4 pRIMARY pOINT June 1988

ize, however, that this represents only half 'of the potential of the human conscious­ PRIMARY POINT ness. There another half- that which is SPECIAL ISSUE js PRIMARY POINT is published by in­ direct and intuitive. It is this direct and the Kwan Urn School, a non-profit tuitive aspect of consciousness that is at religious corporation under the direction of the heart of all of the great advances of Seung Sahn. The school sup­ Practice in America and the world-wide Kong-an the human race, not only our spiritual and ports arranges teaching schedule of Zen Master Sahn and his artistic advances, but those of science and Seung senior teachers, issues publications on con­ technology as well. temporary Buddhist practice, and supports the of with Study Through process working dialogue among religions. the we to that koan, begin slowly open up PRIMARY POINT is published three other of consciousness and learn to by John Daido Loori, Sensei aspect times a year in February, June, and Oc­ trust its functioning. Working with the tober. Subscription cost for one year is definition concerned with to From the introduction to Mountain doing: prac­ koan begins to churn up many of the $10.00 ($11.00 for Canada and Mexico, tice is to do. To train the mind with a for other If Record of Zen Talks by John Daido things we have been repressing for years­ $20.00 foreign countries.) you koan is to to bit of would like to become a member of the Loori, Shambala Publications, Boston, to do, put every energy bringing them up into surface conscious­ and attention have in it Kwan Urn Zen School, write to the nearest pe released in 1988. Loori Sensei's teach­ you realizing per­ ness where they may be acknowledged rather than involved in Zen Center or to the School Director. ling style uses both the method of koan in­ sonally, becoming and released. It's necessary to empty its or intellectual PRIMARY POINT's circula­ trospection and silent sitting, depending philosophical aspects: oneself out in order to "see" a koan, but average a koan is not a matter of under­ tion is 5000 copies. For information on ad­ upon the disposition and inclinations of Practicing you can't empty yourself out as long as rates or contact or but rather of direct vertising distribution, the the student. standing believing, you continue to hold on to the baggage of realization. To realize a koan is to be it advertising manager. concepts, positions and ideas. A single with the whole and to be it School Abbot: Master Dharma Teacher body mind; thought separates us from the koan, And, its : Jacob Perl earliest beginnings, the prac­ with the whole and mind is to body . forget of course, the emptying process in and of Sincetice of Zen has always been charac­ the self. School Director/Senior Editor: Richard itself is very refreshing. It makes us free terized as: "A special transmission Streitfeld In actual practice, the koan becomes and able to probe the depths of the koan, outside the with no reliance on I Editors: Master Dharma scriptures the of one's the ob­ Teaching object concentration, A koan can be a words and letters. A direct pointing to the single multilayered Teachers Barbara Rhodes & Jacob Perl ject of one's being. To work with a koan human mind, and the realization of Bud­ experience, each layer to be thoroughly to the words Editor-in-Chief/ Advertising Manager: is go beyond and ideas, and and assimi­ dhahood." With chewed, swallowed, digested Bruce (sitting meditation) the direct itself. Be­ Sturgeon experience reality lated into cell of our like a as every being, its basis, the introspection of the koan Editor: Ellen Sidor cause of tend to frustrate the Advisory this, full course dinner from to des­ is one of Zen's most effective appetizer Editor: Sunim sert Sometimes we see the Contributing Soeng skillful means of "direct point- : .. only Contributors: Toni Packer, John Daido The colorful and main point of the koan and miss ing." apparently Zeoson Jan , the fullness of the other Loori, Gifford, Chozen' encounters layers. -­ paradoxical between Bays" Barbara Rhodes, Mu Soeng It's like tasting only the ap- Zen adepts which form the .basis Sunim, Pocp Sa Nim, Do'MilD Sunim, • , with the of the koans petizer. Dealing only classical have in-. .' Do' Haeng"Sunim; Dennis Duermcicr, and intellectual , trigued Westerners for many . philosophical im- , -"Dbanajay Joshi, Diana Lynch, Jon .' is kind of like , years. Luse the term "apparently plications reading Kabat-Zinn, -Susan Phillips, :Richard the . because in menu.and completelymissing '.' Streitfeld, Larry Goolsby & Jerome , paradoxical'' reality , _'�-''' the. meal, with a �, Washington; .... '. there are no paradoxes;' paradox Coupled pointer." . the koan a existsm-the weuse to' and-a-verse, becomes �Copyright1988 Kwan Um Zen School All rights language .. , reserved.· 528 Pound -, virtual feast of spiritual ti:'aiiiirig; KUZS; Rd., Cumberland, RI describe' iI} the direct and ' reality. .... 02864. 769·6476.• Send all & Manykoan collections'and koan (401) advertising intimate experience of reality it­ editorial materials to: Bruce Sturgeon, 5 Devonshire ,,' 'have evolved there are no trainingsystems Place, Asheville, NC 28803, (704)254-8140. self, paradoxes. " over the ·centuries. Each one was Koans and koan collections � 1 . intended-to fulfill·the n�ectS �f·the

