Chan/Zen thread

Welcome to the Veeky Forums official discussion thread on Chan or Zen! Here we study the Chan lineage and post quotes relating to the masters!

A monk asked master Shuilu, “What should a student apply his mind to?”

Shuilu said, “To apply the mind is to miss.”

The monk said, “How is it when not arousing a single thought?”

Shuilu said, “A useless fellow.”

The monk said, “How is this thing preserved?”

Shuilu said, “Beware.”

The monk asked, “When meeting on a narrow road, what then?”

Shuilu grabbed him by the chest and gave him a shove.

Lost in translation/10

Five tons of flax.

“If the right man preaches the wrong way,” said Joshu, “the way will follow the man and become right. If the wrong man preaches the right way, the way will follow the man and become wrong.”

- Zhaozhou Congshen, Radical Zen - The Sayings of Joshu

If one clings to "original purity, fundamental liberation" and considers himself a Buddha, considers his own self to be Ch'an and the Way, then he belongs to the naturalist outsiders. If one clings to causality, the perfection of practice and attainment of realization, then he belongs to the outsiders with the notion of eternity; if you cling to nonexistence, you belong to outsiders with the notion of annihilation. If you cling to both existence and nonexistence, then you belong to outsiders with extreme views. If you cling to neither existence nor nonexistence, then you belong to outsiders with a notion of emptiness.

You ignorant, stupid outsiders, right now just do not create any views of Buddha or views of nirvana; when you have no views at all of existence, nonexistence, or whatever, and yet do not lack vision, this is called true vision. To have no hearing at all, yet not to lack hearing, is called true hearing. This is called smashing down outside ways. No bedevilments of the two vehicles befall – this is the “greatest enlightening charm.” None of the bedevilment of bodhisattvas befalls- this is the “unexcelled charm.” None of the bedevilment of Buddhas befalls- this is the “peerless charm”.

- Baizhang Huaihuai

I think he is wrong to imply nothing should be clung to in the sense of having a world view.

A Buddha will not care about another Buddhas enlightenment. For he has his own way.

You come here looking for sayings and talks, novel expressions and elegant lines, uselessly taking to verbalization. I am old and my energy is not up to par; I'm a dull speaker and I have no idle talk for you. If you ask me questions, I answer in accord with your questions, but I have no mysterious marvel that can be conveyed to you, and I won't have you get fixated.

I never assert the existence of Buddha and Dharma, of ordinary person and sage, either in the beyond or the here and now; I have no intention of sitting here tying you people down. You got through a thousand changes, but all of it is you people conceiving interpretations, carrying them with you, experiencing the results of your own doings. I have nothing here for you, and nothing exoteric or esoteric to explain to you, no appearance or intention to represent to you.

- T'ou tzu

One day Nanquan was working in the mountains. A monk passed and asked Nanquan, "Where does Nanquan's Way lead to?"

Nanquan lifted up his bamboo sickle and said, "I bought this for three bucks!"

The monk said, "I'm not interested in your ickle that cost you three bucks, I'm asking you about where Nanquan's Way goes to."

Nanquan said, "I have used it with pleasure and profit."

Shen-shan said to the Master, "There is nowhere that a friend would be unwilling to go for the sake of friendship. Could you express the essential point of this in a few words?"

"Uncle, with such an idea how could you ever succeed!" replied the Master.

As a result of the Master saying this, Shen-shan was suddenly awakened, and from then on his manner of speaking became unusual. Later, when they were crossing a log bridging a stream, the Master preceded Shen-shan across, picked up the log, and said, "Come on over."

"[Teacher]!" called Shen-shan.

The Master threw down the log.