Monday, February 28, 2011

The Non-Sentient Gives Voice To The Dharma

I opened the Shobogenzo of Dogen at random today and my finger landed on the phrase “the non-sentient gives voice to the Dharma” in a section that told of a student who had been awakened by the sound of a stream after having heard his teacher tell a koan of the non-sentient giving voice to the Dharma. To often, when we seek to be awakened, we seek wisdom – perhaps the wisdom of teachers, perhaps the wisdom of scholars, perhaps the wonders of science, perhaps the beauty of nature. But, the voice of the Dharma is in all things.

Stop and think about that for a moment. The voice of the Dharma is in all non-sentient things. Your computer. Your keyboard. Your desk. Your chair. Your floor. Your roof. All of them are the voice of Dharma. Are you listening? Am I listening?

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