The last word before sunrise

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The last word before sunrise

Before sunrise this morning, wind sends wispy clouds scurrying across the gray sky. Yet the trees are nearly still.

Later, in Gateless Gate, Case 13, Ganto whispers in old master Tokusan’s ear. The master, we are told, is satisfied and silent.
What, then, is the last word of Zen?

By | 2015-10-02T14:33:45+00:00 février 12th, 2009|Textes|8 Comments

About the Author:

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.

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8 Comments

  1. tu es cela 15 février 2009 at 19 h 29 min - Reply

    The sun was hot pink this morning, coming up over a straight line of young trees along a nearly deserted boulevard in Paris.

  2. little lake 14 février 2009 at 23 h 35 min - Reply

    next to me on a high shelf a glass half filled with water.
    i see it from below.
    when i look to the surface of the water, it seems like the surface exists on its own
    not belonging to the water
    neither to the space above

    there is no last word of Zen
    everything is

  3. little lake 14 février 2009 at 15 h 08 min - Reply

    Later, in Gateless Gate, Case 13, Ganto whispers in old master Tokusan’s ear. The master, we are told, is satisfied and silent.
    What, then, is the last word of Zen?

    Master Without Words
    for
    That which is before you is it, in all its fullness, utterly complete.

  4. no eye 13 février 2009 at 14 h 08 min - Reply

    Amazing isn’t it? How beautifully intricate your ear, when whispered in, just triggers that natural ease and resonates with the sounds. I will not be guessing which side we are talking here, but it’s worth hearing for yourself what your right and left ear have to tell you. (I am really not kidding you)

  5. HJ 13 février 2009 at 10 h 20 min - Reply

    And we both smile.
    Smile – smile.
    Eyes – eyes.

  6. HJ 13 février 2009 at 10 h 18 min - Reply

    My girlfriend often whispers in my ear.
    I am also satisfied and silent.
    She doesnt have to say anything.
    I just have to listen.

  7. Juan 12 février 2009 at 23 h 50 min - Reply

    Isn’t the last the same as the first?

  8. Ting 12 février 2009 at 21 h 03 min - Reply

    Ganto’s heart is on fire.
    His whisper shakes the earth.
    His actions are pure and amazing,
    He inspires Tokusan and together they teach all of us the ultimate lesson.

    The final word of Zen will not be spoken
    as long as this fire in our hearts is burning.

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