What is Dogen Sangha?
Dogen Sangha is an organisation of people who are devoted to the teaching of Zen Master Dogen, centred on daily practice of Zazen. The head of the organization, very definitely, since its inception, has been Gudo Nishijima. Let us not kid ourselves that Dogen Sangha has been a democracy. From its very start it has been a benevolent dictatorship.
For many years I have been in conflict with our benevolent dictator, Gudo Nishijima. Somehow Nishijima Roshi and I managed to struggle together to accomplish an English translation of Shobogenzo--although the process has never reached, from my viewpoint, a satisfactory conclusion. Jijuyo-zanmai remains translated as "samadhi of using and receiving the self," instead of "samadhi of using and accepting the self." There are many other examples.
Since coming across the FM Alexander Technique, I began to understand the primary importance in Zazen of thinking, of intention. My efforts to convince Nishijima Roshi of the truth of this approach were totally counter-productive. In retrospect, my own reaction to the stimulus of beginning to discover Alexander's discoveries for myself, was totally immature and inappropriate. I have made a complete mess of the whole thing.
Never mind what Dogen Sangha is. What does it mean "to use the self"? What does it mean "to accept the self."
For many years I have been in conflict with our benevolent dictator, Gudo Nishijima. Somehow Nishijima Roshi and I managed to struggle together to accomplish an English translation of Shobogenzo--although the process has never reached, from my viewpoint, a satisfactory conclusion. Jijuyo-zanmai remains translated as "samadhi of using and receiving the self," instead of "samadhi of using and accepting the self." There are many other examples.
Since coming across the FM Alexander Technique, I began to understand the primary importance in Zazen of thinking, of intention. My efforts to convince Nishijima Roshi of the truth of this approach were totally counter-productive. In retrospect, my own reaction to the stimulus of beginning to discover Alexander's discoveries for myself, was totally immature and inappropriate. I have made a complete mess of the whole thing.
Never mind what Dogen Sangha is. What does it mean "to use the self"? What does it mean "to accept the self."
posted by Mike Cross at 9:17 AM
10 Comments:
Such a shame that one with so much to offer the sangha would spend so much effort on these issues.
I cannot find the Mr. Angry post on Brad's blog anymore. Apparently it has been removed. Good for him. Maybe he's dropped the issue. I cannot know for sure. Regardless, it is apparent that you have not.
This is like the common Bhuddist story of the two monks who came upon the woman that could not cross the stream. One picked her up and carried her across and set her down and they went on their way. The other monk fumed over this for any number of different reasons depending on which version of the story you hear. He finally confronted the first monk who told him that he had set the woman down way back on the path and that it was
he who was still carrying the woman in his mind.
Other posts indicate some desperation for Nishijima's approval for certain techniques? I checked out an Alexander website and though I know I am simplifying it seems that what he taught was awareness. Enter Guatama Buddha.
I'm glad this technique works for you but I hesitate to latch onto anything. And I am afraid it seems that is what you may doing and asking others to do.
Anyway, I hope this criticism was constructive. And I extend my respect and gratitude for the work you have done for the sangha.
Thank you for your comment Chris.
Yes, you are right: I am the bad monk, the stupid one, the unenlightened one, the loser.
Alexander work has helped me to accept myself as such, not always to pretend to be the other one.
Habitually I still do fall back into my old pretending ways, but Alexander work helps me see it. That's why I call myself a big Zen fraudster.
You hesitate to latch onto something, do you? Who do you think you are kidding my friend?
mike cross wrote: Yes, you are right: I am the bad monk, the stupid one, the unenlightened one, the loser.
You are a perfect human being in the present moment, lacking nothing. All those labels you apply to yourself and others are just labels, they refuse to stick to the real ungraspable people you're applying them to.
Thank you, Jules.
You remind me of a student of mine a few years ago, who liked to insist that all beings have the Buddha-nature. It is true in principle, but the fact is that almost all human beings that I come across are deluding themselves in all sorts of ways that we are not aware of. I constantly find that the same is true of me. I think I am all right but--whoops, there I go again--another mistake, further evidence of my fallibility, another reminder that I do not know.
Might I be so arrogant as to invite you to have a look at my Fukan-zazengi blog? Master Dogen says it so much better than I can.
("If there is the slightest gap... We almost completely lack the vigorous road of getting the body out.")
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Curious--Thank You!!!
How refreshing to receive a comment like this.
You will find a wonderful article on the Alexander Technique by Marjory Barlow, if you follow the link on this blog to my webpage (the-middle-way.com). You will also find there links to other Alexander sites.
If you like, I can create a blog called something like "Zen & Alexander" to answer questions along the lines you suggest. Let me know if you would like me to.
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mike cross wrote: You remind me of a student of mine a few years ago, who liked to insist that all beings have the Buddha-nature. It is true in principle, but the fact is that almost all human beings that I come across are deluding themselves in all sorts of ways that we are not aware of. I constantly find that the same is true of me. I think I am all right but--whoops, there I go again--another mistake, further evidence of my fallibility, another reminder that I do not know.
I suspect this is true of everyone, "realized" or not. Maybe the only difference between us and buddhas is that the buddhas have learned to recognize their delusion before they act on it. I don't know.
Might I be so arrogant as to invite you to have a look at my Fukan-zazengi blog?
Not arrogant at all, there's some nice stuff there.
Thank you, Jules.
You write of "learning to recognize our delusion before we act on it." I do not know either, but these words certainly resonate with me.
MIke cross wrote: "Yes, you are right: I am the bad monk, the stupid one, the unenlightened one, the loser."
No way- I'm with Jules. I'm glad Alexander helps you recognize your faults as Buddhism has helped me recognize mine and continues to do so.
Mike Cross wrote: "You hesitate to latch onto something, do you? Who do you think you are kidding my friend?"
NOt trying to kid a soul. I did say I "hesitate". I never said that I do not latch on. It is actually one of my bigger problems. I see a technique or theory and I jump on the bandwagon. I have done this in all aspects of my life from parenting to bicycling to zazen. I have learned through zazen, however, the awareness of this fact. And I am also aware when I see something called the Alexander Technique explained by one that claims that it changed everything for him that I want to jump on, too. But I hesitate and this hesitation has made a huge difference in my life so far.
Maybe the Alexander Technique will be a boon to my practice one day. i'm not trashing it at all. I know too little about it to do so.
JUst disappointed to see battle lines being drawn in this post is all.
Take good care.
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