JAPAN-Ryoan-ji

（日本語で読む）
                            
                                    Fifteen.

Does the number 15 mean something to you?  Something more than just a rock garden not so far from Shotoku-an? A garden famous for sand, 15 rocks, and a small amount of moss; all surrounded by a clay wall? A place to sit and.... .to linger. To look for meaning? or not look for meaning. To analyze? or not analyze. To count the rocks? or not count the rocks. To count your breaths? or not count your breaths.  To look at the arrangement of the rocks? or look at the space between the rocks. To look at the space between the rocks? or to look at the space of your mind.

Look for fifteen rocks, visible at the same time and place, and you will never see it. Try from another place, another angle, and you will never get it. Be like the Dragon at Peace, just sit quietly and contemplate and you might discover something.

"Looking again and again at the mind that cannot be seen. What cannot be seen is seen clearly, just as it is. Cutting doubts about what is or what is not. Free from confusion, may our true nature recognize itself."  (CTR said this.)

Fifteen is the number of days from New Moon to Full Moon. The two new questions are the meaning of new moon? Full moon?  If we can see only fourteen stones in this arrangement, then where do these fourteen stones lead us to?  If fourteen is not complete, then is fifteen complete and perfect? At that point we are exactly where we ought to be!

One outstanding piece is the tsukubai water stone close to the teahouse of this Zen temple. Carved into the top surface are four kanji, an answer to the question: "Why do you study? Why do you practice?" This kind of question comes up in many different forms throughout Zen history. In this case, one Zen-person answered with just these four kanji: 吾唯足知 Ware-tada-taru-shiru.  "I study/practice just to learn contentment."  To be satisfied with things as they are. To cut desire mind, and rest in the simplicity of ordinary mind. To not look for more. To look at a garden with 15 stones, and to be at ease seeing only 14 stones. To look at the stones, but to see the space.  There is a scroll from Suzuki-roshi with the words: "stones in the air." Maybe he too was sitting here one day, looking out at this vast sea-scape with these 15 stones; and he discovered something of supreme importance.


John Cage composed the music  Ryoan-ji, The Peaceful Dragon;