Searching for words,
hunting for phrases, when will it end?
Esteeming knowledge and gathering information
only maddens the spirit. Just entrust yourself
to your own nature, empty and illuminating.
Beyond this, I have nothing
to teach.
Posts Tagged → enlightenment
accept three precepts
the paws of the buddha smelled like popcorn
Even if
you know how to recite
the texts, you still have to discern reality
from artificiality. Why? Sound and form dim the mind,
falsehoods fool the ears; personality and ego become second
nature, the disease of self-affirmation is deep-seated.
When the mind is separated from the
Way, the principle is hard to
comprehend.
If you wish
to return to the supreme
Way, have deep faith and first accept
three precepts. If you practice in accord with
these three precepts consistently from
beginning to end, then you will
attain the true Way. The
three precepts
are:
simplifying involvements
not craving anything
quieting the mind
…A scripture says,
“If people can empty their minds
and not contrive anything, it is not that
they want the Way, but the Way
spontaneously reverts
to them.”
Treatise on Sitting Forgetting
happiness without sorrow
Just let your
mind be free; don’t
do contemplative exercises,
and don’t think of sorrow or worry.
Clear and unobstructed, free as you will,
not contriving virtues, not perpetrating evils,
walking, standing still, sitting, lying down, whatever
meets the eye, in any circumstance, is all the subtle
function of Buddha. It is called Buddahood
because of happiness without
sorrow.
treasury of the eye of true teaching
patience in the heart of chaos
A sage is subtle,
intuitive, penetrating, profound.
His depths are mysterious and
unfathomable.
The best one can do is
describe his appearance: the sage
is alert as a person crossing a winter stream; as
circumspect as a person with neighbors on all four sides;
as respectful as a thoughtful guest; as yielding as
melting ice; as simple as uncarved wood;
as open as a valley; as chaotic
as a muddy torrent.
Why “chaotic
as a muddy torrent”?
Because clarity is learned by
being patient in the
heart of chaos.
Tolerating
disarray, remaining at rest,
gradually one learns to allow muddy water to
settle and proper responses to reveal themselves.
Those who aspire to tao don’t long for fulfillment.
They selflessly allow tao to use and deplete
them; they calmly allow tao to renew
and complete them.
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who can say that tao is far from us?
I have discarded
the world of fame and profit.
How elegant is the morning sun shining
on the rafters and eaves. How cool are the terrace
and pond after the rain. I burn incense to break the deep
silence, and drink the spring water and relax in joy. I penetrate
into the wonders of Tao, and chant ancient sutras. When my
mind is at ease, my spirit is gay. When understanding
is gained, there is nothing left to comprehend.
Who can say that the realm of Tao is far
from us? How tranquil it is; as at
the beginning of Heaven
and Earth.