Rational Zen (eBook)

FromtheUniversal Book of Eternal Peace
Selectionsfrom EiheiKoroku

1

Theyears of a lifetime are a flash of lightning, who clings to objects? They areempty through and through. Even if you care for the nose hung in front of yourface, still be careful and value every moment to work on enlightenment.

Thisa statement for people in meditation, what about a statement for the seasonedadept on the mountain?

Theautumncolors of the thousand peaks
aredyed with seasonal rain,
Howcouldthehard rockon the mountain
followalong with thewind?

2

Thesaying that having no mind is Buddha originated in India, the saying that minditself is Buddha began in China.

Ifyou understand accordingly, you are as far off as the sky is from earth.

Ifyou do not understand accordingly, you are just a common sort.

Ultimately,what is what?

Inthethirdmonth of spring
Thefruit is full on the enlightenment tree,
Onenight the flower blooms
andthe whole world is fragrant.

3

Aseeker asked a Zen master, 'What are you thinking of so intently?'

TheZen master said, 'I am thinking of what does not think.'

Theseeker asked, 'How can you think of what does not think?'

TheZen master said, 'It is not thought.'

Mindingalready gone,
'mindless'does not quite describe it.
Inthis life,
purityis foremost.

4

Supremeenlightenment is not for oneself, not for others, not for fame, not for gain.To nevertheless seek unexcelled enlightenment wholeheartedly andsinglemindedly, persevering without regressing, is called 'awakening themind for enlightenment.'

Onceyou get this mind to appear, it is not even for the sake of enlightenment thatyou seek enlightenment, this is the true mind of enlightenment. Without thismind, how can you really practice the way to enlightenment?

Thosewho are singlemindedly seeking the mind of enlightenment must not weary of thisquest, they must not give up. Those who have not yet attained the mind ofenlightenment should pray to the Buddhas of former ages, and should alsodedicate their good works to the quest for the mind of enlightenment.

Someoneonce asked a great Zen master, 'All things return to One. Where does theOne return?'

TheZen master said, 'When I was living in such-and-such a place, I made acloth shirt that weighed seven pounds.'

Thisis how an ancient illuminate spoke. If someone asked me, 'All thingsreturn to One, where does the One return?' I would say it returns totranscendence.

Ifasked why I say this, I would say I am within, making offerings to billions ofBuddhas.

5

Inancient times a man up in a high tower saw two monks passing by in front of thetower, there were two gods sweeping the road and strewing flowers before them.

Thenwhen the monks came back that way, there were two demons angrily shouting andspitting, wiping away their tracks.

Theman came down from the tower and asked the monks the reason for this phenomenon.

Themonks said, 'As we were going, we were discussing the principles taught bythe Buddha. On our way back, we were talking about trivia. That must be why itwas like this.'

Thetwo monks were awakened by this. They repented and went on their way.

Althoughthis is a crude objectification, when you examine it carefully you find it is amost important issue for people studying the Way. Why? Simply because outsideobjects appear when...