32 - One (monk) asked: “What is the meaning of (Bodhidharma’s) coming from the West?” The master said: “Had he had a purpose, he could not even have liberated himself.” the monk asked: “If he had no purpose, how could the Second Patriarch attain the Dharma?” The master said: “To attain is not to attain.” The monk asked: “ if it is not to attain, then what is the meaning of not to attain?” The master said: “It is because you are running about seeking everywhere and cannot put your heart at rest that the patriarchs say ‘My, the fellow with his head on his shoulders is looking for his head!’ When on hearing this you turn your own light in upon yourself, and do not seek for anything special, you will know that in your body and heart you do not differ from the patriarchs and Buddhas.

All at once you will have nothing further to seek. That is what is called attaining the Dharma!”

The Zen Teachings of Rinzai tr. Irmgard Schloegl

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In this podcast:

•       Why our constant planning, planning, planning becomes an obstacle to attaining ‘oneness’.

•       Listening and obeying the situation gives meaning not purpose to life, which is a promise for the future.

•       Our ‘role’ in life is a discovery, not an artifice.

•       Mutual arising and interdependence is the root of reality.

•       How Zen practice is a ‘re-linking’ back into that reality.