Look for the print of the mind

[deci belle]

Look for the print of the mind.

 

Either by reason or practice

One enters the path.

 

Turning from illusion back to reality;

The oneness of mortal and sage;

Unmoved even by scripture

One enters by reason.

 

Entry by practice refers to the four truths:

Suffering injustice, adapting to conditions,

Seeking nothing and practicing the Dharma.

 

Having a body is suffering by karma

Those unmoved even by joy spontaneously follow the Path

To seek nothing is bliss by detachment

Finally, since all natures are pure

All appearances are empty

And free of the impurity of self.

 

 

 

 

Bodhidharma was born in southern India and arrived in China around 475. He is acknowledged as the founder of all existent Chan (Zen) lineages. There are four short sermons attributed to him by some accounts. He had two awakened disciples— only one ever taught.

[deci belle]

 

I pieced most of this from Bodhidharma's Bloodstream Sermon…❤

 

To find a buddha, all you have to do is see your nature. Your nature is the buddha. And the buddha is the person who's free: free of plans, free of cares.

 

The truth is, there's nothing to find. But to reach such an understanding you need a teacher and you need to struggle to make yourself understand. The matter of life and death is monumental. Don't suffer them in vain.

 

It's true, you have the buddha-nature. But without the help of a teacher, you'll never know it. Only one person in a million becomes enlightened without a teacher's help.

 

If, though, by the conjunction of conditions, someone understands what the Buddha meant, that person doesn't need a teacher. Such a person has a natural awareness superior to anything taught. But, unless you're so blessed, study hard, and by means of instruction you'll understand.

 

Whoever sees his nature is a buddha; whoever doesn't is a mortal. But if you can find your buddha-nature apart from your mortal nature, where is it? Our mortal nature is our buddha-nature. Beyond this nature there's no buddha.

 

Once you recognize your moving, miraculously aware nature, yours is the mind of all buddhas. Buddhas of the past and future only talk about transmitting the mind. They teach nothing else. If someone understands this teaching, even if he's illiterate he's a buddha. If you don't see your own miraculously aware nature, you'll never find a buddha even if you break your body into atoms. (hahahahhahaa— suuuucha DOM!!❤)

 

Erudition and knowledge are not only useless but also cloud your awareness. Once you see your mind, you see these things for what they truly are. To go from mortal to buddha, you have to put an end to karma, nurture your awareness and accept what life brings. Buddhas move freely through birth and death, appearing and disappearing at will. They can't be restrained by karma or overcome by devils.

 

Once mortals see their nature, all attachments end. Awareness isn't hidden. But you can only find it right now. It's only now. If you really want to find the way, don't hold on to anything.

 

 

 

Tao-yuan's biography of Bodhidharma is included in his Transmission of the Lamp, which was finished in 1002. He recounts that Bodhidharma is said to have died in 528, poisoned by a jealous monk. It reports that three years later an official met Bodhidharma walking in the mountains of central Asia. He was carrying a single sandal, hanging from a staff, and told the official he was returning to India. Eventually, Bodhidharma's tomb on Bear Ear Mountain was opened, and all that was found was a single sandal.

 

I've been reading from Red Pine's translation of The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma, North Point Press, 1987; Fifth printing, 1996.