Question

Huangbo Xiyun,

On The Transmission of Mind

Regarding this Zen Doctrine of ours, since it was first transmitted, it has never taught that men should seek for learning or form concepts. ‘Studying the Way' is just a figure of speech. It is a method of arousing people's interest in the early stages of their development. In fact, the Way is not something which can be studied. Study leads to the retention of concepts and so the Way is entirely misunderstood.

Moreover. the Way is not something specially existing; it is called the Mahāyāna Mind—Mind which is not to be found inside, outside or in the middle. Truly it is not located anywhere. The first step is to refrain from knowledge-based concepts. This implies that if you were to follow the empirical method to the utmost limit, on reaching that limit you would still be unable to locate Mind. The way is spiritual Truth and was originally without name or title. It was only because people ignorantly sought for it empirically that the Buddhas appeared and taught them to eradicate this method of approach. Fearing that nobody would understand, they selected the name ‘Way'. You must not allow this name to lead you into forming a mental concept of a road.

So it is said ‘When the fish is caught we pay no more attention to the trap.' When body and mind achieve spontaneity, the Way is reached and Mind is understood. A śramana is so called because he has penetrated to the original source of all things. The fruit of attaining the śramana stage is gained by putting an end to all anxiety; it does not come from book-learning.

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QUESTION: Very strange. Forgive me if I'm being rude because I'm new here, but if Zen is "not based on the written word", then what is everyone doing arguing about Zen in this community? Why are so many people stuck in such early stages of development?

Submitted June 20, 2020 at 02:40PM by __Bodhisattva__ https://ift.tt/2V3189t