After realizing the intent of Zen,
people in ancient times used
to spend decades polishing themselves thoroughly
in order to free themselves from compulsions
of conditioning and habit.
This is called the work of maturation;
the completion of maturation
is called the attainment of unification.
~ Muso Kokushi (1275-1351)
Herding the Ox in the Himalayas
Chew the glossy, tender leaves
You’ll know the sweet and the sour.
Snow lies thick in the hottest summer,
Spring lingers in the coldest winter.
You wish to lean, then lean;
You wish to lie down, then lie down.
Seeing this, Shih-te roars with laughter,
And Han-shan opens his mouth wide.
~ T’aego (1301-1382)
What is called the nature of the mind neither is born nor dies. It is only on the basis of deluded thinking that all of the dharmas come to be differentiated.
If one frees oneself from deluded thoughts, then there are no longer any phenomenal appearances of external objects.
Therefore, from the very beginning all dharmas transcend all forms of verbalization, description, and conceptualization and are ultimately undifferentiated, unchanging, and indestructible.
The Awakening of Faith
@rookie54 saidThis is beautiful…attributed to Ashvagosha who wrote the entire text.
What is called the nature of the mind neither is born nor dies. It is only on the basis of deluded thinking that all of the dharmas come to be differentiated.
If one frees oneself from deluded thoughts, then there are no longer any phenomenal appearances of external objects.
Therefore, from the very beginning all dharmas transcend all forms of verbalization, descriptio ...[text shortened]... ation and are ultimately undifferentiated, unchanging, and indestructible.
The Awakening of Faith