The Confucian Scholar - Lu Jiuyuan - Teaches Inner Self-Cultivation Balanced with the Outer World!
Those who are beclouded by material desires so as to pervert principles
And violate righteousness, do so because they do not think... If they
Can truly examine themselves and things, their sense of right and wrong
And their choice between right and wrong will have the qualities of quiet
Alertness, clear-cut intelligence, and firm conviction.
Lu Juiyuan [陸九淵] (1139-1193 CE) - Neo-Confucian Scholar
And violate righteousness, do so because they do not think... If they
Can truly examine themselves and things, their sense of right and wrong
And their choice between right and wrong will have the qualities of quiet
Alertness, clear-cut intelligence, and firm conviction.
Lu Juiyuan [陸九淵] (1139-1193 CE) - Neo-Confucian Scholar
Not being attached to words and letters. Another way of looking at it is ‘not being attached to words and sentences’. Either way – I possess no concern whatsoever where the mind of others is ‘placed’ - as that is entirely under the control of the individual concerned. What is interesting is how many individuals want their attachment to words and letters ‘secured’ when engaging in Ch’an Dialogue or Dharma Combat. In other words, such individuals do not want to be ‘freed’ according to the Ch’an Method – no – such individuals want their deluded minds ‘reinforced’ through a distorted Ch’an Method! Well, this kind of deluded self-delusion is not permitted within the lineage of Master Xu Yun (1840-1959). No surprises – just the reality of penetrating and realising the essence of the empty mind ground. Of course, greed, hatred and delusion does not to know or to be told this – as all the deluded mind wants to do is dominate at the point of contact.
Plotinus Became Very Famous in Rome!
But what must we do? How lies the path? How come to vision of the inaccessible Beauty, Dwelling
As if in consecrated precincts, apart from the common ways where all may see, even the profane?
He that has strength, let him arise and withdraw into himself, foregoing all that is known by the
Eyes, turning away forever from the material beauty that once made his joy.
Plotinus (204-270 CE) - Neo=Platonist Enneads 1.6 (Ascending Towards the One – 8)
As if in consecrated precincts, apart from the common ways where all may see, even the profane?
He that has strength, let him arise and withdraw into himself, foregoing all that is known by the
Eyes, turning away forever from the material beauty that once made his joy.
Plotinus (204-270 CE) - Neo=Platonist Enneads 1.6 (Ascending Towards the One – 8)
This is the age-old quandary of the Ch’an Master. Popularity is replaced with compassion. The ‘hatred’ will increase the nearer the practitioner comes to the realisation of the empty mind ground. Prior to this breakthrough – prior to the bottom dropping out of the barrel – the delusion and greed will do everything it can to preserve its dominance! Indeed, entire industries have formed within the world of pseudo-Buddhism which sees vast empires of hero-worship and elaborate business pyramids all conspiring to keep the greed, hatred and delusion intact that the Buddha taught to overcome and transcend a) thousands of years ago, and b) which is obviously embedded in ALL the Sutras (of whatever tradition). Such is the Ch’an Method. No sentiment, no hindrance and no unnecessary emotion. None of these things matter unless the human mind chooses to make it so. The dust-whisk is either ‘raised’ or ‘lowered’ - that is all that matters in the end – as the body holding the dust-whisk will fall away. It may or may not continue to sit upright for centuries (like Hui Neng, Han Shan and many others) - but it might not – like Master Xu Yun who had his ashes rolled into dough-balls and thrown into a local river to feed the fish!
Master Xu Yun Lectured Freely from One Philosophical System to the Next - Emphasising 'Non-Attachment' and 'Wisdom' Attainment!
We can practice self-denial as well as compassion for others, thus forgoing all sorts of enjoyment.
If we can do so, no one will have to endure suffering and there will remain nothing that cannot be
Accomplished. It will follow that we will be able to obtain the full fruit of our reward.
Master Xu Yun (1840-1959) - in His 114th Year
If we can do so, no one will have to endure suffering and there will remain nothing that cannot be
Accomplished. It will follow that we will be able to obtain the full fruit of our reward.
Master Xu Yun (1840-1959) - in His 114th Year
Sixteen-years ago (1.10.2006) - Richard Hunn (1949-2006) died sat up-right in a hospital bed in a Kyoto Hospital. His final words were ‘Let’s go to the bookshop and buy some Wordsworth!’ Dying is the true test as it happens to ALL living creatures regardless of where the mind is placed in relation to the material world. We are all born, diversify into the material world, and retract into the death process. Inbetween individuals traverse through myriad conditions and circumstance. The Ch’an Method does not deny this process – but it does stop the deluded mind in its tracks and directs it to turn ‘inward’ and to observe the very essence of its functionality. Such a process quite often ennobles material existence and adds meaning to a process that many view as possessing no inherent meaning. Of course, parallels can be found in other philosophical systems providing there is non-attachment to words and sentences. As soon as it becomes ‘this’ system versus ‘that’ system – then the liberating power is dissipated, and all effort ceases to be meaningful. Ch’an is the raft the Buddha gave to cross the river. It is not a system to be attached to and presented like an all-conquering (and ‘one-sided’) system that keeps humanity firmly rooted in this plane of perceptual existence! Many do not like the Ch’an which would free them of their attachments – so be it. The burden is theirs – and theirs alone – to be carried.
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