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

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contemplating
shadows of the morning
an empty room

(c) G.s.k. 14