Quote:
Question [by student]: The Buddha Dharma is abstruse and mysterious, unfathomable to ordinary people. Its literature is vast, its meanings hard to understand. May we inquire about the Chan Master's essential teachings? Let us have some provisional words, some expedient means, a direct approach through direct words without secrets, that does not abandon us worldly types. (JUNDO: HEY, THESE BUDDHIST TEACHINGS ARE REALLY COMPLICATED, SO CAN YOU JUST BOIL IT DOWN IN A NUTSHELL AS BEST YOU CAN IN WORDS AND SAY IT STRAIGHT FOR US ORDINARY FOLKS)
[The Master] answered: Excellent! Excellent! Observing your question, I see that your basis as a bodhisattva is about to become pure and ripe. I am forty-five; it has been more than twenty years since I entered the Path, and there has never been anyone who has asked about this. What concerns do you have? What doubts are you trying to resolve? Speak directly; there's no time to bother with elaborate speech. [JUNDO: OH, I SEE YOU HAVE A GOOD KNACK FOR THIS! IN MY 20 YEAR CAREER NOBODY HAS JUST ASKED ME TO LAY IT OUT STRAIGHT LIKE THAT. GO AHEAD, ASK ME, AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT FANCY WORDS YOU USE OR HOW YOU SAY IT) ...
Questioner: If we wish to enter the Path, what Dharma should we practice, what Dharma should we study, what Dharma should we seek, what Dharma do we experience, what Dharma do we attain, in order to proceed toward enlightenment? [JUNDO: WHAT SHOULD WE PRACTICE, STUDY, SEEK, EXPERIENCE, ATTAIN TO GET ENLIGHTENED?]
Answer: No Dharma is studied, and there is no seeking. No Dharma is experienced, and there is no attaining. No Dharma is awakened to, and there is no Path that can be cultivated. This is enlightenment. [JUNDO: NOTHING TO PRACTICE OR STUDY OR "GET", SEEK, EXPERIENCE, ATTAIN OR AWAKEN TO, CULTIVATE ... AND AWAKENING TO THAT IS FINALLY GETTING, ATTAINING AND CULTIVATING AWAKENING. THIS IS HOW WE ATTAIN NON-ATTAINING, AWAKEN TO NON-AWAKENING. RADICALLY STOP TRYING TO "GET" SOMETHING, AND YOU WILL FINALLY GET IT!] ...
Question: ... What is our true nature?
Answer: [The non-activated mind that] does not give rise to false states of mind: it is forever formless [without characteristics] and pure.[JUNDO: THE MIND THAT DOES NOT GET CAUGHT IN THINKING THOUGHTS WHICH ARE DIVIDiNG INTO PIECES, JUDGING, LABELING THIS, THAT FROM THE OTHER THING).
Question: What is self-identity?... How is it born? [JUNDO: WHERE DOES THE "ME/MYSELF/I" AND THE "NOT ME" COME FROM?)
Answer: It is born from false mind. [JUNDO: IT IS THE DECEPTIVE MIND THAT CUTS UP, DIVIDES, JUDGES, RUNS TOWARD OR RESISTS THE WORLD, CUTTING IT UP INTO LITTLE PIECES]
Question: How can one detach from self-identity?
Answer: When false states of mind do not arise, this is detachment. [JUNDO: JUST STOP ALL THAT DIVIDING, JUDGING, RUNNING TOWARD AND RESISTING ETC.]
Question: What is Enlightenment? What is the Principle [JUNDO: "PRINCIPLE" IS A CHINESE BUDDHIST CODE WORD FOR THE WAY A BUDDHA ENCOUNTERS STUFF, BEFORE DIVIDING, JUDGING, LABELING, RUNNING TOWARD OR RESISTING ETC.] ? What is the mind?
Answer: ... Since mind is capable of equanimity [and to experience the world as universally same], it is called Principle. Since Principle is aware and can illuminate clearly, it is called mind [JUNDO: THE MIND CAN TAP INTO THIS WHOLE, UNBROKEN PRINCIPLE, AND IS JUST PRINCIPLE]. Since mind and Principle are equal, it is called buddha. When mind finds this Principle, you do not see birth and death: ordinary and sage are no different, objects and wisdom are not two, principle and phenomena are both fused, defiled and pure are one suchness [JUNDO: THE WHOLE, UNBROKEN PRINCIPLE and ALL THE BROKEN, MESSY PIECES OF THE WORLD ... INCLUDING "YOUR HOUSE" BURNING DOWN ... ARE NOT SEPARATE. ARE NOT BROKEN]. With true awareness according to Principle, nothing is not the Path. Transcending both self and other [JUNDO: GETTING PAST THAT "ME/MYSELF/I" and the "NOT ME"), you practice all practices at once. There is no before and after and no in between [JUNDO: EVERYTHING IS SEEN AS THE WHOLE ENCHILADA]. Bondage and emancipation occur spontaneously [JUNDO: LIBERATION IS FOUND RIGHT IN AND AS THIS WORLD OF BONDAGE] Your bonds are untied and you are free: it is called the Path, Enlightenment.
Yes, those old Zen Masters had some fancy ways to say it (even in something like the above, which is supposed to be "saying it simple and straight"}, but it all comes down to about the same.