The Ninth Paragraph
We should know that the various methods the Patriarchs taught are not different; instead they are fundamentally similar. Let's take into consideration the methods taught by Mazu (Mã Tổ) and his successors, putting aside what had been taught before that, i.e., since King Wǔdì Liáng's times (Lương Võ Đế). "No merit whatsoever!"Only preconceived ideas and attachments make ignorance worse. "Nothing sacred", "I don't know!" Such Zen utterances are still ringing in our human ears. (1)
Born in India and died at Shaolin (Thiếu Lâm) Temple, Bodhidharma was buried in a simple way at the foot of Mt. Hùng Nhĩ.
"The body is the roots of the Bodhi tree; the mind, the shining mirror" are the lines in a Zen gatha which dirtied the wall of the Temple Hall.(2)
When Old Wang (Vương) killed the cat with his sword, the Zen master understood what was going on in the minds of those who got involved in the argument.(3)
When Zen Master Hồ mentioned "the dog," he wanted to point out the childish view of the disciples.(4)
The price of rice at Lư Lăng Market was too high, but buyers cannot bargain for a better deal.(5)
The rocky road near Mt.Thạch Đầu is very slippery; similarly, a Zen master's calling and teaching are difficult to understand and disseminate. (6)
Phá Táo (Tung Sơn) put down the flag, and destroyed the shrine where animals were killed for offerings. (7)
Câu Chi raised his index finger, following what his predecessors had done to teach people.(8)
Lâm Tế's sword, Bí Ma's crutches --in the past monks had been trained carefully and seriously so that they became peaceful and solid. (9)
Đoan's lion, Hựu's buffalo --laypeople were reminded carefully so that they would not become arrogant and make hilarious mistakes.(10)
Holding up the fan or raising the bamboo rod was the means to help Zen practitioners recognize the Truth.(11)
Pushing aside the ball or holding up the wooden ladle was to remind monks not to be foxy and boastful. (12)
Even when a Zen practitioner tries to get across a river, the deep blue river cannot purify him. (13)
Even when Đạo Ngô danced with his wooden sword like a clown, it did not mean he lost his mind. (14)
Old Yển's dragon swallowed the whole sky and scared people away. (15)
Ông Tồn's snake lies across the world, making people step aside to avoid it. (16)
The conifer tree is your true Mind. If you want to see it, you have to go outside and look at the Thái Bạch star.(17)
Bính Đinh belongs to Fire. Looking for and following the Bắc Đẩu star prevents you from getting lost.(18)
Triệu Châu's tea, Thiều Dương's cakes --yet Zen students are still hungry and thirsty.(19)
Tào Khê paddy fields and Thiếu Thất garden are immense, but are not well kept, and grow wild. (20) Throwing away the bundle of wood and blowing off the candle, one may realize the Way. (21)
Looking at the cheery blossoms, and listening to the sound of a rock thrown against the bamboo, one may get Enlightened.(22)
(to be continued with the last and 10th paragragh, a previous blog entry)We should know that the various methods the Patriarchs taught are not different; instead they are fundamentally similar. Let's take into consideration the methods taught by Mazu (Mã Tổ) and his successors, putting aside what had been taught before that, i.e., since King Wǔdì Liáng's times (Lương Võ Đế). "No merit whatsoever!"Only preconceived ideas and attachments make ignorance worse. "Nothing sacred", "I don't know!" Such Zen utterances are still ringing in our human ears. (1)
Born in India and died at Shaolin (Thiếu Lâm) Temple, Bodhidharma was buried in a simple way at the foot of Mt. Hùng Nhĩ.
"The body is the roots of the Bodhi tree; the mind, the shining mirror" are the lines in a Zen gatha which dirtied the wall of the Temple Hall.(2)
When Old Wang (Vương) killed the cat with his sword, the Zen master understood what was going on in the minds of those who got involved in the argument.(3)
When Zen Master Hồ mentioned "the dog," he wanted to point out the childish view of the disciples.(4)
The price of rice at Lư Lăng Market was too high, but buyers cannot bargain for a better deal.(5)
The rocky road near Mt.Thạch Đầu is very slippery; similarly, a Zen master's calling and teaching are difficult to understand and disseminate. (6)
Phá Táo (Tung Sơn) put down the flag, and destroyed the shrine where animals were killed for offerings. (7)
Câu Chi raised his index finger, following what his predecessors had done to teach people.(8)
Lâm Tế's sword, Bí Ma's crutches --in the past monks had been trained carefully and seriously so that they became peaceful and solid. (9)
Đoan's lion, Hựu's buffalo --laypeople were reminded carefully so that they would not become arrogant and make hilarious mistakes.(10)
Holding up the fan or raising the bamboo rod was the means to help Zen practitioners recognize the Truth.(11)
Pushing aside the ball or holding up the wooden ladle was to remind monks not to be foxy and boastful. (12)
Even when a Zen practitioner tries to get across a river, the deep blue river cannot purify him. (13)
Even when Đạo Ngô danced with his wooden sword like a clown, it did not mean he lost his mind. (14)
Old Yển's dragon swallowed the whole sky and scared people away. (15)
Ông Tồn's snake lies across the world, making people step aside to avoid it. (16)
The conifer tree is your true Mind. If you want to see it, you have to go outside and look at the Thái Bạch star.(17)
Bính Đinh belongs to Fire. Looking for and following the Bắc Đẩu star prevents you from getting lost.(18)
Triệu Châu's tea, Thiều Dương's cakes --yet Zen students are still hungry and thirsty.(19)
Tào Khê paddy fields and Thiếu Thất garden are immense, but are not well kept, and grow wild. (20) Throwing away the bundle of wood and blowing off the candle, one may realize the Way. (21)
Looking at the cheery blossoms, and listening to the sound of a rock thrown against the bamboo, one may get Enlightened.(22)
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tran_Nhan_Tong
http://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tr%E1%BA%A7n_Nh%C3%A2n_T%C3%B4ng
http://thuvienhoasen.org/D_1-2_2-137_4-19441_5-50_6-2_17-68_14-1_15-1/#nl_detail_bookmark
Notes:
1
"No merits whatsoever!" "Nothing sacred!" "I don't know" were Bodhidharma's answers to King Wǔdì Liáng's questions about: 1/ whether the King had any merits accumulated from his building temples and support Buddhism; 2/ what is the most supreme Noble Truth?; and 3/ who is talking with me, the King, right now?
