The True Artist of Life

One of the teachings I've received is "Die before you die." In the writings of D. T. Suzuki, there is a good explanation of this message, beginning with a poem of Bunan, a Zen master of the 17th century.

WHILE ALIVE

BE A DEAD MAN,

THOROUGHLY DEAD;

AND ACT AS YOU WILL,

AND ALL IS GOOD.

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TO LOVE GOD IS TO HAVE NO SELF, TO BE OF NO-MIND, TO BECOME "A DEAD MAN," TO BE FREE FROM THE CONSTRICTIVE MOTIVATIONS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. THIS MAN'S "GOOD MORNING" HAS NO HUMAN ELEMENT OF ANY KIND OF VESTED INTEREST. HE IS ADDRESSED AND HE RESPONDS. HE FEELS HUNGRY AND HE EATS. SUPERFICIALLY, HE IS A NATURAL MAN, COMING RIGHT OUT OF NATURE WITH NO COMPLICATED IDEOLOGIES OF MODERN CIVILIZED MAN. BUT HOW RICH HIS INWARD LIFE IS! BECAUSE IT IS IN DIRECT COMMUNION WITH THE GREAT UNCONSCIOUS.

ONE OF THE GREAT MASTERS OF THE T'ANG SAYS: "WITH A MAN WHO IS MASTER OF HIMSELF WHEREVER HE MAY BE FOUND HE BEHAVES TRULY TO HIMSELF." THIS MAN I CALL A TRUE ARTIST OF LIFE.