Today's Tao
It's difficult to govern people because their king does something. That's why it's difficult to govern them. (Ch.75)
Zen Master Kyogen Chikan 香厳智閑 [Hsing-yen Chih-hsien / Xiangyan Zhixian] said:
"a painted rice-cake cannot satisfy hunger."
Of course, not. We cannot eat the picture of a rice-cake... Wait a minute!
Master Dogen said:
"If it is not a painted rice-cake, it must not be a remedy to satisfy hunger."
(Gabyo 画餅, «Shobogenzo»)
Didn't he? (☞See Painted rice-cake / Empty granary 53-5)
Can a painted rice-cake satisfy hunger?
Or, can it not?
Dogen answers the question with some key phrases in Zen.
"A painted rice-cake cannot satisfy hunger" is like saying:
"No one can ever do anything evil. Everyone is doing the right thing. (Don't do anything evil. Practice all the good things.) 諸悪莫作、衆善奉行 [shoaku makusa, shuzen bugyo]",
"Where on earth did this «what on earth» thing come from? 是什麼物恁麼来 [ze inmo butsu inmo rai]",
and
"I am always doing this desperately. 吾れ常に是に於いて切なり [ware tsuneni koreni oite setsu nari]".
(Gabyo 画餅, «Shobogenzo»)
Did you get Master Dogen's teachings?
You are the king in your hologram.
If you do something, everything is difficult.
If you do nothing, everything is easy.
[Note]
"I am always doing this desperately." 吾れ常に是に於いて切なり / 吾常於此切 [ware tsuneni koreni oite setsu nari], originally mentioned by Tozan Ryokai (807-869) 洞山良价 [Tung-shan Liang-chieh / Dongshan Liangjie].
«Related Articles»
-Tax and Starve 75-1
-King and Zen Master Dogen 75-2
-Plenty of life? 75-3
-Value life? 75-4
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 75
Tao answers your question!
☞«Tao of ****» The first line comparison (16) / "I have often been described as outgoing, aggressive, impulsive, intimidating, gregarious, courageous, and daring." On the left, «The Tao of Tango
» written by Johanna Siegmann. / "'What have you got?' The old man asked me around his cigar. 'A banjo' I replied." On the right, «The How and the Tao of Old Time Banjo
» written by Patrick Costello. / "C'mon. Tao has nothing to do with Tango or Banjo!", you might say. But, wait a minute. Remember? Tao is everywhere, even around the banjo or the legs of your Tango partner.
