Question
I suspect I am going to say something foolish, but as you say, you have to get in there and make an effort. And my daughter will grow up and ask me questions.
Here it is: why doesn’t every human being practice zazen? Why all these religions on Earth, all these different beliefs? There is a difference, after all, because in Christian religions, for example, perceiving God only outside oneself, as a separate entity one would almost address formally, is quite different from realizing that God is everywhere, and within us. And that God is us.
Could Buddha, God, have taken several aspects, several outward forms, to awaken people (Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist practice, etc.), each form being an aspect of Buddha? But that does not work:
It would mean zazen, for example, is only one aspect of Buddha, while zazen encompasses all aspects. And does Buddha have form or no form? And why would all these aspects of God beat each other up (religious wars), on top of that? So you see… why doesn’t every human being practice zazen? Thank you very much for your generosity. Like Mr. Lerins, I too say: we love you very, very much.
Sabine
Answer from Master Kosen
Everything that exists in the universe is an aspect of God. Zazen is one too: it is the divine aspect of humanity. They say God created human beings in his image, but to embody God’s image, human beings must practice zazen.
Kosen