[Buddha-l] japanese zen terms: honbun and shusho

[curt]

In a dharma talk contained in the book "Golden Wind", Eido Shimano Roshi uses the terms 
"honbun" and "shusho". I am wondering if anyone on this list has any insight into these terms - or knows of other references for these terms - or knows of any kind of "literal" or "metaphorical" definitions to add to what Eido Roshi has to say. 

It sounds to me as if he is using these terms to mean "absolute" (honbun) and "relative" (shusho)????

Here is an extended excerpt (it's taken from his talk on case 73 from the Blue Cliff Record "Baso, Chizo, Ekai"):

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The transmission of the dharma does not require any written documents. The only important matter is to understand the real nature of the universe. In order to do this, it will be helpful to understand the distinction between "honbun" and "shusho". Unless these are clearly distinguished, only confusion arises. We have no perfect English equivalent for these words, but perhaps "fundamental" or "essential" will do for "honbun". For "shusho", perhaps we can translate it as "existential" or "ever-changing.

I will use the wind to illustrate the difference between "honbun" and "shusho". Whether the wind is a fragrant spring wind, or a cold winter wind, or just a gentle wind, after all, the wind is merely a movement of air. Metaphorically speaking, "honbun" (fundamental) refers to this air and "shusho" (existential) is the changing condition of the wind.

Our True Nature, our Endless Dimension Universal Nature, was never created and can never be destroyed, as far as "honbun" goes.

In the realm of "honbun", there is no loss, no gain, no birth, no death, no good, no evil, no small, no large. But as far as "shusho" is concerned, as you can see, there is strong and  weak, coming and going, deep and shallow. Thus in our zazen we often feel different conditions.

Sometimes we thing, "Today's zazen is not as good as yesterday's." Or, "I feel guilty because my zazen is not as good as it should be." Or, "I am very pleased that I have entered some sound samadhi."

Most of us are fooled by these thoughts. We are controlled by ever-changing conditions. We become slaves of conditions. Realization of Mu (True Nature) means to realize the fact that the fundamental My nature is far beyond good and bad, deep or shallow. This is "honbun". 
------------------[ end of excerpt]

- Curt

P.S. My spellchecker wanted to replace "samadhi" with "madhouse". I was very tempted.