Review：Zen Buddhism and Nestorianism (Spring of water welling up to eternal life)
＜Slideshow：Spring of water welling up to eternal life＞
Nestorian Christianity, which was introduced to the Eastern world by Thomas, Didymus Judas Thomas, one of the Twelve, who is honored as the twin of Jesus, was called Jingjiao(景教) in China, fusing with the Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism that were emerging at the time, gave rise to Pure Land faith and Zen culture, and even contribued to the birth of Islam.
Thus, I focused on the Nestorian Christianity (景教), which became the catalyst for the rise of Zen Buddhism in China, and wrote the new book "Zen Buddhism and Nestorianism." By comparing the contents of the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and the Epistles of Paul with the Kosoku koans(古則公案), I would like to explore, together with the readers, the Genjo koans(現成公案) that Jesus presented to us.
Incidentally, subjects which Zen masters give their students in the meditation hall are called "Koan(公案)," the "Zen Questions and Answers" of the predecessors recorded in the Koan Roku(record books of Koan) are called "Kosoku Koan(古則公案)," and the current problems faced by the people in the real world are called "Genjo-koan(現成公案)."
Why no one enters it?
He said, "Lord, there are many around the drinking trough, but there is nothing in the well." (Thomas 74)
According to Mr. Sasagu Arai, author of the Japanese version of The Gospel of Thomas, the drinking trough is 'a spring of water welling up to eternal life,' that is, the one which is promised that if one drinks from it, he or she can become like Jesus. And it is a symbol of 'original Self' and refers to 'the Kingdom.' Origenes Adamantius (182?-251), who have won the high honor of the greatest early Christian theologian, also asks "Why so many people are around the fountain, but no one enters it?" in his writing 'Against Celsus.'
Bridal suite
According to Mr. Arai, it is possible that the verse 74 of the Gospel of Thomas was a pair of the verse 75.
Jesus said, "There are many standing at the door, but those who are alone will enter the bridal suite." (Thomas 75)
According to Mr. Arai, 'nymphon,' the original word of 'bridal suite,' literally means 'the place of marriage' where is performed the 'Holy Marriage' liturgy, that is, the liturgy for separated a male and a female to restore to the primitiveness which has not been split into male and female through Gnosis. Nymphon is given the highest status among the 'five liturgies of the Gospel of Philip.' The 'bridal suite' is a symbol of the kingdom where a male and a female are promised to enter as 'a single one.' 'A single one' means 'one who transcends division and recovers the original integration (propator = original Self) in himself or herself.' And the reign of this 'original Self' means realization of the kingdom of God. In the Gospel of Thomas, the phrase of 'single one' is repeatedly used as a keyword.
Only to be entrusted from Buddha to Buddha
After having been preaching for more than 40 years in various parts of India, Buddha said to Sariputra, one of the ten great his disciples, "Shariputra, the truth existed as universality within individual events and things in this world, in other words, the real image, can only be understood and shared among Buddhas but not among ordinary men. It is useless to explain to the ordinary. However, now I, joyful and fearless, in the midst of the bodhisattvas, honestly discarding expedient means, will preach only the unsurpassed Way. (Lotus Sutra Chapter 2: Expedient Means)" Then he preached the unsurpassed Way, that is, the Lotus Sutra.
The unsurpassed Way of Buddhism is that only Buddha can understand and he or she, who can drink from 'a spring of water welling up to eternal life,' is only one who can marry Jesus and become 'a single one.' Therefore, it is not surprising that many people gather at church, but none enter the spring.
－ Zen Buddhism and Nestorianism≪Gospel of Thomas≫ and Genjo-Koan[15]The supreme Way is not difficult; it simply dislikes choosing. －
Purchase here
The story of Martha and Mary
As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was worrying over the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me." But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it--and I won't take it away from her."(Luke 10:38-42)
Martha and Mary are different in their ways. Mary sits quietly at Jesus' feet, listening to his words in silence. Martha stands up, leaves Jesus, and works to host him. In addition, Martha directly questions Jesus, the Son of God, and makes a request. Jesus' words to Martha are clearly recorded, but not one of his words to Mary is recorded.
This passage of the Bible is usually interpreted as Jesus justifying Mary's way of being, in that she abandoned everything for the sake of "the one thing that is necessary" and sat with the Lord, listening to His Word.
However, Meister Eckhart, a medieval German (Holy Roman Empire) Christian theologian and mystic, reversed the interpretation, stating that "Martha did not forget contemplation in the conduct of her daily life, and was rather more mature in her knowledge of God than Mary."「離脱・放下」攷（二十八）A Study of "Abegescheidenheit and Gelassenheit" Chapter 28 https://blog.goo.ne.jp/kmomoji1010/e/5d753b1f9be8cd843bc4c68d0a594962
The Birth of the Word
According to theologian Mr. Naoki Kuwabara(桑原直己1954-), professor emeritus at the University of Tsukuba, the medieval mystic Eckhart believed that humans can become one with God by breaking through the finiteness of all created things through "Gelassenheit" (the annihilation of the self), and described this unity between humans and God as "the birth of the Word (= Christ, the Son of God) at the very core of the soul." (“Bridal mysticism” and “Essence mysticism”https://tsukuba.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/40985/files/SP_42_118.pdf)
So next time, I would like to explore, together with you, the "Gelassenheit(放下)" of Zen Buddhism and of Meister Eckhart and Martin Heidegger.
What is "Baptism with The Holy Spirit"?
According to the dialectic of the Gospel of John,
【Thesis】"A man can possess eternal life through accepting testimony of the Son of man and being baptized by him." (John 5:24)
【Anti-thesis】But "The one who comes from the earth cannot accept the testimony by one from heaven." (John 3:32)
How then can a man possess eternal life?
【Synthesis】"If you want to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, you can just go back to the word which was with God in the beginning (John 1:1) and certify that God is truthful. (John 3:33)"
When he said, "You are Huichao," Zen Master Fayan thrusted vivid Self in Huichao in front of his eyes.
Purchase here
○One world：
Your Comments / Unsubscribe
SEAnews Messenger
SEAnewsFacebook
SEAnews eBookstore
SEAnews world circulation
