Who are we that cannot answer? Are we unknowing? Are we shy? Are we without capability? Do we have no words? In our koan Kundalakesa may be all four and more.
The unfolding story has many parts of interest. the age of the woman, her early life, passion, greed, isolation, singular prous, and then, full awareness, acceptance and awakening. One can awake at anytime/age.
The catalyst in the case, a senior arhat of Shakyamuni Buddha--Sariputra. Using her singular knowledge she exhausted questions of him and could not answer his one to her. We could say she was now vulnerable. She awoke and asked to be taught and was then taken to Buddha who saw her awareness, opening. Perhaps the answer to what is "The One" asked by Shariputra was the wisdom of intimacy. What is your answer to that?
The Hidden Lamp: koan #6- Bhadda-Kundalakesa Cannot Answer (page 33) https://books.google.com/books?id=_53MDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA17&lpg=PA17&dq=The+old+woman+of+mount+wutai&source=bl&ots=7VRK5qF_zp&sig=ACfU3U2JGdMd79#v=onepage&q=The%20old%20woman%20of%20mount%20wutai&f=false
108 bows,
Sangaku
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July Schedule Will Be Through Zoom:
*Morning zazen from 6:30-7:15 Eastern, seven-days a week. Email sensei@falmouthsotozensangha.net for the Zoom url and password for all ZOOM meetings, if you have not done so.
Tuesday 7/6/2020, 7:00-8:15 Eastern, weekly Zen Services: Interdependence Day
Tuesday 7/13/2020, 7:00-8:15 Eastern, weekly Zen Services: Faith
Tuesday 7/20/2020, 7:00-8:15 Eastern, weekly Zen Services: Dharma Discussion by Junko Mary Lou Holland: A Zen Life
Tuesday 7/27/2020, 7:00-8:15 Eastern, weekly Zen Services: A Woman of Zen: https://www.lionsroar.com/a-woman-of-zen/