There is a whole industry these days dedicated to telling us all how to be present. It seems that we’re not actually here, or somehow we slipped out the back door while we weren’t looking and someone else is now drinking our drinks, eating our food, reading those articles we find so annoying and complaining about Republicans or the Belgians or whatever (well the Belgians do need attention drawn to them. They’re just outrageous). We are bombarded endlessly with the message of how important and vital it is to ‘be present’. It seems, that if we’re not, something ‘bad’ happens and we will not like it. Of course we’re not here, so really it may not even matter, as we won’t be there either when these bad things happen, plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose and all that stuff.
And yes I am being flippant here and poking fun at the new naked emperor of ‘Living in The Now’, the Tyrant of being right here and with good reason. At root the concept is all well and good and it’s true, if we’re not ‘present’ when we eat or drink or talk or take the hedgehog for a walk or whatever, we do miss an awful lot of stuff and that stuff is our life. This is kind of an important point. If we don’t experience it, then sure as sherbert (that was so tempting) nobody else is going to do it for us. Nobody else is going to do anything for us anyway in terms of living our own lives fully and completely.
The simple truth is that there is nothing ‘out there’, nothing that we can imagine that will give us the experience of actually being present and living this moment completely, with nothing held back. It’s not a matter of technique. It’s not about repeating the right jargon, or aligning one’s vibration, whatever that means. Nor is it about adopting a new set of beliefs, or saying some platitudinous affirmation every morning – "Every day in every way, I’m getting more and more present! Now where did I leave the toothpaste lid." It doesn’t work this way and that one, salient fact, very very few of the books, the teachers and the assorted voices of self appointed authority on all things spiritual (and indeed the non spiritual – they seem to be interchangeable these days) will tell you.
But why won’t they tell us, you ask? Good question. The answer is even simpler. They themselves don’t know because being present is largely a concept to them, something to write books about or to talk about, not something they’ve necessarily experienced for themselves, or even if they have, not something that they truly understand and can reproduce. And the reason for that is because as soon as you make being present an end in itself, as soon as it becomes a goal, or you make it your intention to be more present as opposed to whatever it is you’re fiddling about with at the moment – as soon as you seperate yourself and this idea of something called ‘being present’ - you guarantee that there is now a rigid dividing line between you and this state and never the twain shall meet.
Sound disheartening? Good it should do. but it’s not quite all bad news. As you’ll discover in part two of "Where The Hell Are You?
We have a lot of good stuff here – from those who stood up for me to those who have a low opinion it seems of any knowledge or attainment I might have. And this is partly my point. The expected response might for example be to come in and say that we shouldn't be having any sort of confrontation, that we should all get along. The expected response is of course utter bollocks. The fact is that life does have confrontation and disagreement. It also has people who, although they have seen very deeply, still get it ' wrong' sometimes, still have heads full of stuff the same as the rest of us. The idea that enlightenement is some sort of one shot deal is an instant giveaway that the person talking doesn't know what it is and has certainly never had any sort of genuine awakening. And, as for confrontation – sometimes that clears the air and we are the better for saying our piece. It can be vital.
And to be honest, it makes a nice change too to have someone stand up for me. It's not that I need it and I'm a big boy who can be quite disagreeable enough in my own right of course but you know, it makes a nice change. I'm used to talking alone and with nobody usually agreeing with me (which might be a worrying sign right there lol). On the other hand it's also great to have people who disagree, who are prepared to tell me, even if not straight out that I'm full of it. I could think of nothing worse than being a teacher in the mode of Eckhart Tolle or Deepak Chopra come to that and being surrounded by people who will agree with everything that one says. And that is part of the problem when teachers come to believe their own hype and cease being awake in any meaningful sense.
