Introducing Tanahashi-sensei. You all know him already. He's been with us for a year and he's going to soon go around the world, back to Japan, and visit Europe, India, etc. So he's leaving. But he's coming back in another year and hope to stay for another year. And I'd like to, on behalf of Zen Center, thank you for all your help. And so this is his goodbye lecture on Hakuinzenji, as you saw in the announcement. Thank you. Thank you, Lev. It's been a great joy to be with you in your community, studying together, doing your practice, and working on their project.

[01:09]

I thank you for your cooperation. I thank you for your support and sharing time with me. I also learned lots of puns from you. Some of them are quite bad. I know I'll miss you and I look forward to coming back to be with you. Hakuinzenji was a Japanese Zen master of Rinzai school who lived from 17th to 18th century. And I'd like to start my talk with saying nothing. We're going to show three slides in silence. And I'd like you to look up the paintings or drawings, as paintings as they are.

[02:19]

And I'd like to go back and try to talk about what he wrote on the painting exactly. What?

[04:00]

It says, Hatsuyume is the first dream of the year. And one, Mount Fuji. Two, falcons, which are represented by feathers of falcons. And three, eggplants. These are just common beliefs in Japan that if you have a dream of Mount Fuji on New Year's Day, it's very auspicious. So Hakuin just wrote it as it is.

[05:07]

Three eggplants. Number three, eggplants. When I was a boy, I tried to have a dream of Mount Fuji unsuccessfully. And Hakuin's paintings have different levels, different kinds. And one kind is that something people really like to have in their home. Such as, so, I call them popular paintings. They may have nothing to do with Fuji's teachings. This is one of them. This is a famous one circle, which represents perfect wisdom. Hakuin. So you would expect something very serious written at the side.

[06:14]

Translation is something like this. Hamamatsu. Hamamatsu is a place not too far from Mount Fuji. Next province to where Hakuin was living. Also, not far from Zukiroshi. The temple, his temple. Hamamatsu is a tea-growing district. I want to marry off my daughter there. To pick fine tea leaves. So something people really like to have. Of course, Hakuin doesn't have a daughter. So this is, one circle is of course famous koan.

[07:27]

And another kind of painting he did was koan painting. Koan. The question to be solved, to realize truth. This is his own portrait, self-portrait. The other type of painting, what I call iron man painting. Paintings of Shakyamuni Buddha, Bodhidharma, patriarchs, and also paintings of himself. So first I'd like to show you some popular paintings.

[08:33]

Zendas by Miura and Sasaki. About ten paintings. And I think the translations of the writings on the painting are good. So I'd like to use their translation for this one. I'd like to quote about three of their translations. It says, Hey, Bond. Bond means monk. Wonder of wonders. You are doing Zazen today. And he says, sure. Okay. Looks like himself. All right.

[09:47]

Mortar and pestle. And these are the tools in the kitchen. You crush miso beans into paste. Pleasure is a pillar against my back, sake in my front. Comfortable company and sound of mortar and pestle. Hakuin was a great Zen master. But sometimes he wanted a pillar against his back. And here is a bird. Ren. Ren. And Japanese name for Ren is Miso Sazai. So it's a bird name. But it has miso in it. So it's a wordplay there.

[10:54]

Hehe. If you have any comments or questions, I'll be very happy to. I think you'll like it. This is a lady. And dumplings. She's baking dumplings. On the night I swear dumplings. On the night I swear dumplings. And wait for him. He doesn't come. The poor man. I will stick him in the throat. I don't know it has anything to do with Zen teaching.

[12:03]

Hmm. Why don't you span the joined bridge of your free mind for people passing through the world? So it's more like a moral poem for ordinary people. All right. Why don't you span the joined bridge of your free mind for the people passing through the world? Because people crossing the world, crossing the ocean, or the river of birth and death, or suffering, the river of suffering. Is the calligraphy in each picture designed to go with the picture? It looks like different handwriting of different person every time you show a slide.

[13:23]

The writing seems to be different. This is so-called waka, or thirty-one syllables poem. And it's a mixture of Chinese characters and Japanese alphabet called kana. So when we write Chinese characters with Japanese alphabet, which have soft feeling, we tend to write in cursive style and in a soft way somehow. And Hakuin often writes his characters this way, from left to right, to right, often. Is that usual? It's funny. Not usual at all. Not usual. Does he change it depending on the composition? Well, usually when the person is looking at this side, to the left side, then he starts with left.

