Muddy water world

July 22nd, 2009

Between a supremely perfected Buddha and us, who are ordinary, there is no difference as to substance. This “substance” can be likened to water. One of the salient characteristics of water is its conformability: when put into a round vessel it becomes round, when put into a square vessel it becomes square. We have this same adaptability, but as we live bound and fettered through ignorance of our true nature, we have forfeited this freedom. To pursue the metaphor, we can say that the mind of a Buddha is like water that is calm, deep, and crystal clear, and upon which the moon of truth reflects fully and perfectly. The mind of the ordinary man, on the other hand, is like murky water, constantly being churned by the gales of delusive thought and no longer able to reflect the moon of truth. The moon nonetheless shines steadily upon the waves, but as the waters are roiled we are unable to see its reflection. Thus we lead lives that are frustrating and meaningless.

– Yasutani Roshi
The Lectures
from The Three Pillars of Zen

To be continued

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2 Comments »

  1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I loved your book and would love for you to follow my blog 🙂

    Comment by Trina S. — July 22, 2009 @ 4:17 pm

  2. My little boy grabs the bowl and flings the water around the room joyfully!

    –Chris

    Comment by Chris Austin-Lane — July 22, 2009 @ 5:06 pm

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