Tao Te Ching Chapter 75-2 King & Zen Master Dogen

Today's Tao

It's difficult to govern people because their king does something. That's why it's difficult to govern them. (Ch.75)


Zen Master Kyogen Chikan 香厳智閑 [Hsing-yen Chih-hsien / Xiangyan Zhixian] said:

"a painted rice-cake cannot satisfy hunger."


Of course, not. We cannot eat the picture of a rice-cake... Wait a minute!


Master Dogen said:

"If it is not a painted rice-cake, it must not be a remedy to satisfy hunger."

(Gabyo 画餅, «Shobogenzo»)

Didn't he? (☞See Painted rice-cake / Empty granary 53-5)


Can a painted rice-cake satisfy hunger?

Or, can it not?


Dogen answers the question with some key phrases in Zen.

"A painted rice-cake cannot satisfy hunger" is like saying:

"No one can ever do anything evil. Everyone is doing the right thing. (Don't do anything evil. Practice all the good things.) 諸悪莫作、衆善奉行 [shoaku makusa, shuzen bugyo]",

"Where on earth did this «what on earth» thing come from? 是什麼物恁麼来 [ze inmo butsu inmo rai]",

and

"I am always doing this desperately. 吾れ常に是に於いて切なり [ware tsuneni koreni oite setsu nari]".

(Gabyo 画餅, «Shobogenzo»)


Did you get Master Dogen's teachings?

You are the king in your hologram.

If you do something, everything is difficult.

If you do nothing, everything is easy.


[Note]
"I am always doing this desperately." 吾れ常に是に於いて切なり / 吾常於此切 [ware tsuneni koreni oite setsu nari], originally mentioned by Tozan Ryokai (807-869) 洞山良价 [Tung-shan Liang-chieh / Dongshan Liangjie].


«Related Articles»
-Tax and Starve 75-1
-King and Zen Master Dogen 75-2
-Plenty of life? 75-3
-Value life? 75-4
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 75


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao of ****» The first line comparison (16) / "I have often been described as outgoing, aggressive, impulsive, intimidating, gregarious, courageous, and daring." On the left, «The Tao of Tango» written by Johanna Siegmann. / "'What have you got?' The old man asked me around his cigar. 'A banjo' I replied." On the right, «The How and the Tao of Old Time Banjo» written by Patrick Costello. / "C'mon. Tao has nothing to do with Tango or Banjo!", you might say. But, wait a minute. Remember? Tao is everywhere, even around the banjo or the legs of your Tango partner.