[14:29]

Very funny. All right. He has a chain poem here on the pen, as the previous one. And there, it says, The June wind is unfair. The pen is free cent. You can make wind with pen anytime. The wind is cheap. It says, And this is based on the very common saying that we say,

[15:37]

When old, follow a child. So it's kind of moral, but it's twisted, probably. Someone is sitting on a sailboat. And here's a straw mat, or sleeping bag. Old fashioned sleeping bag. This is an iron staff held by the king of hell, Yamaraja. Or we say, Enma-sama. Those who fear the king's dharma enter paradise.

[16:47]

That's a very strong, powerful line, you can see. Usually the painting is about half or less than half of the screen. But just usually. Kannon. In the lotus form. Kannon. He did lots of Kannon paintings. Because Kannon is, of course, a deity of mercy. And people really like to have Kannon images at home or in temples. Did he sell these paintings?

[18:05]

What did you say? Did he sell these paintings? Did he sell? I don't think so. Usually Buddhist monks don't sell paintings. Unless he is a professional painter. Hakuin was a Zen master, so he just gave away, I imagine. There are some records. Did Hakuin paint these throughout his whole life or in a shorter period? He started painting. Actually, his paintings usually started in his 60s. He died when he was 84. But most of the paintings were done in his 70s and 80s. 70s.

[19:05]

But probably he started a little earlier, when he was 58 or 59. There was a saying around this area that he was training monks. His training was very, very strict, very hard. He was doing that for a long time, but when he got older, he became more compassionate. And he started weeping when he was training and giving hard time to students. And finally he could not stand that. And then he retired and concentrated on painting. I don't know if it's true, but... Anyway, so in his 60s, 70s and early 80s.

[20:06]

This is called Mount Akiva Avatar. This is a date of a fire. One of the main figures of Shugendo or mountaineering aesthetics. Road of practicing exorcism. So Hakuin painted lots of Shinto figures and also some Taoists. And also he wrote some Confucius teachings. So on this level, superficial level, he tried to communicate with common people with the language they could understand. And I think on the back was printed, woodcut print, only the back.

[21:25]

So, interesting technique. And then he painted. This painting was actually given to someone for New Year's gift. And this was painted for a kite. To be mounted on a kite. A Chinese general called, we call it Kang Wu, but Kuan Liu in Chinese. This was done when he was 69. So, at this time he was very detailed and technical. You can see. This is one of the favorite figures for heroes, for boys.

[22:38]

For boys. No. Get out of the way. I beg your pardon? Position of the left hand. This one? Oh, this is it. This one. Looks like a destroying evil mudra. Not exactly, but destroying evil mudra, I think. So, I asked about the writing, because I wonder why is he painting a general? I mean, not about the mudra, but why is he painting a general? Why is he interested in it? Oh, it's a common figure. For a kite.

[23:38]

It's just an ordinary hero. This is a painting of a treasure boat. Treasure boat. Pine tree. And also seven, what do you call it? Deities of fortune. Good fortune. Shinto, mostly Shinto. Some, like this deity. So, very popular folk god. In Japan. If anyone asks, what are the three of the seven gods of good fortune,

[24:48]

I would say, first, Chu and Ko. And Chu is loyalty to the lord. And Ko is devotion to parents. And also Chu. Chu is quack, quack, quack. You see grass? Can you see further? I can see. So, again, wordplay. And also, using some folk beliefs. All right.

[25:53]

This is a character, Jyu, which means longevity. And one hundred of them in different styles. Of course, everyone would like to have a scroll like this. So, he did this. Long life. This is, this is happening. Hakuin was born in 1685 in a small town called Hara. And he became a monk when he was 15 at a temple called Shoin Temple in Hara.

[27:18]

And this is a figure which is kept in the same temple. He traveled various places and practiced. And when he was 24, he was given, he was transmitted Dharma from a person called Oman Shoju in Mountainous Province, Shinano. Then, he became very ill because of the practice after the Enlightenment. And then he went to see a Taoist sorcerer called Hakuyu, Hakuyushi in Kyoto. Then, he got recovered. And then, at the age of 33, because his teacher died, he was actually forced to be the abbot of Shoin Temple.

