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 the 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.
"Listen well. One thing more, in your efforts of contribution and dedication, know that this truth is for all situations of your families and all situation of each of you."
This is a very important point and it is intended to address a common mistaken use of mind. Ordinarily we might think that the "Sazuke" is intended to be used in much the same way as a medicine or ritual to effect a cure for a particular problem, be it a pressing illness or trouble. It is understandable the we might think so but in fact the "Sazuke" is intended to cut off the root of all illness and trouble by returning the both the subject (self-centered imagination) and object (borrowed body) to their original owner. In that case, our ordinary ideas concerning the causes and cures of illness and trouble are found to be non-existent. In understanding free and unlimited workings we are able the to work on the actual maintenance and repair of the body that is borrowed and have the use of a mind that can tell the difference between original and imagined truths and causes. Certainly this is the before and after Model Story of Miki Nakayama.