zen is a sword about to be drawn


 

This matter Zen

is like a great mass of fire:

when you approach it your face is sure

to be scorched. It is again like a sword about

to be drawn; when it is once out of the scabbard,

someone is sure to lose his life. The precious

vajra sword is right here and its purpose

is to cut off the head.

 

The body does not know

how to discourse or to listen to a discourse.

This which is unmistakably perceivable right where

you are, absolutely identifiable yet without

form, this is what listens to

the discourse.

 

Dahui

zonggao

 

be the valley for the world

the king of the valleys

 

To know

the masculine and yet

cleave to the feminine is to be the

womb for the world. Being the womb for

the world, never departing from the

eternal power of tao, you

become like an infant

once again:

 immortal. 

 

To know

the bright and yet

hold to the dull is to be

an example for the world. 

Being the example for the world, 

not deviating from the everlasting

power of tao, you return to

the infinite once again: 

limitless. 

 

To know

honor and yet keep

to humility is to be the valley

for the world. Being the valley for

the world, rich with the primal power

of tao, you return once again to simplicity, 

like uncarved wood. Allow tao to carve

you into a vessel for tao. Then you

can serve the world without

mutilating

it. 

 

The Tao te Ching of Lao Tzu

Chapter 28

 

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weapons turn on their wielders


 

Those

who wish to use

Tao to influence others 

don’t rely on force or weapons

or military strategies. Force rebounds. 

Weapons turn on their wielders. 

Battles are inevitably

followed by

famines. 

 

Just do

what needs to be done,

and then stop. Attain your purpose,

but don’t press your advantage. Be resolute,

but don’t force. Succeed, but don’t

crow. Accomplish, but don’t

overpower. 

 

Overdoing

things invites decay, 

and this is against Tao. 

Whatever is against

Tao soon ceases

to be.

 

Tao te Ching of Lao Tzu,

Chapter 30


ebooks & apps of the Tao the Ching, I Ching,

Hua hu Ching, and Art of War for

iPad, Phone, Kindle, Nook,

or Android

 

You

can now buy

Tao te Ching as part of a

five-app bundle of Taoist classics 

for iPhone or iPad for less than

the cost of one hardcover

book.

brian browne walker taoist app bundle ios ipad iphone

 

don’t stay in the mind

open heart, free of desire

 

Meditate

within eternity.

Don’t stay in the mind.

Your thoughts are like a child

fretting near its mother’s breast,

restless and afraid, who with a

little guidance can find the

path of courage.

 

Lalla

 

camila massu

 

Abandonment

of self is freedom from desire.

Freedom from desire is freedom from distress.

No this, no that — just exquisite

emptiness.

 

Wei wu Wei Ching, Chapter 31

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transcend ordinary conventions


 

Just

detach from thoughts

and cut off sentiments and transcend

the ordinary conventions. Use your own inherent

power and take up its great capacity and great wisdom right

where you are. It is like letting go when you are hanging

from a mile-high cliff, releasing your body

and not relying on anything

anymore.

 

Yuanwu

zen letters