Question
People often think leading a holy life means living by a morality in which we
distinguish good things to do from bad things to avoid
doing. I believe this is an illusion and opens the door to
setting oneself apart from others: you are bad, I am really good. I follow
the good rules. You follow your own stupidity, etc. What, in your view, would a
life lived in holiness be? How would you define authentic holiness
based on sincere faith?
Geomois
Answer from Master Kosen
Here below, good becomes bad and bad becomes good, and we pass from one to the other, life after life, without ever escaping.
That is why Zen teaching gives priority to realizing our true, eternal nature, which has always been pure and always will be, and which is neither good nor bad. A child is still close to their true nature: they poop, sometimes they cry, or they give big smiles and delight the whole family, but they are neither good nor bad, neither holy nor profane.
Kosen