, ,are becoming Increasingly avail- " .'J time which f'o,:the\Vest. �New translations particular and place jn Jlbl�' it was at the same ; and. studies in E:.Dish and other developed, yet time -we can see in all 'Of them a Western languages' have made of the that .,; koans much more accessible, so universality questions they pose. Understanding the ul­ BUDDHIST'" , that the word "koan" itself has timate nature of reality transcends· . come into familiar usage, even any. time or place. A koan is .MEDI�ATI0N among those not actively doing' much more than words and ideas­ : Zen training. Much has been writ­ SUPPLIES it's a direct a revelation ten about koans in terms of their pointing,

, of realization that is . spiritual value as subjects of philosophical paralleled in every "bible" of and intellectual study. There is no human experience. question that koans are of great Most of the work wi th a koan scholarly value- they contain a

, , gold mine of informatiori\5ri' the' ,takes place alone during sitting philosophy and history, the zazen, because in reality there's can us. . morality and ethics, and language John Daido Sensei nothing anyone give , Loori, There's we lack. Each and poetry of Zen. But the nothing one of us is and primary value of a koan, and indeed its intellectual process, and that frustration is perfect complete, . That's it is said uniqueness, lies in its use as a vehicle for an important part of koan study. Until lacking nothing. why there are no Zen teachers and to spiritual realization. we've exhausted the possibility that we nothing teach. But this truth must be realized can "figure out" the koan, we keep the in­ by In koan study, traditional koans are tellect each one of us, Great faith, doubt, · great going. But' 'and great determination arethe three es­ koans can- sentials for that realization, It is a bound­ '. \' . less faith in oneself and· in the to ':4 koan is much more than . not be real- ability

ized · realize oneself and make oneself free, and words or ideas-it's a direct through a deep and penetrating doubt which asks: linear dis­ · Who am I? What is life? What is truth? What God? What This a revelation " cursive is isreality? great faith and doubt are in ten" » pointing, I of thought; great dynamic Ststues Cushions» Benches " they in­ sian with each other, and work to provide" Bells & Gongs. Altar Supplies spiritual realization ... volve the the real cutting edge of koan practice. Incense • Clothing • Books & Tapes direct and · When great faith and great doubt are also Rosaries. Posters • Jewelry intuitive accompanied by greatdetermination (the usedas well as non-traditional koans -L, aspect of our' consciousness. In the West determination of "Seven times knocked For fully illustrated-end annotated taken from other core texts of Buddhism. . our process of education is directed down, eight times get up"); we have at our 41-page CATALOG, send $LOO to: Other koans used in training derive from" primarily' toward developing and refining disposal' the power necessary to break the student's own life experiences-" , discursive said to be, our delusive of and linear, thought, , through way thinking . koans," the barriers encountered through. " S�ASrA AB�EY . centered in the left hemisphere of the realize the full potentialof our lives. daily life experiences. BUDDHIST SUPP"IE� brain. And indeed, linear, discursive The constant that is " . the.na­ , , - pointing P.O. Box .. Dept. P, 199, In a Dharma the koan. is Discourse, plays an important role in our un- ture of Dharma Discourse is the awkward thought , taken as a vehicle of Zen and , Mt. Shasta, CA 96067 up training derstanding of the universe arid our: attempt of Zen teachers to assist students ' practice. Training and practice are by functioning in the world. We should real- - Tel. (916) 9264208 : (continued on page 10) I ...... _-...... __ ...... __,...,....,--..,...... ___,·,.....,...·,....,..... -:-:"'.. ••�•••• -10...... _...,....,....,. ,"!"",:, pRI�RYt,pOINT ------J-un-e-1-9S-S-

