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Zen master Fazhen of Mount Dasui [Shenzhao] was once asked by a monastic, “It is said that the great kalpa fire will flash and annihilate the billion worlds. Can you tell me if this very place will also be destroyed?” Dasui said, “It will.” The monastic said, “If so, will I be part of it?” Dasui said, “Yes, you will.”  dogen’s commentary: With his single question, it becomes clear that this monastic is drowning in the midst of the double barrier. Dasui, with great grandmotherly compassion, pushes his head underwater and holds it there. The monastic doesn’t know how to roll over and emerge like a gourd, and so Dasui must act again. This time the arrow goes straight to the heart of the matter. But say, what is the monastic’s double barrier? What does it mean to roll over and emerge like a gourd? And indeed, what is the heart of the matter? Haven’t you heard it said that “there is nowhere to hide the true self; when the world collapses, ‘it’ is indestructible”? This being the case, why does a renowned teacher of our school say it will be destroyed?

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hello! sorry for the lack of posting over the past...year? maybe? i dunno. in the buddhist tradition of “leaving home” i had been wandering around the South West painting murals for people. native land, chicano land, cowboy country, setting foot in the dirt and learning from the soil. this is me in the navajo nation with a jewelry trader named thomasina. anyway, i’ve returned home and more koans are coming. including vol. 2.

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Nanquan said to the assembly, “I don’t know about the existence of all buddhas in the three worlds, but I do know the existence of badgers and white oxen.” dogen’s commentary: Nanquan is an unparalleled teacher of our school. He acts unasked, and in a single phrase knows how to kill and give life. In one action, he is able to roll it out and roll it in. If you wish to understand the body of reality, don’t look to ideas and descriptions. Don’t look to buddhas of the past, present, or future for the truth. You must see for yourself. What’s here now? Don’t you see? Each particle of food in the bowl is tasty; each drop of water in the spring is wet.

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An outsider asked the World-Honored One, “I am not asking you about the spoken. I am not asking you about the unspoken.” The World-Honored One remained sitting. The outsider said in admiration, “The greatly compassionate World-Honored One has cleared the cloud of doubt and let me enter the Way.” He bowed and left. Ānanda said to the Buddha, “What point did he realize that he admired you?” The World-Honored One said, “He was like a fine horse that starts running upon seeing the shadow of the whip.” dogen’s commentary: The non-Buddhist comes asking for the ineffable truth of Buddhism, and without making any effort whatsoever, the Buddha is able to awaken him to it. The question is, how? If you think that the truth realized by the non-Buddhist is Buddha’s remaining silent or seated, or that his response is silently answering the question, you have missed it. The non-Buddhist realized a truth that is beyond affirmation and negation, a truth that can neither be given nor received. It has no relationship to either speech or silence. Speech is about the words and ideas that describe a reality—not the reality itself. Silence is simply blank consciousness. This being the case, what is this truth that was realized? Even Ānanda, the Buddha’s attendant, is left with his mouth gaping in awe at the encounter. Furthermore, since nothing is given or received, why is it that the non-Buddhist says the “World-Honored One has cleared the cloud of doubt and let me enter the Way”? Ānanda then asks, “What point did he realize?” Buddha says that he was like a fine horse that moved at the shadow of the whip. Well, what point did the non-Buddhist realize? What is the shadow of the whip? Where is it? Don’t tell me about it. Show me!

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my comic adaptation of Bob Dylan’s “Isis” is up on issuu for your viewing pleasure. tangible versions coming soon. and also, new koans. i swear. peace

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bob dylan’s “Isis” page 14/verse 12 (splash!)

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bob dylan’s “Isis” page 13/verse 12

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Bob Dylan’s “Isis” page 12/verse 11

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Bob Dylan’s “Isis” page 11/verse 10

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new ISIS page page 10/verse 9

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new page from “Isis” page 9/verse 8

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“Bob Dyaln’s Isis” page 7. (verse 6)

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new ISIS page verse 5/page 6

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new ISIS page. page 5/verse 4

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working a mini-comic adaptation of Bob Dyaln’s 1976 fantasy ballad “Isis” here’s the cover and the first 3 pages! enjoy.

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hey friends! the first 20 Koans from this blog have been compiled into a pretty sweet little coffee table book. which you can acquire for yourself if you like here also, a lot of new stuff is coming soon. stay true.