No-mind is the Way

The Reading:

A monk asked Baso, "What is the Buddha?"  Baso answered, "Mind is the Buddha."  The monk asked, "What is the Way?"  "No-mind is the Way," answered Baso.  The monk then asked, "Are the Buddha and the Way somewhat different "  Baso replied, "The Buddha is like stretching out the hand, the Way is like clenching the fist."

-Blyth, Zen and Zen Classics, Volume 3, p.21

Discussion:

Many people make the mistake of thinking that there is no violence in Zen.  To set aside your desires, is anything more violent?

More Master Lin

The Reading:



"Fellow believers, at this time, having found it impossible to refuse, I have been addressing you, putting forth a lot of trashy talk. But make no mistake! In my view, there are in fact no great number of principles to be grasped. If you want to use the thing, then use it. If you don't want to use it, then let it be."



"Followers of the Way, there is no Buddha to be gained, and the Three Vehicles, the five natures, the teaching of the perfect and immediate enlightenment are all simply medicines to cure diseases of the moment. None have any true reality. Even if they had, they would still all be mere shams, placards proclaiming superficial matters, so many words lined up, pronouncements of such kind.


"Followers of the Way, there are certain bald heads who turn all their efforts inward, seeking in this way to find some otherworldly truth. But they are completely mistaken! Seek the Buddha and you'll lose the Buddha. Seek the Way and you'll lose the Way. Seek the patriarchs and you'll lose the patriarchs.

Discussion:

Trashy talk!  That's all Master Lin is good for.  This simple medicine, did it ever cure anyone?

On the Permanence of Enlightenment

The Reading:

A monk asked Kegon, "How about when an enlightened man returns to illusion?"  Kegon said, "A broken mirror does not reflect; fallen flowers to not go back to the branch."

Blyth, Zen and Zen Classics Vo1 3, p6

Discussion:

Whatever you think Zen is, ask Kegon:  What do a broken mirror and fallen flowers have in common?

Talk to Stone Turtle

The Reading:

Ryuge  was asked by a monk, "What is the meaning of Daruma's coming from the West?"  Ryuge said, "Wait till the stone turtle speaks words of explanation and I will tell you."  The monk said, "The stone turtle has spoken!"  Ryuge said, "What did it say to you?"  The monk was silent."

-Zen and Zen Classics, Volume 3, Blyth

Discussion:

People who imagine that Zen is a game better be ready to play!

Huangbo

 The Reading: 

"'Studying the Way’ is just a figure of speech [...] In fact, the Way is not something which can be studied." 

It all seems so easy, so why do we have to live to see a day like this? Can’t you understand that in the whole Empire of the T’ang there are no ‘teachers of Zen’?” A monk stepped forth and asked, “How can you say that? At this very moment, as all can see, we are sitting face to face with one who has appeared in the world to be a teacher of monks and a leader of men!” Please note that I did not say there is no Zen. I merely pointed out that there are no teachers!"


Discussion:

I'm a parrot!  Even when I don't know it, it has all been said before.  These are from his wikipedia page.  

Master Lin Chi

The Reading:

"Followers of the Way, you take the words that come out of the mouths of a bunch of old teachers to be a description of the true Way. You think, 'This is a most wonderful teacher and friend. I have only the mind of a common mortal, I would never dare to try to fathom such venerableness.' Blind idiots! You go through life with this kind of understanding, betraying your own two eyes, cringing and faltering like a donkey on an icy road, saying, 'I would never dare speak ill of such a good friend, I'd be afraid of making mouth karma!'

"Followers of the Way, the really good friend is someone who dares speak ill of the Buddha, speak ill of the patriarchs, pass judgment on anyone in the world, throw away the Tripitaka, revile those little children, and in the midst of opposition and assent search out the real person. So for the past twelve years, though I've looked for this thing called karma, I've never found so much as a particle of it the size of a mustard seed.

"Those Ch'an masters who are as timid as a new bride are afraid they might be expelled from the monastery or deprived of their meal of rice, worrying and fretting. But from times past the real teachers, wherever they went, were never listened to and were always driven out--that's how you know they were men of worth. If everybody approves of you wherever you go, what use can you be? Hence the saying, let the lion give one roar and the brains of the little foxes will split open.

"Followers of the Way, here and there you hear it said that there is a Way to be practiced, a Dharma to become enlightened to. Will you tell me then just what Dharma there is to be enlightened to, what Way there is to practice? In your present activities, what is it you lack, what is it that practice must mend? But those little greenhorn monks don't understand this and immediately put faith in that bunch of wild fox spirits, letting them spout their ideas and tie people in knots, saying, 'When principle and practice match one another and proper precaution is taken with regard to the three types of karma of body, mouth, and mind, only then can one attain Buddhahood.' People who go on like that are as plentiful as springtime showers.

Discussion:  

Who is this Lin Chi?  I never heard of him before this.  What can I say of him?  Surely not everyone approves of his teaching!