Koan of The Week: u/Uexis

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From The Book of Serenity Translated by Thomas Cleary

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The overall structure of presentation of the Book of Serenity in this translation is as follows:

Introduction by Wansong, generally alluding to particular perspectives, frames of mind, patterns of thought and action.

Case from Chan lore or Buddhist scripture, a saying or anecdote illustrating some aspect or aspects of Chan awareness and praxis.

Added sayings on the case by Wansong: line by line reamarks reflecting or complementing the line or adjusting the understanding of the reader for increased access to potential meaning and function.

Commentary by Wansong, expounding upon the case.

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Case 74:

Fayan’s “Substance and Name”

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Introduction:

Plenty has myriad virtues; swept clear, there's not a mote of dust. Detached from all forms, identical to all things: taking a step atop a hundred foot pole, the universe in all directions is one's whole body--but tell me, where does it come from?

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Case:

A monk asked Fayan,

"I hear that in the teachings there is a saying, 'From a nonabiding basis are established all things'--what is the nonabiding basis?"

(Shut that dog's mouth.)

Fayan said, "Form arises before substantiation,

(Don't hallucinate.)

names arise from before naming.' "

*(Ultimately what do you call it?)

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Commentary:

Manjusri asked Vimalakirti, "What is the basis of the body?"

Vimalakirti said, "Craving is the basis of the body."

Manjusri asked, "What is the basis of craving?"

Vimalakirti said, "False discrimination is the basis of craving."

Manjusri asked, "What is the basis of false discrimination?"

Vimalakirti said, "Erroneous conception is the basis of false discrimination."

Manjusri asked, "What is the basis of erroneous conception?"

Vimalakirti said, "Nonabiding is the basis.

Manjusri asked, "What is the basis of nonabiding?"

Vimalakirti said, "Nonabiding has no basis. Manjusri, all things are established from a nonabiding basis."

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Master Sengzhao's note says, "The mind is like water: when it's still, there is reflection; when disturbed, no mirror. Muddled by folly and craving, fanned by misleading influences, it surges and billows, never stopping for a moment.

Looking at it this way, where can you go and not be mistaken! For example, it's like trying to look into a flowing spring to see your own appearance--it never forms."

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He also said, "If you take the movement of mind as the basis, then existence is born, based on significations. If you take nothingness as the basis, then existence is born based on nothingness; nothing is not based on nothing – there is no more basis."

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He also said, "Because of nonabiding, erroneous conceptions; because of erroneous conceptions, discrimination; because of discrimination, craving; because of craving, there is a body; since there is a body, then good and bad are both set forth; once good and bad are set forth, the myriad things arise."

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It goes on from here – the words are too numerous to go through all of them.

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Submitted September 02, 2020 at 02:36AM by TFnarcon9 https://ift.tt/3bh90ep