Essential Zen

Lately, this old quip about Bodhidharma is intriguing:

I only allow the Old Barbarian knows; I don't allow that he understands.

I sure as hell don't understand either.

~

Dogen, founder of the Soto sect of Japanese Zen Buddhism, said that a person’s ability to accomplish his purpose depends on his motivation and will. If one has will and power, ability is not so important. Those with well-directed determination and strong will, will be able to achieve their purpose, whatever it may be. This can also be said of understanding.

Gonzo wrote:Lately, this old quip about Bodhidharma is intriguing:

I only allow the Old Barbarian knows; I don't allow that he understands.

I sure as hell don't understand either.

Perhaps there are many levels of understanding. You can learn how things work, and that could be called understanding. I submit the key thing defying understanding, even by Dogen, is the answer to the age old question: "What is the meaning/purpose of life?".

I think one of the koans in The Blue Cliff Record has a snappy answer for that one. It is: "It has no meaning."

The kind of knowing expressed by the statement would appear to be that silent knowing akin to interaction with the nagual, well expressed in "Neither Wolf nor Dog".