Blue Cliff Record. Case 37:
POINTER
It is futile effort to linger in thought over the action of a lightning bolt: when the sound of thunder fills the sky, you will hardly have time to cover your ears. To unfurl the red flag of victory over your head, whirl the twin swords behind your ears—if not for a discriminating eye and a familiar hand, how could anyone be able to succeed? Some people lower their heads and linger in thought, trying to figure it out with their intellect. They hardly realize that they are seeing ghosts without number in front of their skulls. Now tell me, without falling into intellect, without being caught up in gain or loss, when suddenly there is such a demonstration to awaken you, how will you reply? To test, I cite this to see.
Thunderbolts and lightning. Very very frightening. They accompany each other like call and response, effortless, non discriminating, flowing like liquid. Are they two? Can they be understood? Why bother?
CASE
P’an Shan imparted the words which said, “There is nothing in the triple world; where can mind be found?”
Form, formlessness, desire. Where are they?
“the mirror itself is so clear, dust has no place to land.”
VERSE
There is nothing in the triple world;
Where can mind be found?
The white clouds form a canopy;
The flowing spring makes a lute—
One tune, two tunes; no one understands.
When the rain has passed, the autumn water is deep in the evening pond.
The tune plays, what intellect is there to understand this? We can read these cases and search for meaning, or truth, or a pointing finger, but all is lost in the search. It’s a song playing. Can you hear it?
Where can mind be found?
Submitted July 26, 2022 at 10:08PM by bcntwo https://ift.tt/XAYyB37
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