Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters – 78
32 Be awakened
With the six consciousnesses deluded, you suffer long nights.
Blinded by ignorance, you are dead drunk all the times.
Hearing the bell, at dawns and dusks, you should be awakened and
mindful. After purifying your lazy body, you will attain the transcendent
body.
VIEN HOC (1073 – 1136)
(COMMENT: Don’t be lazy. We have been lazy and ignorant for millions
of years, and we are now lucky to hear the bell of Buddha. Meditate all
day and night while lying, sitting, standing and walking. Always be
awakened and mindful -- That’s the message from Zen Master Vien
Hoc. But, how can the lazy body be conquered? It’s a hard work, and
only you can do it to save yourself. You should observe your body
carefully. Eat healthy, eat little. Work and exercise everyday. Always
remember that the law of impermanence is drifting us swiftly all day
and night, and we have very little time in this life to practice Buddha
Dharma to reach the shore. So, don’t be lazy. That doesn’t mean that
you have to punish your body. The body is a raft, a vehicle; you have to
take good care of it for a really hard trip.
Observe all your bodily movements; that’s a part of meditation. In a
certain way, this kind of meditation might have originated some forms
of martial arts. Also, you can have your own style Tai Chi Chuan for fun
while meditating. Try this: breath in and out gently, move your body
very slowly in any way you want while you observe and feel all the
bodily movements.
The practitioner would some time see that the mind and body become
one.)
