Wordiness and intellection- the more with them the further astray we go; away therefore with wordiness and intellection, and there is no place where we cannot pass freely.
— From On Believing in Mind, Sosan Ganchi Zenji, 3rd Zen Patriarch
When we return to the root, we gain the meaning; when we pursue external objects, we lose the reason. The moment we are enlightened within, we go beyond the voidness of a world confronting us.
Transformations going on in an empty world which confronts us appear real all because of ignorance; try not to seek after the true, only cease to cherish opinions.
This passage reminds me of a story about one of the great Zen Masters, Hakuin Ekaku, b.1686-d.1769.
Master Hakuin And The Baby
The great Zen Master Hakuin lived in a small hut outside a village where he was greatly respected. One day a village girl announced she had become pregnant. The father of the baby left town and she was alone and frightened. She did not know what else to do and told the entire village that Master Hakuin was the father.
All the townspeople were shocked. They stopped bringing Hakuin food and offerings. Instead of praising Hakuin. they now blamed him. “You are the worst of all beings,” they said.
“Is that so?” replied Hakuin.
When the baby was born the village girl brought the child to Hakuin.
“This baby is yours,” she said.
“Is that so?” Hakuin said and took the baby.
Hakuin cared for the baby for several years, feeding, clothing and caring for the child. Then, one day, the father of the baby returned to the village to marry the mother. The new couple told everybody the truth about what happened. The people were astonished and began to praise Master Hakuin, rushing to his hut with offerings. When they announced that the father had returned and that the couple had revealed the truth, Hakuin replied: “Is that so?”
Soon the couple and the girls parents arrived at Hakuins hut and announced that they were going to take the baby back. Hakuin simply responded: Is that so and handed them the child.
What is the connection between Hakuin’s response, “Is that so?” and Sosan’s passage? Consider this “…when you return to the root…”.Can you see how Hakuin returns to the root? Can you see directly into this matter in your zazen?