Arco (TN)

Arco (TN)

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Writing with Sodo - There is nothing - September 21, 2014



For today's Carpe Diem Haiku Kai Sparkling Stars .. we look at Sodo and reflect on "nothing" !   ;-)

 yado no haru nanimo koso nanimo are

in my hut this spring,
there is nothing, -
there is everything!

© Sodo (1642-1716)

 A Summer Day

The Eastern window is not hot at dusk;
Through the Northern door comes a cool breeze.
Sitting here, reclining there,
I have not left the room all day;
But if the mind is in its essence attached to nothing,
At home or abroad is just the same.
© Hakurakuten (penname of Pinyin Bo Jugi (772-846), a Chinese poet)

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I think that one of the concepts that is probably the most difficult for many people to "get into" is the concept of nothingness or void that is spoken so much about in Zen.

When I think about "nothing" I like to think about Hakuin's Koan:
What is the sound of one hand clapping?
People have written volumes on that koan and each is probably right and each is probably wrong. 

My personal view is that we live in a world of illusions ... and the illusions are built upon all those life lessons we've learnt as children and then adults that tell us ... this is the world of reality.  But one man's reality is another man's illusion.  Our minds spin and spin realities and concepts ... based on nothing but an illusory conception as to what reality ... the whole vast infinite ... is.  Humility, if nothing else should advise us that a finite thing cannot understand the infinite ... and until we reach Nirvana, we are finite ... we're born and grow and die.  So to me ... the world can be seen through our illusions ... but reality is beyond us.  The sound of one hand clapping is - nothing.


just form and shapes
shadows in an empty room
- illusions

§§§§§§§§

contemplating
shadows of the morning
an empty room

(c) G.s.k. 14

7 comments:

  1. Very profound and thought provoking.Some realities are shared others are indivdually experienced and more complex. Reason why humans are extraordinarily complicated and hardly ever understand each other. Enjoyed your thoughts.

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  2. Thanks for sharing your thoughts too. The concept and indeed as you say human beings are indeed very complex and I think you're correct in stating that one of the problems in communication has to do with this aspect, especially if the ego gets in and says ... I know that this is what it's all about ... at the same time it is very simple, according to Zen thought. Their idea is that one should stop the inner spin and be in the here and now, without reflections and of course without getting bogged down with our ideas of how things "should" be. Have a great week by the way!

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  3. I enjoyed your thoughts here as much as the photo and haiku. An excellent response ....

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  4. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  5. Ah. I read some Plato in your haiku. like the shadow play on the walls of the cave.

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  6. Cool .. you're a deep reader Bjorn!

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harmonious words ... like crystal clear water ... pure ectasy

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