Busy busy

In these modern times, there’s always something to do. For most of my life I’ve been occupied, entertained, and busy with something from morning until night. The reasons why only seem to increase with time and addiction to distractions.

While reading Dahui’s letters, Foyan, and Huangbo yet again; I’ve noticed they talked about doing just the opposite.

If you can stop mind, then stop it for a little while—past events, whether good or bad, whether they went against you or for you: don’t reflect on any of them. As for present events [i.e., daily activities], if you can skip any of them, then skip them. Sever [the ten-thousand things] at the single stroke of the sword—you must not hesitate! As for future events, naturally they won’t be a continuation [of past and present compulsions].

• Letters of Dahui pg. 174

At times when it is possible to minimize involve­ments, study your self clearly; this is very important.

• Instant Zen pg. 41

Were you now to practice keeping your minds motionless at all times, whether walking, standing, sitting or lying; concentrating entirely upon the goal of no thought-creation, no duality, no reliance on others and no attachments; just allowing all things to take their course the whole day long, as though you were too ill to bother; unknown to the world; innocent of any urge to be known or unknown to others; with your minds like blocks of stone that mend no holes - then all the Dharmas would penetrate your understanding through and through. In a little while you would find yourselves firmly unattached. Thus, for the first time in your lives, you would discover your reactions to phenomena decreasing and, ultimately, you would pass beyond the Triple World; and people would say that a Buddha had appeared in the world.

• On the Transmission of Mind Huangbo

It’s not hard to imagine how life would be in their time, and how it compares to our modern ones. Things have only gotten busier.

I don’t have much to contribute here. These lines seemed similar in my view, and talk of something I’ve wanted to apply in my own life, but have yet to.

Do you guys think they relate to one another? And do you find yourselves in a similar predicament to me?

Submitted June 10, 2022 at 10:08AM by BagOfWonder https://ift.tt/EnlqORP