12-24-2015, 12:00 AM
From Iron Flute
10. Yüeh-shan Holds It
The governor of a state asked Yüeh-shan, “I understand that all Buddhists must possess Shila (precepts), Dhyana (meditation) and Prajna (wisdom). Do you keep the precepts? Do you practice meditation? Have you attained wisdom?” “This poor monk has no such junk around here,” Yüeh-shan replied. “You must have a profound teaching,” the governor said, “but I do not understand it.” “If you want to hold it,” Yüeh-shan continued, “you must climb the highest mountain and sit on the summit or dive into the deepest sea and walk on the bottom. Since you cannot enter even your own bed without a burden on your mind, how can you grasp and hold my Zen?”
GENRŌ: Yüeh-shan uses the mountain and the sea as an
illustration. If you cling to summit or bottom, you will
create delusion. How can he hold “it” on the summit or the
bottom? The highest summit must not have a top to sit on,
and the greatest depth no place to set foot. Even this
statement is not expressing the truth. What do you do then?
(He turns to the monks.) Go out and work in the garden or
chop wood.
FŪGAI: Stop! Stop! Don’t try to pull an unwilling cat over the
carpet. She will scratch and make the matter worse.
10. Yüeh-shan Holds It
The governor of a state asked Yüeh-shan, “I understand that all Buddhists must possess Shila (precepts), Dhyana (meditation) and Prajna (wisdom). Do you keep the precepts? Do you practice meditation? Have you attained wisdom?” “This poor monk has no such junk around here,” Yüeh-shan replied. “You must have a profound teaching,” the governor said, “but I do not understand it.” “If you want to hold it,” Yüeh-shan continued, “you must climb the highest mountain and sit on the summit or dive into the deepest sea and walk on the bottom. Since you cannot enter even your own bed without a burden on your mind, how can you grasp and hold my Zen?”
GENRŌ: Yüeh-shan uses the mountain and the sea as an
illustration. If you cling to summit or bottom, you will
create delusion. How can he hold “it” on the summit or the
bottom? The highest summit must not have a top to sit on,
and the greatest depth no place to set foot. Even this
statement is not expressing the truth. What do you do then?
(He turns to the monks.) Go out and work in the garden or
chop wood.
FŪGAI: Stop! Stop! Don’t try to pull an unwilling cat over the
carpet. She will scratch and make the matter worse.