In Hell

The following is an excerpt from Yuanwu's commentary on the eightieth case of the Blue Cliff Record

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An Ancient said, "My patched garment covering my head, myriad concerns cease; at this time I do not understand anything at all." Only if you can be like this will you have a small share of attainment. Though an adept is like this, nevertheless he cannot be fooled at all - as before, mountains are mountains and rivers are rivers. He is without artifice and without clinging thoughts. He is like the sky everywhere covering, like the earth everywhere supporting: since they have no mind, they bring up and nurture myriad beings without saying, "I have so many accomplishments." Since sky and earth are mindless, they last forever - what has mind has limits. A person who has attained the Path is like this too. In the midst of no activity, he carries out his activities, accepting all unfavorable and favorable circumstances with a compassionate heart.

... When they got to this point the Ancients still upbraided themselves and said, "When you have completely perfectly comprehended, there is nothing to comprehend; in the dark, abstruse, hidden place, you must still be rebuked." They also said, "All things are thoroughly comprehended and all beings are clearly understood - when one who has Arrived senses this, he is startled in the darkness." Again it was said, "Without making a sound he goes beyond the ordinary and enters sagehood. The reclining dragon deeply fears the blue pool's clarity." If human beings can be like this always, how can a single name remain in the world? Though it is this way, they must go on to leap out of their nest before they attain.

~

Xuansha once said, "Tell me, does it still exist in remote uninhabited places deep in the mountains?"

Again, Yuanwu once said, "What will you do about being scared?"

Have you not heard it said? The real ones go through the fire.

Submitted September 23, 2020 at 04:31AM by InstantEuphoria https://ift.tt/3mMrLvq