Miaozong: Unpolished Mind

The Concordant Sounds Collection of Verse Commentaries by Miaozong

Case 38: Baofu’s Unpolished Mind

When Baofu’s [from Xuefeng] attendant stood up, Baofu asked him, “What is this unpolished mind that you’ve attained?” The attendant said, “Where is this so-called unpolished mind of mine?” Baofu then picked up a clod of dirt and handing it to the monk said, Toss this out in front of the gate.” When the monk had tossed it out, he came back and then asked, “Where is this so-called unpolished mind?” Baofu said, “It was because I saw a builder and a stonemason that I said you had an unpolished mind.”

Miaozong's Poem

At dawn and at noon, rice-gruel vegetarian meals:

Lay out the bowls, unroll the mat, and when you’re full take a nap,

If both the builder and the stonemason are recommended,

Then even when things are not in fashion, they’ll be in style.

.

(Welcome link;) ...Meet ewk link; Note: Two things occur to me at the outset: First, Huineng is where this "unpolished mind" comes from; there is no question that it is a mind that is not produced by cause and effect, a mind that does not come from practices, a mind that is not susceptible to directions.

Second, Miaozong, like Wansong, Yuanwu, Dahui, and Wumen was that rare magical creature: a professional monk. We hear from all kinds of people in this forum going on about how unless you are a professional monk you wouldn't understand, you don't know, you can't pretend to have rubbed elbows with professional monks. Well, this bunch of professional monks, what do they talk about, write about, think about, eat, drink, and shit about?

What is this unpolished mind you've obtained?

Game over.

That's style, baby.

Submitted January 07, 2020 at 07:04AM by ewk https://ift.tt/37KVOM2