June 1964
Originally offered: June 1st, 1964 | Modified October 27th, 2009 by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi
A DISCUSSION OF MODEL SUBJECT NO. 51
FROM THE BLUE CLIFF RECORD (HEKIGANROKU)
Translation and commentary by Rev. S. Suzuki
Zen Master, Zen Center
1964
SEPPŌ”S “WHAT IS IT
”
Seppō was a good example of a well-trained Zen Master. “Three times a visitor to Tōsu and nine times an attendant to Tōzan” became one of the catchwords of Zen practice signifying Seppō”s hard discipline.
He was born in 822 and died in 908 near the end of the Tang Dynasty. The Emperor was killed by Shuzenchu in 904. The next and last Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, supported by this traitor, lasted for only four years. A dark restless period followed the Tang Dynasty. A severe persecution occurred when Seppō was twenty years old (845). Metalware throughout the land was turned into coin, including temple bells and images of Buddha. 4,600 temples were destroyed, 26,500 priests and nuns were cast out of the order along with 2,000 priests of other religions except Taoist.
The other principal character of this model subject, Gantō (828-887), was killed by a mob. He was a good friend of Seppō, and they had both been born in the province of Fukien. Both went on long, hard pilgrimages from northeast to southeast China, visiting many famous masters. As stated, they are said to have visited Tosu Daido three times and Tōzan Ryokai (Sōtō School) nine times. You may imagine how hard they practiced.
Later they were handed down Tokusan Senkan”s transmission. When Seppō was 44 and Gantō 38, they left Tokusan and started pilgrimages again. At Gosanchin they were caught in a heavy snowstorm. Seppō was sitting all the while Gantō was sleeping. Gantō said to him, “This village is like a fortified town, why don”t you sleep
” Seppō, rubbing his breast said, “I do not feel easy in my heart.” Gantō answered, “Please tell me one by one what you have acquired.”
Seppō told Gantō what he had experienced under Tōzan and Tokusan, but Gantō did not agree and said, “The treasures that come from outside are not your family treasures.” Seppō was enlightened by this statement. He was 44 years old.
The following year they left with Kinzan Bunsui, their best friend who had become Tōzan”s disciple, for further study at Rinzai”s temple. On the way they heard that Rinzai had died. Gantō went on to Ryuzan near Lake Dotei, Kinzan went back to his temple, and Seppō returned to the south.
When Seppō was 47 he secluded himself at a stone cave which had been the first residence of his old master Reikun. When he was 54 he had his own temple beautifully built on the top of a mountain. At the age of 60 he had 1050 students, one of whom was Ummon, founder of the Ummon School. A purple robe was presented to him by Emperor Kiso. His posthumous name is Shinkaku-daishi (Great Master Shinkaku).
Introductory Word by Engo
Engo, introducing the subject, said, “If you are caught by the slightest idea of good and bad, your mind (true mind, essence of mind) will be lost in the realm of disorder. If you do not have an idea of the order of stages, there will be no purpose in your practice. Now which do you think is better, to pursue the relative way or to resume to the absolute
”
[Note:[1] The relative form and color that you see now are the conditioned attributes of the unconditioned-constant-absolute. The absolute is the eternal unconditionally that gives rise to the conditioned, relative ways of practice. What you see now is the eternal unconditionality of the absolute and the momentous conditioned relative. Actually the positive or relative way is not different from the negative or absolute way. Even though you follow the order of the stages in your actual practice, if …
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