I will be splitting this one in three parts since it’s quite long.
I will leave some thoughts, questions and paraphrasing throughout the case on parts I found interesting, but my ultimate goal of this post is to discuss what different people make out of this case.
The reply of the national teacher of Qingliang to the imperial crown prince’s inquiry about the essentials of mind: The ultimate way is rooted in the mind; the reality of mind is rooted in nondwelling. The awareness of the nondwelling substance of mind is not obscured; essence and characteristics peaceful, it contains qualities and functions. Comprehending both inside and outside, it is deep and it is broad.
No dwelling seems to be the main point here. But how do you (reader of this post) understand what he means by nondwelling mind?
Neither existent nor void, it is not produced and does not pass away. It has no end and no beginning. When you seek it, you cannot get it; reject it, and it still doesn’t leave. If you miss the immediate experience, then the pains of confusion are jumbled; if you realize true essence, then the light of openness is thoroughly clear.
Paraphrased: You make your future confusing by missing the present experience. It is like missing 3 episodes in a show then trying to continue watching it, some confusion is bound to arise.
Although mind itself is Buddha, only those who experience it actually know. But if there is “realization” and “knowledge,” then the sun of wisdom sets in the land of existence. Yet if there is no illumination and no awakening, then dark clouds cover the gate of emptiness. If a thought is not produced, then before and after are cut off, and the luminous essence stands alone; others and self are one suchness.
“Only those who experience it actually know”. Being told your own mind is already buddha can’t help you see any clearer till you decide to see for yourself.
Go directly to the source of mind, and there is no knowledge, no attainment; you neither grasp nor reject, so there is no opposition and no cultivation. Nonetheless, confusion and enlightenment are interdependent; truth and illusion are relative.
Confusion and enlightenment are interdependent. Labels exists in opposites to differentiate, no hot means no cold and vice versa. No confusion, no enlightenment. No enlightenment, no confusion.
If you seek reality trying to get rid of illusion, that is like wearing out your body to get rid of your shadow; if you realize how illusion is truth, that is like staying in the shade so your shadow disappears.
Wow, wish you would have told me that before before I spent months trying to eliminate thinking by awakening to “the real world”.
I am interested in what you guys make of this last part, what do you think he means by staying in the shadow so your shadow disappears. Keep in mind he starts this whole thing off by saying that the reality of mind is rooted in non-dwelling, so whatever staying in the shadow means, it is not dwelling.
P.S. It struck me as quite funny that Thomas Cleary put this case as number 101, especially since the content of the case sounds like the national teacher trying to give the imperial prince the “Zen 101” on the essentials of mind.
Submitted April 23, 2023 at 07:46PM by mslotfi https://ift.tt/knxjbB0
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