RECORD OF DONGSHAN F4: PLAY IT AGAIN, THIS TIME WITH FEELING!

Dongshan’s record series #4

Tung-shan accordingly took leave of Kuei-shan and proceeded directly to Yün-yen's. Making reference to his previous encounter with Kueishan, he immediately asked what sort of person was able to hear the Dharma expounded by nonsentient beings.

Yün-yen said, "Nonsentient beings are able to hear it."

"Can you hear it, Ho-shang?" asked Tung-shan.

Yün-yen replied, "If I could hear it, then you would not be able to hear the Dharma that I teach."

"Why can't I hear it?" asked Tung-shan.

Yün-yen raised his fly wisk and said, "Can you hear it yet?"

Tung-shan replied, "No, I can't."

Yün-yen said, "You can't even hear it when I expound the Dharma; how do you expect to hear when a nonsentient being expounds the Dharma?"

Tung-shan asked, "In which sutra is it taught that nonsentient beings expound the Dharma?"

Yün-yen replied, "Haven't you seen it? In the Amitãbba Sutra it says, 'Water birds, tree groves, all without exception recite the Buddha's name, recite the Dharma.'"

Reflecting on this, Tung-shan composed the following gãthã:

How amazing, how amazing!Hard to comprehend that nonsentient beings expound theDharma.It simply cannot be heard with the ear,But when sound is heard with the eye, then it is understood.

Dongshan makes it to Yun-yen’s place, and gets straight into it. Finally, he understands how to walk, listen, eat and get about. Interestingly, there was no mention of any practices to develop Dongshan’s understanding, just: “Reflecting on this…”. But his determination is nonetheless palpable. What do you make of:

But when sound is heard with the eye, then it is understood.

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Submitted April 15, 2021 at 06:53AM by bigSky001 https://ift.tt/3e0mmh2