Questions to Master Deshimaru

Question

I don't understand the mirror symbol in the Hokyo Zanmai: ``The reflection, the image, is me, but I am not the reflection.''

Answer

(For Hokkyo zan mai see). During zazen the ego-subject can look at the ego-object, and vice versa. We can realize that we are not so wonderful, sometimes we're even worse than other people, because in deep zazen our true desires are revealed and we can see them fully. We always have two egos, but that doesn't mean that we have a dual personality. The objective ego is the good spirit. It is the spirit of God, it's the spirit of Buddha, the one that sees. We can observe ourselves in depth, and wake up and reflect. At that moment we become pure, and we can become more pure. In everyday living we can't be really pure. But after a long time, with the experience gained through the practice of zazen, our life becomes purified even if it is made very impure by the fact that we have too many desires. In everyday living we cannot be completely pure because of our karma. Each person has his or her own karma. For perfect purity, the coffin is best! That is why religion is necessary for people who are alive. If we have known the religious life, the connected life, then objective ego will organize a good subjective ego and the mind will become fresh and free.