PZI Teacher Archives

Fire at the End of the Universe (BCR29)

KOAN:

A monk asked Dasui, “The conflagration at the end of the eon
sweeps through and the universe is totally destroyed. I wonder,
is this one destroyed or not?”
Sui said, “It is destroyed.”
The monk said, “If so, then this goes along with it.”
Sui said, “It goes along with it.”

—Blue Cliff Record Case 29

Alternate translation from John Tarrant & Joan Sutherland:

A student asked Dasui,
“It’s clear that the fire at the end of this kalpa will completely destroy the universe.

I’m still not clear whether there’s something that won’t be destroyed.”
Dasui said, “It will be destroyed.”

“It’ll leave along with everything else?”

“It will leave along with everything else,” said Dasui.

*

Dharma Theme June 9, 2023

Dharma Theme: Fire – The Extremes of Climate Change

PZI Teachers

Our era is undoubtedly difficult, and even crazy. We are in an underworld time. We know that we’re cutting down ancient trees, burning fossil fuels, melting the sustaining ice, finding leaders who pretend that we have no part in the changes that overwhelm us. We are suffering from forces greater than us and also from ourselves; we too are forces beyond our control.

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