Seung Sahn: Don't Know

This week, Ox Herding will focus on several of the essential teaching phrases used by the Korean Zen Master Seung Sahn (Dae Soen Sa Nim).

When Dae Soen Sa Nim first came to America, he spoke no English so he quickly learned to encapsulate vast chunks of Buddhist teaching into a few short English phrases. He deployed these with great precision, even after he gained fluency in the language.

Of all these expressions, none was more central than don't know. He used this phrase repeatedly but never wore it out. Here's a sample:

Throw away all opinions, all likes and dislikes, and only keep the mind that doesn't know. This is very important.

Don't know mind is the mind that cuts off all thinking. When all thinking has been cut off, you become empty mind. This is before thinking.

Your before thinking mind, my before thinking mind, all people's before thinking minds are the same. This is your substance.

In Zen, this don't know mind traces directly back to Bodhidharma, who famously replied, "Don't know!," to Emperor Wu's question about his identity.

But the tradition of not-knowing greatly precedes Bodhidharma, appearing even in early Greek philosophy:

The Greek philosopher Socrates used to teach, "You must understand your true self."

One time someone asked Socrates, "Teacher, do you understand your true self?"

Socrates replied, "I don't know. But I also understand this don't know."

And, of course, about the same times as Socrates, the Buddha emphasized the importance of not-knowing, which he called wisdom ("prajna" in Sanskrit). Prajna means "before thinking" (pra=before; jna=thought).

And what is before thinking? Don't know. The Buddha said:

"The sharp butcher's knife" is a term for noble wisdom - the noble wisdom that cuts, severs, and carves away the inner defilements, fetters, and bonds. (Nandokovada Sutta)

Correct wisdom [says]: "This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self." (Dhatuvibhanga Sutta)

By cutting away everything, the Buddha taught that don't know precedes name and form, including the names and forms of Buddhism. Thus, Zen Master Seung Sahn once said:

I don't teach Korean or Mahayana or Zen. I don't even teach Buddhism.

I only teach don't know.

Fifty years here and there teaching only don't know. So only don't know, okay?

Okay!

Comments

[Myochi]

I think this is the most important teaching of Buddhism - don't know, empty your cup. If anyone came to Buddhism with any notion of having any knowledge that is absolute and real, and sat down on cushion sincerely for a few days, they will quickly realize that they don't know...:).

[joanne]

Thanks Barry, I have been wrestling with this one lately. It feels like where all the fear originates. Being inside breathless change and not knowing where each moment leads - sometimes realizing that I don't know is a relief and sometimes more fear.

[Genju]

Not knowing is the most intimate... still chewing on this Dogen gem. It requires so much trust that there is wisdom that will guide the emergence of what is needed - and only what is needed - when it is needed. Powerful stuff! Looking forward to a week of wisdom - in a don't know mind way! ;-)

[BarkingUnicorn]

By all accounts I've found, Seung San was as big a sexual predator, hypocrite, and self-aggrandizer as Eido Shimano, whom Barry recently excoriated here. Yet Barry doesn't seem to question San's dharma.

Why, please?

[Barry Briggs]

BU, the accounts you've read of Seung Sahn's behaviors have misled you.

Seung Sahn did indeed engage in sexual relations with several students. When these relations became public, he was held accountable by his students and the Kwan Um School of Zen. He repented, took responsibility, and never again engaged in sexual relations with anyone.

Eido Shimano, by contrast, has refused to acknowledge publicly that he has engaged in sexual relations with students repeatedly for over 40 years. He has rebuffed any attempts to hold him accountable. He has not taken responsibility. And he has not stopped the behavior. Further, his organization has colluded with him in maintaining secrecy and in not holding him accountable.

I do not fault Eido Shimano or Seung Sahn (or any of a host of teachers) for making a mistake. We're human beings - we make trouble. Every one of us makes trouble - no exceptions.

Karma runs unfathomably deep and, without profound responsibility, it will trip anyone up - even Zen masters.

What distinguishes Seung Sahn (and teachers like Maezumi Roshi) from Eido Shimano is that Seung Sahn took responsibility for his trouble-making and put an end to it.

Shimano has refused to take this kind of profound personal responsibility to uproot the afflictive intentions that have damaged so many for over 4 decades. That is worth excoriation.

[Uku]

Haa, I LOVE THIS! I think you already know this from my previous blasts but damn, Seung Sahn's attitude and teachings kicks ass!

Thank you Barry for sharing these precious Dharma treasures!

Peace,
Uku