The Religion of the Samurai: A Study of Zen Philosophy and Discipline in China and JapanNukariya, Kaiten
Religion
The Religion of the Samurai: A Study of Zen Philosophy and Discipline in China and Japan
Nukariya, Kaiten
Buddhism -- China; Buddhism -- Japan; China -- Religion; Human beings -- Origin; Japan -- Religion; Zen Buddhism
Hereupon anyone understands that this life (of ours) is no more than
the temporary union of numerous elements (mental and physical).
Originally there is no Atman to distinguish one being from another.
For whose sake, then, should he be lustful or angry? For whose sake
should he take life,[FN#350] or commit theft, or give alms, or keep
precepts? (Thus thinking) at length he sets his mind free from the
virtues and vices subjected to the passions[FN#351] of the Three
Worlds, and abides in the discriminative insight into (the nature of)
the Anatman[FN#352] only.
By means of that discriminative insight he makes himself pure from
lust, and the other (two passions) puts an end to various sorts of
Karma, and realizes the Bhutatathata[FN#353] of Anatman. In brief,
he attains to the State of Arhat,[FN#354] has his body reduced to
ashes, his intelligence annihilated, and entirely gets rid of
sufferings.
[FN#350] A. 'He understands the truth of misery.' The truth of
Duhkha, or misery, is the first of the four Noble Satyas, or Truths,
that ought to be realized by the Hinayanists. According to the
Hinayana doctrine, misery is a necessary concomitant of sentient
life.'
[FN#351] A. 'He destroys Samudaya.' The truth of Samudaya, or
accumulation, the second of the four Satyas, means that misery is
accumulated or produced by passions. This truth should be realized
by the removal of passions.
[FN#352] A. 'This is the truth of Marga.' The truth of Marga, or
Path, is the fourth of the four Satyas. There are the eight right
Paths that lead to the extinction of passions; (1) Right view (to
discern truth), (2) right thought (or purity of will and thought),
(3) right speech (free from nonsense and errors), (4) right action,
(5) right diligence, (6) right meditation, (7) right memory, (8)
right livelihood.
[FN#353] A. 'This is the truth of Nirodha.' Nirodha, or destruction,
the third of the four Satyas, means the extinction of passions.
Bhutatathati of Anatman means the truth of the non existence of Atma
or soul, and is the aim and end of the Hinayanist philosophy.
[FN#354] Arhat, the Killer of thieves (i.e., passions), means one
who conquered his passions. It means, secondly, one who is exempted
from birth, or one who is free from transmigration. Thirdly, it
means one deserving worship. So the Arhat is the highest sage who has
attained to Nirvana by the destruction of all passions.
According to the doctrine of this school the two aggregates, material
and spiritual, together with lust, anger, and folly, are the origin
of ourselves and of the world in which we live. There exists nothing
else, either in the past or in the future, that can be regarded as
the origin.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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