2
The famous Zen story about the gatha compositions which involved the Fifth Patriarch Hongren (601–674, Hoằng Nhẫn), the Sixth Patriarch Huineng (638–713, Huệ Năng ), and Venerable Shenxiu (606?-706, Thần Tú).
3
Notes:
1
"No merits whatsoever!" "Nothing sacred!" "I don't know" were Bodhidharma's answers to King Wǔdì Liáng's questions about: 1/ whether the King had any merits accumulated from his building temples and support Buddhism; 2/ what is the most supreme Noble Truth?; and 3/ who is talking with me, the King, right now?
2
The famous Zen story about the gatha compositions which involved the Fifth Patriarch Hongren (601–674, Hoằng Nhẫn), the Sixth Patriarch Huineng (638–713, Huệ Năng ), and Venerable Shenxiu (606?-706, Thần Tú).
3
Old Wang (Vương lão) was Zen Master Nam Tuyền Phổ Nguyện (748-834). Nam Tuyền was a disciple of Mazu (Mã Tổ) at Nam Tuyền Temple. He got Enlightened and was Triệu Châu's Master. One day to solve the monks' arguments over a cat, Nam Tuyền had to cut the cat into two,according to a Zen legend.
4
Master Hồ was Zen Master Lợi Trung on Mt. Tử Hồ, hence he got the name Tử Hồ. As soon as a monk visitor entered his room for Dharma consultation, Tử Hồ often yelled,"Beware of the dog!"
5
Zen Master Thanh Nguyên Hành
Tư (660-740). When a monk asked about the essentials in Buddhism, he questioned the monk ,"What is the price of rice at Lư Lăng Market today?"
6
Where Zen Master Thạch Đầu lived, there was a very slippery road. It was difficult to get there to consult him and to carry out the tasks he assigned.
7
Zen Master Phá Táo was also called Tung Sơn, because with his disciples, he would often take a daily walk on Mt. Tung Sơn. One day he saw a small shrine where local villagers usually offered animals that they had killed as ritual sacrifices. There was a flag in the shrine representing the Guardian God of the shrine. The Zen Master pulled down the flag and destroyed the shrine.
8
Câu Chi was the Zen Master who often raised his index finger when consulted or asked about Buddhist Dharma.
9
Zen Master Lâm Tế Nghĩa Huyền (787-867) was the founder of the Linji (Lâm Tế) School. He was famous for his yell which was sharp as a sword. Zen Master Bí Ma was also called Ngũ Đại Sơn. He often carried a two-pronged crutch. When asked or consulted about Buddhism, he would use the crutch to get the disciple by the neck.
10
Zen Master Văn Uyển was refered to as Vân Môn, which is the name of one of the five Zen schools inn China. When preaching, he would hold up his fan and use it as a Koan.
"Trúc bề" refers to a bamboo tool with a fanning top. One day Zen Master Quy Tính came to learn the Dharma with Zen Master Tỉnh Niệm. The latter raised his bamboo tool up, and asked: "What should we call this thing now?"
12
Old Yển refers to Zen Master Văn Yển, who said, "My walking stick is a great dragon which can swallow up Heaven and Earth."
16
The conifer tree refers to the tree in the front yard of Zen Master Triệu Châu. When a monk visitor asked him about the purpose of Bodhi Dharma's trip from India to China, the Master pointed to the conifer tree and said, "A conifer tree in the temple's front yard!"
Old Triệu refers to Zen Master Triệu Châu, who always invited visitors tea whenever they asked him about the Dharma . Thiều Dương or Zen Master Văn Uyển offered his visitors cakes instead.
