The Harmony of Difference & Unity: Pt. I

The Harmony of Difference & Equality

The mind of the great Indian immortal

Was esoterically transmitted from West to East.

The capacity of people may be dull or sharp,

But there are no Northern and Southern Patriarchs in the Tao.

The spiritual source is bright and pure,

Branching out and secretly flowing forth.

Attachment to phenomenon has always been confusion,

Yet union with principle is not enlightenment.

Trans: Ming Yee Wang & Pei-gwang Dowiat

The mind of the great sage of India

Is intimately communicated between east and west.

People's faculties may be keen or dull,

But in the path there are no 'southern' or 'northern' patriarchs.

The spiritual source shines clearly in the light;

The branching streams flow in the darkness.

Grasping things is basically delusion;

Merging with principle is still not enlightenment.

Trans: Thomas Cleary

The mind of the great sage of the land of India

has been intimately and mutually handed down from west to east.

A person's roots are sharp or dull;

the Way has no Northern or Southern ancestors.

The mysterious source is shining and clean in the light;

the branching streams are flowing and pouring in the dark.

Grasping at primary phenomena is bewilderment;

agreeing with Principle is still not enlightenment.

Trans: Gregory Wonderwheel

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By Shitou 'Slippery Path' Xiqian

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Wang & Dowiat's translation definitely has a whole host of issues going on...

Setting that aside, Cleary & Wonderwheel generally produce a similar translation which elucidates just howthis poem is strung through with the same thread that reaches to Dahui and his citation of it.

Some elements that stand out:

• Direct transmission of Mind from Bodhidharma to India

• Rejection of the notion of differing 'Northern v. Southern' Zen,

• This Mind transmission is not tied down by likes & dislikes/light & dark/good & bad.

• Establishing a principle to conform with isn't Zen.

So, since it's outside of likes/dislikes and establishing a principle that identifies it is already slander...

Pray tell, what is the Mind that was intimately communicated by the Great Sage of India?

Submitted September 26, 2020 at 01:07AM by ThatKir https://ift.tt/3mOqAMl