Less Than a Hairsbreadth

Hebrews 4:1-13

¹² See, the Word of God is alive! It is at work and is sharper than any double-edged sword — it cuts right through to where soul meets spirit and joints meet marrow, and it is quick to judge the inner reflections and attitudes of the heart. ¹³ Before God, nothing created is hidden, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.



This reading always reminds me of a passage from a text famous in martial arts circles—

“The Unfettered Mind” by Takuan Soho; which talks about “not even the breadth of a hair.”

Here it is:

“THE INTERVAL INTO WHICH NOT EVEN A HAIR CAN BE ENTERED”

“There is such a thing as an interval into which not even a hair can be put. We can speak about this in terms of your own martial art.

“Interval” is when two things come one upon another and not even a hairsbreadth can be slipped in between them.

When you clap your hands and, just at that instant, let out a yell, the interval between clapping your hands and letting out a yell will not allow the entrance of a hairsbreadth.

This is not a matter of clapping your hands, thinking about yelling, and then doing so, which would result in there being an interval in between. You clap your hands and, just at that instant, let out a sound.

In just the same way, if the mind stops with the sword with which a man is going to strike you, there will be an interval, and your own action will be lost. But if in the interval between your opponent’s striking sword and your own action you cannot introduce even the breadth of a hair, your opponent’s sword should become your own.

In Zen discussions we have the same thing. In Buddhism we abhor this stopping and the mind remaining with one thing or another. We call this stopping affliction.

It is like a ball riding a swift-moving current: we respect the mind that flows on like this and does not stop for an instant in any place.”

The reading from Hebrews also talks about ‘entering rest’—  ^"So there remains a Shabbat-keeping for God’s people. For the one who has entered God’s rest has also rested from his own works, as God did from his.  Therefore, let us do our best to enter that rest…"



Earlier on in the reading the text also says, “It is just as he said, “And in my anger, I swore that they would not enter my rest.” He swore this even though his works have been in existence since the founding of the universe.”


Paul solves the koan (conundrum) of ‘entering-and-not-entering’ by giving us this gatha:




“Today, if you hear God’s voice, don’t harden your hearts.”






What is that place



between soul and spirit;



joints and marrow;



heart and mind?





What sword shall we use



to cut through



that indiscernible space?





Christ is the Word that strikes—

In less than a hairsbreadth;

in not so much as a heartbeat;

our Opponent’s naked sword

becomes our Own.