Katagiri Roshi On Transforming Through Play

Last updated on: November 19, 2008 at 8:12 am by Dosho Port

Katagiri Roshi On Transforming Through Play 2008-11-19T08:12:00-06:00 Dosho Port

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Here’s the excerpt from a talk by Katagiri Roshi that inspired the name for our little practice place, “Transforming Through Play Temple:”

In “Points to Watch in Buddhist Training,” Dogen-zenji says, “To listen to dharma is to cause your consciousness to disport itself freely.”

In Japanese to “disport” is “yu-ge.” “Yu” is to play. “Ge” means to transform. “Yuge”means that we can transform our self in the process of playing freely.

“Transform” does not mean to change. It means without changing your body and mind, ability, your habits, heredity or karma. Without changing your body and mind something is transformed in the process of playing freely.

This playing has no purpose. No reason why. Play is the end itself. At that time you can have full commitment to play.

If you just play with wholeheartedness, then there is some power to transform your life, to produce creative new life. Just like the art of diving from the top of the cliff in Acapulco. You can see on TV how beautiful diving is, diving from the top of the cliff. Diver doesn’t know how much he has produced creative life in the process of diving but he is right in the middle of creating life in the process of diving, in playing with diving. Day by day, divers always practice same thing. How long? I don’t know. In his whole life, he has to do it. He is beginner, he is advanced, he is adept. It doesn’t matter. From beginning to end he has to practice. And then he can produce a creative new life.

“To listen to the dharma is to cause your consciousness to disport itself.” Consciousness is very tricky, very difficult. Consciousness causes your life to stop, not going freely.

That’s why we have to listen to the dharma, the truth, phenomenal world, and teaching from the person. Then you can really get into the depth of human existence.

Naturally, you can play freely with practice. In the process of doing zazen, you can play freely with zazen and produce a new creative life. Real creative life simply cannot be perceived by your consciousness.

How long will it take you to produce that new creative life? In order to cause your consciousness to disport itself, your mind must be big hearted. Your body and heart must produce a new creative life day to day. This creative life must be transmittable. You cannot hold it by yourself. Naturally it must be conveyed to someone else.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

November 17, 2008

The Other

Next Post

November 19, 2008 What Are You Thinking There In Zazen?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 August 2021 June 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 August 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 December 2016 October 2016 June 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 August 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many Gospels are in the New Testament?

Select your answer to see how you score.

6 5 4 3