Mirror of Sŏn, Ch 1
Master Sōsan considered Buddhist texts to be of the paramount importance to his students. Yet he also knew that the vast library of Buddhist sutras and commentarial literature could also become obstacles to an experiential attainment of Buddhism. In his introduction to this text he explained “...the Buddhist sutras are as numerous as the sea is vast and this causes much concern. Buddhists in the future will have to sort through too many leaves and branches in order to discover the essence. Therefore, I have extracted and summarized several hundred passages from various texts and I have written them down in one book.” His valuable words of wisdom have been a constant inspiration to Korean Sŏn monks and continue to be so now.
Chapter One
Right here, right now, from the very beginning, there is only one thing. Constantly clear and unexplained, having never been born and having never died, it cannot be named or described.
Commentary
What is the “one thing?” The ancestors said: “Before the Buddhas of the past were born, there has always been this one thing, simple and ethereal. So how could Mahākāśyapa have transmitted it?” Even Śākyamuni did not understand it.
Consequently, this “one thing” has never been born and has never died. It cannot be named or conceptualized. The Sixth Ancestor said to his assembly, “I have one thing. It has no name and no form. Do any of you recognize it?” Chán Master Shenhuì came forward and said, “It is the source of all Buddhas. It is my Buddha Nature.” This is the reason that Shenhuì was not considered as Huìnéng’s legitimate dharma heir. When Master Nányuè came from Mt. Sung, Ancestor Huìnéng asked him, “What is it that has come here?” Nányuè was confused. After eight years, he finally responded, “To call it ‘one thing is not correct.” This is how he became a Dharma-heir of Huìnéng.
Verse
the masters of the three teachings
all came forth from this phrase.
if you try to demonstrate it,
you must watch your step
otherwise, the hair of your eyebrows
will fall out.
Right here, right now, from the very beginning, there is only one thing. Constantly clear and unexplained, having never been born and having never died, it cannot be named or described.
Commentary
What is the “one thing?” The ancestors said: “Before the Buddhas of the past were born, there has always been this one thing, simple and ethereal. So how could Mahākāśyapa have transmitted it?” Even Śākyamuni did not understand it.
Consequently, this “one thing” has never been born and has never died. It cannot be named or conceptualized. The Sixth Ancestor said to his assembly, “I have one thing. It has no name and no form. Do any of you recognize it?” Chán Master Shenhuì came forward and said, “It is the source of all Buddhas. It is my Buddha Nature.” This is the reason that Shenhuì was not considered as Huìnéng’s legitimate dharma heir. When Master Nányuè came from Mt. Sung, Ancestor Huìnéng asked him, “What is it that has come here?” Nányuè was confused. After eight years, he finally responded, “To call it ‘one thing is not correct.” This is how he became a Dharma-heir of Huìnéng.
Verse
the masters of the three teachings
all came forth from this phrase.
if you try to demonstrate it,
you must watch your step
otherwise, the hair of your eyebrows
will fall out.
posted by Wonji Dharma at
November 28, 2008
2 Comments:
Yes! Gassho.
Thanks for posting this, Paul!
How can we watch our eyebrows?
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