Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters – 122
Some might feel that we should not say it’s wonderful now, because
Buddha urged us to escape from this burning house as soon as
possible.
It is true that thousands of people are killing each other in this world,
millions of children are living in poverty and many in slavery, and we
can feel the unhappiness anywhere we look at, even at our aging
bodies.
We should not fall into the sectarian argument. Everything should be
practically considered. Look at your mind: everything instantly empties
itself; how can we say we should stay with the so-called wonderful
present?
When the mind still clings to any trace, you get stuck in this samsara
world -- just like an ox trying to escape from the burning house through
a window, with all its head and body already outside, but its tail finds
no way to get through that window.
In the blissful realization, there is no past, no future, no present; but,
does a thought last ten thousand years?)
