhillWeatherhill andand reprintedreprinted byby permission.permission. Ikkyu and the Crazy CloudCloud Anthology,Anthology, translatetranslatedd bbyy SonjaSonja Arntzen,Arntzen, copyrightcopyright ©© 1986,1986, publishedpublished byby thethe UniversityUniversity ofof TokyoTokyo PressPress andand reprintedreprinted byby permission.permission. Soen Roku, the Sayings and DoingsDoings ofof MasterMaster Soen, Soen, edite editedd bbyy EidoEido TaiTai Shimano,Shimano, copyrightcopyright © 1986,1986, publishedpublished byby TheThe ZenZen StudiesStudies SocietySociety PressPress anandd reprintereprintedd byby permission.permission. The Unborn:Unborn: TheThe LifeLife andand TeachingTeaching ofof ZenZen MasterMaster Bankei, Bankei, copyrighcopyrightt ©© 19819844 bbyy NormanNorman Waddell,Waddell, publishepublishedd bbyy NorthNorth PointPoint PressPress andand reprintereprintedd byby permission.permission. Zen Core:Core: Ikkyu'sIkkyu's FreedomFreedom (Unraveling(Unraveling Zen's RedRed Thread:Thread: Ikkyu'sIkkyu's Controversial Way), Way), b ybyJon Jon Carte Carterr Covell Covell,, publishepublishedd bbyy HollyHollymm Inter-Inter• nationalnational,, copyrighcopyrightt © 198o1980 bbyy JoJonn CarteCarterr CovellCovell anandd reprintereprintedd byby permissionpermission.. The Zen Master Hakuin,Hakuin, translatetranslatedd bbyy PhiliPhilipp YampolskyYampolsky,, copyrightcopyright © 1971,1971, publishedpublished byby ColumbiaColumbia University University PressPress and and reprinted reprinted by by permissionpermission..

200 About thethe AuthorsAuthors EASTERN h111L()5C)F'1ll- `'crazy clouds" of this book are these intiov.ttivc. nencon- list Zen masters-wandering seekers and sages eaten dis- guised as beggar', tioniadic preachers. and "niadnteii" - whose singular Zen \R`ay has proft)till Llly intluvnced Zen Bliddhlsni_ Spanning a period from eighth-century China to twrittietli- cenrury America, Crr:ly C:krii,h portrays the lives anil teachings of Zen masters like the hcrcL Rinizai, the casygoirig Layntan Pang. the renegade lkkytl, and the lay monk Nyugeri Senzaki - Zen figures whose inrcrpretariotis cat e+'vrt the nio t radical approach to Zen remain invaluable guides. to people interested in

Zen today. EASTERN PHILOSOPHY

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11 iiJi1llB1 ISBN 1]-87773-543-3 US'$13A0 LAG 17.99 CAN 517.50 Crazy Clouds Zen Radicals, Rebels & Re/briners MAATRE--1) STEER