Hide Under the Path
A student asked Zen Master Seung Sahn, “Where can we hide?” He replied, “Hide under the Path! [The Path refers to the Way, or the Tao. —Ed.] If you practice strongly then you can save yourself, your family, your friends and Dharma friends—all those closest to you. Because Dharma energy is absolute energy, without opposites. It can cut through anything. So we always say, don’t-know can cure any sickness. So only try, OK!”
You all probably remember that in 1996 Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “Before the year 2000, big things not happening. After the year 2000, big things happening. After the year 2000, correct-direction people, stronger correct way; wrong-direction people, stronger wrong way.”
Then after 9/11, he said, “World War III already begun. Not usual war. Maybe many people fighting for 100 or 200 years. Much, much suffering. People kill each other. Some places have no food. Some places no water; other places too much water. Much pollution and many natural disasters. And disease. Finally human population down, down, down, until maybe 1 billion people. Then more smooth.”
It’s no surprise, though very sad, that as a society we have been too shortsighted and greedy, unable to make necessary adjustments to our ideas of “progress” and unlimited economic growth, which have always been untenable and have brought about and sustain our current situation. It has been clear for most of our lifetime. Very sad.
Maybe young people now will drive the necessary changes: everybody reduce their personal needs and practice generosity on a personal and total societal scale. Not likely, huh?
Love, brothers and sisters, is the only way. Leonard Cohen sang, “Love is the only engine of survival.” The other kind of survival is animal, not human.
I’m in Malaysia now, and it’s raining outside. I hope you are all well!
Warm regards to you all,
Dae Bong