Sa attained En­ Poep Sa Nim- "Dharma on the Radio" Question: Poep Nim, you SPECIAL ISSUE lightenment. What is the correct function (ilif0·00�::g;W�� gf:g}J�d:::::::i:::::.:,:::,:'\::::':':::':':::""''-'-''-'- of Enlightenment? Practice in America radio. You are listening to me and I'm PSN: Enlightenment is not special. Kong-an talking to you. Without energy we cannot Everybody already is enlightened but we do this. So, this energy is very important. cannot see it because we are covered by our form. You and are When you attain this absolute world everyone already but have not re-dis­ you are not only perceiving karma; you enlightened you covered that. When that is A Is Other can also to others. Your you discover, Kong-an Nothing give energy body what call The reason is like a generator of electricity. But it is you Enlightenment. attain is not that not only giving; it is actually balancing you Enlightenment you T.han The Present Moment want to be or a hermit or people's energy. For example, when your clairvoyant for In other words, mind is sick it is not because you don't something yourself. Barbara Rhodes attain to live life cor­ By have enough energy. It means your ener­ you Enlightenment without suffer­ look into "What is rather than is not out. When rectly, any condition, any function of a is to ask, this?", gy balancing your body kong-an spark It is not to know. is sick, it is not that you don't have ener­ ing. special. Thea question, to give rise to that which ' gy. You are balancing your energy. So, When I was eighteen I attained, but to in the Zen tradition has been called the The second story is about a mother by perceiving a person's karma, a master me that wasn't special. That was the right ,Great Question. When the mind "ques­ lion. This mother lion takes her five cubs ' can balance their energy, if necessary. thing to do in life, in order .to live correct­ tions", it awakens and opens. This mo- out for their very first walk. They instinc­ But it is not enough if I only help the per­ ly with others. Enlightenment is. not kept ment of questioning, however fleet it is, is, tively form a single line behind her. Up son by perceiving their karma and balanc­ for yourself. Everything that you do, you a manifestation of a pure and uncondi­ until this point, she has been their only ing out their energy. Because then they have to do with others, for others. Exist tioned mind. in this moment all filters of source of love, warmth, protection and will only attach to me and my method. with and help others. That's what you call pre-conception and pre-judgement are nourishment; their world so far has been This is not correct Buddhism. Therefore, Enlightenment. taken away and only pure questioning safe and most generous. So as they walk, we teach them how to practice, how to at­ remains. the cubs take in the sights, sounds, and tain their true self. Then are able to smells around them they This Daido Loori- "Koan "question­ save themselves and find their own, true Study" and is dif- innocently ing" vastly master. When we do we know what , in nature's that, (Continued from page 4.) ferent from "check­ delight human are about and what life is ��;�;�;�;�{;?�;�;�;:;:;:;:' ·:;;;;;;;:;:;;}�);�;:··��t������������������������tt����t��t�f��t���t�� :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.:. the beings A gifts. Suddenly, ing". about. It is to find our cor­ -in themselves. There is no cor­ mother lion turns to very important realizing mind "checking" rect human beings' job. rect "answer" to a koan. Seeing it is a is one of the cubs and always resisting, state of consciousness in which our usual bats him five feet Question: You said that the to find an ar­ energy goes trying reference has been abandoned and into the brush. The like a to system based on through you through generator , gument the itself is seen and in­ cub is shocked and others. Is that because thing directly its preconceived help you practice mind-to-mind transmission? timately. This intimacy transforms our ideas and hurt. Why would the of ourselves and the universe. thus-far warm and way seeing opinions. A "ques­ PSN: It is not only mind-to-mind trans­ benevolent Once realized it is no longer possible to tioning" mind on mother, mission. Actually, mind comes from live our lives in the old do such a The way. the other hand, is thing? thinking. As I said just now, before-think­ cub scrambles back These words one one which is ing is absolute energy. So, when your represent experience to the line and con­ of and as words remain dead stuck, which truly mind is clear you can receive and utilize koans, they tinues with the until the reader make them doesn't know. this universal energy to help others. you your own, This mind others. The mother bring them to life in the moment-to-mo­ only Question: Is this what we call "cosmic "What is has just taught the ment reality of your own existence. At asks, energy"? this?" The mind cub to be careful, be that time these words, having fulfilled "aware. She did it in PSN: the does not have their should be thrown that truly asks, Actually, energy meager function, the most a name. "Cosmic" or whatever, it's so that the "What is this?" , simplest, away, spiritual journey may . she knew. who make the names. For ex­ continue as does so in direct way people it is and always has been from the blue never "I am Master Dharma Teacher ample, sky says, the beginningless beginning- boundless response to some- A is able ' kong-an blue sky". This means that this world and unhindered. in the Rhodes thing