Koans for Precepts, Life and Death

Struggling for some higher context
for the meaning of the Precepts, and life,
reminds me of several koans.

... a finger, pointing at the moon ...
(while not itself the moon
does hint at where to look further).

Two monks discussing death:
One said "it is like ice returning to water".
The second corrected "no, it is like water returning to water".

One questioned what remains when an enlightened being dies:
One said "nothing remains".
The second replied "the truth remains".

One of Suzuki Roshi's talks likened our lives the feelings
to individual water droplets in a waterfall;
throughout their long and difficult fall,
they are returning, back to their source and substance.



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