Question
More broadly, is ultimate awakening permanent in Zen?
Emmanuel
Master Kosen’s answer
Dear Emmanuel,
Thank you for your question, which concerns a very important point.
Ultimate awakening is nirvana, or extinction. Your question is good but
rests on the mistake of separating mind and body when asking
about awakening. If in your thought you keep body and mind united,
as during zazen, you can quickly understand that the state of awakening
is not permanent, because the body is our material,
historical, temporal foundation.
Regarding awakening, an ancient master said: there is really nothing
that can be called awakening; awakening deceives people. I stretch out my two
legs and lie down for a long nap, and there is nothing
true or false. That is truly the essence of the Way.
Warm regards.
Kosen