In the year 1707 Great Master Hakuin was sitting a retreat at Shoin Ji located at the base of Mount Fuji. Nature’s strong elements came together as they will over time resulting in the great Mount Fuji erupting with volcanic ash spewing down on the village where Shoin Ji was located. By this time, all the resident monks had already fled for safety with the exception of Hakuin who remained alone at the temple, sitting meditation, his center unmoving.
Earthquakes shook the area. Family members concerned for Hakuin’s safety went to rescue him from impending disaster. When they arrived they found him sitting in the meditation hall in deep samadhi. He refused his rescuers saying “If I attain enlightenment, I will be protected. If not, no great loss.”
Such was the resolve of this iconic teacher.
Hakuin always taught that “Meditation in the midst of action was far superior to meditation in stillness.”
Sitting, standing, moving, lying down, four aspects that the human body engages in every day, are all opportunities for practice. Every situation, every condition is an opportunity to awaken. Time will not wait for you. Hakuin lived by these principles.
On another occasion, Hakuin was hiking in a very pristine mountainous area above the Inland Sea. His travel companions were awed by the majestic scenery and kept encouraging him to “take in the views.” Hakuin kept his eyes focused on his steps and did not so much as raise his eyes saying to his friends “I am still a man in the weeds, I have no time for sightseeing.” I found a bit of humor in both these stories. Hakuin obviously was undaunted by circumstances keeping his life direction clear and singular.
These stories also illustrate that being enamored with a self styled idea of zen, in other words being content to proceed merely as a dilletante is insufficient. Doing so, you are just humoring yourself. First, and foremost is establishing a genuine resolve to awaken. What is my original vow? Do I even have one? What is my true nature as a human being? Why am I clouded over by the most menial distractions, burdened by my thoughts and desires both physical and social? Why do I constantly nurture an ever evolving self centered agenda?
Please be clear about this. Confronting the great matter of life and death was central to the Buddha. He submitted his entire life to determining the essence of our short and conditioned existence on this planet. The validity and essence of your life direction presents itself moment by moment. The opportunity for settling the “great matter” appears when the worldly stream of following events and phenomena cease to exert control. Only then is ultimate and supreme clarification possible.
Ji Haeng Zen Master – The Desert Dragon