Are you an independent observer?

Treasury of the Eye of True Teaching 188

Chan Master Jing of Mt. Sikong.

When coming in contact with the world of objects, just be like water;

In the world without minding, what problem is there one way or another?

Seeing, hearing, awareness, knowledge - there is no obstruction.

Sound, scent, flavor, feeling - these are perpetual Samadhi.

Neither grasping nor rejecting, no love or hate,

If you can respond to situations basically not minding,

Then you can finally be called independent observers.

T. O. M's Bit.

This is absolutely in line with what I see and refer to colloquially as "Staying chilled" and in my estimation is a basic foundation of zen, and of being a mature adult within the world..

Its never beneficial to lose your shit.. Whether your shit is lost via an angry verbal tirade, or physical violence (1), this losing of shit, implies loss of function, for example, during a violent outburst, you may lose the function of restraint, or may say things that you later regret..

Chan Master Jing speaks of neither loving nor hating.

I've seen this regfered to many a time in the teachings of zen, not having preferences, for example..

In a world without minding, what problem is there, one way or another?

Fuckin A!

(1) physical violence must be distinguished from losing your shit, because in some situations, physical violence does not equate to losing your shit, for example, a professional boxer or soldier is meant to have control, and not emotional outburst.

Submitted April 28, 2021 at 12:05PM by transmission_of_mind https://ift.tt/3u38IAn