The movement of mind

Sometimes,
the mind dwells in peace,
and thoughts flow freely.

Sometimes,
it doesn´t.

Mushotoku

Calm abiding mind

NO THOUGHT

Now and not-Now: The lake of peace

When peace prevails,
the moon shines,
and the mirror
reflects clearly
the empty
mountains.

Self-liberated state: Spontaneous presence

Past, present and future
are just an illusion
binding the mind.


Let the mind
rest in the
Self-liberated
state.


NOW

Freedom: Spontaneity

When thoughts become like leaves,
falling naturally from the tree,
mind is set free.

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!

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

Mu: Yes

Like waves on the ocean,
like clouds in the sky,
thoughts appear in the mind.

Like sounds in the air,
like reflections on the pond,
perceptions arise in the mind.

Relax,
do not cling;
they are all self-liberated.

Sometimes Mu is No,
sometimes Mu means Yes;
Hishiryo.

When you look and see,
then the wall breaks down:
Satori.

Chan: Noyesmaybe

No

Yes

Maybe

NoYesMaybe

Is the universe infinite?

Einstein: space-time

Coming out from NOW,
you plunged into space-time.

Coming out from nowhere,
you appeared just HERE.

HERE-NOW,
the core of space-time.

You found the key to unlock
the secret of appearances.

But you missed the point,
and you remained in duality.

To unveil the unification theory,
just remain in the natural state.

Hishiryo

Living Zen: Listening

Before doing, you must listen;
listen to the many voices within.

You will hear the warrior,
stuck in pride and envy.

You will hear the monk,
clinging to solitude and silence.

You will hear the trader,
fettered by ambition and success.

You will hear the libertine,
sinking in unrestrictedness and lust.

You will hear many more voices,
all of them wishing to rise from the dead.

They are just phantoms,
echoes from your past.

Let them pass by, and your mind will
become self liberated.

Then, after listening carefully,
doing will take place.

Zen and daily life

If you think ZEN is beyond ordinary life,
you will never find it.

Zen is an attitude, a view, a way of living.
In fact, there are not any "Zen activities".

When somebody reaches Zen mind,
all his activities become Zen.

It does not matter what activity you do;
What does matter is your level of awareness.

It is true that if you become a Zen Master,
you can use any Art as a door to Zen.

Unless you find a genuine Zen master,
your practice of supposed "zen activities"
will not help you to wake up.

You can reach mastery of many arts,
but that does not transform you into a Zen
practitioner.

Like clouds in the sky, thoughts will
pass by, and nothing will fetter you:
ordinary mind, ordinary life.

Satori: SEEING the nature of mind.

When time vanishes,
past, present and future
become NOW.

Thoughts only fetter your mind,
when time still rules over it:
do not cling to thoughts,
and time will not be.

Let thoughts pass by,
they are only mind expressing itself;
this is HISHIRYO.
this is real peace.
MUSHOTOKU.

SATORI is your real nature.
Movement of mind is HISHIRYO.
Don´t get entangled in concepts.
Just relax, and enjoy whatever happens.
This is MUSHOTOKU.

All genuine practices lead to SATORI.
It depends on your capacity and karma,
to take one path or another.
Do not feel jealous of your brother ahead
of you: be happy for him and for you.

Some people need salt,
others need more sugar.
You are not separated from Zen;
Zen is not apart from you.

Crack the wall,
crack the one who is sitting,
crack zen.

Sosan: Hishiryo

Now you think thinking is bad.

Yesterday you thought thinking was good.

Tomorrow you will think no-thinking is good.

Next week you will think no-thinking is bad.

Please, my friend; think without thinking.

Just let your mind relax in its own nature.

Thoughts are just mind´s expressive power.

No-thoughts are just the essence of thoughts.

They are neither good nor bad.

Hishiryo.