Subtle Feeling

This comes from case 78 of the Blue Cliff Record.

“Subtle feeling reveals illumination, and we have achieved the station of sons of Buddha.” “Reveals” means “makes apparent.” The subtle feeling is illumination. Once you awaken to the subtle feeling, then you achieve the station of sons of Buddha, that is, you are in the stage of Buddhahood.

If I'm reading this correctly Yuanwu is saying that illumination reveals illumination, since the subtle feeling is defined as illumination and is the very thing revealing illumination.

Which reminds me of Suzuki talking about Huineng talking about Dyhana and Prajna being one and the same.

It also makes me think about how Zen Masters say that the emotional/intellectual/habitual consciousness cannot realize enlightenment, but instead it's the self seeing the self.

Submitted June 08, 2022 at 04:17AM by koancomentator https://ift.tt/rtySJAX