03-27-2011, 12:00 AM
Good topic. The story illustrates a non-discriminating approach to curcumstances, refraining from getting caught up in thoughts and conclusions about our experience. In all forms of Buddhism, including Zen, attachment and aversion are seen as the cause of suffering. Both cause us to desire things and circumstances to be other than what they are.
But in the story, Hakuin does not make any judgement of how things "should" be. He simply accepts the circumstances, asking "is that so" and then doing what is put in front of him. He doesn't go crazy trying to avoid or control the situation, because he knows that all circumstances are subject to change.
But in the story, Hakuin does not make any judgement of how things "should" be. He simply accepts the circumstances, asking "is that so" and then doing what is put in front of him. He doesn't go crazy trying to avoid or control the situation, because he knows that all circumstances are subject to change.