And Rann, thank you too for saying what you have. Thank you also for making my point for me. You mentioned Adyashanti as a case in point. And I admit, the guy looks good, sounds good, has this background in formal Zen training – great stuff! Except that he doesn't. It was a fabrication. He has nothing to do with the lineage he has claimed links with. What he did do is go along to a few meditation classes and then decide that he was a full blown teacher – right down to now giving transmissions. Now in Zen there are huge issues with this. For one thing, you are not a teacher unless formally sanctioned by another (formally sanctioned) teacher and you certainly cannot transmit anyone unless you yourself have had Transmission. And both the recognition that someone is a teacher and the recording of any Transmission ceremonies are public knowledge – available for anyone to see on enquiry. The head monasteries of all the Zen sects hold these records and nowhere is there any record of Adyashanti being given the status of a Zen teacher, nor has he ever received the Transmission that he now claims to be passing on. When asked where he came by his teacher status, or who gave him the authorization to either teach or to Transmit anyone, you will find if you ask him such questions, he suddenly falls silent. Often this is because the phone is hung up, the door closed or the questioner is ejected from the web forum. In other words – Adyashanti has seriously misrepresented himself and that, to my mind, instantly invalidates him. You can talk the talk very impressively but unless you walk the walk, it's meaningless. And this guy along with several others is a good example of those who twist the teachings in order to suit their own agenda but are rarely outed because people make a lot of assumptions when someone looks and sounds so ostensibly 'good'.
On the other hand there are undbouted problems with the whole Zen tradition of Transmission. Corrupt teachers have given Transmission to students they were sleeping with, or people who were popular with their Sangha but really had little insight and in Japan the system is often worse – with students being given Transmission in order to inherit the family temple. Sons are sent to monasteries in order to inherit, not to awaken.
Like any thing in this world, Zen, Buddhism, teachers – they are all imperfect, as all ways are. They can guide us somewhat but should never take the place of our own critical thinking and ability to see what is real, what is true and what is not. Truth is not an abstract concept – much as some might like to make it into one. It's very simple. A mountain is a mountain. A river is a river. But we have to see also how a mountain is more than a mountain and a river more than a river or even not a river before we can appreciate what it is in actuality. Sound confusing? Good.
)
Deepak Chopra has his place as does everything else.. you are very opinionated. How else would people who have no idea at all of which you speak voluminously start to walk across that ' bridge ' ? There must be those who operate with symbols and concepts that appeal and ' attract' those who need some spiritual goal or reward to get them going… the bait is used by masters – some knowingly and some unknowingly – the thing is which of the two categories does someone like Deepak Chopra fall into haha…. isn't he like the bus that delivers the people to the Zen door ?
actually if it hadn't been for Deepak Chopra I wouldn't be here discussing nothing with nobody haha
Zenmonk,
You have struck a nerve that affects many on this site like a bout of sciatica. It is a throbbing pain that keeps people awake at night wondering about the validity of the "teachings" they espouse. Deepak Chopra does have his place–as a salesman. He has done some very good things in the sense he has introduced people to meditation and Eastern concepts. He has also filled their heads with a lot of foolish notions. I once commented that all great spiritual leaders are men of limited means, if not outright poor: Buddha, Jesus, Lao Tsu, Chang Tsu and of course others. They realized and often preached about the terrible attachment of wealth ("easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter into Heaven"). I understand Deepak lives in a mansion in California and drives a Jag (an earlier comment with the same content was pulled–so read it fast). A form of American enlightenment.
Well, we have reached over 100 comments. I have achieved bliss. I am on the verge of being directly translated to Heaven; perhaps if I gave up coffee, beer, and confrontations I would get there more quickly. I'm already practicing in the mirror–an insipid smile, mouth closed but still gushing platitudes like a ventriloquist's dummy.
Looking forward to Part II.
Best regards,
Bob
huge laughter @ Bob .. well if you didn't make comparisons and judgments you wouldn't have written the above and i wouldn't be writing this either – it is a trap that we all fall into whether we are are classed as a master or idiot.
it really doen'st matter if he drives a Jaguar or lives in a mansion – that is his problem not yours. You have a problem with it and he doesn't so who is experiencing negativity and harbouring rather poisonous thoughts.. take him as he is and if you cannot get anything from him then just keep moving on and don't put him in a mental concept box that you have constructed for him
Some stages of unfoldment are often ugly and ignorant like the growing embryo which looks very different to the enlightened man.. would you negate the embryo and deny it its place because it knew….. nothing
And WHO is acting as the great master espousing to know that Deepak Chopra has filled people's head's with foolish notions becuase they are not in accordance with your personal or group view of what is foolish and what is not foolish?
