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Dongshan's Five Ranks (4th)

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KOAN:

Poem 4

Two swords are crossed.
There’s no way to retreat.
You’re a lotus in the fire
You can’t help it
You’re determined to go higher.

—from the Record of Dongshan, The Five Ranks (4th Rank)

Audio June 11, 2020

Ascending the Heavens

Jon Joseph

Koans
Dongshan's Five Ranks, Dongshan's Five Ranks (4th)
Tags
Covid, demonstrations, freedom, heart-mind, poet Neruda, poet Ocean Vuong, police, universe at play, unrest
Category
Audio

PZI Zen Online- Dongshan’s 4th Rank-‘Two crossed swords..’a timely image for unrest, protests, the dance of the vast and undifferentiated natural order of the universe is always calling us even in distress. Everything is expressing itself, demonstrators are streams moving in flow to a river. Not a thing out of place. As recorded June 8, 2020.

87' 13"