On the subject of “self” and the senses

 

Inspired by u/kyuu-bi’s post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/zen/comments/gyp7tf/four_elements/

 

11. Students of the Way should be sure that the four elements composing the body do not constitute the ‘self', that the ‘self' is not an entity; and that it can be deduced from this that the body is neither ‘self' nor entity. Moreover, the five aggregates composing the mind ( in the common sense ) do not constitute either a ‘self' or an entity ; hence, it can be deduced that the ( so-called individual ) mind is neither ‘self' nor entity. The six sense organs ( including the brain ) which, together with their six types of perception and the six kinds of objects of perception, constitute the sensory world, must be understood in the same way. Those eighteen aspects of sense are separately and together void. There is only Mind-Source, limitless in extent and of absolute purity.

 

12. Thus, there is sensual eating and wise eating. When the body composed of the four elements suffers the pangs of hunger and accordingly you provide it with food, but without greed, that is called wise eating. On the other hand, if you gluttonously delight in purity and flavour, you are permitting the distinctions which arise from wrong thinking. Merely seeking to gratify the organ of taste without realizing when you have taken enough is called sensual eating.

 

UExis:
I already had this in mind when I pressed the button on the kettle, took a mug from the shelf, grabbed and filled in some instant coffee, took the milk out the fridge, waited for the ‘click’ from the kettle with the boiling water, poured in the water, added some milk, put everything back in place except the mug and its contents, stirred the contents with a spoon, went to a cozy spot and satisfied my craving and habitual ritual of the day.

 

(Huangbo text)

Submitted June 08, 2020 at 04:09PM by UExis https://ift.tt/2MFBUt6