Thursday, July 28, 2011

Study Hall - Shobogenzo

"There is a simple way to become a buddha: When you refrain from unwholesome actions, are not attached to birth and death, and are compassionate toward all sentient beings, respectful to seniors and kind to juniors, not excluding or desiring anything, with no thoughts or worries, you will be called a buddha. Seek nothing else" - 'Birth and Death', 'Shoji'.

10 comments:

Mike said...

Well, that seems pretty simple. Not. Good qualities to aspire to.

Hope you enjoyed the Tour.

caren said...

That's it? Thanks for the info, Shundo. Simple enough. ( ;

Shundo said...

Hi Mike - I certainly did. Not the biggest fan of Cadel in the past, but I think he deserved this one, and I enjoyed some old school attacking, Philippe Gilbert and of course Cav. What's not to like? Hope you are doing well.
Caren - aren't the simplest things always the best?

Chris van Loben Sels said...

Love the simplicity . . .

Shosan Victoria Austin once told a story about simplicity and her practice of eating breakfast with Suzuki Roshi's widow. Victoria would carefully watch Mrs. Suzuki make miso soup. But her own soup wouldn't come out the same. So she asked Mrs. Suzuki, "When you make it, it looks so simple. Why doesn't mine taste the same?"

"Oh Vicki-san," Mrs. Suzuki laughed, "simple does not mean easy!"

Chris van Loben Sels said...

(I should add that I heard that story from Victoria at a retreat at Tassajara quite a few years ago . . . very possible it has become corrupted during storage. Any errors are mine. Thanks again for the great post.)

Shundo said...

Of course it does help to put the miso in.

Melanie G, Austin Zen Center practitioner said...

And not just any old miso...

Chris van Loben Sels said...

;-)

Ruth said...

Well that's made it all so much easier.

Shundo said...

Doesn't it so?