Summary: Episode Description: In this third talk of the Rohatsu sesshin, Sensei Kaz begins by speaking about "enlightenment." An assumption that the word often carries is that enlightenment is a state of being, in which a person has become perfect, divine. If, however, we follow the Zen teachings of Dogen, enlightenment is a dynamic process and not a state. We have the responsibility to actualize enlightenment in each moment of practice and in our daily lives. Roshi Enkyo then steps in and discusses the "five realms" we can visit in our practice: those of the gods, the humans, the angry titans, the hungry ghosts, and the hell realm. She then speaks about the interconnectedness of all that is through the metaphor of Indra's Net, making the point that we are each responsible for being aware of our constant interaction with everything around us. We are interdependent, and our interdependence free us from our dependence on the old stories and sense of self that limit us. When we appreciate our freedom, our ability to "be anything," we begin to appreciate the freedom of others. From this, compassion arises, as well as a responsibility to tend to our nexus of the net and all we encounter. For teacher BIOs, please visit Part 1. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: Rohatsu: Morning Star Series: All 6 Parts
