Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters – 16
2 Learning
Monks! Offering your best efforts to Buddha,
all learners only need to quit bad conduct.
Be mindful while you chant, understand what you believe, practice the
teachings you hear, and live in a quiet place near Dharma friends.
Speak peacefully, timely; have no fears.
Understand the meaning of Dharma, and get enlightenment; quit the
ignorance, and constantly be mindful; be calm, and live with your mind
unmoved.
See all things as impermanent, non-self, uncreated, unconditioned.
Thus learners are those who have no discrimination.
TINH LUC (1112 – 1175)
(COMMENT: See for yourself all things are impermanent, and non-self.
Looking at the person you are now, you see it is different to millions of
persons you were yesterday, and you see you are just a stream running
swiftly, manifesting endlessly in different forms as waves rising and
falling, as bubbles forming and popping. The waves and bubbles
continuously appear large or small, high or low, hot or cold, clean or
unclean; but at all times, water has no form, being unmoved, staying
unconditioned. Just live like water, and you will catch a glimpse of
Nirvana – the state of uncreated, unconditioned peace. After that
insight, you easily act, speak, and think mindfully, without
discrimination. Just advance on the way to liberation; don’t cling to this
suffering world again, in this life or after.)