20
Zen Master Tuyết Phong visited Zen Master Ngộ Bổn on Mt. Động Sơn. The former put down his bundle of wood (representation of his own experience) when the latter asked him the whereabouts of his Wisdom eyes. Tuyết Phong said, "It was very heavy; the whole society cannot bear it."
Blowing off the flickering candle refers to the story of Zen Master Long Đàm and his disciple Đức Sơn. When the Master suddenly blew off the candle, the disciple got Enlightened.
22
Zen Master Linh Vân got Enlightened while looking at a cherry blossom. Zen Master Hương Nghiêm realized the Truth when he heard the sound of a piece of rock striking against a bamboo tree.
7
Zen Master Phá Táo was also called Tung Sơn, because with his disciples, he would often take a daily walk on Mt. Tung Sơn. One day he saw a small shrine where local villagers usually offered animals that they had killed as ritual sacrifices. There was a flag in the shrine representing the Guardian God of the shrine. The Zen Master pulled down the flag and destroyed the shrine.
8
Câu Chi was the Zen Master who often raised his index finger when consulted or asked about Buddhist Dharma.
9
Zen Master Lâm Tế Nghĩa Huyền (787-867) was the founder of the Linji (Lâm Tế) School. He was famous for his yell which was sharp as a sword. Zen Master Bí Ma was also called Ngũ Đại Sơn. He often carried a two-pronged crutch. When asked or consulted about Buddhism, he would use the crutch to get the disciple by the neck.
10
Old Đoan's lion refers to Zen Master Tây Dư's. His last name was Đoan; hence, he was also called Old Đoan. He had a colorful woolen cap which looked like a lion's head. He occasionally wore the hat while teaching his disciples, and he said, "I am a lion."
11 Zen Master Văn Uyển was refered to as Vân Môn, which is the name of one of the five Zen schools inn China. When preaching, he would hold up his fan and use it as a Koan.
"Trúc bề" refers to a bamboo tool with a fanning top. One day Zen Master Quy Tính came to learn the Dharma with Zen Master Tỉnh Niệm. The latter raised his bamboo tool up, and asked: "What should we call this thing now?"
12
One day Zen Master Tiết Phong Nghĩa Tùng held up a globe made of wood, and one of his disciple named Sư Bị got the globe, then put it back to its place. Very often Zen masters use such simple objects as the small globe and the wooden ladle to teach their disciples.
13
Zen Master Thuyền Tử Đức Thành did not want to stay at one place to disseminate the Dharma. He lived in a small boat, which he used as a ferry to help people get across the river. It was said that one day his boat was overturned, and he got drowned. People thought he was not yet Enlightened when he died.
14
Đạo Ngô wore a lotus-shaped hat, and held a wooden sword (hốt), and he would dance like a clown. People could not understand him, so they thought he was insane.
15
Old Yển refers to Zen Master Văn Yển, who said, "My walking stick is a great dragon which can swallow up Heaven and Earth."
16
Zen Master Nghĩa Tồn's snake. One day the Master said, "On the mountain in the South there is a slimy snake. You must watch out for it." All people have to be vigilant for "the snake."
17 The conifer tree refers to the tree in the front yard of Zen Master Triệu Châu. When a monk visitor asked him about the purpose of Bodhi Dharma's trip from India to China, the Master pointed to the conifer tree and said, "A conifer tree in the temple's front yard!"
Thái bạch is the star in the East. If one wants to see the conifer tree, one must go out to the front yard, and look toward the star in the East.
18
Thiên cang refers to Bắc Đẩu star in the North. Bính and Dinh belong to Fire. According to ancient oriental philosophy, five elements(Ngũ hành) make up the human body and the universe: metal (Kim), wood (Mộc), water (Thủy), fire (Hỏa) and earth (Thổ). Bính and Đinh belong to fire (hỏa), yet they seek for fir, which is ridiculous. We are the same: we seek outward for the Truth, not knowing the Truth is right within us. We are making the same mistake as Bính and Đinh, who are fire seeking for fire. If we don't have a guide (the star in the North), we will get lost as Bính and Đinh did.
19 Old Triệu refers to Zen Master Triệu Châu, who always invited visitors tea whenever they asked him about the Dharma . Thiều Dương or Zen Master Văn Uyển offered his visitors cakes instead.
20
"Tào Khê paddy fields" refers to the Sixth Patriarch's fields. Shaolin (Thiếu Thất) garden refers to Bodhidharma's (Bồ-Đề Đạt-Ma's) garden. Since people don't take good care of their Mind field and garden, they cannot be happy and enlightened.
21Zen Master Tuyết Phong visited Zen Master Ngộ Bổn on Mt. Động Sơn. The former put down his bundle of wood (representation of his own experience) when the latter asked him the whereabouts of his Wisdom eyes. Tuyết Phong said, "It was very heavy; the whole society cannot bear it."
Blowing off the flickering candle refers to the story of Zen Master Long Đàm and his disciple Đức Sơn. When the Master suddenly blew off the candle, the disciple got Enlightened.
22
Zen Master Linh Vân got Enlightened while looking at a cherry blossom. Zen Master Hương Nghiêm realized the Truth when he heard the sound of a piece of rock striking against a bamboo tree.