[28:31]

This is a small temple in the country. Next year, he became the head monk of Myoshinji Temple, one of the largest major temples in Kyoto, Brindai school. But soon, he quit and he went back to Shoin Temple. And actually, he stayed there all his lifetime. He remained the abbot of a very small temple in the country. Hakuyu. And his heir, his disciple Torei, wrote a biography of Hakuyu. And according to Torei's description, up to age 42 was his practice period.

[29:37]

And then after that, he spread teachings. He traveled a lot and formed meditation groups here and there, taught monks and lay people. And very energetically, he was very energetic doing that. And his style Zen, as most of you know, is Koan Zen. And he's actually the one who restored the real Koan practice. By that time, Koan practice became almost like a quiz, Zen. And Buddhism was quite in the feudal system. He started with Koan very hard.

[30:42]

So his teaching was so powerful that now all the major temples, the abbots, are all under Hakuin's lineage. And so he is called the re-establisher or the second founder of Rinzai school in Japan. So these are the four wings of Koan, his Koan painting. There is... After keeping an unbroken ox for a number of days, he has become a part of myself.

[31:50]

What a joy. So he is now bowing to his ox. Because ox is a symbol of enlightenment, as you see in the ox-wearing painting or story. Karatsu wa sugu koson no shino. Over the forest of an old village, a closed path. So everything is hidden under white.

[32:56]

Incidentally, Hakuin means... Haku means white. In means to hide. Hiding. Haku is a ghost term. Emptiness. Hiding in emptiness. Emptiness. A small writing. White snow covers thousands of mountains. How can a single piece not be white? This is also Koan.

[34:10]

This is a long fish baking. Sweet potatoes. In the fire. Good fire. Priest Minson was known as a lazy man. He was called Priest Lazy Minson. The Chinese emperor heard about him and sent for him. So the messenger said, I'm the imperial messenger. Wipe off your nose dripping. So he said, I'm a simple-hearted man. I don't know why you have to wipe your nose dripping.

[35:15]

So this is the story. The meaning is, dung smoke enters the palace. Burning dung. Burning dung. This is one of the paintings. He gave many of these paintings to the people who got to certain stages. And this is a staff. Dragon head is there. So it's a symbol of his dharma transmission.

[36:21]

And it says, Raymond Yamamoto UFO of Sakai City has thrust through my strong double barrier. My strong double barrier. Called the Sound of One Hand Clapping. This is to certify under the Sharla tree, Hakuin. So Hakuin actually created this koan of the Sound of One Hand Clapping in his 60s. And he found it very effective. Very effective question to message on. And he wrote about it in his letter to Lord Okayama.

[37:26]

And Sharla tree, he sometimes signs his name, Hakuin. And he said, I'm the Sharla tree. That's the old monk Hakuin. Sharla trees are the trees that symbolizes the nirvana of the Buddha. And when he passed away, one of the trees became white. So it has something to do with his name too. Thank you. How do you like the writing? One arrowhead breaks through triple barrier.

[38:33]

Three barrier, but it's actually triple barrier. Strong barrier. Of koan, of course. So you can see how powerful his character and teaching is through his writing. His style of calligraphy. [...] Concentration in. This is the word in. In activity. Concentration in activity. Excel concentration in stillness.

[39:40]

By a hundred, a thousand, even a hundred million times. That's his teaching. So, concentration inside the activity is precious. Very weird. Usually people don't like this. So, that's his teaching. For him, concentration in activity is important. I'll stop here. If I get bored, I'll write the same thing for everyone. A moment of not being, a famous dead man.

[40:47]

A moment of absence, a dead man. A moment of absence, a dead man. This is his self-portrait, a very famous one. I think most of you know. And I like to... Why self-portrait? Self-portrait? Why? Self-portrait is very popular. It's given to the disciple. It's given as a symbol of, well, given his teaching. Sometimes, well, sometimes it's done by the teacher himself.

