|
|
Notes
The text of this talk is from a version in the library of the
Southwest Chogye Zen Center in Houston, Texas. Master Kyung-Ho
(1849-1912) is considered one of the most significant Korean Zen
teachers of the modern era. Among his important disciples was Mann-gong
(1872-1946) who is the direct dharma ancestor of Hye-Am, teacher of
Myo-Bong, who founded the Southwest Chogye Zen Center.
- It is no small thing for a man to become a Bhiku. A man does not
become a Bhiku to eat and dress well. Rather, he wants to be free
from life and death by accomplishing Buddhahood.
- To accomplish Buddhahood, one has to discover his own Mind, which is
already within his own body.
- To discover Mind, one should understand that his body is nor more
than a dead corpse and this world is, for good or bad, nothing
but a dream. Man's death is like popping out in the evening of the
same day that you have popped in during the morning. After death,
sometimes one may be born in one of the hells, sometimes in the
realm of animals and sometimes in the realm of ghosts. Then one
must endure incalculable pains and sufferings.
- Since this is true do not concern yourself with the worldly life.
Just examine and carefully observe your mind at all times. What
does this which is now seeing, hearing and thinking look like? Does
this have any form or not? It this big or small? Is this yellow or
green? Is this bright or dark?
- Examine and observer this matter carefully. Let your examination
and observation become like a mouse-catching cat; or like an
egg-laying hen; or like a desperately hungry, old, crafty mouse
gnawing a hole in a rice bag. Let your examination and observation
be focused at one point and do not forget it. Keep it before you by
raising doubt and by questioning yourself. Do not this this doubt
go away while you are doing chores or the like. Do not let your
question (doubt) escape from you even while you are not doing
anything special. By eagerly and sincerely practicing in this
manner, finally, there will be the moment of awakening to you own
Mind.
- Study hard by raising your faith. Raising your faith is sincerely
re-examining the matter just mentioned.
- To be born a human being is most difficult. It is even more
difficult to be born into favorable circumstances -- harder still to
become a Bhiku. It is the most difficult thing of all to find
correct and righteous Dharma teaching. We should reflect on this
matter deeply.
- Shakyamuni Buddha once said,
One who is already a human being is like a speck of dirt
clinging to a fingernail, while the one who has become
an animal by losing his human form is as common as the
dirt of the ground.
If one loses the human form this time, then one will have to wait
countless aeons to recover it. When someone is in the one of the
many hells, he is unaware of it, as if playing games in a flower
garden. Becoming a hungry ghost, asura, or animal, he acts like he
is dwelling in his own home.
- However, if one is awakened and has accomplished Buddhahood, he does
not have to live or die. That is, he does not have to endure any
kinds of sufferings again. These words should be carefully
considered one by one.
- Once Zen Master Kwon, a Bhiku, began meditating from morning to
night. As soon as the sun would set, he would beat his fists
against the ground in frustration and cry out, "I have
lost another day without realizing my Mind." He continued
this way every day until he was fully awakened. Since there
are many who have exhibited the determination of Master Kwon,
it is impossible for me here to cite everyone who has had the
determination to meditate until enlightened.
- None of them were worried about living or dying, nor about eating,
dressing well, nor sleeping. In our study, we should practice the
same way. Consider this carefully!
- Once Zen Master Tung-san wrote:
Do not seek noble titles nor wish to have
possessions nor ask for prosperity. Wherever you
happen to be, just live in accord with your karma
here and now in this life. If your clothes
wear out, patch them again and again. If there
is no food, barely even search for it.
When the warm energy under your chin grows cold, suddenly you
become a corpse. What remains after death is only a hollow name.
after all, how many days will this transient body live? Why work
hard only to acquire useless things? That only makes your mind
dark and causes you to forget about studying.
- After awakening one's on mind, one should always preserve its
purity and tranquillity. Cultivate this mind without allowing it
to be tainted by worldly things. Then plenty of good things (that
is, pleasure which comes from the Awakening) will happen.
Faithfully, trust in this. When you have to die, there will be no
more suffering or sickness. You can go freely to Nirvana or
anywhere else you chose (i.e., you control your own life as a free
man in the world).
- Shakyamuni Buddha said,
If anyone -- man or woman, old or young -- has faith in
these words and studies, each will, as a result, become
a Buddha.
Why would Shakyamuni Buddha deceive us?
- The Fifth Patriarch, Hung-yin, the Zen Master, said,
By examination and observation of mind, one will become
enlightened naturally.
