Foyan Qingyuan [1067-1120]: Realization obliterates the subject-object split; it's not that there's some mysterious principle besides.

Realization obliterates the subject-object split; it's not that there's some mysterious principle besides.

Foyan Qingyuan [1067-1120]

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Commentary and questions: It's finally been a month since my break from the forum, and I feel that I've experienced some good changes that will hopefully be apparent to those that are familiar with me. One thing I've noticed is that I'm drawn more than ever now to the 'simplicity' of Zen, for lack of a better term. I feel that this paradoxical simplicity of Zen is what can make it so seemingly complex and impenetrable for beginners and even intermediate students to understand; what I've done here is provide a very simple and direct one line quote from Zen master Foyan in order to attempt to reveal what seems to often be missed.

First, there's the word 'realization'; what is there to be realized? Realization is understanding, but the term 'understanding' makes things a bit more complicated right away. In my opinion it doesn't mean full and total understanding of all things intellectually, as knowledge isn't the Way, but an established balance of the intellectual understanding and the realization of the ineffable Dharma essence behind all things.

The 'subject-object split' that Foyan speaks of is critical to understanding; the subject is mind of course, while the object is anything that can be deemed as 'other', such as outer forms. To simplify, the mind cannot be directly found or quantified, and it is only revealed in any way through being 'mirrored' upon forms. It is important to understand that the mind cannot exist without form, and form cannot exist without mind, so there's really no 'split' whatsoever to begin with. To think of anything as somehow apart from one's mind is the root of delusion and leads to suffering.

It's also important to understand why Foyan closes with the statement with it's not that there's some mysterious principle besides. People can go on mistaken lifelong searches trying to understand what Zen points to through outer and 'other' forms, such as the written word or even the teachings of the Zen masters, or even taking up practices relying on forms such as meditation. It's crucial to understand that if one allows understanding to remain out of reach and they don't accept that it is all mind to begin with, then understanding will always remain just out of reach. A buddha doesn't become a buddha; a buddha is a buddha all along, even without realization.

In conclusion, there's no mystery or anything to solve with Zen; if one goes about searching for understanding or attempting to find a solution to what is right in front of them, this will endlessly generate confusion and more of a delusional split apart from understanding.

Submitted January 11, 2020 at 08:52PM by _WanderingRonin_ https://ift.tt/37V6Zl3