To study the buddha way
is to study the self. To study the self
is to forget the self. To forget the self
is to be actualized by myriad things. When
actualized by myriad things, your body
and mind as well as the bodies and minds
of others drop away. No trace of realization
remains, and this no-trace continues endlessly.
No trace of realization remains ...
...and
this no-trace continues endlessly.
Our
mind should be free from traces of the past,
just like the flowers of spring.
Suzuki Roshi
No trace of that remains and this no trace continues
endlessly.
What’s going to happen in the next moment? Who’s
going to show up? Will there by anybody? Who are you
now?
But surely we must remember the past,
for example what someone said to us …?
The shadows of your
memories of their experience remain. And that’s important. Just don’t get hung
up on it. Of course we appreciate things that happened
before us and of course we don’t want certain
things to repeat. But now is now. The present moment
contains the infinite past and infinite future. It’s
right here.
So
the secret is just to say “Yes!” and
jump off from here. Then there is no problem.
It means to be yourself in the present moment,
always yourself, without sticking to an old
self. You forget all about yourself and are
refreshed. You are a new self, and before
that self becomes al old self, you say “Yes!” and
you walk to the kitchen for breakfast. So
the point on each moment is to forget the
point and extend the practice. Suzuki
Roshi
So
if one thing Dogen Zenji means by “no
trace” is no attachment to our
past, how do you make mindful effort
without becoming self-conscious of
your effort? Can you make an effort
without making it yours?
Perhaps
you know people who have had big experiences but
they are always telling you about their big high,
about how they solved such-and-such a koan, how they
had this big experience. Sometimes I get caught by
my own
This
pride is such a trace. And it’s really boring.
It’s probably true, that they had this experience
or realization, but that was yesterday. And they’re
still dragging it around today.
So if one thing Dogen Zenji means by “no
trace” is no attachment to our
past, how do you make mindful effort
without becoming self-conscious of your
effort? Can you make an effort without
making it yours?
Perhaps
you know people who have had big experiences but
they are always telling you about their big high,
about how they solved such-and-such a koan, how they
had this big experience. Sometimes I get caught by
my own
This
pride is such a trace. And it’s really boring.
It’s probably true, that they had this experience
or realization, but that was yesterday. And they’re
still dragging it around today.
How
might traceless realization relate
to daily practice?
Yet in attachment blossoms fall,
and in aversion weeds spread.
When
we cease grasping for enlightenment, we are free
to be completely immersed in our life now—traceless
enlightenment.
As
Dogen Zenji says, “To study Buddhism
is to study yourself. To study yourself is
to forget yourself on each moment.” Then
everything will come and help you. Everything
will ensure your enlightenment. Suzuki
Roshi
