Drop Off Body and Mind!

Text

During the early morning zazen, Rujing addressed the assembly: 'Studying Zen is the dropping off of body and mind.' Hearing these words, Dogen was suddenly and completely awakened. He went directly to the abbot's room and burned incense. Rujing asked, 'Why are you burning incense?' Dogen said, 'Body and mind have been dropped off.' Rujing said, 'Body and mind have been dropped off. The dropped-off body and mind.' Dogen said, 'This is only a temporary ability. Please do not give me your approval carelessly.' Rujing said, 'I am not giving you approval carelessly.' Dogen asked, 'What is this not giving approval carelessly?' Rujing said, 'Body and mind dropped off!'

license: public_domain

Attribution

• Respondent
  Dōgen
• Speaker
  Tiantong Rujing

Lineage: Caodong

By Tiantong Rujing

• The Primacy of Zazen Over All Other Practicessaying
• Body and Mind Drop Awayproverb
• Do Not Burn Incense for Showproverb

From Traditional Zen Encounter Dialogues

• My Mind Is Not at Peace
• Thinking of Not-Thinking
• Not Knowing Is Most Intimate
• The Boat Monk's Transmission
• The Sound of Bamboo
• Vast Emptiness, Nothing Holy
• Ordinary Mind Is the Way
• Nanquan Kills the Cat
• Wash Your Bowl
• The Oak Tree in the Garden

Sources

• contentWikisource — English-language free library

  Hokyoki (Dogen's journal of study under Rujing)

  Traditional Zen Encounter Dialogues: Drop Off Body and Mind!