‘In wholeness take one step.’ (Cultivating the Empty Field)
Just like yesterday’s post, this reminds me of a koan – in this case, one of the translations of Yunmen’s response in the Blue Cliff Record (case 14): ‘Preaching facing oneness.’ For a long time I stuck with the other answer to the question (the question itself is a relatively stock koan one, ‘What is the teaching of the Buddha’s lifetime?’), which is ‘an appropriate response.’ Then I grew to appreciate that each has its very particular merits. How do we respond when faced with the absolute? As yesterday’s post reminds us. Don’t stop there; you are still a person. Take one step; say something; respond appropriately. Good places to start.
Shundo David Haye 