Diligence & Enlightenment : Many Thanks to the Sangha

Beginning with Case 86 in the Book of Equanimity, "Rinzai's Great Enlightenment," Shiro and the Sangha discuss the folly of chasing after enlightenment as something new to be acquired or attained. Who is the enlightened one? Where does she stand? What does she see, hear, touch, taste, smell? We also look at the merits of sustained and diligent practice, the role of forms and ceremony, and finally, engaged in a spirited discussion on the use of "the stick" in Zen training. When is it a hit, a nudge, tough love, soft love and how does the historical precedent of Rinzai's time apply now, resonate now?