The limited nature of thought vs direct awareness.

.

.

.

Huang po famously said.

.

.

Here it is, right now. Start thinking about it and you miss it.

.

.

.

T. O. M's comment

.

.

This single sentence, brilliant in its concise nature and clarity, is for me, the pinnacle of zen teachings..

No nonsense, straight to the point, it doesn't conjure up some metaphysical idea to ruminate over.

Its here.. Right now..

.

.

Once we start to deliberate over things, and think too deeply over such matters as zen, we are missing the point entirely, and here is why...

..

.

Your thinking mind has been educated and formed over your entire life, you didn't have words when you were born, they aren't a part of your "Unborn mind" as Bankei puts it.

People generally think in words, words which were taught to you, by someone else. Those words come within the parameters of a certain language, this one being English.

The forms of those words have structure, and linear processes, in as much as some words are different if they are followed by other words.

Therefore, trying to understand the self nature via an explanation of words, especially words which have been given to us by someone else, is futile..

If zen is a direct seeing of the self nature, then we must see beyond the limitations of words, and see the self nature as it is, when we stop habitually talking to ourselves using an abstract method of language.

T. O. M's disclaimer.

.

Obviously I like thinking, speaking and typing out words, and words and literature have a very important place in the world..

.

.

But never forget they are just the finger pointing at the moon.

.

Submitted February 15, 2022 at 01:44PM by transmission_of_mind https://ift.tt/uyiTEbM