[41:52]

Sometimes the painter or someone else does the painting, and the teacher writes on his state of mind, or his understanding of teaching. It's a custom in Zen. I don't know why. I'd like to quote a translation of Zen dharma. It's a good translation. In the realm of a thousand Buddhas, he is hated by a thousand Buddhas. Among the crowd of demons, he is detested by the crowd of demons. He crushes the silent illumination heritage of today,

[42:53]

and massacres the heterodox blind monks of this generation. This filthy, blind old shithead has more foulness still to foulness. Hakuin calls himself a man who appears once 500 years. And actually, history has proved that he was right. I think now everyone agrees that he is probably the most important and influential Zen master in the Edo period, which is 17th to 19th century. A strong conscience. So these are the last type of paintings we are showing now,

[44:09]

are the patriarchal paintings. This is Kanzan, who founded Myoshinji Temple, in Kyoto. I think 14th century. In Kyoto, there are five mountains. Major mountains are called five mountains, five major temples. Actually, there are some more, but they are classified as five mountains. Those temples became rather cultural, and again, institutionalized. So Myoshinji was built to be a real monastery for practice, and Kanzan was the founder of the temple. And Hakuin is under his lineage.

[45:12]

But I like the strange way of the drawing. That's a pun. This is another famous painting. Daito Kokushi, Kanzan's teacher. He was a great master, but

[46:23]

he just disappeared. He was living somewhere near the river among beggars. So people actually couldn't tell who was Daito Kokushi, which was Daito Kokushi. But the emperor wanted to see him, so sent for him. And Daito Kokushi had one weakness. He loved melons. So people said, well, we are giving away melons, so people should come and be in the line. And they were in the line, and they asked, get it without hands. No one could understand. No one could answer. But Daito Kokushi said, give it without hands. So this is a guy.

[47:28]

So it says. This is also from Zendak. Wearing a straw mat among the crowd of beggars. Excuse me. Though his greed for sweet melons Oh, excuse me. Through his greed for sweet melons, he's been taken alive. If you give me the fruit without using your hands, of course, I'll answer your present. Without using my feet. This is a begging bowl of the beggar.

[48:34]

And also symbolizing his teaching. Thank you. Thank you. We have another detail of the painting. What did they do with it after they found it? They made him the avatar of the largest temple in Kyoto. The largest temple in Kyoto. The largest temple. It's small. Thank you. Thank you.

[49:39]

Somehow, for Hakuin's painting, eyes are important. Eyes are very big. According to them, microbiotics are very compact. Compact? Is that Japanese or English? It's a noise. Noise? I can't understand because I don't have big eyes. This is dark. But this is another painting of Zaito Kokushi. And this is the same thing. Thank you. Look at those hands and feet. And of course,

[50:44]

fromat means beggar's feet. Symbolizing his life. What is his right hand? Does that mean beggar? Thank you. I think he's trying to catch melon, I guess. Without his hand. This is the last Chinese Zen master of his lineage. Daiso Kinzan Toko Kido Shigo Osho That's the name of his temple. Kido Osho Great Zen master of Kinzan Great Sun Thank you. Thank you.

[51:53]

Thank you. This was done when he was when Hakuin was in his 80s. The last part of his painting career. Thank you. This is Unmo. What's he doing? Have you fun? What is that? Is he holding a rope? I'm not sure.

[53:08]

The world is so wide. Why do you hear the bell sound and wear seven jewels of rose? So this is rose, I think. This is based on Chinese legend of Bodhidharma crossing the river on a rush leaf. So it says from the left Great Master Bodhidharma on rush leaf. Very simplified expression

[54:29]

This is quite a large painting owned by wealthy family in Kobe. And actually I went to see at the painting. And it's called Bodhidharma or Great Dharma. Very famous piece. Probably one of the most known pieces of Hakuin. Seeing the nature and attaining Buddhahood. Seeing the nature Kensho. Now you know

[55:41]

why his eyes are big. How long does it take to paint it? This kind of painting? How much time? About five minutes? Five minutes? Maybe an hour to make an ink design like that. We have two more slides. Three more. Dōmitemo Dōmitemo Dharma Hana So however much you see that, that, that. It's Bodhidharma

[56:41]

nothing but Bodhidharma. So Sorry this is all dark. But this is again Bodhidharma. And this is quite abstract but this is taken from the character Hakuin ink. So it's a cursive very cursive way of writing and also of course reformed shape

[57:43]

of ink for Hakuin. So now Hakuin is hidden in Bodhidharma. So this is a little more advanced and more abstract form of Hakuin himself in the shape of Bodhidharma. Even though it may not look like it it is great master

[58:46]

Bodhidharma facing the wall. Thank you and I hope to see you again.

[59:02]

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