For me it like the scientific process of that embryo which is awesome and miraculous but which has for the child become the ' birds and the bees' .. give people things that they can digest and be inspired ( energy building ) by. It really is of no importance what tool or method one uses as long as it works . what works for the eastern mind may not work for the west in the same way.. it has to be adapted to suit the mentality of the place.
flexibility of mind method ( mental yoga ) is needed without loosing sight of the point of balance and intent behind any action. Please do not judge but to watch in alert mind
The NOW moment cannot judge and does not judge – judgements and concepts are like weeds which take root in time and space when the awareness has shifted from that pure awareness. Somehow we have to keep our awareness in the now whilst operating in time and space and concepts and things.. and have to have relative changing opinions… well for me it is ok to have opinions and make judgements as long as I don't believe them to be ' absolutely true !! LOL I enjoy lying then – does that make all gurus and teachers con men ?
As long as we have egos we will always make comparisons and judgements. It is impossible not to–we are human beings, not "ascended masters" drifting in the clouds. We have to make these judgements to assess our teachers, too. Great teachers fall prey to all the human foibles: They sleep with their acolytes, drive Bentleys and keep a close eye on book sales. Does it devalue their message? I would say yes. If they're preaching morality and not practicing it they are standing on a foundation of sand. That's why the world's great teachers. teachings–Buddha, Jesus, Lao Tsu–have survived thousands of years. They lived their teachings. Everyone knows it. And they generally did not tell people exactly what they wanted to hear: That it is easy. It's not. It's the hardest work a person can do.
By the way–is "Kay" a pen name for "Rann?"
Couldn't resist!
Bob
I understand what you say but often ' merits' and good karma produce fine ornaments haha.. maybe to make the disciples happy the masters should donate everything to charity and the needy and go back to the cave. Wouldn't attract much attention would it for those people who want and need to see ' stars' and beauty. One can be as a wandering monk in such cultures that see that as being noble and high- minded but it won't do much for the western world.. I reach zero people but Deepak reaches millions.. so who is making it work and getting the customers ….I am sure that most salesmen know that what they are selling is a lot lot of oriental crap- in this instance plastic spirituality – but American culture loves its plastic
and when they are bored with it they can buy into something else. Not many people can purchase the real thing and yes they have to give up literally everything to get it.. and how boring is life when there is nothing to do or work for anymore.
well here we are – a whole lot of opinions again.. yours and mine
l
Soon I must go back to silence and not saying anything but then how would you know I am there !!
So I make some loud noises and clap my hands and throw all sorts of nonsense onto the table !
Is Kay Rann… yes / no – as you want to believe
Kill Buddha.
zenmonk…greetings…i am beginning to wonder if perhaps recent good intentions to keep this blog alive were for nought… either that or zenmonk, it is time for you to tell one of your bad jokes… aloha from beachgirl
Hi Zenmonk,
Zenmonk, you write, "For one thing, you are not a teacher unless formally sanctioned by another (formally sanctioned) teacher and you certainly cannot transmit anyone unless you yourself have had Transmission. And both the recognition that someone is a teacher and the recording of any Transmission ceremonies are public knowledge – available for anyone to see on enquiry.'
Yes, there are those who believe as you do about the "legality or authenticity" of what and who a teacher is in terms of a certain disipline say zen buddhism and that is fine and dandy but there are those who are not bound do not bind themselves to those "rules and regs."
You obviously are educated in your subject matter and are very comfortable with your judgements as to who is and who is not an "authentic" teacher and for you and whoever wants to agree with you that is your univerise, it is just not everyone' else's. There is beauty and wisdom in the history practice of Zen Buddhism and there are absurdities.
Bob, Kay, is not Rann, and, for sure, you do not have to worry about experienceing Absoute Space because it seems as though the "story of Bob" fills your space and takes up all your attention. Maybe you want to tell us one more time how long you have "been practicing." (Sorry folks, I am not usually this rude but Bob's loud mouth says he can more than take it.)
Kurt, a polygraph test for Self-realization? That's so sad and who or what kind of an ego is need of that kind of verification?
I wish I had my copy of the "perfection of nothing" because there are some great and applicable passages I could type out that would fit this whole discussion so perfectly but alas I don't….but this is what I think this conversation boils down to. Most out "seeking" the golden ring do so to become "important" to become "the teacher" when in fact when one finally snatches that ring they are rendered no-thing and they are "no-one" they are left empty but instead of finding themselves in the "poor house" they are "happily skipping" along their pathless path, not worried in the least who will render them "a fraud," the "real verified deal," or Bob "with the greatest story ever told."
