林愛偉 Posted October 20, 2007 (edited) There is no mirror to be polished. Thats' actually a very famous diolgue between the 6th patriarch..who recieved lineage transmission..and the head monk..who subsequently chased after him in the night.. Maybe Lin can recount this famous story for us it has been a long time. When Hui Neng was in the monastary, he worked more than sat with the other monks.He prepared the food, and pounded the rice. He couldn't read, and so people thought him a barbarian. He actually wasn't an ordainded monk during his early yrs in the monestary. One day the 5th Patriarch began looking for his successor. He gathered the monks together and told them all that he wants them to write a stanza(4 line) which will consist of their Prajna Wisdon, understanding, and awakening, and thus he can transmit Shakyamuni Buddha's robe and bowl to them, and they will be the 6th Patriarch. Every one was worried they weren't wise enough, and also, they wanted their elder Shen Xiu to take the transmission, because he was their senior instructor. Shen Xiu, worried himself so much that composing a stanza, he failed in many attempts to hand it in. Within 4 days , he made 13 attempts. He felt so much pressure from the assembly of monks that he decided to go in the middle of the night, and write his stanza on a wall. If the 5th Patriarch said it was proper, Shen Xiu would say he wrote it, if the stanza showed no wisdom, he would not say admit it. His stanza was: The body is a Bodhi tree, the mind like a bright mirror stand. Time and again brush it clean, and let no dust alight. The 5th Patriarch knew who wrote the stanza upon reading it. Shen Xiu didn't attain Prajna Wisdom, but since it was written on a wall, in the temple, no one can wash it off. The stanza would benefit people by them cultivating it, and doing so according to the verse, not fall into evil destinies, ,and attain great merit. So mokns went around reciting it everyday. Then Hui Neng heard a monk and asked him what he was reciting. The monk made fun of Hui Neng, sayin ghow he wouldn't understand such a verse and explained the whole situation form the beginning. Hui Neng wanted to see it also, and learn it. When he finally heard it completely, he wanted to write a verse on his own. There was an official there as well, and he helped Hui Neng write the following verse: "Original Bodhi has no tree, the bright mirror has no stand. Originally there is not a single thing: Where can the dust alight?" When the 5th Patriarch read this, he rubbed it out, erased it, and said the Hui Neng also didn't attain Prajna Wisdom. But he said this in fear that the assembly would harm Hui Neng, and become so angry because of Hui Neng's appearance, and their own attachments to what looks like a smart person and whatnot. After that, the 5th Patriarch summoned Hui Neng to his room, and passed him the robe and bowl. Hui Neng became the 6th Patriarch, but no one knew. Hui Neng was then advised to leave immedietly, and soon afterwards, monks of the assembly chased after him and tried to find him. One monk was very swift on his feet, and a good tracker. He found the plae where Hui Neng hid first. Hui Neng saw him, and put the robe and bowl on a rock, and hid behind the rock. The monk came to take the robe and bowl, but couldn't lift it up at all. Then he said to Hui Neng, "I have come for the Dharma,not the robe and bowl." Hui Neng then came out, sat cross -legged and conversed with that monk. That monk's lay-name was Chen, and soon after their conversation, he led the other monks away from Hui Neng, and made them search in other places. The other monks believed Chen to be honest, so they never questioned his words. Hui Neng stayed in hiding for 16 yrs, living among hunters, cooking for them until the proper time to teach the Dharma. Much more to this story, I tried to make it as short as possible and still leave the important turns of it. I do request us all to read the 6th Patriarch's Diamond Platform Sutra. It is a great compilation of his teachings. Very direct and to the point, without the expedients of demons and dimensions and religion. If anyone does get it, I advise to get a copy with a commentary by Ven. Master Xuan Hua Shangren. He is by far the most clear and profound commentator on Buddhist Sutras and cultivation. Peace and Blessings. Lin P.S.- Even Daoists study this sutra, because cultivation is simply cultivation. Anything that is good results in good outcomes haha so don't think that by reading a Buddhist text you are dis honoring Daoist teachings.. haha I know some people feel that way actually. Edited October 20, 2007 by 林愛偉 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cameron Posted October 20, 2007 Great story! If that doesn't make you grateful for Lin's presence on the board I don't know what to tell you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sahaj Nath Posted October 21, 2007 When Hui Neng was in the monastary, he worked more than sat with the other monks.He prepared the food, and pounded the rice. He couldn't read, and so people thought him a barbarian. He actually wasn't an ordainded monk during his early yrs in the monestary. One day the 5th Patriarch began looking for his successor. He gathered the monks together and told them all that he wants them to write a stanza(4 line) which will consist of their Prajna Wisdon, understanding, and awakening, and thus he can transmit Shakyamuni Buddha's robe and bowl to them, and they will be the 6th Patriarch... ******************************************************* P.S.- Even Daoists study this sutra, because cultivation is simply cultivation. Anything that is good results in good outcomes haha so don't think that by reading a Buddhist text you are dis honoring Daoist teachings.. haha I know some people feel that way actually. dude, could you, like..... STOP being so awesome?! Sifu Lin. some day... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt Posted October 21, 2007 Hey Lin, That was awesome. Thanks for the story... Maybe we could ask you to have little dharma-talk-posts more often often? Thanks, Peace, M Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
林愛偉 Posted October 21, 2007 Hey Lin, That was awesome. Thanks for the story... Maybe we could ask you to have little dharma-talk-posts more often often? Thanks, Peace, M That would be fun. Just post the idea, and its done Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
