Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘To hear the sound of one hand clapping — usually this is the sound (demonstrating by clapping his hand) but this is not sound (demonstrating by clapping just one hand) for us usually, but this (one hand) is sound. Even though you do not hear there is sound. So if you clap with two hands you can hear the sound. If there is no sound you cannot make sound. Because there is sound you can hear it. Before you make it there is sound. If there is no sound you cannot make sound. Sound is everywhere. If you just practice it there is sound. Don’t try to listen to it. If you do not listen to it the sound is all over. Because you try to hear the sound, sometimes there is sound and sometimes there is no sound. Do you understand? Even though you do not do anything you are a quality. You have the quality always, but if you try to find, if you try to see the quality you have no quality.’ (from the Suzuki Roshi archive)

We looked at this talk in the Monday group (you can look for details about that on the Calendar page); this chapter of Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind is one I have used in teaching quite often. Here, in a sideways look at effort and non-effort, we ended up noting the difference between “hearing” and “listening.” When causes and conditions are already existing and unfolding, as Suzuki Roshi points to here, how do we participate in it? You could infer a “Schroedinger’s cat” situation at play.