Mumon Ekai [1183-126]: It is easy to know the Nirvana mind but difficult to attain the wisdom of differentiation. When you have realized this wisdom, peace and order will reign over your land.

The Gateless Gate: Mumon's Postscript 後序

從上佛祖垂示機縁、據款結案、初無剰語。

The sayings and doings of the Buddha and the patriarchs have been set down in their original form.¹

掲翻腦蓋、露出眼睛。

Nothing superfluous has been added by the author, who has taken the lid off his head and exposed his eyeballs.

肯要諸人直下承當、不從佗覓。

Your direct realization is demanded; it should not be sought through others.²

若是通方上士。 纔聞擧著、便知落處。

If you are a man of realization, you will immediately grasp the point at the slightest mention of it.

了無門戸可入、亦無階級可升。

There is no gate for you to go through; there are no stairs for you to ascend.³

掉臂度關不問關吏。

You pass the checkpoint, squaring your shoulders, without asking permission of the keeper.

豈不見玄沙道、無門解脱之門、無意道人之意。

Remember Gensha's saying, "No-gate is the gate of emancipation; no-meaning is the meaning of the man of the Way."⁴

又白雲道、明明知道只是者箇、爲甚麼透不過。

And Hakuun says, "Clearly you know how to talk of it, but why can't you pass this simple, specific thing?"

恁麼説話、也是赤土搽牛嬭。

However, all this kind of talk is like making a mud pie with milk and butter.

若透得無門關、早是鈍置無門。

If you have passed the Mumonkan, you can make a fool of Mumon.⁵

若透不得無門關、亦之辜負自己。

If not, you are betraying yourself.⁶

所謂、涅槃心易曉、差別智難明。

It is easy to know the Nirvana mind but difficult to attain the wisdom of differentiation.⁷

明得差別智、家國自安寧。

When you have realized this wisdom, peace and order will reign over your land.⁸

Mumon Ekai [1183-126]

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Commentary and questions:

1. The Buddha was the first Zen master, but what was understood from him?
2. At a certain point, not even from the Zen masters themselves.
3. Everywhere all at once, all encompassing.
4. Setting down your intellectual formulations, what's left then?
5. Meeting face to face with the patriarchs, what could be said at that point?
6. Deluding and indulging themselves, they bar their own entry to enlightenment.
7. A critical hit; true seeing is not blinding oneself and believing it to be seeing.
8. And the coup de grâce; those without peace and order haven't attained.

Submitted October 19, 2020 at 10:02PM by __WanderingRonin__ https://ift.tt/3kpu4mw