In Zen practice, the Dharma combat is an intense short session with a teacher that facilitates breaking through to clear sight. Often, the brief meeting surrounds a koan that the student is working through. In my experince with a local zendo and the roshi of that community, the session would begin with the question: What is your koan? I would restate it and the Roshi would then pose the koan to me again expecting a reply.
An Abrahamic Dharma is a compelling basis for Zen practice using the koan-like material of which there is ample supply from canonical scripture and the apocryphal texts of the Nag Hammadi Library that I have made comment on in my last few posts. So, I am opening this post as an invitation to this practice of virtual Sanzen whereby all who choose to reply can benefit from one another.
My intent, then, is to upload a Sanzen challenge once a week as grist for the meditative mill for anyone who might find it a useful process. I will share some of my own reflections later in the week.
This first koan challenge is taken from the Gospel of Thomas:
Jesus said, “Be Passers-By”.
How do you show this?
© Brother Anton and The Harried Mystic, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.
The Harried Mystic 
Jesus said, “Be Passers-By”.
I feel that a passer-by is someone who is aware, but not involved with the moment, that is, aloof from and/or compassionately detached from someone, some place, some event.
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Thank you for your very thoughtful reply. So, how do you show “compassionate detachment”?
Pax Et Bonum.
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“Compassionate Detachment” occurs when you are in the moment, one with everthing and willing to provide a Divine service.
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Beautifully said.
So, inspired by what you’ve written and in the spirit of dharma combat, I ask myself:
In this very moment, without further hesitation, without abstraction, being one with everything, what is my “compassionately detached” act of divine service?
Thank you. Warm regards.
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