something mysterious and perfect

eddie o’bryan

 

Something mysterious

and perfect existed before even heaven

and earth were born. Silent, immeasurable,

standing alone and unchanging, moving

without end or exhaustion, it is the

mother of the known and

unknown universe.

 

I don’t know

its name, so I call it by an

alias: tao. Forced to describe

it, I only say, “It is

great.”

 

That which is great continues.

That which continues goes far.

That which goes far returns.

 

Therefore tao is great,

Heaven is great, earth is great,

a person of tao is great. These

are the four greatnesses

in the universe.

 

A person of tao follows earth.

Earth follows Heaven.

Heaven follows tao.

Tao follows its

own nature.

 

Tao te Ching of Lao Tzu

Chapter 25


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the deep source can radiantly shine

teachings

 
The field of boundless emptiness is what exists from the very beginning. You must purify, cure, grind down, or brush away all the tendencies you have fabricated into apparent habits. Then you can reside in the clear circle of brightness.

Utter emptiness has no image, upright independence does not rely on anything. Just expand and illuminate the original truth un­con­cerned by external conditions. Accordingly we are told to realize that not a single thing exists. In this field birth and death do not appear.

The deep source, transparent down to the bottom, can radiantly shine and can respond unencumbered to each speck of dust without becoming its partner. The subtlety of seeing and hearing transcends mere colours and sounds. The whole affair functions without leaving traces, and mirrors without obscurations.

Very naturally mind and dharmas emerge and harmonise. An Ancient said that non-mind embodies and fulfils the way of non-mind. Enacting and fulfilling the way of non-mind, finally you can rest. Proceeding you are able to guide the assembly. With thoughts clear, sitting silently, wander into the centre of the circle of wonder. This is how you must penetrate and study.
 

Hongzhi Zhengjue

morezhi

 

the calm light from the spirit

nothing in particular

 

Do not

do anything (good or bad)

and do not even do this not-doing;

then straightaway one reaches that place where

there is no concern for external affairs, that

vast and peaceful place where there

are absolutely no obstructing

thoughts.

 

There,

all thoughts of the past

are extinguished, all thoughts of

the future do not arise, and

all present thoughts

are void.

 

Nevertheless,

this void-ness is also not

to be maintained. This non-maintenance

(of the void) is also to be forgotten, and this forgetting

is also not to be legitimized; further, free your­self from this

non-legitimizing. At the time when even the idea of

getting free is not preserved, only the alert

yet calm light from the spirit will

appear prominently before

oneself.

 

T’aego Pou

 

the wise person sets an example

so much can happen

 

When praise is

lavished upon the famous,

the people contend and compete with

one another. When exotic goods are traded

and treasured, the compulsion to steal is

felt. When desires are constantly

stimulated, people become

disturbed and

confused.

 

Therefore,

the wise person sets an example

by emptying her mind, opening her heart,

relaxing her ambitions, relinquishing her desires,

cultivating her character. Having conquered her

own cunning and cravings, she can’t

be manipulated by

anyone.

 

Do

by not-doing.

Act with non-action.

Allow order to arise

of itself.

 

Tao te Ching of Lao Tzu, Chapter 3


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Hua hu Ching, and Art of War for

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only when you’ve seen the Way

people of the way

 

Only when you’ve

seen the Way do you practice

the Way — if you don’t see, what do you

practice? The emergence of the Way is like space —

what is there to cultivate in space? Those who practice

the Way by all kinds of contemplation are fire

stirring fire looking for foam. Just observe

the manipulation of the puppets —

when the strings are cut, it

all stops at once.

 

Chan Master Jing

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