Friday, June 22, 2012

Enlightenment is a Circle

The Reading:
     The circle, enso, is a symbol used in Zen for enlightenment, as it is both bounded and boundless.  The 3rd Patriarch, Sosan, says in the Shinjinmei:
"The circle is like the Great Emptiness,
Nothing lacking, nothing too much".

Blyth's commentary on Amban's 49th case, R.H. Blyth, Mumonkan


Discussion:
     Most people think it means without end or beginning.  It also means bounded, zero, nothing much.  If you can grasp both ends of the circle, it is infinite!  If you can't, give up your study of Zen and take up geometry.




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