Omori
Sogen Roshi's Awakening
For
eight years Omori Roshi (1904-1994) commuted between Kyoto and Tokyo.
In 1933, finally, he ”broke through” and passed the koan Mu.
About this realization, Omori Roshi says:
”My
experience was not very impressive or glorious, so I don't like to
talk about it but... One day after finishing zazen, I went to the
toilet. I heard the sound of the urine hitting the back of the
urinal. It made a splashing sound. It sounded very loud to me, and at
the very moment I realized, ”AHA”, and I understood. I had a
realization.
”I
AM!” I was very happy. But it was not a showy experience. It was
not even very clean. Sound is not the only thing that can trigger
this experience. Yamada Mumon Roshi, with whom I trained, had a very
different experience. He was walking down the hallway when he saw the
red color of the autumn leaves, and suddenly he was enlightened.
When
you are enlightened, you realize very clearly that you are right in
the middle of Mu. This becomes a little theoretical, but according to
Nishida's philosophy, it is stated that the infinite circle has
infinite centers. In effect, what happens is that you realize that
that center of the infinite circle is you.
When
you are in the state of samadhi, whether you call it Mu-samadhi or
another type of samadhi, you are unconditionally in the realm of
Absolute Nothingness (zettai mu). At that time, because of some
incident, when you break through the samadhi, you will attain
realization. It is like ripe fruit on a tree. When the wind blows or
the branch sways, the fruit will just fall from the tree. If the
fruit is not ripe, though the wind may blow or the branch sway, the
fruit will not fall.
You
will realize with your entire being that you are at the center of
Absolute Nothingness (zettai mu) and at the center of the infinite
circle. To be at the center of the infinite circle in this human form
is to be BUDDHA himself. You have been saved from the beginning. You
will understand all these things clearly and with certainty.
Even
if you are in the state of samadhi but do not have this realization,
you are merely in that state. You will not feel that, ”I am glad I
am who I am. A great burden has been lifted from my shoulders. I am
content. I am saved”.
From
”Omori Sogen, The Art of a Zen master” by Dogen Hosokawa.
Kim's
note: Omori Sogen Roshi was the teacher of my teacher, Terayama
Tanchu Sensei.
