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+---- Thread: Zen - by Shodo Harada Roshi (/thread-21327.html)
Zen - by Shodo Harada Roshi - Mornings Son - 05-27-2011
Zen is the flow of Mind; Mind is the essence of Zen
This is what the sixth Patriarch said in his definition.
But
what 'mind' is being talked about? Of course, humans have history and
genetic makeup, but what mind is really being being spoken of here? The
Sixth patriarch is not talking about egoistic, individual awareness or
experience.
Oh Great Mind!
It is impossible to measure the height of heavens,
Yet the Mind is above heavens.
It is impossible to measure the thickness of the earth,
Yet the Mind is below the earth.
The sun and the moon shine with a great radiance,
Yet the Mind is the source of that radiance,
Within the Mind the four seasons open in their sequence,
Within the Mind the sun and the moon move.
Oh Great Mind!
Eternal
and huge Mind, always transforming in accordance with the heavens and
earth, is what it has to be. We have the Mind of no form. It goes in all
ten directions, yet it is the law of each and every person.
The Buddha saw the mornings star and was suddenly awakened to the Mind which embraces all beings, leaving out no one.
This
is the Mind of Pranja, the Mind of Buddha Nature. This is the Mind
which was realized: perfectly round, complete wisdom. All peole have
this - perfect round, complete wisdom. This round perfect teaching is
what Buddhism describes as the true way of seeing life.
The ten
Oxherding Pictures depics ten levels in the process of realizing Mind.
They begin with the first stage, seeking the truth and finish with the
tenth, where truth is actualized. The Zen Buddhist way is to realize
Mind suddenly, directly. The Ten Oxherding Pictures are about this
truly wonderful Mind, yet there is no ox- like Mind to be found, nor is
there anyone to be search for it. There is only the great round circle.
Our
Mind is clear and perfect. There is nothing to hold onto. Whatever
comes, comes. Whatever goes, goes. The inside of the mirror has no
birth, no death. No matter what comes in front of it, it doesn't grow
heavier. It does not become lighter when things leave.
When our
true eye is opened, we can see the world exactly as it is. Mountains are
high; waters are low. A flower is red, a willow is green. There is no
truth to be searched for and no one to search for a truth.
There
is no buddha, no ignorant person, no delusion, no satori. If we stop and
sit down to enjoy this wonderful scenery, where both self and other are
gone, that is only our own self satisfaction.
Is it really acceptable for the Buddha's teaching to end with saving only ourselves?
Our
end goal must be to use our hands to dive into society. This is
Buddhism's ultimate point, which must always be transforming in
accordance with the heavens and earth. Our mind is the pure Mind which
embraces all existence. Society becomes entirely liberated within this
great all-embracing Mind.
The training process begins with the
search for this truth. The second and third steps, realizing the truth,
follow. Finally, there is no more truth to look for, nor self to look
from, only that one circle.
For all beings to realize this is the
ultimate goal - to realize this huge, all-embracing Mind, including all
existence in true liberation.
***
This text - this is the best expression of Zen and all that I know.
Zen - by Shodo Harada Roshi - Guest - 08-21-2019