Off with their heads! Foyan Speaks!

The Queen of Spades approaches!

Instant Zen (Foyan) #21: Seeing Through

YOU PEOPLE HAVE been standing here for quite a while; have you seen a single real teacher yet? Don't keep on standing there for nothing.

I am only what I call a provisional elder. An ancient sage said, apropos of this, "Just using provisional terminology to guide people, Buddha was an old Indian mendicant, who did not trouble you to discriminate appearances and grasp forms."

What is Shakyamuni the Buddha? Who is Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen? Was there any Buddhism before the founder came here? How can you say there was none? If you say there was none, that is just self-deception. When Bodhidharma was facing a wall for nine years, were there so many verbal teachings and public cases? To see through in this way is a very economical shortcut.

When you had not come here, I had not seen you and you had not seen me. If you do not see me and I do not see you, how can there be discernment and clarification? If you can attain clarification, what else is the matter? .

Before Buddha appeared in the world, it was thus; after Buddha appeared in the world it was also thus, and after Buddha passed away it was still thus. If you arrive at this state of thusness, there is really nothing the matter at all.

As you people go about your daily activity and take care of your needs as they arise, how can you say there is nothing the matter? Only those who have actually seen it can know it is so.

In ancient times, when Kasyapa the Elder paid respects to the Buddha at the assembly on Spiritual Peak, on seeing the vast crowd in a state of dignified composure, he had an insight and said, "This immense crowd here now is as if it had never been." You tell me, what does this mean?

A while ago you people were in your own places, where you didn't see so many people. Now that you're here, clearly you see a considerable number of people. How can you say they are as if they had never been?

In olden times, a certain old adept asked a seeker, "Where have you just come from?" The seeker replied, "The city." The adept said, "Where are you now?" The seeker said, "The mountains." The adept said, "I have a question to ask you. If you can answer, you may stay. If not, then leave. Now then, when you left the city, the city was lacking you; when you came to the mountains, the mountains had you extra. If you are absent in the city, the reality of mind is not universally omnipresent; if you are an extra in the mountains, then there is something outside of mind." The seeker had nothing to say. .

If you can comprehend this, as it is said, you will not fall into nihilism or eternalism; your six sense faculties will be peaceful, and you will be tranquil and quiet whether active or still. One mind unborn, myriad entanglements cease.

Otherwise, if you are not like this, you fall into nihilism or eternalism, depending on being or nonbeing. This is like running away from home.

At this point, I really do not tell you to expend the slightest bit of effort; you will then get an understanding in this way. If you want to harmonize with this reality, making it so there is no gap, then you have already split away from it.

When I contemplated this matter in the past, I used to think it would take two or three lifetimes to attain enlightenment.

Later, on hearing that someone had an awakening, or someone had an insight, I realized that people today can also become enlightened. At times when it is possible to minimize involvements, study your self clearly; this is very important.

~

Studying yourself, studying your so called teacher, is there stress? is there impermanence? If there is, you're in an abyss!

Submitted October 18, 2020 at 06:35AM by forgothebeat https://ift.tt/37mXCxP