Certification/Transmission of Enlightenment

Me talk about the "E" word? say it ain't so!
Yeah folks I guess it is about time. All of Ted’s talk about transmission has dragged it out of me. I am going to quote an ole dead (maybe not really so dead) guy too.

So why am I doing this? To express a certain point of view, and because people are unreliable. The history of transmission in the “Zen” tradition has been corrupt since it began. And while there are good teachers out there, even most of them are bound by customs, curtseys, policies, and procedures which have little or nothing to do with much of anything accept self aggrandizement and self perpetuation and doctrine.

So how do we, unable to find a reliable person, get certification of our own enlightenment? (Leave out a few concepts here, we’re already enlightened, I know the whole universe is enlightenment itself, yep, got that)

So where do we turn? Well, I know a monk who initially sounded pretty pretentious.
He said “I have overcome all foes; I am all-wise; I am free from stains in all things; I have left everything and have obtained emancipation of craving. Having myself gained knowledge, whom should I call my master? I have no teacher; no one is equal to me; in the world of men and of gods no being is like me. I am the Holy One in this world, I am the highest teacher, I alone am the perfectly ever Enlightened One; I have gained coolness and have obtained Nirvana. To set in motion the wheel of the Dharma, I go to the city of the Benares; I will beat the drum of the Immortal in the darkness of this world."

Wow! I think we would consider it pretty rude to talk like that nowadays.
So we should put this to the test! What is the criteria for all of that big stuff you say you are?

And he said:
"There are two extremes, which he who has given up the world ought to avoid.
Those extremes are, a life given to pleasures, devoted to pleasures and lusts—this is degrading, sensual, vulgar, ignoble, and profitless.
And a life given to mortifications—this is painful, ignoble, and profitless.”

Ok so we should avoid extremes that seems like it ought to be common sense, but as I look around, I am sad to see it not so common after all. Besides, people like to party! What is to be gained by avoiding these to extremes?

And he said: “By avoiding these two extremes, I have gained the knowledge of the Middle Way which leads to insight, which leads to wisdom, which conduces to calm, to knowledge, to Supreme Enlightenment, to Nirvana."

Whoa, there you go talking that smack again like your all that. So how the heck did you get that way if it is so?

He said: “It is the Noble Eightfold Way, namely: right views, right intent, right speech, right conduct, right means of livelihood, right endeavor, right mindfulness, right meditation.

This,is the Middle Way the knowledge of which I have gained, which leads to insight, which leads to wisdom, which conduces to calm, to knowledge, to perfect enlightenment to Nirvana.

This is the Noble Truth of Suffering (dukkha): birth is suffering; aging is suffering; illness is suffering; death is suffering; presence of objects we hate is suffering; separation from objects we love is suffering; not to obtain what we desire is suffering. In short, the Five Components of Existence are suffering.

This is the Noble Truth concerning the Origin of Suffering: verily, it originates in that craving which causes rebirth, which produced delight and passion, and seeks pleasure now here, now there; that is to say, craving for sensual pleasures, craving for continued life, craving for nonexistence.

This is the Noble Truth concerning the Cessation of Suffering: truly, it is the complete cessation of craving so that no passion remains; the laying aside of, the giving up, the being free from, the harboring no longer of, this craving.

This is the Noble Truth concerning the Way which leads to the Cessation of Suffering: verily, it is this Noble Eightfold Way, that is to say, right views, right intent, right speech, right conduct, right means of livelihood, right endeavor, right mindfulness, and right meditation.

This is the Noble Truth concerning Suffering. Thus in things which formerly had not been heard of have I obtained insight, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, intuition.

This Noble Truth concerning Suffering must be understood. Thus, monks, in things which formerly had not been heard of have I obtained insight, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and intuition. This Noble Truth concerning Suffering I have understood. Thus in things which formerly had not been heard of have I obtained insight, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and intuition.

This is the Noble Truth concerning the Origin of Suffering. Thus in things which had formerly not been heard of I have obtained insight, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, intuition. This Noble Truth concerning the Cause of Suffering must be abandoned . . . has been abandoned by me. Thus in things which formerly had not been heard of have I obtained knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and intuition.

This is the Noble Truth concerning the Cessation of Suffering Thus in things which formerly had not been heard of have I obtained insight, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, intuition. This Noble Truth concerning the Cessation of Suffering must be seen face to face . . . has been seen by me face to face. Thus, monks, in things which formerly had not been heard of have I obtained insight, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, intuition.

This is the Noble Truth concerning the Way which leads to the Cessation of Suffering. Thus in things which formerly had not been heard of have I obtained insight, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, intuition. This Noble Truth concerning the Way which leads to the Cessation of Suffering must be realized . . . has been realized by me. Thus in things which formerly had not been heard of have I obtained insight, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, intuition.”

Ok, so that was from Gotama Buddha’s first “Dharma” talk at Dear Park. In the last chapters of the Nishijima and Cross translation of the Shobognzo you will find something quite similar. This paticular version was adapted from Henry Clarke Warren, Buddhism in Translation, and E. H. Brewster, Life of Gotama the Buddha.

In that first sermon Gotama Buddha set forth the criteria for enlightenment.
It takes something special though, it takes self discipline, courage, poise, self confidence, the willingness to meet a challenge, the ability to be honest with yourself. Basically heroic guts. But you can do it. And if you are even moderately successful, when you have met this criterion, this is the transmission of the truth from Buddha to Buddha. This is what the unscrupulous covet but will never have. This needs no silk or paper document because when it is there you will radiate it. You will know, and others will figure it, and you will not need any certification at all because you are the certification.


In Gassho,
Jordan
(stepping down from the high seat)