BCR C28: Nan Chu’an’s Truth That’s Never Been Spoken

CASE

Nan Ch'uan went to see Master Nirvana of Pai Chang Mountain.

Chang asked, "Have all the sages since antiquity had a truth that they haven't spoken for people?”¹

Ch'uan said, "They have.”²

Chang said, "What is the truth that hasn't been spoken for people?”³

Ch'uan said, "It's not mind, it's not buddha, it's not any thing.”⁴

Chang said, "You said it.”⁵

Ch'uan said, "I am just thus. What about you, Teacher?”⁶

Chang said, "I am not a great man of knowledge either how would I know whether it has been spoken or not?”⁷

Ch'uan said, "I don't understand.”⁸

Chang said, "I've already spoken too much for you.”⁹

NOTES

1. A master should know. It stands like a wall ten thousand fathoms high. Does Chang feel his teeth falling out?

2. He's fallen into the weeds. Why so brash? Then there is such a thing!

3. Look how his hands are flustered, his feet frantic. He adds error to error. Just try and ask!

4. As it turns out he suffers defeat. After all he indulges quite a bit.

5. Don't explain it all for him: Let him go wrong his whole life. Chang shouldn't speak this way to him.

6. Fortunately he has a place to turn around. With the long, he's long; with the short, he's short. When the reasoning is superior, he goes to it.

7. Look how his hands are flustered, his feet frantic. He hides his body but reveals his shadow. He acts totally dead. There are thorns in the soft mud. Though he acts like this, how could he swindle me?

8. He can only act this way. Luckily he doesn't understand. If you understand I'll immediately break your head open! Fortunately this fellow is just this way.

9. Adding frost on top of snow. Why the dragon's head and snake's tail?

NOTES FROM AN 🦉

Is there a truth that has never been spoken? Alas, about this matter I must be silent. As a member of the Illiterati of r/Zen, and a self confessed Simpleton and Simple Man, really, there is nothing I can tell you. If you don’t understand you’ll have to go through your whole life wrong. The only advice I have to offer is this. Don’t look for outside explanations, they’ll only lead you further astray.

I am simply thus. How about you?

Submitted April 24, 2021 at 08:43PM by Owlsdoom https://ift.tt/3vh802J