No let-up in the cold again today, breath in the air, ice under foot.
I’m reminded of case 43 of The Blue Cliff Record:
A monk asked Tozan, « When cold and heat visit us, how should we avoid them? »
Tozan said, « Why not go where there is neither cold nor heat? »
The monk asked, « Where is there neither cold nor heat? »
Tozan said, « When it is cold, kill yourself with cold. When it is hot, kill yourself with heat. »
Cold is cold is cold is cold
About the Author: zenscribe
Enseignante Zen et poète, Sensei Amy “Tu es cela” Hollowell est née et a grandi à Minneapolis, aux Etats-Unis. Arrivée en France en 1981 pour étudier la littérature et l’histoire, elle y est restée, s’installant à Paris, où elle élève ses deux enfants et gagne sa vie en tant que journaliste.
The Zen teacher and poet Amy “Tu es cela” Hollowell Sensei was born and raised in Minneapolis, but came to France in 1981 to study literature and history and has lived in Paris ever since, raising her two children and making a living as a journalist.
The cold is gone now.
But now that the sky is gray and the snow thaws, I feel something pure and beautiful is lost.
When it is cold, be the cold itself. When it is hot, be the heat itself.
When it is cold, there is only cold (…or gold…). When it is hot, there is only heat (…or sweet cream…)
I’m of to walk the dog. All zipped up and wearing gloves, hat and scarf. Ameland may be even colder! Warm feeling to see you there soon.