Keep Evolving

There is much talk in this section of Foyan about knowledge and confusion, light and dark, understanding and confusion. Foyan cuts through all that, avoiding the students who say this is what it is and cannot be changed. Foyan says:

As for the spiritually sharp, they should know how to experientially investigate who "this person" is, directly seeking an insight.

Whew! Buddhism today is lackluster; even in large groups it’s hard to find suitable people. As long as you people are here studying the path in this school, you should not waste the twenty-four hours of the day; focus on attaining insight.

They finish the section with:

I urge you not to be crude minded. In your conduct, day and night, keep evolving higher; then even if you do not attain enlightenment, you will still be a highly refined individual. Be sure to be attentive.

I urge everyone to go read it; there are many cases discussed here, and they relate to the light/dark theme as well as the advice for resolving the issues of the cases quoted above.

The theme appears to be cleverness. Ego. Giving "the right answer", the funny one. All attitude, no substance. Slandering the ancients and getting your teeth punched out. Failing to see the true man of no rank; Linji's eyes that see through rivers and mountains. What place above or below is there to hide from someone who sees everything clearly? Foyan laughs at these doofuses, bringing a carrying pole to a sword fight.

Foyan says, "The ancients were so compassionate, yet people today don’t take it to heart, so they need to look for someone to find certainty." Deshan didn't find certainty in their books, but neither did they receive it from Longtan. They did find it though, because they were fearless. What if, instead, Deshan wanted to be clever?

Foyan says, "Egotism toward others is the busi- ness of mediocrities." What business is this worrying about the best answer to every question? Getting a good laugh in? Foyan laughed at students who are unable to take anything seriously. Who failed to improve and seek insight. This is a failure to evolve.

Submitted September 09, 2020 at 03:22AM by surupamaerl https://ift.tt/3idaB7N