Seated Meditation v. Tying Shoes

From Case 213 of Dahui's Treasury of the Eye of the True Teaching

Yunmen asked Wolong, "Do people who understand self still see that there is self?"

Wolong said, "Only when not seeing there is self does one understand self."

He also asked, "What order of operation is what is learned on the long bench?"

Wolong said, "The second order of operation."

Yunmen said, "What is the first order of operation?"

Wolong said, "Tying your shoes tightly."

Dahui said, "He rides a brigand’s horse to chase a gang of brigands, borrows an old woman’s skirt to pay respects to an old woman’s age."

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So, as far as it relates to understanding self...the most "accomplished" of Buddhists and their 'knowledge' gleaned from seated meditation still play second fiddle to an ordinary kindergartner tying those laces tightly before stepping out the door.

Nevertheless, the talk about 'orders of operations' is already covered by Dahui's comment about the old woman's pilfered skirt.

What about when you take away both orders of operation; how will you understand self then?

Submitted June 08, 2020 at 04:30PM by ThatKir https://ift.tt/3h6gWBK