Fascicle 1:
1.1 As all things are buddha-dharma, there is delusion and realization, practice, birth and death, buddhas and sentient beings.1.2 As the myriad things are without an abiding self there is no delusion, no realization, no buddha, no sentient beings, no birth and death.
1.3 The buddha way is, basically, leaping clear of the many and the one; thus there are birth and death, delusion and realization, sentient beings and buddhas.
1.4 Yet, in attachment blossoms fall and aversion weeds spread.
Personal Reflections:
Upon first reflection what is mostly coming up for me are questions!! What is the difference between buddhas and sentient beings? Why the repetitive selection of: delusion, realization, birth, death, buddhas and sentient beings to discuss around? To me, one thing this first paragraph offers is: there IS all of these things (birth, death, delusion, realization, buddhas & sentient beings). The second thing it seems to say is there is NO birth, death, delusion, realization, buddhas & sentient beings.
So the question comes, how could there BE these things at the same time that there are NOT these things? How could each of these BE and NOT BE simultaneously? How could TRUTH and NOT TRUTH be two sides of the same coin?
Although, while I feel I could make a pretty darn good case that I was BORN and that I am not DEAD, it is true that I would be harder pressed to argue whether I am in a state of DELUSION or REALIZATION. I could easily argue for both of these, and I believe others who know me might be able to make a critical argument for both as well. An argument working both sides could also be made as to my own BUDDHA nature and my SENTIENT nature.
So now, as I am thinking through this, I can see where a single true can hold TRUTH and NOT TRUTH as one and the same. In fact, I am now even seeing where I could begin to argue that only parts of me have been BORN and certain parts have yet to BIRTH, while certain parts of me are in fact DEAD or have yet to experience DEATH.
Maybe something to consider as time goes on is "what is the Genjo Koan not saying?"
