Foyan says:
Grand Master Yunmen said, “If you really have not yet attained, for now follow principle to gain discernment.” Students of Zen should also proceed in accord with principle, not being so presumptuous as to hope for something transcendental.
In general, students nowadays make phenomena into one extreme and principle into another extreme. This causes them to be physically and mentally uneasy. Why not have phenomena always conform to principle?...Right now, how can you clear your mind of these phenomena so as to conform to principle?
What in the heck is principle?
Once the ancients realized the principle, they adapted to phenomerta in accord with principle. Have you not read how someone once capped his hands and laughed on hearing a signal sounded, saying, “I understand! I understand!” Is this not following principle to learn? Why not observe in this way twenty-four hours a day, doing inner work like this? Eventually it will ripen, and you will naturally harmonize with the principle.
ROFL! Yesterday I said it was so clear. This is opaque to me!
One of the original Zen Masters said, "If you want to attain harmonization quickly, just speak of nonduality.” It is not a matter of just saying it and thereupon understanding; you must actually attain harmonization before you can realize this. Guishan said, “Phenomena and principle are not two; the real Buddha is suchness as is.”
So last night I was having a conversation with Kir where no matter what I tried, my head came screaming into a wall of non-duality that couldn't be crossed. The doubt is huge.
I am obsessed with this idea of what is correct and or/skillful action/behaviour in Zen. In Buddhism it is much easier; a well spoken and thoughtful Ajahn tells me how to interpret right effort or right conduct, and gives examples of how to do it. It is very comforting, and simple.
Zen Masters don't appear to do this at all!
I had this strange experience this morning; I was presented with a moment where I had to make a decision (and this is with all the doubt I've been building up in the background), and I automatically went with the obvious choice. I asked myself why I chose this; the answer came as "that is the correct thing to do right now", and my mind immediately dropped the entire discussion. I don't even remember what it was, but I do remember there was no doubt in that moment.
I don't know what any of this means; I'm just sharing the experience.
I have seen many who cannot follow principle; when they take it up, they turn it upside down at once. They make useless theoretical interpretations of the sayings and model cases of the ancients, their different challenges, records of seasonal addresses, and the modalities of their individual schools, considering this to be Zen study. How miserable! Study of the path is not like this.
Ouch. Sounds like me.
People of the later generations are even more ignorant; spending ten or fifteen years on vain conceit, they attain nothing at all. You have unconsciously acquired habits of thinking about yourself and others, and hardly even give a thought to the matter of independence. How will you be in the future?
Don’t keep standing here— each of you find out on your own.
~___~
-On an unrelated note, Foyan being almost finished, I will be moving onto Huangbo in depth. If you have any suggestions for themes, please leave them in the comments. Current themes:
-Relation to Buddhist doctrine. Is Huangbo a Buddhist?
-Nature of the Buddha Mind in practice.
-What is the One Mind?
-What is meant by ‘complete unexcelled enlightenment?
-Letting go.
Submitted September 26, 2020 at 06:47PM by surupamaerl https://ift.tt/340191I
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