Every instance
of recognizing a teacher
is an authorization of spiritual power.
The most important one of these, and the only
absolutely necessary one on the way to
complete realization, is recognizing
yourself as your own
teacher.
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When you are practicing zazen, do not try to stop your thinking. Let it stop by itself. It something comes into your mind, let it come in, and let it go out. It will not stay long. When you try to stop your thinking, it means you are bothered by it. Do not be bothered by anything. It appears as if something comes from outside your mind, but actually it is only the waves of your mind, and if you are not bothered by the waves, gradually they will become calmer and calmer. In five or at most ten minutes, your mind will be completely serene and calm. At that time your breathing will become quite slow, while your pulse will become a little faster.
It will take quite a long time before you find your calm, serene mind in your practice. Many sensations come, many thoughts or images arise, but they are just waves of your own mind. Nothing comes from outside your mind. Usually we think of our mind as receiving impressions and experiences from outside, but that is not a true understanding of our mind. The true understanding is that the mind includes everything; when you think something comes from outside it means only that something appears in your mind. Nothing outside yourself can cause any trouble. You yourself make the waves in your mind. If you leave your mind as it is, it will become calm. This mind is called big mind.
Perfect freedom is
not found without some rules.
People, especially young people, think that
freedom is to do just what they want, that in Zen there
is no need for rules. But this does not mean always to be under
control. As long as you have rules, you have a chance for
freedom. To try to obtain freedom without being aware
of the rules means nothing. It is to acquire
this perfect freedom that we
practice zazen.
Don’t
love sagehood;
sagehood is an empty name.
There is no special truth but this radiant
spiritual openness, unobstructed
and free. It is not attained by
adornment and cultivated
realization.
If the human species
has been able to make any progress,
it is because of our heart of love and compassion.
We need to learn from compassionate beings how to develop
the practice of deep observation for the sake of others.
Then others will be able to learn from us the way to
live in the present, and see the impermanent
and selfless nature of all that is.
This insight will lessen
suffering.
