Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

Caoshan, Great Master Yuanzheng, was asked by a monk, “From the scriptures we learn that an ocean does not retain corpses. What is the ocean?”
Caoshan said, “That which contains myriad things.”
The monk said, “The ocean does not keep corpses. Why?”
Caoshan said, “Those who have stopped breathing do not remain as they are.”
The monk said, “The ocean contains myriad things, but those who have stopped breathing do not remain as they are. Why?”
Caoshan said, “Myriad things stop breathing when they don’t function anymore.” (Shinji Shobogenzo)

The Monday Dogen group has been studying the Ocean Mudra Samadhi fascicle of the Shobogenzo recently. One of the Genzo-e sesshins I sat with Shohaku Okumura was on this fascicle, and I remember not really understanding it at all at the time – many years ago now. Going over it again, I am not much clearer.

This exchange is towards the end; we can understand the ocean as myriad things, but the corpse can also represent the still mind of awakening – is this outside of the myriad things or not. We will keep digging away at this one.