Koten Benson, Rev. Master

This is the second in a series on The Five Diamond Points That Penetrate To the Very Heart of the Matter, teaching given by Rev. Master Koten of Lions Gate Priory. It primarily addresses the first point and speaks of the other four.

The first one is the keeping of the pure and bright mind. This is sometimes called the first mind in the initial stages of training. But it is not, in all aspects, the same as at the beginning.

Dōgen says “It is very difficult to keep the initial humility to the very end. But,” he says, “it is absolutely essential to do so.” The merit of first mind is the most widest and completely fathomless. Even if Buddhas explain it fully, such explanation can never be enough.

Issue: only available as part of Journal, Spring 2019 pdf to download

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