Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters – 144
58 Practice
You should know that the way of Zen must be asked, investigated and
enlightened by yourself, neither by others nor by things.
Layman Pang once asked Zen Master Mazu, “Who is companionless
among all phenomena?”
Mazu said, “After you swallow all the water in West River in one gulp, I
will tell you.”
Is that the answer? Or something marvellous here? Or pointing
directly to the person not making friends with all phenomena? Or
implying in that the secret not for transmission?
Investigate every bit of that koan, seek to get to the ultimate; don’t
distort intentionally, don’t explain wrongly with your own opinion, also
don’t throw it all away.
Even busy at work, you should keep your mind on the koan like that;
even at leisure time, keep investigating like that.
Disregard the spot almost-cooked, disregard the spot near-raw; also
don’t discuss that “the person going to the ultimate, and the story of
the ultimate” is whether one or two, whether existence or non-
existence, whether unholy or holy, whether reasonableness or
sensibleness, whether secularness or Buddhist dharma. Keep observing
your mind like that, then suddenly you would see the mind blossom
vastly -- and you will get enlightened profoundly, and laugh joyfully.
THACH LIEM (circa 17th century)
(COMMENT: Zen Master Thach Liem had a heart of a loving
grandmother, and gave very clear instructions on how to do koan
practice. Just investigate a koan all day and night. Always keep your
mind on the koan, watch it, observe it, investigate it, but don’t cling to
any thought. No further comment should be given here.)
