A verse by Huineng.

The Master said,

I will recite a formless hymn; as long as you practice in accord with it, you will always be with me. If you do not practice in accord with it, what benefit on the Way is shaving your head and being ordained?

The hymn:

When the mind is even, why bother to keep precepts? When action is straightforward, what's the need to practice meditation? If you're grateful, you take care of your parents respectfully; If you're dutiful, above and below are mentally sympathetic.

If you're deferential, high and low harmonize amicably; If you're tolerant, myriad evils cause no disturbance. If you can drill wood and produce fire, You will produce red lotuses from the mind.

Harsh words are clearly good medicine; If it offends the ears, it's surely faithful speech. Reform your errors, and you'll develop wisdom; Attaining the Way does not come from donating money.

Enlightenment is only to be sought in the mind; Why bother seeking mysteries outside? Hearing my explanation, practice on this basis, And the West is right before your eyes.

The Master added,

Good friends, everyone should put this hymn into practice: see your essential nature, and attain buddhahood directly. Time does not wait for you.

Huineng's earlier comment after his own realization of essential nature:

At [the words "You should activate the mind without dwelling on anything,"] I had the overwhelming realization that all things are not apart from inherent nature. I then said to [the fifth patriarch], "Who would have expected that inherent nature is originally intrinsically pure? Who would have expected that inherent nature is originally unborn and undying? Who would have expected that inherent nature is originally complete in itself? Who would have expected that inherent nature is originally immovable? Who would have expected that inherent nature can produce myriad things?"

Translation: Cleary's The Sutra of Hui-Neng

Submitted December 13, 2017 at 04:06AM by MizarsAsterism http://ift.tt/2AOeWcD