MISGUIDED STUDENTS OF THE WAY

"Others, when they first arouse the mind that seeks the Way, the precepts, persevere in zazen and perform religious practices. When they can keep their thoughts under control for a while, they say they can clearly see their 'original face.'

Since this 'original face' has no ego, no being, no Buddha, and no Dharma, 'What', they say, 'should be called precepts?' They ignore the laws of cause and effect and treat the aims they receive as unimportant. Eating the five spicy foods and drinking liquor, they become wild, abuse the buddhas and ancestors, condemn good teachers everywhere, criticize things of the past as well as the present. They shout and chatter at length, joke and laugh, sport in the mountains and at sea, spend the day reciting haughty poems and admire a refined atmosphere with fine flowers. Meeting others and seeing what they possess, they desire it for themselves. Not caring about their own appearance, or whether they are with laymen or monks, being indifferent to the occasion, they love to talk Zen and wish only to be victorious in Zen combat.

'When these people see others who put an end to their wrong views, realizing their deep-rooted errors, who show true concern when they receive steady aims and treat the precepts as the true Dharma of thusness, who keep their mouths shut, relaxing their wild-horse minds and disregarding their monkey minds as they diligently conduct their religious practice and meticulously apply themselves sitting facing the wall in meditation, they spit, point at these people, and laugh. They say these people are dull-witted and not Zen adepts. They themselves are lacking in courage; their minds are full of pride. They talk of their long practice of Zen while they drag their juniors down the road of heresy. When a good teacher takes them on and tries to influence them to truly practice, they raise their fists, clap their hands, give a shout, and snort derisively.

When a good teacher tries to grab hold of them in an attempt to discourage them, they wave their sleeves free and start to dance. They do not so much as turn their heads when they are reprimanded.

They truly have an incurable disease; medical care is of no avail. With mistaken views rooted within them, they travel around, critically questioning other Zen students who are no match for them, while their arrogant pride grows. This is what is meant by the saying: To embrace the void is to disregard cause and effect. Such confusion and recklessness invite misfortune.' To beginners who have aroused the mind that seeks the Way, I say: Don't ever practice among these people of mistaken views.

• Bassui Tokusho

Submitted May 04, 2020 at 10:21PM by Thac0 https://ift.tt/3fjkAr3