The Gateless Gate: It is said that things coming in through the gate can never be your own treasures.

Mumon's Preface to The Mumonkan

佛語心爲宗、無門爲法門。

Buddhism makes mind its foundation and no-gate its gate. ¹

既是無門、且作麼生透。

Now, how do you pass through this no-gate? ²

豈不見道、從門入者不是家珍、從縁得者始終成壞。

It is said that things coming in through the gate can never be your own treasures. What is gained from external circumstances will perish in the end. ³

恁麼説話、大似無風起浪好肉抉瘡。

However, such a saying is already raising waves when there is no wind. It is cutting unblemished skin. ⁴

何況滯言句覓解會。 掉棒打月、隔靴爬痒、有甚交渉。

As for those who try to understand through other people's words, they are striking at the moon with a stick; scratching a shoe, whereas it is the foot that itches. What concern have they with the truth? ⁵

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Wandering Ronin commentary and questions:

1. If mind is the foundation and no-gate its gate, then there's not a single thing to do.

2. This may be the greatest single trick question of all time.

3. Study of the texts and any form of meditation or mindfulness practice is seeking gain from external circumstances.

4. Much ado about nothing; The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king. Murder has no tongue, but miraculously it still finds a way to speak.

5. The truth is not found in anyone else's account of the truth; no one can experience it for you.

Submitted November 10, 2018 at 08:18PM by WanderingRonin77 https://ift.tt/2AYoFP2