A Look Into Time

I'm certainly not a Dogen scholar and don't understand much of his teaching. But I can't help but delight in such passages as this (from Uji):

The golden body of one jo six shaku is time. Because it is time, there are the ornaments and lights of time. So we must study the 12 hours confronting us. It is time that draws out the body with three heads and eight arms. Because it is time, it interpenetrates with the present 12 hours. Though we have not yet measured the span of 12 hours, we call it 12 hours. Because time's transit leaves traces, man does not doubt it. Though he does not doubt, he does not understand. Because the ordinary man does not think from the deep ground, he of course doubts all things that he does not fully understand. For this reason, his future doubts never harmonize with his present doubts. And even doubt is nothing but a part of time.

Dogen goes on to say that, "There is no world without this doubting self." Our questions, great and small, serve to keep us alive in the world.

Time, of course, presents a puzzle to the thinking mind (at least, to my "thinking" mind). So, in an effort to clear things up, consider today's remarkable video. I think you'll find it fascinating.

Thank you for reading Ox Herding. May you fully enjoy your time this weekend!

Barry

Thanks to Greg for alerting me to this video!

Comments

[mama p]

wow! harmonize future & present doubts? :) i love dogen. he blows my mind.

brilliant video as always! thanks, barry!

[Uku]

Thanks, Barry! Ah, lovely life! We truly can make difference only right now. What a curse! I wish I would be Peter Pan!

[jill i]

Thanks Barry! I watched this without being able to hear it,so not sure if I missed much without the voiceover. I have read about this "rewiring." I am behind the curve and have to drag myself forward a few years late on each new technological advance (e.g., just got a smart phone, etc.)to keep up professionally. Mixed feelings about it all...what is being lost?

I saw the Space Needle on the drawing of super busy cities...

Anyway, future vs. past vs. present. I plan on honoring my present hedonist this weekend!
Enjoy yours,
jill

[Joseph]

that video is amazing... and a little "alarming"
Do you ever wonder what Bob Dylan thinks if he listens to "The Times They Are A-changin" now?

[Barry Briggs]

Thanks, everyone, for your comments. Jill, check out the audio when you can - it's great.

I recall that Mick Jagger once said (many years ago) that he'd rather be dead than be singing "Satisfaction" when he was 45 years old. Guess times are a-changing!

[Chong Go Sunim]

Thanks, Barry!

That's a very interesting video