Huaitang's Question and Pointing

"If you knock on space and make a sound, who can discern the note?"

Now, I've brought up Huaitang before. Let's slow down a bit. This particular inquiry is worth some chewing and swallowing. What note is he speaking about?

If I pick up a guitar and pluck a string; the vibration is distinct, the sound is clear, the note is discerned. But what about space? What vibration does space have? What sound does it make? What is the note? Take your attention here and see.

I'll say that your own mind is presently functioning, pure and serene. This hum or current of being pervades everywhere, it is silent and peaceful. Unassociated and unaided joy. Get a taste for it.

But notice that Huaitang does not stop the inquiry here, but addressed the assembly, saying; who can discern the note? This is for your own contemplation. Let it slow cook; see for yourself. Huaitang continues:

"If you knock on wood but it makes no sound, it’s a waste of effort to lend an ear. ​

It is not the phenomena before your eyes; don’t create all sorts of attitudes. Occurrence and disappearance do not know each other; herein there is no back or front.

Where the king of elephants strides, foxes and rabbits leave no tracks. When the moon reflected in the water appears, the wind and clouds are naturally distinct."

Where is he pointing to? This is where the 'king of elephants' strides. This moon no one has seen, but its reflection, the soft current that is shining and vibrating in front of you, contains all the myriad manifestations. But the question is; who gives light to this?

"When you get here, the universe cannot contain you, heaven and earth do not know your name. A thousand sages stand down—who dares come forth and speak?"

The bread and the butter. Who can convey it? Huaitang leaves us with this:

"Good people, this requires that you sweep away your previous concept of life, your actions and doings, understanding and not understanding. Better you should go back to the mountains always whistling a single note deep in the mist."

This is enough. Tune into the single note deep in the mist. It takes no effort and no time. Bathe in it, so to speak, but also consider Huaitang's question:

Who can discern the note?

Submitted May 04, 2019 at 06:25AM by DevinD420 http://bit.ly/2VPcIa0