Minister Yu Di was a bit of a dick. When he was in charge of some troops he cruelly executed all offenders. Then he read some stuff about bodhisattvas of compassion and developed some doubts.
He went to Chan master Daotong and asked,
“What is the black wind blowing the boat down into the land of demons?”
(i.e., "Why am I such a dick?")
Raising his voice, the master said,
“You lackey! Why do you ask such a thing?”
(i.e., "You lowly servant scum, why do you ask me stupid questions?")
Hearing this Yu was enraged.
The master then said,
“This is precisely the black wind blowing the boat down into the land of demons.”
(i.e., "See, this arising of defensive aggression when touched in ego-sensitive spots, like your sense of authority and validity, is what makes you act like a dick!"
Now Yu Di had something to work with.
It is no secret that those on the zen track have a lot of fur to shed as the hot sun of truth warms up the hidden nooks and crannies of one's deluded psyche, after all it's hard to go from habitual jerk to sage without some spring cleaning, and Yuanwu uses the above anecdote to showcase people of 'three potentials' ('by degree of nakedness') that these Zen Masters of old dealt with:
You tell me—when he asked the Chan master this question, why did the master answer him this way? He was bringing out his basic ignorance, pointing it out to him as it appeared, undoubtedly skillfully. Nevertheless, that was not as good as it would have been if his follow-up statement were not needed, and he had followed him up breaking in two. Then he’d have some breath of a patchrobed monk. When he went so far as to point out the answer for him, this was an expedient message. In general, when dealing with people there are three potentials.
1. Dealing with people of the first potential (I take this to be 'attuned people')
"If he were helping someone of the first potential, all he’d have to say was, “You lackey—why do you ask such a thing”—with no further expedients."
"This just has no rationalization, impossible to understand by words. If he’d gotten this directly, without any more hesitation, this would be no different from “the cypress tree in the yard,” “three pounds of hemp,” “swallowing the water of the West River in one gulp.” That is why it is said, “If you don’t pay attention when it is brought up, you’ll miss it; if you try to think about it, when will you ever understand?” It just requires you to get understanding right off the bat."
2. Dealing with people of the second potential (I take this as 'largely ignorant people')
"As for helping people of the second potential, it is easy; it is just raising a question, like when he said, “You lackey—why do you ask such a thing?”
"This is bringing out the other’s basic ignorance, making that ignorance evident, appropriately pointing it out."
3. Dealing with people of the third potential (trolls)
"As for helping people of the third potential, one cannot avoid going into mud and water, adding footnotes, like saying, “You lackey”—this is letting loose the black wind blowing the boat."
"When the man became enraged, this is the demon showing up. When the master said, “This is the black wind blowing the boat,” isn’t this the bodhisattva of compassion showing up? This is explanation in the weeds; it blinds people, destroying the Buddhists.
Source: Chan Talks, Cleary trans.
So, attuned Zennists break through all the way at the living word, at once seeing through when the Master applies his expert pressure. Ignorant people can gain some insight into their afflictions when the Master tickles and teases out their own thought processes through expedients - after all, one has to arrive at insights on one's own if they are to be of any lasting use. Lastly, trolls need to be taken by the hand a bit more, things need to be laid out for them: "Look, you are doing this." "Now you are doing it again." "You think you are right but stop and consider what you are doing". The upshot is that whatever one's current potential is, it's okay.
My personal journey is to embrace the work and tune in where I stand. To steal Yuanwu's words once more: I can tell that I am ahead of donkeys but behind horses. I see a lot of donkeys here trying to run with the horses just to collapse and be eaten by flies on the roadside, better to be honest and arrive one day. Take good care!
Submitted October 16, 2020 at 05:24AM by Coinionaire https://ift.tt/2GU6qjV
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