Bar�ara ,'t6 wake up the mind does not have words and speech. That's present moment, in the same An way. what you call, if you want to, mind-to­ whether it be a concrete life' situation, a alert mind can see through the kong-an mind. Bui I don't think that that is the Cor­ an an feeling, emotion, incomprehensible , and it to a wholesome bring conclusion,' rect word. If you want to explain it, this is John Daido 'Loon, Sensei is the spiritual or In "What is thought whatever. asking, a the forest like wise lion walking through complete stillness and extinction. That's leader and resident Zen teacher of Zen the mind even if this?", stops assuming, .," , and in tune with all that is being perfectly what you call absolute energy. So, if you Mountain Monastery in ML Tremper, onl for a second, y fleeting stops operating there. As the mother 'lion her want to call it I don't think that is New and the leader the ' swings great cosmic, York, spiritual of on feels and pre-conceptions and; instead, '(awards her she has no plw child, clear. "Mountain and River Order," an or­ looks at the moment at attentively hand., thought as to being superior or better. She Zen centers and sit­ Question: What is the energy center for ganization of affiliate There are two Stories that have helped only wants the childto learn. A genuine in the U.S. and abroad. Rev. the human being? ting groups me tremendously to understand how kong- Zen master shares this mind. Loori's interest in Zen began in the sixties PSN: is It is in' an to AS it Energy everywhere. right practice applies daily-life. hap- The questions that a kong-an can raise as Zen practice first emerged in we see it both stories are about front of you. But can't because pens, mothers.Tbe �,' , can bring a deeper attentiveness to both American.His training is in both tile when we receive our human is as first was told Zen Master form it story by seung,' sitting meditation and to daily activities. rigorous school of koan Zen and in tile we are blocked the senses. Sahn when someone asked him how to though by six , Just as a weight attached to a fishing line subtle teachings ofDogen 's Zen. Loori is a So, when you take off the six senses, "keep" kong-an: can help the hook to-sink deeply in the a Dharma successor ofHakuyu Taizan which means when you attain truth; you A mother offou» has just watched her ocean rather than bobbing on the water's Maezumi Roshi. can use the six senses very clearly and oldest child board a headed a the mind to plane for surface, kong-ancan guide Loori's as then can see in front of background scientist, artist, you right you. _ In the she at-. of to that are Vietnam,. months thatfollow places deeper insight, places This is absolute attainment. Someone and Zen priest affords his students the tends her often difficult to without a tq her part-time job, her' ,', enter persist­ rich to Zen Bud­ family, who is a master is not which opportunity experience ' ! special, friends-and conimuiiity. She plays bridge,' , ent, steady direction. Using the mind's dhism in its and means he or she attains through their prac­ unique emerging goes to her'diiugl�ter's class play, shops natural tendency to question gives it more American Loori's other »; has this, it can form. published - ticing. Everyone only etc. all this she never focus and bllt for food, i'lirough of ; perception, works include: The appear when you cease to be controlled Way of Everyday that is in Vietnam. She forgets : to & Loon, Center Publica- h�/�on '" ';.' Thus, bringing' ihtmi�d the present by your karma. Absolute attainment is not Life (Maezumi never and concern. , some fear .. as well as articles in various doesn'tf�l :: ;�, moment by asking" "What is this?" is to a knowledge, it is not intellectual. You tions) peri­ There is never-a time when she doesn't odicals. "� 'r:' enter the space of not-knowing, Trusting have to attain for yourself; For example, wonder where.her-son or what he is is, ',' this of is to :',: process not-knowing go when you eat salt, youcan say that it is She "When is ' 'doing. alwajls;asks herself; ,.:',,' beyond the edge of-what is familiar. son home?" Because her my coming of Going beyond the edge of what is salty. But you cannot tremendous her she 10�eJor son, always familiar is to let goof the self-imposed express or capture in has him in die her mind. At ' r�cesses of 'constructs of reality that we have created words for another how ACUPUNCTURE THERAPY, same her the is in , time.she , totally present ,:' for ourselves and to which we so it is. Same with .; cling salty and daily life. .: It is to look at each moment sugar honey. They C.A. ' desperately. Joseph Springer, Kong-an practice can be like this With a pure awareness, rather than have a different sweet­ mother's mind .. The "Great of a colored filters. when ness. But until Question" ,'through So, maybe you put State Licensed Certified Acupuncturist ", , "How are them in kong-an, like the the "Great Question" in 'you ask someone, you?", you your mouth, National Board Certified in I Diplomate Acupuncture i " know the mother's mind about her son, remains , .are to see, feel you don't for ' really asking, really open 522 Hoboken, New 07030 what the dif­ Washington St., Jesey with you, always in the recesses of your and listen to the response. Then true-in- yourself ferent tastes are. By Appointment mind. The kong-an reminds you always to ", is and compassion (201)795-0355 , timacy possible naturally arises. Hoboken is Nine Minutes From Manhattan

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