Emptiness is a long story
That swallows up heaven and earth
A splash of ink turns into two dragons
Stray clouds become an azure dog
Lurking in my bowl: mountains, rivers
Wheeling through my breast: a sun, a moon
A fierce wind shreds the ancient mists
Grasses and trees bow before its snap and snarl
~ Shih-shu (17th-18th c)
Like autumn clouds, this life is transient.
Our parents, our relatives
Are like passers-by met in a marketplace.
Like the dew on grass tips
Wealth is evanescent
Like a bubble on the surface of water
This body is fragile and ephemeral
The dharmas of this samsaric world are futile
The sacred Dharma alone has value
The change to practice:
This Dharma that is occurring just once:
Right now.
~ Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol (1781–1851)
https://www.dailyzen.com/
Don’t say what is speaking right now is It; that’s not quite right.
As soon as there is an affirmation, then there is a denial.
That is the reason why it is said that no verbal expression corresponds to this reality.
What you must do is live in harmony with it.
This matter is not in another; but are you in tune with it?
And if you are in tune, in tune with whom?
If you say you are in tune with the ancients, the ancients are gone.
If you say you are in tune with a teacher, a teacher has no connection with you.
This is why the sages compassionately told us to tune into the source of our own minds.
Now tell me, what is the source of mind, to which one tunes in on one’s own?
If you mindfully try to tune into mind, you will definitely be unable to tune in.
You have to tune in with mindless mind.
~ Foyan (1067–1120)
Mind is like a vast space in which there is no good or evil,
as when the sun shines upon the four corners of the world.
For when the sun rises and illuminates the whole earth,
the vast space does not get brighter, and when the sun sets,
the universe does not get dark.
The phenomena of light and dark alternate with each other,
but the nature of the universe is unchanged.
The same is true with the Mind of the Buddha and of sentient beings.
~ Obaku
a forum anywhere is an empty container
it is normally used to collect threads
threads, in turn, are empty containers
normally used to collect the words of the users
words, in turn, are empty containers
normally used to form and communicate ideas
ideas, those elusive lil critters of the human mind, are the reason for words
which, in turn, are the reason for threads
which, in turn, are the reason for forums
the reason for the fishtrap is to catch the fish
when the fish are caught, the trap is discarded
the reason for words is to catch ideas
when the ideas are caught, words are discarded
i would meet the person who has discarded words
those ideas would be pure
Like a person seen in a dream who
Cannot be found when the dreamer awakens,
Awareness is like empty space.
It is impartial and equal, and ever unmoving.
When enlightenment pervades all ten directions,
The Buddha Path is accomplished.
There is no place where illusions vanish,
And there is no attainment
In accomplishing the Buddha Path
For the intrinsic nature is already whole and complete.
By this, bodhisattvas
Can give rise to the Bodhi-mind.
Sentient beings in the Dharma ending age
Through this practice will avoid erroneous views.
~ Buddha
Happy in the morning
I open my cottage door;
A clear breeze blowing
Comes straight in.
The first sun
Lights the leafy trees;
The shadows it casts
Are crystal clear.
Serene,
In accord with my heart,
Everything merges
In one harmony.
Gain and loss
Are not my concern;
This way is enough
To the end of my days.
~ Wen-siang (1210-1280)