Foyan, Huangbo and Nansen: How does one take up the practice of Zen?

The path is not revealed only after explanation and direction; it is inherently always out in the open. Explanation and direction are expedient methods, used to get you to realize enlightenment; they are also temporary byroads. Some attain realization through explanation, some attain realization through direction, some attain by spontaneous awakening; ultimately there is nothing different, no separate attainment. It is simply a matter of reaching the source of mind.

Foyan Qingyuan [1067-1120]

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This Mind is no mind of conceptual thought and it is completely detached from form. So Buddhas and sentient beings do not differ at all. If you can only rid yourselves of conceptual thought, you will have accomplished everything. But if you students of the Way do not rid yourselves of conceptual thought in a flash, even though you strive for aeon after aeon, you will never accomplish it.

Huangbo Xiyun [died 850?]: On the Transmission of Mind

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Jõshû asked Nansen, "What is the Way?"

"Ordinary mind is the Way," Nansen replied.

"Shall I try to seek after it?" Jõshû asked.

"If you try for it, you will become separated from it," responded Nansen.

"How can I know the Way unless I try for it?" persisted Jõshû.

Nansen said, "The Way is not a matter of knowing or not knowing. Knowing is delusion; not knowing is confusion. When you have really reached the true Way beyond doubt, you will find it as vast and boundless as outer space. How can it be talked about on the level of right and wrong?"

With these words, Jõshû came to a sudden realization.

The Gateless Gate: Nansen's "Ordinary Mind Is the Way" [19th Case]

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Commentary and questions: Is there such a thing as Zen practice to begin with, and if so, how does one take up the practice of Zen? There are many ways to approach these questions, but we must bear in mind that Zen tends to offer what we've brought along with us to begin with. One can pick and choose from the historic cases to basically see whatever it is that they want to see, so if someone determines that there is no practice of Zen, then for them, there won't be.

But what of the matter of enlightenment? Can one claim such a thing as enlightenment, that even the masters say is exceedingly rare, just by reading a few teachings and determining themselves to at once be enlightened? I have a feeling that someone who went about things that way back then would have been beaten out of the monastery by Foyan himself, and that Nansen would have cut them down with half a sentence. The nature of delusion is such that it extends universally; how would someone know the difference between mere falsehoods and true enlightenment?

Regarding what Foyan shares here, enlightenment is something that is attained. How can one attain anything that is not aimed for in some way, and what is it that is finally realized? Huangbo tells us to rid ourselves of conceptual thought, which reveals that even the very concepts of attainment or even enlightenment are to be cast aside if found. Then Nansen teaches that "Ordinary mind is the Way," which can complicate or simplify matters even further. If ordinary mind is the Way, what could there be to attain about what is already there, and how could there be anything as lofty as 'enlightenment' among the ordinary?

Submitted January 29, 2020 at 05:38PM by _WanderingRonin_ https://ift.tt/36xDqoR