Description
Bankei’s awakening came through facing his aversion to death. His question, “What is bright virtue?” brought him to Zen early in life. Later, he became one with the field and could fully see whatever he encountered. As your life becomes more whole, everything comes to belong.
Summary
Bankei’s awakening came through facing his aversion to death. Possibilities open up when you are here, facing disaster, death, or the difficulties of daily life by entering them fully.
His question, “What is bright virtue?” brought him to Zen early in life. Later in life he became one with the field and could fully see anything he encountered. He could predict events. As your life becomes more whole, everything comes to belong.
Bankei used his own experience to revivify the Chan teaching of turning toward your own life, listening for what is there to enter awakening.
From Shitou: “Each thing by nature has its worth, but is shaped by its circumstances.”
2023 Fall Sesshin dharma talk by Tess Beasley recorded October 27th.
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