Simple_Jack

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From Zen master Yen-Shou's The Source Mirror/ Tsung Chin Lu: First question: When we completely see true nature as plainly as we see colors in broad daylight, are we the same as bodhisattvas like Manjushri? Second question: When we can clearly understand the source in everything, as we encounter situations and face objects, as we see form and hear sound, as we raise and lower our feet, as we open and close our eyes, are we in accord with the path? Third question: When we read through the teachings of Buddha for our era contained in the Buddhist canon, and the sayings of all the Zen masters since antiquity, and we hear their profundities without becoming afraid, do we always get accurate understanding and have no doubts? Fourth question: When people pose difficult differentiating questions to us, and press us with all sorts of probing inquiries, are we able to respond with the four forms of eloquence*, and resolve all their doubts? Fifth question: Does your wisdom shine unhindered at all times in all places, with perfect penetration from moment to moment, not encountering any phenomenon that can obstruct it, and never being interrupted for even an instant? Sixth question: When all kinds of adverse and favorable and good and evil realms appear before us, are we unobstructed by them, and can we see through them all? Seventh question: In all the mental states in Treatise on the Gate for Illuminating the Hundred Phenomena, can we see for each and every one of them, their fine details, the essential nature, and their fundamental source and point of origin, and not be confused by birth and death and the sense faculties and sense organs? Eighth question: Can we discern reality in the midst of all forms of conduct and activity, whether walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, whether receiving instructions or responding, whether dressing or eating? Ninth question: Can we be singleminded and unmoved whether we hear there is a Buddha or we hear there is no Buddha, whether we hear there are sentient beings or we hear there are no sentient beings, whether we are praised or slandered or affirmed or denied? Tenth question: Can we clearly comprehend all the differentiating knowledge we hear, and comprehend both true nature and apparent form, inner truth and phenomena, without hindrance, and discern the source of all phenomena, even including the appearance of the thousand sages in the world, without any doubts? *The Four Forms of Unlimited Eloquence in Buddhism: "...'unlimited eloquence' indicates the power to freely understand and freely express oneself without hindrance. "Unlimited eloquence" comprises four unlimited powers of understanding and preaching. These are: complete knowledge of the teachings, thorough knowledge of the meanings deriving from the teachings, complete freedom in the use of various languages and dialects to express the teachings, and the ability to preach freely and bravely, employing the other three unlimited powers." or put this way: four unlimited kinds of knowledge Also, four unlimited (or unhindered) powers of knowledge, four unlimited kinds of understanding, or four unlimited kinds of eloquence. Powers of understanding and teaching that Buddhas and bodhisattvas are said to possess. They are (1) complete understanding of the Law, or teachings; (2) complete mastery of the meanings deriving from the Law; (3) complete freedom in expressing the teachings in various languages and dialects; and (4) the ability to preach to all people at will by employing the first three powers. The four unlimited kinds of knowledge represent being unhindered in understanding and teaching. Both from this site: http://nichiren.info/buddhism/library/SokaGakkai/Study/LectLS/Lectur10.htm

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