Humans born into
this floating world quickly become
like the roadside dust: at dawn small children,
by sunset already grown white-haired, without inner
understanding, they struggle without cease.
I ask the children of the universe:
for what reason do you
pass this way?
We just sit in the midst
of this contradiction where, although
we aim, we can never perceive hitting the mark.
We just sit in the midst of this contradiction that is
absolutely ridiculous when we think about it with our small mind.
In our zazen, it is precisely at the point where our small, foolish self
remains unsatisfied, or completely bewildered, that immeasurable
natural life beyond the thoughts of that self functions.
It is precisely at the point where we become
completely lost that life operates and
the power of Buddha is
actualized.
There is no dharma
that can be explained, no mind that
can be spoken of: inherent reality-nature is empty.
Going back to the fundamental basis is the Path. The real
identity of the Path is empty and boundless, vast and pure.
With its stillness and solitude, it obliterates the cosmos.
It pervades ancient and modern, but its nature
is pure. It is perfect from top to bottom
and everywhere pure. This is the
pure buddha-land.
…The Path
of enlightenment
cannot be charted or measured:
highest of the high, vast beyond limit,
deepest of the deep, profound beyond
fathoming, big enough to contain
heaven and earth, small enough
to enter an infinitesimal
point—thus it is called
the Path.
Records of the Teachers and Students of the Lanka
Anyone
can say anything.
Eyes look without obstruction,
And the nose, it sniffs everything.
Legs go where they want to. Hands reach.
The mind respects nothing. Even the heart
Is unsure where to stand. This is how
Things are. Is something missing?
A human being can walk in different ways,
Deliberately, as though going somewhere,
Or strolling with no purpose, or marching,
Or limping, or pretending to be a gorilla
With arms hanging down.
He or she can curse you or trust you, comfort you,
Or act without considering anything or anyone.
Truth and lies, both glitter in the eyes.
He or she can hear and enjoy and embrace
The language coming in, but to understand everything
With divine wisdom is hard.
There is one clear truth, the pure loving.
When people do not have that, they are
Disconnected. Words are just words,
And good actions are done for wrong reasons.
Paint on a red dot like the dancing Shiva,
But if you don’t know how to open your heart
With modesty, dignity, and respect for others,
It’s just collecting more honors and robes.
It’s easy to explain the condition of being human,
What’s missing and what’s here, but if
You don’t know God exists,
It’s foolishness.
To know this and act accordingly is difficult.
Saying the words is easy.
If
you haven’t
attained the Way,
don’t admonish others.
Don’t waste time blaming
yourself, either. Just
attain the
Way.
i ching hexagram 38 ䷥ opposition
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