The Gateless Gate: When you have really reached the true Way beyond doubt, you will find it as vast and boundless as outer space. How can it be talked about on the level of right and wrong?

The Gateless Gate: Nansen's "Ordinary Mind Is the Way" [19th Case]

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Jõshû asked Nansen, "What is the Way?"

"Ordinary mind is the Way," Nansen replied.

"Shall I try to seek after it?" Jõshû asked.

"If you try for it, you will become separated from it," responded Nansen.

"How can I know the Way unless I try for it?" persisted Jõshû.

Nansen said, "The Way is not a matter of knowing or not knowing.

Knowing is delusion; not knowing is confusion.

When you have really reached the true Way beyond doubt, you will find it as vast and boundless as outer space.

How can it be talked about on the level of right and wrong?"

With these words, Jõshû came to a sudden realization.

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Mumon's Comment

Nansen dissolved and melted away before Jõshû's question, and could not offer a plausible explanation.

Even though Jõshû comes to a realization, he must delve into it for another thirty years before he can fully understand it.

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Mumon's Verse

The spring flowers, the autumn moon;

Summer breezes, winter snow.

If useless things do not clutter your mind,

You have the best days of your life.

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Commentary and questions: Nothing within, and nothing without. If it is true as Nansen says, that knowing is delusion; not knowing is confusion, then where does this leave room for anything regarding the mind and the endlessness of thoughts and distinctions?

There are no fixed points in space or anything permanent to begin with, so what among the myriad things can truly be relied upon? Enlightenment is not enlightenment, and the Void is not the Void.

Submitted January 17, 2020 at 07:57PM by _WanderingRonin_ https://ift.tt/2NBxMew