Dongshan's "Three Defilements"

Dongshan said:

In this Dharma-ending age people possess much idle knowledge. If you want to distinguish true from false, there are three types of defilement to be aware of:

1. The first is defiled views. This is said to be not departing from a particular fixed view about the potential for enlightenment and thus falling into a sea of poison.

2. The second is defiled emotions. This is said to be entrapment in preferences and repulsions, thus having one's perspective become one-sided and rigid.

3. The third is defiled language. This is said to be mastering trivia and losing sight of the essential.

The potential for enlightenment is thoroughly obscured. You should understand clearly that a disciple whose understanding is muddled and is going round and round in circles has not done away with these three types of defilements.

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Dongshan welcomes you to the Dharma-ending age at the conclusion of which Zen Master Maitreya will show up. Neat.

But, how will you recognize them if they pass by you on the street?

Here's a checklist:

1. No defiled views--not a religious leader.

2. No defiled emotions--not a moralist.

3. No defiled language--not a teacher of scriptures.

There you go--only if you, personally, can attest to the Great Zen Way will you avoid falling into one of these traps--Maitreya.

If you can't attest to it, you're stuck waiting for a Maitreya that is as unreal as the tooth fairy or zombie-Jesus.

Submitted May 02, 2021 at 02:38AM by ThatKir https://ift.tt/3tbE5Y8