Posted inKoans, MC Podcasts

Teisho: Case 36 Book of Equanimity, Master Ba is ill (Part 1 of 2)

October 13, 2016

Great Master Ba was seriously ill.
The temple steward asked him, “Master, how are you feeling these days?”
Great Master said, “Sun-faced Buddha, Moon-faced Buddha.”

Sun Moon

Description: Henry shares a few further thoughts on obedience and trust, recognizing that obedience is harder without trust. Trusting a master, teacher, or guide is a challenging task for many.  Henry says, “When we study the Zen masters, we are studying the free activity of that nameless thing which is master of life and death, therefore master of love.” The talk then turns to Master Baso’s famous and probably final koan, Master Ba is ill. Henry encourages us to sit with Baso’s last words, Sun-faced Buddha, moon-faced Buddha, which invite us to consider our own death and our own life. If we can get  inside this koan and look out, we can see more of who we really are; and perhaps our study can come to an end..

Post & Featured Image Credit: Solar EclipseCCO Public Domain.

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