Personal Reflections on the Kakisage
The Kakisage is often spoken of as being the tenth Besseki Lecture. After a period of preparation, recipients of the Kakisage, having just been granted the truth of the Sazuke, are advised to read daily and ponder its intended meaning. My own ponderings change day by day, according to the state and truth of my mind at any given time. Upon reflection I find that my thoughts and ponderings change, not only day to day but moment to moment. In that regard I will attempt to be guided in my ponderings by two poems from the Ofudesaki appearing below.
From now on I shall speak in the metaphor of water.
Be enlightened by the word clear and muddy.
Ponder this: no matter how clear the water may be,
if you put
mud into it, it will become muddy.
"Yet the mind of saving others is the real truth of sincerity alone and, by this truth of saving others, you are saved."
The mind of saving others is here equated with the real truth of sincerity, it is then the mind that has returned to its origin and understands the original truth and intention of the human mind.
It is interesting that since in truth there is only one, the mind that works at saving others is literally saving itself by perfecting the human self-centered imagination as the intended instrument of joyous play in the free and unlimited workings of God's body.