“When actualized by myriad things, your body and mind as well as the bodies and minds of others drop away. No trace of enlightenment remains, and this no-trace continues endlessly”.
This dropping away is integral to the practice of zazen and the Soto Zen tradition, it is immediate realization of our true form and the true form of others.
When the self is actualized by myriad things it appears as like the shimmering colours of a mother of pearl shell – illusive, location indefinable, yet vividly alive and present. When actualized like this a sensitive, stable and moral wisdom is also active in a human form. It is clear too, at this time of dropping away, that the self of others is also unrestricted at all times, no matter their behaviour in that moment. This way an appropriate response is always possible.
As the light changes, so does the appearance of the colours of the shell, the coming together and dispersing of causes and conditions. Harmonious, beautiful, ugly, dissonant, all is in constant movement and cannot be pinned down. With self obsession, body and mind become restricted and actions follow accordingly. As the pearlescent self is not being enabled, others are seen as fixed and trapped and treated accordingly. In losing our true form, we create a world of suffering out of radiance. In all instances though, actualizing radiant nature or not, we are still swirling pearlescence. Although it is unfortunate not to realize our birthright, there are many teachings here too, this world cannot be divided into the enlightened and the unenlightened.
Whether the iridescent colours permeate the whole shell or only lie the surface – if there is no form, there can be no swirling mother of pearl. The self of a human being too is inextricable from the entire momentary, integrated functioning of a life – body, mind and the world, together. In the dropping off of entanglement with body and mind, we lose sight of ourselves and are transparent, and so the sight of others and things can enter unhindered in return.
Mother of pearl does not need to check that it is mother of pearl or how it is shimmering, it just shares itself without doubt and this participation is its own reward. Similarly so is the practice of zazen and how its effectiveness manifests through human qualities. Without practice, this cannot be realized.
“To study the way of enlightenment is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by myriad things.”
The above is of great significance throughout a spiritually rich life. It’s importance and relevance cannot be overstated in my view. The way is the self, we are the dharma of all existence. Once glimpsed, to not make effort is an opportunity missed. If we have missed a million times, we can point ourselves back a million and one. No effort, however small, is wasted.
Both quotations are from Zen Master Dogen’s ‘Genjokoan’ (Actualizing the Fundamental Point). The translation used is from the Shambala edition of Shobo Genzo (Treasury of the True Dharma Eye), edited by Kazuaki Tanahashi. My thanks to all involved and my apologies for any permissions not sought that should have been.