Dear all
This week we continuin with sections 24-26 of the sutra.
After bestowing the formless precepts, Huineng says that he will continue by teaching on the Perfection of Wisdom (prajanaparamita), stating that its meaning is “the great wisdom that leads to the other shore.”
He points out that we should not simply chant these teachings but have to practice them and, if we do, our dharma body becomes that of a buddha. He also warns against practicing what he calls “Empty-mind Zen” (this referred to in the Huihsin edition as ‘to sit quietly with an empty mind’).
Red Pine notes that the Maha Prajnaparamita that Huineng is referring to probably means the four line gatha from The Diamond Sutra. In our own case, we can think of our chanting of The Heart Sutra.
In section 25 Huineng goes on to say that “our nature contains the ten thousand dharmas” (i.e. all things) and that, further, they are our nature. He says that to practice is to hold the ten thousand things (what is appearing right now) without rejecting them and without being corrupted by them.
Emphasising his point above, he states that “deluded people chant this with their mouths, the wise practice it with their minds.”
In section 26, Huineng explains that prajna means wisdom and paramita means that which leads to the other shore. He again emphasises that it is not enough to chant this without practicing it.
He says that Maha Prajnaparamita (maha means great) is the noblest and highest and it isn’t present, past or future but all of the buddhas of the past, present and future come from it.
Questions
1. What do you think is meant by ‘Empty-mind Zen’? How does this differ from the practice of non-thinking emphasised by our dharma ancestors?
While Great Master Yakusan Kodo is sitting, a monk asks him, "What are you thinking in the still-still state?" The master says, "Thinking the concrete state of not thinking." The monk says, "How can the state of not thinking be thought?" The master says, "It is non-thinking."
2. What does it mean that prajna is not of the present, past or future? This koan may (or may not!) help:
The Old Woman’s Rice Cakes
Te-shan was traveling to the south in search of the Dharma when he came across a woman on the roadside selling refreshments. He asked her, “Who are you?”
She responded, “I am an old woman selling rice cakes.”
He said, “I’ll take some rice cakes.”
She said, “Venerable priest, why do you want them?”
He said, “I’m hungry and need some refreshments
She said, “Venerable priest, what are you carrying in your bag?”
He said, “Haven’t you heard that I am ‘King of the Diamond Sutra?’ I have thoroughly penetrated all of its levels of meaning. Here I have my notes and commentaries on the scripture.”
Hearing this, the old woman said, “I have one question, venerable priest. May I ask it?”
He said, Go ahead and ask it.”
She said, “I have heard it said that according to the Diamond Sutra, past mind is ungraspable, present mind is ungraspable, and future mind is ungraspable. So where is the mind that you wish to refresh with rice cakes?
Where is it?
Wishing you all a good week.
Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-
This week we continuin with sections 24-26 of the sutra.
After bestowing the formless precepts, Huineng says that he will continue by teaching on the Perfection of Wisdom (prajanaparamita), stating that its meaning is “the great wisdom that leads to the other shore.”
He points out that we should not simply chant these teachings but have to practice them and, if we do, our dharma body becomes that of a buddha. He also warns against practicing what he calls “Empty-mind Zen” (this referred to in the Huihsin edition as ‘to sit quietly with an empty mind’).
Red Pine notes that the Maha Prajnaparamita that Huineng is referring to probably means the four line gatha from The Diamond Sutra. In our own case, we can think of our chanting of The Heart Sutra.
In section 25 Huineng goes on to say that “our nature contains the ten thousand dharmas” (i.e. all things) and that, further, they are our nature. He says that to practice is to hold the ten thousand things (what is appearing right now) without rejecting them and without being corrupted by them.
Emphasising his point above, he states that “deluded people chant this with their mouths, the wise practice it with their minds.”
In section 26, Huineng explains that prajna means wisdom and paramita means that which leads to the other shore. He again emphasises that it is not enough to chant this without practicing it.
He says that Maha Prajnaparamita (maha means great) is the noblest and highest and it isn’t present, past or future but all of the buddhas of the past, present and future come from it.
Questions
1. What do you think is meant by ‘Empty-mind Zen’? How does this differ from the practice of non-thinking emphasised by our dharma ancestors?
While Great Master Yakusan Kodo is sitting, a monk asks him, "What are you thinking in the still-still state?" The master says, "Thinking the concrete state of not thinking." The monk says, "How can the state of not thinking be thought?" The master says, "It is non-thinking."
2. What does it mean that prajna is not of the present, past or future? This koan may (or may not!) help:
The Old Woman’s Rice Cakes
Te-shan was traveling to the south in search of the Dharma when he came across a woman on the roadside selling refreshments. He asked her, “Who are you?”
She responded, “I am an old woman selling rice cakes.”
He said, “I’ll take some rice cakes.”
She said, “Venerable priest, why do you want them?”
He said, “I’m hungry and need some refreshments
She said, “Venerable priest, what are you carrying in your bag?”
He said, “Haven’t you heard that I am ‘King of the Diamond Sutra?’ I have thoroughly penetrated all of its levels of meaning. Here I have my notes and commentaries on the scripture.”
Hearing this, the old woman said, “I have one question, venerable priest. May I ask it?”
He said, Go ahead and ask it.”
She said, “I have heard it said that according to the Diamond Sutra, past mind is ungraspable, present mind is ungraspable, and future mind is ungraspable. So where is the mind that you wish to refresh with rice cakes?
Where is it?
Wishing you all a good week.
Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-
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