References to Early Buddhist Teachings in Hsin Hsin Ming

This came out of a discussion with u/ewk. I’m posting it here in case anyone is interested or has comments.

I find the Hsin Hsin Ming to be a simple and direct account of enlightened experience. I also recognize several references in it to early Buddhist teachings as presented in the Pali Canon. It seems likely to me that whoever wrote the Hsin Hsin Ming would have been familiar with such teachings (whether through translations or adaptations in other sutras).

Just to be clear, I’m not a Buddhist, I’m allergic to organized religion and I don’t think anything should be taken on faith. This stuff needs to be realized for oneself directly through practice (in whatever shape or form that may take for the individual). But I am interested in how such teachings appear to have evolved over time (whilst recognizing that they are all expedient and superseded in the final understanding).

I’m not making any kind of general “Zen is/isn’t Buddhism” claim, just comparing texts. I’ll quote a few passages from the Hsin Hsin Ming (Suzuki translation) with the corresponding references (as I see them) from the Pali canon underneath.

​

Clinging is never kept within bounds,

It is sure to go the wrong way;

Quit it, and things follow their own courses,

While the Essence neither departs nor abides.

Reference to Four Noble Truths & Dependent Origination - clinging causes suffering (becoming & dissolution), while cessation of clinging leads to cessation of suffering.

​

In the higher realm of true Suchness There is neither "self" nor "other":

Reference to first fetter - elimination of self-identity view.

​

The ultimate end of things where they cannot go any further

Is not bound by rules and measures:

Reference to third fetter - attachment to precepts & observances.

​

To set up what you like against what you dislike—

This is the disease of the mind:

…

The enlightened have no likes and dislikes:

Reference to fourth & fifth fetters - desire & aversion.

​

When you strive to gain quiescence by stopping motion,

The quiescence thus gained is ever in motion;

Reference to fifth & sixth fetters - attachment to meditation.

​

In one Emptiness the two are not distinguished,

And each contains in itself all the ten thousand things;

When no discrimination is made between this and that.

How can a one-sided and prejudiced view arise?

Reference to eighth fetter - attachment to making comparisons.

​

Gain and loss, right and wrong--Away with them once for all!

Reference to the “eight wordly winds” (AN 8.6 Lokavipatti Sutta) – gain/loss, status/disgrace, praise/blame, pleasure/pain.

​

Pursue not the outer entanglements,

Dwell not in the inner void;

…

And when oneness is not thoroughly understood,

In two ways loss is sustained:

The denying of reality is the asserting of it,

And the asserting of emptiness is the denying of it.

Reference to SN 12.15 Kaccanagotta Sutta - avoid the extremes of existence & non-existence.

Submitted September 15, 2021 at 07:48PM by GeorgeAgnostic https://ift.tt/3983SZN