Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters – 94
40 Cessation
Arise from cessation, then expound the way of cessation.
Arise from the unborn, then expound the way of the unborn.
Being a human being, you should have firm resolve as high as sky;
Don’t step on the old footprints of Buddha.
QUANG NGHIEM (1121 – 1190)
(COMMENT: Don’t step on the old footprints of Buddha? Why? Do we
need to burn the scriptures, chop up the statues, and run away from
the temples? No, Zen Master Quang Nghiem did not mean that. He just
asked his students that they must practice hard, step into the land of
cessation, and fade into the unborn before expounding the Way. That
means you have to walk and have your own footprints. Buddha pointed
out the Way, and we have to do the walking. Buddha used the simile of
a cowherd counting the cows of others for those who recited the Sacred
Texts and did not meditate to attain freedom from samsara. Also,
Buddha said, “Be a light unto yourself.”)
