Blue Cliff Record (Case 5) Hsueh Feng's Grain of Rice

[Tai Do]

I'm the rice and the one holding the rice.
Gassho,
Tai Do
Satlah

[Jundo]

I'm the rice and the one holding the rice.
Gassho,
Tai Do
Satlah

Nice. And what is not the rice?

Anyway, what "I" and what "rice"?

(Rhetorical questions, just to be with. No need to respond.)

Gassho, J
stlah

[Ramine]

- If the whole world is this grain of sand or rice in your hand, but the grain is a thing in the world, where are you located? Where is Hsueh Feng right now? (Hint: Whatever you say may be like the "wild fox interpretation" mentioned in the COMMENTARY.)-

Caution, may include wild foxes...

As I pick up the grain of rice, the grain of rice picks me up and both are killed instantly.
Me picking up the rice is the rice picking itself up.
The grain of rice picks me up and throws me down.
Wherever the grain is thrown down, I am already there.
The moment when I meet the grain of rice is the moment both are being exactly what they are, Buddha being Buddha.
How could I be anywhere? Where couldn't I be? Exactly the same place Hsueh Feng is right now.

Ramine

Sat and Lah

[Jundo]

Cool

[Houzan]

Standing exactly right here, I am exactly right there. Where else can Hsueh Feng be?

or:
I am in the palm of the grain of sand’s hand.

Gassho, Hōzan
Satlah

[Hoseki]

- If the whole world is this grain of sand or rice in your hand, but the grain is a thing in the world, where are you located?

I'm in the palm of the grain's hand.

- Where is Hsueh Feng right now?

He resides where only those with ears can see.

gassho,
hoseki
sattoday/lah

[Tairin]

I am. Here.
Not I. Everywhere.

Not two.


Tairin
Say today and lah

[Koriki]

- If the whole world is this grain of sand or rice in your hand, but the grain is a thing in the world, where are you located? Where is Hsueh Feng right now?

If everything is interconnected such that we are really one, then the only place we can be is here. "There" implies duality. Therefore, the only place Hsueh Feng can be is here.

Gassho,
Koriki
s@lah

[Jundo]

If everything is interconnected such that we are really one, then the only place we can be is here. "There" implies duality. Therefore, the only place Hsueh Feng can be is here.

Gassho,
Koriki
s@lah

But what if "here" if no "there" to contrast??

And is not "there" but here that's over there?

Gassho, J
stlah

[Hoko]

QUESTION:

- If the whole world is this grain of sand or rice in your hand, but the grain is a thing in the world, where are you located? Where is Hsueh Feng right now? (Hint: Whatever you say may be like the "wild fox interpretation" mentioned in the COMMENTARY.)

The whole world is in the grain of rice in your hand yet there is no "you" to throw the rice.
But at the same time, without you there would be no rice, no whole, great earth and no fingers to pick it up with.

You are everywhere at once and nowhere in particular.
There is no dust nor mirror, the rice need not be washed, but also, you can't see your reflection in a dusty mirror and nobody wants to eat dirty rice.
Therefore, right here, right now, you must polish the mirror and wash the rice! If not you then who?

Where is Hsueh Fang? He is teaching his community. He's picking up the world, throwing down the rice and beating the drum.
He preaches the dharma in the past, present and future.

Gassho,
Hoko

ST/LAH

[Jundo]

Good stuff.