Attributed to Bodhidharma: The Four Statements of Zen.

The Four Statements of Zen

The separate transmission outside the teachings,¹

Not based on the written word,²

Points directly at the human mind—³

You see your nature and become a buddha.⁴

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Attributed to Bodhidharma [480-520], the first Chan patriarch

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Commentary and questions:

1. What could be the separate transmission outside the teachings? The teachings can only point towards the Way for you, but every step must be yours. The teachings are the pointing finger, but one who follows the Way looks up to see the moon of truth for themselves.
2. If it isn't based on the written word, then what is it? Every single word is a concept; if one wishes to cut through to the heart of the matter, they will put a stop to conceptual thinking and see through to the underlying principle of the Dharma.
3. This is the essence of Zen, understanding that everything begins and ends with your very own mind. Where else is there to look? There is no separate subject of mind, and there is no separate object of form, so how could there be a subject-object split to begin with? To realize this is to follow the Way.
4. What is your nature? Mind is mind, and mind is the source-essence, the very flow of Dharma. No ones nature can be apart from this. What is a buddha? A buddha doesn't become a buddha, and a buddha can't be destroyed. There is no buddha to lose or to find. Have you accepted your buddahood as of yet?

Submitted January 24, 2020 at 08:42PM by _WanderingRonin_ https://ift.tt/2uqL4nE