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Writer's pictureUnshin Sangaku

Liberation is not about from-to, or neither-nor




Liberation is a concept and destiny in Zen teaching. Moving “from what” you might ask, or “to what” could be sought. While both queries provide insight this is not the liberation of which Master Dogen speaks. 


The first sentence of the fourth section of Genjokoan reads:

“Therefore flowers fall even though we love them; weeds grow even though we dislike them.”


We are never neutral in the way we look at things. Both flowers and weeds are plants that go through their natural cycle of growth, blooming and withering. Yet, “since we enjoy flowers, we love it when they bloom, and since we don’t like weeds, we are unhappy when they appear,” especially if we are expected to do the weeding, as monks often are! “The world we live in is the world we create based on how our mind encounters the myriad dharmas. We cannot prevent our mind from creating our world as it does, but it is possible to realize that the world of our creation does not reflect true reality. Practicing with this realization and letting go of rigid belief in the narratives and preferences of our minds is, again, opening the hand of thought.


I had tended to think of liberation and revolution as conjoined. My undergraduate studies were in American History with deep interest in the American Civil War and Reconstruction Period, so struggle, pain and suffering come to mind. Looking into America from 1861-1887 seeing deeply the experiences and accumulating comparisons of scenarios one can become carried away with this being America’s Dark Age…closing the hand of thought.


Liberation can be equated to acceptance. However,it should not be a tacit node to what you consider the obvious. Dogen says on both considerations the obvious are more than we think. Consideration is analytical, as in not all-in-all. Obvious is a perspective or opinion. Then, our thinking which we feel is correct/right, boxes us in it; is closing the hand of thought (Okumura-roshi) making us unprepared for the next moment.

So, for me liberation is neither coming nor going. It is Tattagatha's truth. Whatever IT may be it is thus/inmo or the Dharma perceived by this sentient being, no more no less. In this state we experience the samadhi of freedom from self imposed shackles or grasping.  


Please join us Tuesday September 17, 2024 as we explore liberation as practice through the teachings of Genjokoan.

In person at The First Congregational Church or via Zoom being at 7:00 PM/EDT, https://zoom.us/j/7096899032?status=success#success  the password is FSZS


Palms together,                                                                                          Sensei


Unshin Sangaku Dan Joslyn-sensei                                                                                                 Founder and Guiding Teacher                                                                                                        Falmouth Soto Zen Sangha                                                                                                      falmouthsotozensangha.net                                                                  sensei@falmouthsotozensangha.net     404-702-7646

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