Question
What you say about Jesus and the law of cause and effect makes me react. Did Jesus really choose this path with joy in his heart, in complete agreement with himself?
When he is on the cross about to breathe his last and says, “God, why have you forsaken me?” we might doubt it. Don’t we speak of the Passion of Christ? Is he really an example to follow?
Jesus is a kind of spiritual Che Guevara, the brave one, the warrior who defied everything, even death. He is forever part of human mythology. It’s absolutely crazy and romantic, like the story of Prometheus, who decides to bring fire to humans out of love for them, defying Zeus, who condemns him to have his liver eaten for eternity.
Jesus disregarded the circumstances of his time. Sometimes I wonder whether he should have become a politician or war leader, led an armed rebellion, done something in keeping with humanity as it was in his time, as Muhammad ultimately did.
By acting as he did, wouldn’t he have rejected the law of cause and effect, insofar as I understand what that means? And when he is about to be taken by the Romans, he says something like: If I really had friends, they wouldn’t let me down and would go fight for me. Hadn’t he forgotten that famous law? How many men could remain unmoved in front of an army of nasty Romans? Human nature is more about fear, especially in that kind of situation. Did Jesus take that into account?
And then there are probably spiritual things I don’t understand at all. Jesus must have realized something important in mind. But here on this rock, I’m sure Jesus would have wanted life to benefit everyone and everyone to be happy, and I feel that people who claim to follow him forget that. They are blinded by his sacrifice; they all want to “Christ-ify” themselves.
So I follow you. I look at photos of your summer camps and sesshins, where people look happy and take it easy. Even you—I’m sure you enjoy life. And I can’t help thinking that you are probably more on the right track than Jesus, more than Kodo Sawaki when he ate beans alone in his tent, tormenting himself with the thought that he was wasting his time. I’m sure Jesus and Buddha are watching you and rejoicing.
Best wishes.
Anonymous
Answer from Master Kosen
We must understand for ourselves, while at the same time understanding and following the teaching of the ancients.
Understanding their teaching means, above all, illuminating them—that is, understanding them through our own intimate understanding.
I started from Master Nyojo’s historical teaching to his disciple Dogen about the law of cause and effect.
This teaching is a true treasure, but we must grasp its scope.
There is no contradiction between understanding that karma and transmigration are ku and not rejecting the law of cause and effect.
We must understand that the law of cause and effect exists only within a thought, and that each thought is independent and creates its own past, present, and future reality in the absolute here and now.
So we must think and act while taking account of the law of cause and effect of here and now, rather than clinging to past karma. This is what Nyojo calls practicing diligently and describes as the method for transforming karmic obstacles.
Dedicated to Jesus and Kodo Sawaki, who practiced diligently, and to all the masters who descend to our level because they do not reject the law of cause and effect, yet help us transform our karmic obstacles through their example and success.
Kosen