The absolute bottom line is that self realization is just that SELF realization meaning it ain't no-body's Business unless you want it to be some-body's Business. It is a free and open market unless you choose to "contract it out" to whoever ONE chooses to be their authority for them whether it is Zen Buddhism or something else.
Zenmonk, I am not "dissing" your passion for your subject, your perspective is interesting, not very original when it comes to the whole "authentic teacher" belief stuff, and it seems you would like to be a teacher of …at least that is what I am getting from your writings and by the responses you have some would be followers.
it is a beautiful sunday enjoy….
Just meditate, Rann. Just meditate.
Rann…thank you … that was energetically and well expressed and i understand the points you are making. it was a beautiful sunday here in japan too…the days are still warm and the autumn leaves starting to turn in kyoto. beachgirl
Hello Beachgirl Kahala,
you are welcome, Kyoto, Japan, that is so cool…………..must get off and get busy now…..enjoy….rann
I am leaving the intellectual tennis match to go save the world – see you on some other thread
much laughter and comraderie to all
The idea that being awake means one does not judge or use critical thinking is both childish and dangerous. This is one reason why, in most traditions, far from being told not to judge, discernment is valued and encouraged. A teacher who claims something that is untrue is dishonest. It's not a value judgement, or about whether someone is attached to a certain belief or way.
And thank you Seek, a reality check is most vital.I am reminded of Dr Susan Blackmore's work on Memes and where the pernicious idea that one should suspend critical thinking and basic honesty in New Age belief systems came about. Interestingly she also practices Zen and is a staunch advocate of scientific rigour. It is not only possible but vital that if a way is genuine there is at least enough basic honesty and directness that the self appointed teachers at least be held accountable and that what is taught is in some sense valid and practical, rather than simply a collection of spiritual sound bites and platitudes.
zenmonk…i hear you! truly. i appreciate it all. part 1 is primarily about `reality checks` …and yet …
[as per your previous comment repeated for info only ... `The idea that being awake means one does not judge or use critical thinking is both childish and dangerous. This is one reason why, in most traditions, far from being told not to judge, discernment is valued and encouraged. A teacher who claims something that is untrue is dishonest. It's not a value judgement, or about whether someone is attached to a certain belief or way`. ] …
are you saying the quality of judgment is the same perceptive quality as discernment? oh and thank you…you changed the profile joke.
aloha, beachgirl
I'm saying that there is a difference between value judgements and discernment and that discernment is vital. The knee jerk response that it is always bad to judge is itself a judgement and reveals the simplistic thinking behind the new age idea that judgement is in itself wrong. If we go to the store for example, we generally choose fruit based on whether it's free from blemishes, whether it's ripe and so on. If we're choosing a school for our children, we look at all the available information and discern whether a given school is potentially better for our children than any other.
This discernemtn is a vital component too of any genuine spiritual practice and any spiritual path. That's one reason why 'Right Discernment' is so important for example in Buddhism. Without it, we are prey to the likes of James Aurther Ray and Jim Jones. The notion that, in one of the most critical areas of life, we should suspend critical thinking, basic common sense and discernment is a sign or spiritual and psychological immaturity, not of tolerance or wisdom.
I will reiterate, Zenmonk, that you are a gentleman and a great scholar. And I will do my best with your ancestors—I know some of mine will have a few bones to pick with me. I can see from your words that you are a man who knows what he's talking about. Despite my best efforts to be 'the straw that stirs the drink' I have not been very successful. But you have, and I can see if is from experience. One day we should sink into Standing Post Meditation together–or seated, that's fine two. And then go to a bar and sink a couple of Bass Ales. We may not be ordained–but we will be men. Of course I invite Beachgirl to join us. She has guts.
My best,
Bob
I'm getting the sense that the comments on this site could well reach 200. My previous bliss will be dwarfed. There are no goals, of course. But in the end, there is only you, or I, and the meditation chair. Although I'm partial to standing.
