Mundane Truth

This is the introduction to the 51st case from Wansong’s Caodong (aka the real Soto but don’t call it that) Book of Serenity,

In mundane truth how many people have been enlightened, in Buddhist truth how many people have been deluded! If they suddenly become one, can you then define delusion or enlightenment?

This is an intense start to the case, but is it really surprising? What Buddhist truth is Wansong talking about? Is he just talking about what Buddha said? Is that why Yunmen wanted to feed Shakyamuni to the dogs?

I think he is talking about any Dharma that people think they got from someone and attitude to Buddha. But what Dharma are Zen Masters interested in asides from your experience of reality? I see a lot of people already reading those words and thinking, "yeah, because reality is actually… [insert your doctrine here]"

And no. That’s already missing the point. Wansong is saying mundane truth, ordinary mind. If you need to explain what’s really going on behind you eating your food and drinking your water, then that’s already delusion.

So if Zen Masters are saying that what Buddha taught is only the mundane truth, then we don't need any special words or practices or insights. Anybody who tries to explain to you what reality actually is, is already talking about something else and not the truth that Zen Masters were interested in. The truth you are already a part of when you open your eyes in the morning and go take a leak. Who needs a guru or a practice for that?

Submitted April 19, 2023 at 04:36AM by astroemi https://ift.tt/70kEOAL