Fukan-zazengi

The way of zazen recommended to everyone -- Part 3

When you grasp this, you are like the dragon with water, or a tiger in the mountains.
You must know that true dharma manifests itself in zazen, and that dullness and distraction drop away.

When you rise from sitting, move your body slowly and stand up calmly.
Do not move abruptly.

You should see that to transcend both ordinary people and sages
and to die sitting or standing,
depends upon the power of zazen.

Moreover, your discriminating mind cannot understand
how buddhas and patriarchs taught their students with
a finger, a pole, a needle, or a mallet, or how they
transmitted the Way with a hossu, a fist, a staff, or by shouting.
Needless to say, these actions cannot be understood by practicing to attain superhuman powers.

These actions come from practice which is prior to discriminating mind.

Therefore, do not consider whether you are clever or stupid,
and do not think of whether you are superior or inferior.

When you practice wholeheartedly, it is truly the practice of the Way.

Practice-enlightenment cannot be defiled.

Making the effort to obtain the Way is itself
the manifestation of the Way in your daily life.

The Buddhas and sages, both in this world and other worlds,
in India and China, preserved the buddha-seal
in the same way and expressed the Way freely.

Parts [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 ]