Then he further promised us that,
If you don't have faith in what I say, in future lives you
will be eaten by tigers over and over again. On the other
hand, if I have deceived you, I will fall into the dungeon of
exitless hell.
Since the Patriarchs have said these words, should be not take them
to heart?
- Those of you who are in this Study, do not agitate your mind; let
it be like a mountain. Let your mind be like a wide and empty
space and continue to reflect on enlightening Dharma like the moon
reflects the sun. Whether others think that I am right or wrong is
not your concern. Do not judge or criticize others. Just be at
ease and go on mindlessly like a simpleton or fool. Or, be like
one who is struck deaf and dumb. Spend your life like you cannot
hear a thing or like an infant. Then, sooner or later, all the
delusion will disappear.
- If one wishes to accomplish Buddhahood, it is useless to attempt to
understand and master the worldly life. It would be like one
trying to fix food out of dung, or like trying to cut jade out of
mud. It is totally useless for the accomplishing of Buddhahood.
there is no reason for occupying oneself completely and thoroughly
with worldly affairs.
- See your own death in the death of others. Do not put your trust
in this body. Rather, remind yourself again and again to not miss
a moment to awaken your own mind.
- Ask yourself repeatedly, "What does this mind look
like?" In your daily rounds, continue to ask yourself,
"What does this mind look like?" Reflect upon this
question so intensely that you are like a starving man thinking
of nothing but good food. Do not loose hold of your questioning
at any time.
- Buddha has said,
Whatever has a form, that is, everything, is all delusory.
He also said,
Everything that the ordinary human being does is subject to
life and death. There is only one way for use to be a true
man and this is Realization of our own mind.
- It is said, "Do not drink liquor", since it will
intoxicate and make your mind dull. Also, "Do not speak
lies", since it will only accelerate delusive states of
mind. Furthermore, "Do not steal", since it only
helps to make your mind jealous and full of desires. You
should observe these and all the precepts. Breaking the
precepts can be very harmful for your cultivation and for your
life itself. You should not cling to or incline yourself
towards breaking any of them.
- Master Ox-herder, Mokguja (Chinul), once mentioned that,
Indulging in craving and desire for property are as vicious
as poisonous snakes. Watch your body and mind carefully when
such desires arise and then understand them as they are.
Detach yourself from them as much as possible.
- These words are very important and they should be remembered. They
will make your study more effective. Buddha said,
Becoming angry even once raises ten million vicious sins.
A student simply must endure and tolerate the angry mind. Many
masters have also said that because of anger, man becomes a tiger,
a bee, a snake, or some similar stinging or biting creature. From
foolish mindedness, man becomes either a bird or a butterfly.
Depending upon his degree of low-mindedness, man becomes either an
ant, mosquito or the like. From craving things, man becomes a
hungry ghost. The type of desire or anger molds the nature of hell
into which men will accordingly fall. Each and every state of mind
determines the kind of creature man is to become.
- However, if one's mind is unattached, one becomes a Buddha.
Even a "good" or positive state of mind is useless.
Even though such a condition of mind can create a heavenly
future life, it is still limited. As soon as one reaches
heaven, he immediately begins descending to the hellish or
animal realms in successive rebirths. If no intention is held
in the mind, then there is no place to be born again. One's
mind is so pure and unconfused, it cannot go to the dark
places. This pure and quiescent mind is the way of Buddha.
- If one questions with the one-pointed concentration, then this mind
naturally settles down and become tranquil. By this he
automatically realizes his own mind as quiescent and tranquil.
This is the same as becoming a Buddha.
- This way is very direct and goes right to the point. It is the
best way one can practice. Read and examine this talk from time to
time and, on the right occasions, even tell other people. This is
as good as reading eighty-four thousand volumes of scriptures.
Studying in this manner, one will accomplish Buddhahood in this
lifetime. Do not understand this talk to be some contrived
encouragement or expedient deception. Follow these words with your
whole-hearted mind.
- In the deep canyon where the clear stream is flowing continuously,
all kinds of birds are singing everywhere. No one ever comes to
visit this place. It is the so-called Bhiku's place (monastery)
and is quiet and tranquil. Here is where I sit and contemplate and
examine what this mind is. Now, if this mind is not what Buddha
is, then what else it?
- You have just heard a very rare talk. You should continue to study
this great matter enthusiastically. Do not hurry, otherwise you
might become sick or get a terrible headache. Calm yourself, then
ceaselessly meditate. Most of all, be careful not to force
yourself. Rather, relax and let your right questioning be within!
|