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  Suiwo, the disciple of Hakuin, was a good teacher. On a certain day a certain pupil came to him, and Suiwo gave him the problem, "Hear the sound of one hand." The pupil remained three years, but could not pass the test. One night he came... continue...

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NOT TWO & NOT ONE
Questioner:
-Last time, your answer about the observer & the observed, **they are not-two but also not one, could you explain further please?"

CT:
The reason I said so because I have seen many people who have studied Zen or other Oriental philosophies dealing with the 'One' or 'Unity' and the 'Many' or 'Difference', mechanically jump into a conclusion like this: "If they are not-two, then they should be one!" And if everything is 'one' is accepted, then human business or affairs will be much easier! they thought.

However, I do not think so.
Things in this universe are not so or not exactly correct to what people think about them. How could you or your body entirely is "one" with a tree in any meanings which some religions or philosophies have maintained? In some experience, one might feel he himself is a continuum with things around him but this is still just some kind of feeling and thought. In fact, if you let your body hit at some rock or tree, then you immediately see, in fact, what I mean 'not one'. And we human beings are living together on this earth and not in the Heaven or Nirvana! Then the most important thing to us is to be freed from the "me" or the known or network of thoughts and desires in each and every of us. And this is not easy at all.

ChonTri


 



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