--- Genryu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Nope. Hui Neng was in fact pointing exactly to just
> sitting, not sitting as a means to an end. It does
> not mean that 'any method will do'. Also Buddhist
> practice in Zen in particular, is not about any
> state of mind, whether 'correct' or not.
How very interesting. Seeing how well learned you are,
venerable sir, I am sure you won't decline me your
wisdom in commenting on the following questions.
Please clarify my doubts and comment on the following
Hui-neng's words taken straight from the Platform
sutra:
1. "Learned Audience, when you hear me talk about the
Emptiness, do not at once fall into the idea of
vacuity, (because this involves the heresy of the
doctrine of annihilation). It is of the utmost
importance that we should not fall into this idea,
because when a man sits quietly and keeps his mind
blank he will abide in a state of 'Emptiness of
Indifference'."
Here, in quote #1, Hui-neng appears to warn us against
the wrong state of abiding in 'Emptiness of
Indifference.' Please correct me if my interpretation
is wrong.
2. "Learned Audience, what the ignorant merely talk
about, wise men put into actual practice with their
mind. There is also a class of foolish people who sit
quietly and try to keep their mind blank."
Here, in quote #2, he is unambiguously proclaiming
that people who sit quietly and try to keep their mind
blank are being 'foolish'. Am I on the right track in
understanding his words this way?
3. "Since the scope of the mind is for great objects,
we should not practice such trivial acts (as sitting
quietly with a blank mind)."
Here, in quote #3, he is condemning the practice of
sitting quietly. Am I right in interpreting it that
was? Am I wrong? Did he mean something else by
uttering the above words? Was he trying to actually
praise quiet sitting?
4. "Learned Audience, to practice the 'Samadhi of
Specific Mode' is to make it a rule to be
straightforward on all occasions - no matter whether
we are walking, standing, sitting or reclining."
Here, in quote #4, he is explaining how important a
particular, correct state of mind is, and how
unimportant the body posture actually is. You
disagree?
5. "People under delusion believe obstinately in
Dharmalaksana (things and form) and so they are
stubborn in having their own way of interpreting the
'Samadhi of Specific Mode', which they define as
'sitting quietly and continuously without letting any
idea arise in the mind'. Such an interpretation would
rank us with inanimate objects, and is a stumbling
block to the right Path which must be kept open.
Should we free our mind from attachment to all
'things', the Path becomes clear; otherwise, we put
ourselves under restraint. If that interpretation
'sitting quietly and continuously, etc.' be correct,
why on one occasion was Sariputra reprimanded by
Vimalakirti for sitting quietly in the wood?"
Here, in quote #5, Hui-neng is warning us against
being attached to any particular mode of practice, and
especially against attaching to sitting quietly. Even
Vimalakirti was against it (see the pointer to the
Vimalakirti's encounter with a seated Sariputra).
6. "Henceforth the disciples give up all exertion of
mind. Ignorant persons become insane from having too
much confidence in such instruction. Such cases are
not rare, and it is a great mistake to teach others to
do this."
Here, in quote #6, he is explicitly forbidding us to
entertain having confidence in such instruction, lest
we go insane. He condemns anyone who teaches others to
do this practice.
Hey, no wonder Deshimaru felt the urge to label this
sutra as being a prank!
7. This is what transpired during the interview with
Chi Ch'end: "How does your teacher instruct his
disciples?" asked the Patriarch. "He tells us to
meditate on purity, to keep up the sitting position
all the time and not to lie down," replied Chi Ch'eng.
"To meditate on purity," said the Patriarch, "is an
infirmity and not Dhyana. To restrict oneself to the
sitting position all the time is unprofitable. Listen
to my stanza:
A living man sits and does not lie down (all the
time), While a dead man lies down and does not sit. On
this physical body of ours Why should we impose the
task of sitting?"
Here, in quote #7, Hui-neng plainly explains how
sitting position is unprofitable. Why should we impose
the task of sitting on this physical body of ours? is
what the Patriarch is asking. Have you got a legible
answer to this, venerable sir?
8. "Dhyana experts in the capital," said Hsueh Chien
(when interviewing the Patriarch), "unanimously advise
people to meditate in the sitting position to attain
Samadhi. They say that this is the only way to realize
the Norm (Tao), and that it is impossible for anyone
to obtain liberation without going through meditation
exercises. May I know your way of teaching, Sir?" "The
Norm is to be realized by the mind," replied the
Patriarch, "and does not depend on the sitting
position. The Diamond Sutra says that it is wrong for
anyone to assert that the Tathagata comes or goes,
sits or reclines. Why? Because the Tathagata's 'Dhyana
of Purity' implies neither coming from anywhere nor
going to anywhere, neither becoming nor causing to be.
All Dharmas are calm and empty, and such is the
Tathagata's 'Seat of Purity'. Strictly speaking, there
is even no such thing as 'attainment'; why then should
we bother ourselves about the sitting position?"
Here, in quote #8, he again points to the fact how
attaching and obsessing about the sitting position
violates the basic principle of the Norm. Realizing
the Norm does not depend on the sitting position, is
plainly what the Sixth Patriarch is saying.
9. "Learned Audience, purify your minds and listen to
me. He who wishes to attain the All-knowing Knowledge
of a Buddha should know the 'Samadhi of Specific
Object' and the 'Samadhi of Specific Mode'. In all
circumstances we should free ourselves from attachment
to objects, and our attitude towards them should be
neutral and indifferent. Let neither success nor
failure, neither profit nor loss, worry us. Let us be
calm and serene, modest and accommodating, simple and
dispassionate. Such is the 'Samadhi of Specific
Object'. On all occasions, whether we are standing,
walking, sitting or reclining, let us be absolutely
straightforward. Then, remaining in our sanctuary, and
without the least movement, we shall virtually be in
the Kingdom of Pure Land. Such is the 'Samadhi of
Specific Mode'. "He who is complete with these two
forms of Samadhi may be likened to the ground with
seeds sown therein. Covered up in the mud, the seeds
receive nourishment therefrom and grow until the fruit
comes into bearing. "My preaching to you now may be
likened to the seasonable rain which brings moisture
to a vast area of land. The Buddha-nature within you
may be likened to the seed which, being moistened by
the rain, will grow rapidly. He who carries out my
instructions will certainly attain Bodhi. He who
follows my teaching will certainly attain the superb
fruit (of Buddhahood)."
Finally, in quote #9, he explains the specific,
correct states and attitudes. Clearly, this is the
only way to attain the 'superb fruit'.
Now, venerable sir, it is up to you to explain to us
how is the Sixth Patriarch wrong and how is your
teaching of 'just sitting' superior to his teaching of
the correct state that does not attach to any form,
including sitting?
> And no, not
> all Buddhist Sutras apart from Hui Neng's are the
> recorded sayings of the Buddha. See for example -
> the Mountains And Rivers Sutra by Dogen.
This is arbitrary. No Japanese master had ever earned
the honor to be included in the classical Buddhist
cannon of sutras.
> One book
> that might be usefully recommended when it comes to
> clarifying your understanding of Chan/Zen history
> and just sitting is 'The Art of Just Sitting:
> essential writings on the zen practice of
> shikentanza', Edited by John Daido Loori.
Thanks for the pointer.
Alex
=====
No karma was produced during the composition of this letter
__________________________________
Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday!
Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web
http://birthday.yahoo.com/netrospective/
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
In low income neighborhoods, 84% do not own computers.
At Network for Good, help bridge the Digital Divide!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/hjtSRD/3MnJAA/i1hLAA/S27xlB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action,
Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration, Right Livelihood
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZenForum/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
