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Dogen’s Shobogenzo - Genjokoan, Skeleton Key Part 5
A Study of Genjokoan
and the Commentary in
The Flatbed Sutra of LouieWing by Ted
Biringer
.
PART
5
After laying
the foundation in the first four lines of Genjokoan,
Dogen methodically builds the structural framework upon which he spent the rest
of his life fleshing out: the function and essence of “the rightly-transmitted buddha-dharma.”
Next, the Genjokoan begins an examination of delusion and
enlightenment:
That people
drive the self to actualize awareness of the many things is delusion. That the
many things actualize awareness of the self is enlightenment.
Here Dogen
gives a precise definition of the important Buddhist concepts of delusion and
enlightenment, outlining their most basic aspects with clear precision.
Delusion or enlightenment is what distinguishes a “buddha” from an “ordinary
being.” A buddha is someone who is enlightened about delusion, that is, to the
reality of his or her own true nature. An ordinary being is someone who is
deluded about enlightenment (the reality of his or her own true nature).
Because delusion and enlightenment are nondual, meaning they are not two
separate, independent entities, we come to the understanding that differences
between them are differences of perspective only.
First Dogen
says, “That people drive the self to actualize awareness of the many things is
delusion.” The very idea that you can “drive the self” to enlightenment implies
that you must be experiencing your self as separate from enlightenment. Because
in reality you are both separate and not separate from the many things,
experiencing your self as only separate is delusion.
Awakening to
the truth that “the many things actualize awareness of the self” is the
function of Zen practice; your true nature is the true nature of the universe.
The Buddhist formula for salvation, liberation, enlightenment, or any of the
other terms used to indicate the ultimate truth of religion consists of
personally realizing that you are one with all things including both
enlightenment and delusion. Continuing on, the Genjokoan states:
Those who are
enlightened about delusion are buddhas.
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