In former times people's minds were sharp.
Upon hearing a single sentence, they abandoned study and so came to be called "the sages who, abandoning learning, rest in spontaneity."
In these days, people only seek to stuff themselves with knowledge and deductions, placing great reliance on written explanations and calling all this the practice.
- Huang-po (d. 850)
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even this is distraction
There are no precepts to follow,
No practices to engage in.
From the outset
There are no passions;
From the beginning we are
Enlightened.
We eat when we are hungry,
Rest when we are tired.
- Nonin (d.1196)
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some days i grow weary of the repetition
and hunger for new flavors
this will be today's meditation
To know what you know
And to know
What you don’t know,
That is real wisdom.
- Confucius
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i am unsure of this attribution and cannot be bothered to do any sort of research
-rookie
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I shall never be ashamed of citing a bad author if the line is good.
-- Seneca
Roman dramatist, philosopher, & politician (5 BC - 65 AD)
“I am empty of everything and there is nothing left in my mind,” said the monk to Joshu. “What do you say to that?”
Joshu said, “Cast that away.”
But the monk persisted. “I have told you, there is nothing left in me. I am completely empty. What can I cast away?”
“In that case,” replied Joshu,”keep on carrying it.”
- Joshu
The non-action of the wise person
Is not inaction.
It is not studied.
It is not shaken by anything.
The sage is quiet
Because she is not moved,
Not because she wills to be quiet.
Her quietness is the mirror
Of heaven and earth
The glass of everything.
Emptiness, stillness, tranquility,
Traceless,
Silence, non-action:
This is the level of
Heaven and earth.
This is the perfect Tao.
- Chuang Tzu