Ni hao r/zen.
I was reading the Book of Serenity, and in the the commentary for Case 64 Wansong said
"At that time Fayan deeply pitied this kind, who were not complete adepts, and wrote Treatise on Ten Guidelines for Chan Schools to educate them; student should not fail to read it. "
Being a student, I thought I would read and post it here. We are all involved in some sort of experimental futuristic multimedia 21st Century e-sangha, and maybe this will help us up our game.
I have found this text on our most revered Hungarian retailer website, and it is a part of Five Houses of Zen by Thomas Cleary.
Author’s Own Preface
I SHED THE CAGE of entanglements in youth and grew up hearing the essentials of the Teaching, traveling around calling on teachers for nearly thirty years. The Zen schools, in particular, are widespread, most numerous in the South. Yet few in them have arrived at attainment; such people are rarely found.
Anyway, even though noumenal principle is a matter for sudden understanding, actualities must be realized gradually. The teaching methods of the schools have many techniques, of course, but insofar as they are for dealing with people for their benefit, the ultimate aim is the same.
If, however, people have no experience of the doctrines of the teachings, it is hard to break through discrimination and subjectivity. Galloping right views over wrong roads, mixing inconsistencies into important meanings, they delude people of the following generations and inanely enter into vicious circles.
I have taken the measure of this, and it is quite deep; I have made the effort to get rid of it, but I have not fully succeeded. The mentality that blocks the tracks just grows stronger; the intellectual undercurrent is not useful.
Where there are no words, I forcefully speak out; where there is no dogma, I strongly uphold certain principles. Pointing out defects in Zen schools, I briefly explain ten matters, using words critical of specific errors to rescue an era from decadence.
Top Ten Chan School Errors
*Number 10: On Defending One’s Own Shortcomings and Indulging in Contention
*As the land is full of religious communes and the Zen societies are extremely numerous, with communities numbering not less than half a thousand gathered there, are there not one or two working for the furtherance of the Teaching?
There are some people among them who embrace the Way, people of pure conduct, who agree to temporarily go along with the feelings of the community and exert their strength to continue the Zen teaching, gather colleagues from all over, and establish a site of enlightenment in one region. With morning questioning and even assembly, they do not shy away from toil and hardship, wanting only to continue the life of wisdom of the buddhas, guiding beginners.
They do not do it for the sake of increasing fame or out of greed for profit and support; rather, like a bell ringing when struck, they dispense medicine when they encounter illness. Showering the rain of the Teaching, they have no bias toward great or small; as they sound the thunder of the Teaching, far and near all respond. Their prosperity or austerity naturally varies, their activity and concealment differ; but this is not on account of choosiness or because of attachment and rejection.
There are those who inherit succession by sycophancy, who hold position by stealing rank and then claim to have attained the highest vehicle and to have transcended mundane things. They defend their own shortcomings and derogate the strengths of others. Fooling around in cocoons of ignorance, they smack their lips in front of meat markets. Emphasizing their temporal power, they take pride in glibness.
They gossip and call that compassion; they are sloppy and call that virtue in action. Violating Buddhist prohibitions and precepts, abandoning the dignity of the religious community, they disparage the Two Vehicles and wrongly dispense with the three studies. What is more, they fail to investigate the great matter, yet approve of themselves as masters.
Thus, at the end of the age of imitation, the demons are strong and the Teaching is weak. They use the Buddha’s robe of righteousness to steal the benevolence and dignity of kings. Their mouths speak of the basis of liberation, but their minds play with the obsessions of ghosts and spirits. Since they have no shame or conscience, how can they avoid wrongdoing?
Now I have exposed these folks to warn people in the future. Meeting with a chance for wisdom is not a small matter; choosing a teacher is most difficult. If you can bear the responsibility yourself, eventually you will fulfill maximum potential. I am forcibly dispensing a stunning medicine, willing to be subjected to slander and hatred, so that people on the same path may be assisted in awakening.*
Dragon and Fly comments
like a bell ringing when struck, they dispense medicine when they encounter illness
I think that is just how it is. This should lay to rest debate about 'How can you criticize me?'
They defend their own shortcomings and derogate the strengths of others.
Don't defend your shortcomings, don't hate other's strength.
They gossip and call that compassion
Don't gossip
Violating Buddhist prohibitions and precepts
Act according to standards.
they disparage the Two Vehicles and wrongly dispense with the three studies
Sila, dhyana and prajna I think
I think these are some good tips. I will continue to post the rest and hopefully it will spark some good discussion and suggestions.
Submitted February 17, 2023 at 03:07AM by Dragonfly-17 https://ift.tt/SKGPn68
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