When water is pure
and sparkling clear, you can see
straight to the bottom. When your mind
holds no concerns, no circumstance can turn you,
and once your mind doesn’t stray, a kalpa
has no changes. From such awareness
nothing hides.
open your hands and walk
Let go of hundreds
of years and relax completely.
Open your hands and walk, innocently.
Thousands of words, myriad interpretations,
are only to free you from
obstructions.
let not one thought arise
“Put down
all entangling conditions,
let not one thought arise” is a prerequisite
for the practice of Ch’an. Now that we
know this, how do we
accomplish it?
life has some possibility left
If you suddenly
and unexpectedly feel joy,
don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are
plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed
or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often
kind. And much can never be redeemed. Still life has some
possibility left. Perhaps this is its way of fighting back, that sometimes
something happened better than all the riches or power in the world.
It could be anything, but very likely you notice it in the instant
when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case.
Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid
of its plenty. Joy is not made
to be a crumb.
let whoever come and say whatever
Let him say
whatever he wants against me.
Let whoever come and say whatever.
Or let them worship me, bringing
their souls here like
flowers.
I’m not part of any of that.