1610th "Life and Death" 2025/6/4 Head of the Engakuji School of the Rinzai Sect - Master Yokota Nanrei
//Summary - Level-B2//
This text reflects on life and death, inspired by Mushanokoji Saneatsu's book Snail Dokgo. It says death is both sacred and feared, but people survive because they want to live. Fear of death helps us continue life. If we live honestly and thoroughly, we may accept death peacefully. Historical figures like Socrates and Shakyamuni showed this. Death is not scary when we let go of our attachment to life. The author believes we are alive because we still have something to do. Ultimately, we should be grateful for life and death, accepting them with peace and appreciation.
1)
There is a book called "Snail Dokgo" by Mushanokoji Saneatsu.
It is an old book.
It was published in 1940.
There is a chapter called "Life and Death".
It says the following.
2)
There is no death where there is no life, but where there is life, there is always death. The most unpleasant thing in life is death.
But the most sacred thing is also death.
It would be good if humans were immortal, but humans are not made to be eternal.
And it seems that there are times in life when we can accept death without any worries.
3)
There is a saying that death is a return but an addition. However, death is an unwelcome guest in most cases.
It is strange that humans, who are bound to die, are made not to want to die.
However, humanity has survived today, and the population has not decreased. It will continue to increase in the future because humans do not enjoy death.
4)
If death were nothing to us, how many more suicides would there be?
Also, sick people would say that dying is less troublesome than curing their illness.
Or they would do what they say without saying it.
The human race would not have existed on Earth until today, and would have died out long ago.
5)
Humans have been able to live until today because of a strong instinct to fear death, and in the future, humans will probably live as long as they can.
Humans are mortal.
But they must live until they die.
In other words, humans are made so that, while they want to live as long as they can, they don't want to die.
6)
Some might say that living as long as we can makes death less frightening if that's the case.
"Yes," I would say.
If anyone has doubts, I will say the same to them. "First, try to live as honestly as you can.
If you can do that, you will understand that what I am saying is true.
7)
However, if you do not truly live your life and complain that you cannot die without feeling any discomfort, that is of no use.
If you want to die peacefully, you must come into contact with the great life."
"So, have you lived your life to the fullest? Aren't you speaking as if it were true about something that you have not experienced?"
8)
"I am still a person who is afraid of death. That is why I am a person who has not yet lived my life to the fullest.
But people who have lived to the fullest - and there have been such people in the past - did not fear death.
I think Socrates is a typical example.
Even Shakyamuni's death was peaceful. It must have been that way.
That is how it should be."
9)
"When the cause disappears, the result disappears.
When the purpose is accomplished, the desire disappears.
You feel hungry when you are hungry, but when your stomach is full, you cannot.
When thirsty, you want to drink water, but do not feel parched when drunk enough.
10)
Even those who scream in physical pain will feel at ease when the pain disappears.
No matter how intense the fear of death is, when the time comes when death is permitted, it is natural that the fear will disappear.
Therefore, death is scary because we are attached to life, and when that attachment disappears, it is natural that death will no longer be frightening."
11)
This is Mushakoji's view of life and death.
In "The Blue Cliff Record," there is a dialogue about life and death like this.
I will refer to the modern Japanese translation by Professor Sueki Fumiyoshi in the Modern Japanese Translation of Hekiganroku, published by Iwanami Bunko.
I will only write the main text.
12)
"Dogo and Zengen went to a house to pay their respects.
Zengen knocked on the coffin and asked, "Are you alive or dead?"
Dogo: "I'm not saying that you're alive, and I'm not saying that you're dead."
Zengen: "Why don't you tell me?"
Dogo: "I won't tell you, I won't tell you."
13)
When they were halfway back,
Zengen: "Reverend, please tell me right away. If you don't, I'll hit you."
Dogo: "Feel free to hit me if you want. But if you tell me, I won't."
Zengen hit him.
Later, Dogo died.
14)
Zengen went to Ishige and told him the story above.
Shi Shiang: "I'm not saying he's alive, and I'm not saying he's dead."
Zhen Yuan: "Why don't you say anything?"
Shi Shiang: "I won't say anything, I won't say anything."
Zhen Yuan immediately understood.
15)
One day, Zhen Yuan walked back and forth in the Dharma hall with a hoe.
Shi Shiang: "What are you doing?"
Zhen Yuan: "I'm searching for the mystical remains of my master."
Shi Shiang: "Great waves as far as the eye can see rage in the sky.
What my Master's remains are you searching for?"
16)
Xue Dou wrote, "Oh, how sad."
Zhen Yuan: "I'll try my best to fight it."
Tai Yuan Fu: "The mystical remains of my master are still there."
That's how it went.
17)
When I consider life and death, I don't understand where the boundary is.
There is also this passage in Mushakoji's "Snail Dokgo".
"I think that mindlessness is the height of life.
And death is the height of mindlessness.
18)
If that's the case, why don't I die? Because while I'm alive, I must live as a human being, and I think that if I don't fulfil that duty, I'm not satisfied.
So, whenever I think about my death, I tell God that I want to die.
Those are ideal words, and I may still do something completely different.
19)
"Can I die now? Thank you. If I could die now, my life would have been happy."
In other words, there is a view that you are alive because you are not allowed to die.
In other words, I think I am alive because I have not done what I should have done in this world.
"Punishment" is a bit too strong, but using words like that is okay.
20)
I am grateful to be able to live, and I want to be grateful to die.
I love my parents and am grateful that they gave birth to me.
So I think it was good that I was born.
But everyone dies.
21)
I don't think that's a bad thing. Although it's sad, I also think it's beautiful.
At least when I can't live no matter what, I don't want to deal with the pain and fear of death, but I want to welcome death itself.
"Am I ready to die now?"
That's what he said.
22)
These words are the book's title by former head priest Adachi Daishin Roshi.
The Masterblished this book when he turned 60.
Now that I've finally reached that age, I'm beginning to understand it better.
1610th "Life and Death" 2025/6/4 Head of the Engakuji School of the Rinzai Sect - Master Yokota Nanrei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmSv4h2LC-M
