Dear All,
Master Seng-Ts-an is traditionally said to be the author (although modern historians cast some doubt) of the classic FAITH IN MIND, quoted by Master Keizan in today's pages. In my opinion, the Heart of our Practice is found in this poem called "FAITH IN MIND", which has been one of the most influential written teachings for my own practice. I quote some below, and provide a link to several of the many many translations.
Here is the question though:
How could a man who taught the following words have had his likes and dislikes, obviously liking to escape his disliked leprosy and liking to escape various political dangers in today's story?
I believe that, when one cracks such Koan ... of having lightly embraced likes and dislikes while, hand-in-hand, being beyond all "likes and dislikes" and other divisions which the poem describes ... one has attained a Treasure beyond Price.
Oh, this piece sometimes translated at the start ...
The Supreme Way is not difficult
If only you do not pick and choose.
Neither love nor hate,
And you will clearly understand.
... words I and so many LOVE SO!
Cook at 158
Hixon at 142
Gassho, Jundo
http://www.terebess.hu/english/hsin.htmlQuote:
from FAITH IN MIND
The Great Way is not difficult for those who do not pick and choose.
When preferences are cast aside the Way stands clear and undisguised.
But even slight distinctions made set earth and heaven far apart.
If you would clearly see the truth, discard opinions pro and con.
To founder in dislike and like is nothing but the mind's disease.
And not to see the Way's deep truth disturbs the mind's essential peace.
The Way is perfect like vast space, where there's no lack and no excess.
Our choice to choose and to reject prevents our seeing this simple truth.
.....
Awakening is to go beyond both emptiness as well as form.
All changes in this empty world seem real because of ignorance.
Do not go search for the truth, just let those fond opinions go.
Abide not in duality, refrain from all pursuit of it.
If there's a trace of right and wrong, True-mind is lost, confused, distaught.
From One-mind comes duality, but cling not even to this One.
When this One-mind rests undisturbed, then nothing in the world offends.
And when no thing can give offense, then all obstructions cease to be.
.....
See into the true self of things, and you're in step with the Great Way, thus walking freely, undisturbed.
But live in bondage to your thoughts, and you will be confused, unclear.
This heavy burden weighs you down-- O why keep judging good and bad?
If you would walk the highest Way, do not reject the sense domain.
For as it is, whole and complete, This sense world is enlightenment.
The wise do not strive after goals, but fools themselves in bondage put.
The One Way knows no differences, the foolish cling to this and that.
To seek Great Mind with thinking mind is certainly a grave mistake.
From small mind come rest and unrest, but mind awakened transcends both.
......
The Way's beyond all space, all time, one instant is ten thousand years.
Not only here, not only there, truth's right before you very eyes.
Distinctions such as large and small have relevance for you no more.
The largest is the smallest too-- here limitations have no place.
What is is not, what is not is-- if this is not yet clear to you, you're still far from the inner truth.
One thing is all, all things are one-- know this and all's whole and complete.
When faith and Mind are not separate, and not separate are Mind and faith, this is beyond all words, all thought.
For here there is no yesterday, no today, no tomorrow.
