Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters – 114
Having a cough, uttering a hem, raising eyebrows, winking an eye,
grabbing something, walking around – what is the essence of those
actions?
Yet what is the mind you are using to know about that essence?
The mind essence is empty and bright; so what is right, and what is
not?
Reality is the essence; Buddha is the mind.
What essence is not reality?
What mind is not Buddha?
Mind is Buddha; Mind is reality.
Originally, reality is not reality; reality is just mind.
Originally, mind is not mind; mind is just Buddha.
Learners! Days and months are flying by. Life is not waiting for you.
Why you are eating rice and soup, and don’t realize the use of bowl and
spoon? Observe!
PHAP LOA (1284 – 1330)
(COMMENT: Time is flying fast. We should practice hard to end the
three poisons. Watch the mind and see the essence, even when
“Having a cough, uttering a hem, raising eyebrows, winking an eye,
grabbing something, walking around…” This approach later led to koan
practice, pushing the practitioner into a great doubt to clear all the
thoughts for the mind essence being recognized.
Buddha said that he only taught practically – about the suffering, and
the end of suffering. Buddha also said that it was very precious to be
born as a human being. So, practice hard, don’t waste this life.)
