Lousy translation mine is much better... I've posted it here before but no doubt it sailed over everyone's heads!
Edgar On May 23, 2013, at 1:37 AM, Bill! wrote: > Merle, > > I don't think you can 'over polish' in the way I meant to use it. I meant it > to mean wipe away all traces of self and attachment. That is zen practice. > When that's been fully achieved there is nothing left to which attachments > can anchor and nothing left to polish. I assume that's 'full enlightenment'. > > This is similar to the well known zen story about Hui Neng, the 6th Patriarch > > "One day the Fifth Patriarch told his monks to express their wisdom in a > poem. Whoever had true realization of his original nature (Buddha Nature) > would be ordained the Sixth Patriarch. The head monk, Shen Hsiu, was the most > learned, and wrote the following: > > The body is the wisdom-tree, > The mind is a bright mirror in a stand; > Take care to wipe it all the time, > And allow no dust to cling. > > The poem was praised, but The Fifth Patriarch knew that Shen Hsiu had not yet > found his original nature, on the other hand, Hui Neng couldn't even write, > so someone had to write down his poem, which read: > > Fundamentally no wisdom-tree exists, > Nor the stand of a mirror bright. > Since all is empty from the beginning, > Where can the dust alight? > > The Fifth Patriarch pretended that he wasn't impressed with this poem either, > but in the middle of the night he summoned Hui Neng. The Fifth Patriarch gave > him the insignia of his office, the Patriarch's robe and bowl (source). Hui > Neng was told to leave for the South and to hide his enlightenment and > understanding until the proper time arrives for him to propagate the Dharma." > > - Source: http://sped2work.tripod.com/huineng.html > > ...Bill! > > --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote: > > > > > > > >  bill... thank you for your good advice > > > > can one "over polish".? > > > > i spy  with my little eye.... over polishing may lead to certain arrogance > > .. > > > > merle > > > > > > > >  > > Merle, > > > > I agree with Mike. Additionally a teacher can make first guide you to a > > realization and sure you're not deceiving yourself along the way. I don't > > know how many times I thought I had the 'answer' to Mu and went into the > > dokusan room (private interview with the teacher) full of confidence only > > to be unceremoniously rung out (the teacher rings a little bell notifying > > you that the dokusan is over). > > > > But like Mike says when I finally 'got it' there was really no need for > > validation, just a profound feeling of gratitude and need to thank my > > teacher for sticking with me and guiding me while I floundered around. > > > > And then there of course is the start of the polishing, the real start of > > your zen practice. > > > > ...Bill! > > > > --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, uerusuboyo@ wrote: > > > > > > Merle,<br/><br/>You'll know because you won't have to ask anyone if > > > you've awakened. Of course, a teacher can gauge the depth of awakening > > > and what will help you deepen it. But just like you don't need someone to > > > tell you if that McDonalds coffee is hot - with the same certainty you'll > > > know your perception of the world has changed.<br/><br/>Just as reality > > > is experienced moment to moment, so is enlightenment. Our conditioning > > > and beliefs etc. go deep and even though our initial awakening might have > > > blown much of the dust from our eyes, some of that conditioning still > > > remains. It's very much a work in progress! The biggest mistake to be > > > made would be to believe that the first glimpse of our true nature is > > > *it* and no further practice is necessary (you can see here that some > > > people still cling to their cherished beliefs of what enlightenment is). > > > Before awakening 'letting go' is a struggle. After awakening you simply > > > realise there is nothing to let go > > > of.<br/><br/>Mike<br/><br/><br/>Sent from Yahoo! Mail for iPad > > > > > > >
