Rujing at Qingliang: A Sermon at the Request of the Director of Affairs*

Qingliang¹ is a great mass of fire, engulfed in scorching flames, looping back on eachother. Restraint² is the bare bones of the patch-robed monk—where we're permitted inside, the whole body is a tree of swords.

We brutalize eachother, push one another.

Where we're permitted inside; letting go, holding fast—letting go, holding fast, to stop gratification, and the course of the wind.

An enemy always smiles and nods.

請知事上堂。清凉大火聚。炎炎沒回互。衲僧赤骨律。通身是劍樹在裡許。相挨廝拶。在裡許放行把住。放行把住逞風流。總是冤家笑點頭。

(CBETA.T48n2002A_001.0122c16)

• Next below the abbot; the karmadāna.

¹ Qingliang often works as a pun, referring to three things at once; the temple is Qingliang, as is Rujing himself, who is the representative of the monastery, while "Qingliang" means "cool and refreshing."

² 律 can also mean discipline, and can reference the vinaya; the monastic regulations set forth by either the Buddha or, in most cases of the time and place, those set forth by Baizhang.

...

Rujing's sermons are often discussing, for the sake of the listener, of course, that interplay between the natural, calm rest of things as they are, and the sravakas pursuit of This; tense, still, over a long time. I believe it is Huangbo who says that the Way of demons, and the Way of Bodhisattvas are equally far from the mark.

Huanglong said, "If you can't help yourself or help others, there's no benefit to a shaven head and monastic robes," yet Wuzu said, "'Suchness,' the 'ordinary,' and the 'holy' are all dream talk; 'Buddha' and "sentient beings" are both excess verbiage."

So, the obvious answer is the Middle Way, n'est ce pas? Yet, Huangbo said, "Mind which is not to be found inside, outside or in the middle."

No retreat, no advance, no standing still. What's that about?

If you have any questions about what words, or phrases, mean, please ask. All criticism is welcome.

Have a wonderful day.

Submitted July 07, 2022 at 03:55PM by surupamaerl2 https://ift.tt/DoXnJLi