Love on ya–which after my morning meditation and a day spent in Boston I wished to a new friend, sitting on a barstool. He had lost his wife six weeks ago to alcoholism. I had no words to say, there is no salve or cheap sentiments. But I listened. I just listened. He bought me a beer, and I bought him one. All I could tell him was that for now, "time is your enemy. Later, it will be your friend." It rang hollow. If I see him again, I'll take the seat next to him. Sometimes you just have to bow and accept it.
Bob
Bob…powerful story…the power of listening and the bottom line so true. You may well be right about the number of posts…the ups and downs of the journey have been amazing and whether one agrees with the opinions, judgments, discernments or deductions…it certainly has not been ..boring..with `a change being as good as a rest`…
it all reminds me of a short bio on a book just released about the queen mum (at 101 died in 2002), who … was a natural showman with a spirited sense of insouciance (disinterest) who`s spending was cheerfully vast…`i have lost all your money at ascot,` she wrote to her treasurer…`i hope you don`t mind.` …
and yet, it is the spirit of the review`s summing up which perhaps best reminds me of the spirit of this blog… `an impishness that may delight…with virtues and sins venial and more than amusing enough to keep from being that creature so truly intolerable to english sensibility; an admirable bore`…
zenmonk~i was grateful for your points of clarification of the importance of being aware of the quality of a zen teacher and specifically to pay attention when a lack `teacher status` occurs eg. when formal transmission has not occurred. As you specifically mentioned monk Adyashanti did not appear to have received transmission, a couple posts back …
[repeated for info saying, `when asked where he came by his teacher status, or who gave him the authorization to either teach or to transmit anyone, you will find if you ask him such questions, he suddenly falls silent. Often this is because the phone is hung up, the door closed or the question is ejected from web forum`...].
As you today also helpfully clarified your view of differences between judgment and discernment. As you also teach meditation and provide valuable, learned and authoritative tutorial guidance in this blog and others on this site, please illuminate and enlighten us of when you received transmission and from whom…thank you!
I have not yet received transmission. Nor do I claim to be a Zen teacher. I am a meditation teacher and was authorized to teach the basics of Zen practice and Zazen, but a meditation teacher is not the same as a Zen teacher and I want to make that distinction clear – that's a different animal. I do use Zazen as the core, that after all is the tradition that I have the most training in but I also used meditation practices from different traditions, for example the Metta Bhavana, or Cultivation of Loving Kindness meditation from the Theravadin tradition. For that reason, if you ever see me claiming to be a fully transmitted Zen teacher and giving transmissions, do ask me again Beachgirl and I will tell you who transmitted me and who authorized me as a Zen teacher.
zenmonk…brilliantly clear…thank you! was the authority fromJohn Daishin Buksbazen?
zenmonk as i believe you are from the uk, do you know monks Ajahn Sucitto or Sumeda both senior monks authorised to give transmissions from Amaravati, in england. It was Ajahn Sucitto who i quoted earlier in one of my posts who personally said in a retreat (paraphrased), `sometimes i say to myself, `you`ve been practising all these years and sometimes you still don`t get it right….` very humbling and encouraging at the same time..
http://www.amaravati.org/abmnew/index.php
in gratitude again
And if there's anything else you want to know do feel free to ask. I don't shut the door or hang up the phone.
) And yes I know there are people out there who also think that I'm 'full of it' and such people can and do stoop to just about anything to try and discredit me and others like me who are outside of the Zen fold. I think though that those who know me personally and those who take the time can decide what rings true for themselves. Which is as it should be. I am now associated with Dogen Sangha International, which was started by the Soto teacher Gudo Wafu Nishijima Roshi – a teacher who well understands what has been happening in the West with Zen teachers who were given authority to teach prematurely and in Japan with the Soto establishment sometimes more concerned with providing a means for sons to inherit their father's temples than to awaken.
I certainly know Ajaahn Sumedho, as I've visited Amaravati several times over the years in my younger days and always found a warm welcome there. I hold him in the highest regard.
zenmonk…snap! as i too often went to Ajahn Sumedo`s sunday talks, starting in the mid 1980`s, perhaps it is highly likely we were in the same old and `new` meditation halls…Sucitto was/is head monk at chithurst, surrey. Although I`m sure you already know about this, I still listen to the latest sunday lectures and retreat talks using this link…
http://www.dhammatalks.org.uk/
And Bob, I'd be more than happy to buy you a beer sometime.
