Shobogenzo Maka-hannya-haramitsu 4: Space Hanging in Space.

 

Master Dogen has been exploring the image of prajna, direct intuitive knowledge of our reality, as space: This refers to the practice of zazen as we can experience it ourselves when we sit down and allow all thoughts of 'inside' as opposed 'outside', 'self' as opposed 'other' to drop away. Our thinking clarifies and clears and we are in an open, unhindered state not chopped up and dominated by our usual thinking activities.

The chapter continues with this short verse about it from Master Dogen's own teacher, Master Tendo Nyojo, where he likens himself in practicing zazen to a wind chime:

 

My late Master, the eternal Buddha, says: 

 

Whole body like a mouth, hanging in space;

Not asking if the wind is east, west, south, or north,

For all others equally, it chatters prajna: 

Chin Ten Ton Ryan Chin Ten Ton.  

 

This is the chattering of prajna [transmitted] by Buddhist patriarchs from rightful successor to rightful successor. It is prajna as the whole body, it is prajna as the whole of others, it is prajna as the whole self, and it is prajna as the whole east, west, south, and north.

 

So this unhindered, space-like experience is the essence of Buddhism. Master Dogen further emphasises the centrality of this state of practice with a further quote from the prajna-paramita Sutras:

 

Sakyamuni Buddha says, “Sariputra! These many sentient beings should abide in this prajna-paramita as buddhas. When they serve offerings to, bow in veneration of, and consider, the prajna-paramita, they should be as if serving offerings to and bowing in veneration of the buddha-bhagavats. Why? [Because] the prajna-paramita is no different from the buddha bhagavats, and the buddha-bhagavats are no different from the prajna-paramita. The prajna paramita is just the buddha-bhagavats themselves, and the buddha-bhagavats are just the prajna-paramita itself. Wherefore? Because, Sariputra, the apt, right, and balanced state of truth, which all the tathagatas have, is always realized by virtue of the prajna-paramita. Because, Sariputra, all bodhisattva-mahasattvas, the independently awakened, arhats, those beyond returning, those who will return once, those received into the stream, and so on, always attain realization by virtue of the prajna-paramita. And because, Sariputra, all of the ten virtuous paths of action in the world, the four states of meditation, the four immaterial balanced states, and the five mystical powers are always realized by virtue of the prajna-paramita.”

 

When we practice this 'space' we are in the exact same state as buddhas: It's not that prajna is the sort of esoteric knowledge that is something from 'outside' that we 'get', rather it's meeting directly that which we already are, but it's often obscured by our habitual thinking activity.

When we drop the 'me versus other stuff' thinking we are one with real dharmas, or everything we experience here and now, in their immediate and clear state freed from our thinking about them and naming/ labeling them or thinking them 'good', 'bad' or 'indifferent' etc. Everything in itself then becomes a facet of the same unhindered reality, that is us...

 

So buddha-bhagavats are the prajna-paramita, and the prajna-paramita is these real dharmas. These real dharmas are bare manifestations: they are neither appearing nor disappearing, neither dirty nor pure, neither increasing nor decreasing. The realization of this prajna-paramita is the realization of buddha-bhagavats. We should inquire into it, and we should experience it. To serve offerings to it and to bow in veneration is just to serve and to attend buddha-bhagavats, and it is buddha-bhagavats in service and attendance. 

 

Shobogenzo Maka-hannya-haramitsu

Preached to the assembly at Kannon-dori-in

temple on a day of the summer retreat in the 1st year of Tenpuku.

 

And that's the end to Master Dogen's chapter on the famous Heart Sutra and the prajna-paramita literature. 

 

We dedicate the merit of this study and practice to all beings. May all be happy. May all be free. May all realise unhindered freedom together.