Questions to Master Deshimaru

Question

Buddha became Buddha by severing all his illusions?

Answer

Oh, he must have had a few left! It is not possible to sever everything, not even for Buddha. But in zazen he could see his own karma and gain satori. He saw the root of the evil and so he could understand everything. One cannot sever everything, even in zazen. But one can see in oneself how mistakes are made and that is satori. During zazen, if you think you have satori you are a little bit crazy. If Buddha had thought that, he would not have had satori. But he understood his karma; that was the essential part of his experience. You must understand your own karma. If you understand it really, if you confess to yourself, you experience satori and you can decrease your karma.