Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Zen 10 Ox-herding pictures: 5- Tamed

Traditional Poem:

Under the green poplar, by the ancient stream,
the buffalo moves in harmony with nature.
Returning at sunset over the fragrant meadow,
the buffalo follows the boy, who has dropped his rope.

My words:

Now your karmic imprints are being quickly cleansed,
and there is no need to use artificial mindfulness.
Mind is free from the impulse of bad habits,
even though a few of them still remain.

Life becomes spontaneous practice,
while satori manifests effortlessly.
There is a sense of natural freedom,
and boy and bull become one.

As long as we follow the stream of the lineage,
we can never get lost in confusion again.
The stream leads us towards the patriarch,
under the shadow of the tree of compassion.

Eating the grass of bliss,
mind is already tamed.
Mushotoku,
Hishiryo.

Mindfulness: clarity

Looking at the words coming out,
silently and clearly,
from the depths of the empty mind,
how blissful it is!

Looking at the unborn words passing by,
harmoniously,
vanishing into clarity,
what a joy!

Looking at the looker,
and seeing only Mind,
non-dual empty Mind,
amazing!

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Vimalakirti: Doubt and certainty

Look into the nature of doubt:
isn´t it like the nature of certainty?

Who is this one who doubts?
isn´t it the same one that feels certain?

When doubt shows up, let it pass:
it is just one form of clarity.

When certainty arises, let it go:
it is just another form of clarity.

If there was no doubt,
there would be no certainty.

Do not refuse the doubting mind;
do not cling to the certain mind.

Hishiryo

Friday, March 6, 2009

Shingon: Mikkyo

Hui Neng asked to Kukai:

- Are the eight One and the same?

Kukai replied:

- One is the eight.