CASE 40 - Chen Cao Asks about the Teachings
When Yunmen went to Jianzhou, Grand Secretary Chen Cao invited him to a vegetarian meal. When they met, Chen asked him, “As for what’s in the Confucian texts, I won’t ask you about that; and as for the general meaning of the twelve divisions and the three vehicles, you are an expert in that. So what is the reason for this journey on foot that you have undertaken?”
Yunmen said, “How many people have you asked this question?” Chen Cao said, “Today I am only asking you.”
Yunmen said, “Putting aside today’s question for a moment, let me ask you: what is the meaning of the teachings?” Chen Cao replied, “Yellow scrolls on red rollers.” Yunmen said, “’Those are just words and letters, what do those have to do with the meaning of the teaching?” Chen Cao said, “The mouth wants to speak of it, but the words disappear; the mind seeks an affinity with it, but the thoughts vanish.” Yunmen said, “‘The mouth wants to speak of it, but the words disappear’ refers to verbalization; "the mind seeks an affinity with it, but the thoughts vanish: refers to false thinking. What is the general meaning of the teachings?” Chen Cao was at a loss for words.
Yunmen asked, “I have heard it said that the Grand Secretary has read the Lotus Sutra: is that right?" Chen Cao said, “'lhat is right.” Yunmen said, “In this sutra it says that ‘making a living and conducting business is not mutually opposed to the material reality". But it is also said that in the realm beyond thinking and non-thinking, a number of people have backed away from this stand?”
The Grand Secretary was at a loss for words.
Yunmen said, “The Grand Secretary must not be too careless. Even monks who discarded the three scriptures and have commentaries and entered the monastery ten or twenty years ago still find themselves at a loss. How can you expected to be able to be able to answer?” The Grand Secretary bowed and said, “I have erred?“
Miaozong's Instructional Poem:
The master is used to battle and has no need to fast from grains;
Seizing the drum, grabbing the banners, his strength is matchless.
'Ihe tiger ?ies and the dragon prances: who can tell them apart?
Remember: humanity and righteousness triumph over brute strength.
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(Welcome link) ewk link note: Where was the error? Come on now, either you are going to study or you aren't? Alright, alright... what was the first error?
Submitted January 26, 2020 at 01:54PM by ewk https://ift.tt/37sCljr
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