)
zenmonk…so true…we routinely took food to the monastry…the vibrations are/were magic. we used to go to chithurst too to do work…gardening whatever needed doing…i still send monthly support to amaravati via standing order…as they do such good work both directly and indirectly. still when sumedho used to talk about the gap between words and to rest in silence there…it wasn`t until i read the following story (in tolle`s, `a new earth`) that the penny really dropped…the following from memory..
disciple was walking with the master and asked, `where do i enter zen?` … the master replying, `do you hear that mountain stream?` listening, he replies, `yes`…`well then enter zen from there.` walking onwards, he later asks, `what if i hadn`t heard the mountain stream? how would you have replied…?` i would have said, `then, enter zen from there.`
(duplicate post removed)
Thank you though the original koan is somewhat different, as shown in my next comment.
This koan as Tolle presents it is not quite correct in some respects, which tends to hide the many layers that are in this particular story and why it is such a valuable koan. It goes this way (with thanks to Shishin Wick Roshi)
Once a young monk called Kyosho came to Zen Master Gensha to study under him. Kyosho said, "I have come over here seeking the truth, where can I start to get into zen?" At this Gensha the Master said, "Kyosho, can you hear the murmuring of the mountain stream?" "Yes, Master. I can hear it." "Enter zen from there," was the Master's answer. Sometime later a lay zen student Kyo told the story to Master Ayn of Singon and asked, "Because Kyosho answered he could hear the murmuring of the mountain stream when Gensha asked him if he could hear it, Gensha could instruct him to 'Enter zen from there'. If however Kyosho had said he could not hear it, how would Master Gensha have instructed him?" Ayn suddenly called out, "Mister Kyo!" Kyo answered, "Yes, Master." At this the Master said, "Enter zen from there!"
That's the secret of our zen practice, wherever you are, enter zen from there. Doesn't matter whether you are encouraged or discouraged or feel as though your meditation is excellent or whether you feel it is horrible. Whether you are happy or you are sad or you are angry or you are blissful it doesn't matter. Just enter zen from there, that's the reality. That's what's so. That's how to be satisfied.
If you are tired, enter zen from there. If you are confused, enter zen from there. If your mind is wandering, enter zen from there. What remains to be sought? Nirvana is clear before you. This very place is the Lotus Paradise. This very body, the Buddha. If you really believe that, there is no problem.
So, wherever you are, enter zen from there. Are you confused? Enter zen from there. Are you angry? Enter zen from there. Are you smug, you think you are a wonderful zen student, enter zen from there. Wherever you are this very place is nirvana. Enter it from there.
– http://www.dharmanet.org/shishinenter.htm
Zenmonk, i get it. thank you for the clarification. this mountain stream consciousness…the space in no space, has never left since this time…there whenever, wherever or nowhere…angered or humbled … as now. thank you sincerely.
removed with apologies
Bob, thank you for your post about your friend. Sometimes there isn't much that can be said without sounding trite.
The food was pretty good too as I recall.
) And Sumedho, an imposing figure always struck me as both warm and approachable in a way that many other teachers were not. Mind you when I first started going there I was probably around 19 so I was easily intimidated at the time.
Wonderful Seek and thank you.
"Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves."
Zenmonk,
You made me think of the old Taoist maxim: "My life is in my hands, not in heaven's."
I've learned something from the plethora of comments, the give-and-take of this post: It's better not to provoke for the benefit of seeing one's own sarcastic wit. The ego overwhelms. Don't get me wrong; I'm sure in the future I'll behave like a jackass.
Bob
You and I both Bob.
)
zenmonk, bob, seek… beautifully expressed as is..`so bondage might become my liberation`…master gudo nishijima
…which bob, is a phrase which may work as well on your latest intent…magically! …
…seek, a welcomed re-aquaintance to wonderful mr dawkins and introduction to his site
and…presumably jackass is a generic term applicable to all including `gasp, horror!` little me…
thank you all! … aloha from beachgirl
Beachgirl,
I know I've taken more than many "stupid breaths" in my life. It is difficult to overcome one's nature.
Bob
zenmonk..`so from bondage (…part 1) might become my liberation (…part 2)`…master gudo nishijima…?
Ven. Gudo Roshi might also well say that we are already free but just have to realize it (make it real). That it's not up in the head.
).
very freak…funny……