The true Suchness of mind is like a mirror reflecting forms: the mind is like the mirror, and phenomena are like the reflected forms.I If the mind grasps at phenomena, then it involves itself in external conditions and causes; this is what 'the birth and death of mind' means.II If it no longer grasps at such phenomena, this is what 'the true Suchness of mind' means.
All dharmas are Buddhist teachings; all dharmas are liberation.III Liberation is true Suchness, and not one thing is separate from this true Suchness. Walking, standing, sitting, and reclining are all inconceivable actions.IV
Mazu Daoyi [709–788] was an influential abbot of Chan Buddhism during the Tang dynasty. The earliest recorded use of the term "Chan school" is from his Extensive Records. Master Ma's teaching style of "strange words and extraordinary actions" became paradigmatic Zen lore.
His family name was Ma – Mazu meaning Ancestor Ma or Master Ma. He was born in 709 northwest of Chengdu in Sichuan. During his years as master, Mazu lived in Jiangxi, from which he took the name "Jiangxi Daoyi".
In the Transmission of the Lamp, compiled in 1004, Mazu is described as follows:
His appearance was remarkable. He strode along like a bull and glared about him like a tiger.V If he stretched out his tongue, it reached up over his nose; on the soles of his feet were imprinted two circular marks.
Wandering Ronin commentary and questions:
I. Aquila non capit muscas; which from the latin translates as the eagle does not catch flies. Why does this apply here? The moon of truth is reflected perfectly in the mirror of the lake when the water is still, and breaks up into a thousand points of light when the water is disturbed. What trouble is caused by dashing about after reflected forms?
II. The birth and death of mind, being involved in external conditions and causes; even more trouble. At what point do we realize that practice is a sort of settling down, allowing things to simply exist exactly as they are? Is there something to be done beyond this?
III. The dharma is the teaching of the Buddha or cosmic law and order, but what teaching can hold among the myriad things? What is this concept of "liberation", anyway? Sounds like yet another trap. If all dharmas are liberation, tell me, what can't be learned from?
IV. Walking, standing, sitting, and reclining are all inconceivable actions. Someone in this worthless wasteland of a sangha please stand forth to help me with this one; it seems as hot as white lightning right now, so I don't want to attempt to touch it.
V. He strode along like a bull and glared about him like a tiger. Sounds like my kind of fellow, haha! Tell me, wouldn't this Mazu have to know something in order to go about like that? Clear the Way, clear the Way! Great Master Mazu is coming through! What does he have that you will claim for your own?
Submitted November 22, 2018 at 03:18AM by WanderingRonin77 https://ift.tt/2DymGD3
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