3-china, japan, tibet - notebooks of paul brunton
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PaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundationhomepage>NotebooksofPaulBrunton>Category15:TheOrient>Chapter3:China,Japan,Tibet
China,Japan,Tibet
GeneralnotesonChina
1WhereastheIndianschoolssoughtliberationfromthemiseryofbirthandrebirths,theChineseschoolssoughthappypeace,ajoyousmind.
2TheChinesetemperamentwastoorealistictofollowtheIndianintoamerelymetaphysicalviewoflifeandtoopracticaltorunawaywithitintoanescapistview.Indeed,theverynameoftheprincipalreligionofChinaConfucianismistheDoctrineoftheMean,theMeanbeingthemiddlepointbetweentwoextremes,thebalancebetweentwosides.EventhetwomostcelebratedChinesemysticsexhibitedtheirnationaltendenciesintheirwritingandphilosophicallyunitedtheideaofrealbeingwiththeideaofillusorybeing.SuchwereLaoTzuandChuangTzu.LiketheIndians,theChinesewerereadytofindoutwhatotherworldlinesshadtoofferthembutunliketheIndians,theywerenotreadypermanentlytoforsaketheworldlylifewhiledoingso.EventheBuddhistschool,whichhaslastedlongestandremainedstrongestinChina,istheonenamed"TheRoundDoctrine"meaningthatitiswidelyroundedtoincludeboththespiritualandthematerial.Thisisthe"Tendai"school.
3InChinesephilosophytomaintainanevenbalanceiscalled"theMean."Thiscalmisconsideredessentialifhisglimpsesarenottobeendedbyaman'sreturntohisselfcentereddesires.
4TheChinesehavealwayssoughtandinsisteduponapractical(whichincludesethical)applicationofanylineofthought,religion,philosophy.InthistheydifferfromtheIndians,whosetendencytolosethemselvesinemptyabstractionsandmereverbalismstheyrejected.
5Hewasrichlygarbed,butashebowedbeforeme,hisalmostobsequiousmannergavemetheconvictionthathewasaservant.AndIwasright.
HeraisedhisfingerstohislipsandmadeafewsignswhichIinstantlyperceivedtomeanthathewasdumb.Thenheslippedhishandintohisbosom,towithdrawitamomentlaterandhandmealetterenclosedinastrongparchmentwithaheavysealontheback.ThesealboresomeChinesecharactersgroupedinacirclearoundapictureshowingamanholdingaflamingtorchinhislefthand,andasharpswordinthisright.
Iopened,andthisiswhatIread:"TheLordoftheDragonsendstheegreetingsandawaitsthycomingattheHouseoftheHundredLamps.Followthespeechlessone."
6IwasledtotheHouseoftheHundredLamps.Evensuchthingsasthewindowframeswerepaintedwithpeachcolouredlacquer....Almostoneexpectedtohearthepatterof
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tinyfeetacrossthefloorand,lookingup,toseealittleChineseprincess,withslantingeyesandflowerlikeface,passthroughtheroomlikeawraith.
7IfChinaforsomanycenturieshadherstronggrouptendency,therewasstillaminority,muchsmallerinnumberbuteliteincharacter,whichvaluedandupheldtheindividualandfortifiedhimagainstconformitywhereconformityledtoabasingtheIdeal,whichprizedsolitudeasameanstodeeperthoughtandspiritualcontemplationasagainstpressureoffamily,tribe,andoverneighbourliness.These"ingoing"sects,notablythestudentsanddisciplesofChuangTzuandLaoTzu,producedhermits,itistruebuttheyalsoproducedusefulcitizenswhokeptaproperbalancebetweencityandcountry,worldandself,activityandwithdrawal.Theyprizedtheirmomentofsilencefortheenlightenmentitbroughtthem,orthehealingitgavethem.
8IfthemosquesofNearandMiddleEasternlandsarearchitecturallywellsuitedtoapriestlessandbishoplessfaith,aswellasbeingaestheticallypleasing,thetemplesofprewarChinawerethesame.Theirtiledroofs,wingedbypaintedblack,green,orvermillioneaves,weresupportedbylacqueredandgildedpillars.
9Ithinkeagerlyofthosetightlycurledtinyleavesunfoldinginthestimulusofhotbubblingwater,soontogivetheiraromaticrefreshingliquortomywaitingcup.ThistoowasChina'sgifttome,alongwiththeCh'antenetsandthatprecious,alltooshorttext,TaoTehChingbyLaoTzu.
10TheCommunistshavemadedeterminedattemptstowipeoutalltheTaoistsocietiesandtoenfeebletheBuddhistones.Taoistleaderswereviciouslyexecuted,Buddhistmonasterieswereseizedandconfiscated,andBuddhisttempleswereconvertedintosocalledworkers'culturecentres,thatis,Communistpropagandacentres.
11ThemodernChineseBuddhistmovementcalledWeiShihtaughtasitsfundamentaltenettheprincipleofmentalism.TheteachingsareidenticalwithandprobablyderivedfromtheSanskritYogacaraschool.ItschiefcentrewasatNanking,andfromthedoorsofits"ChinaInnerKnowledgeCollege"therewentforthanumberofwellinstructeddisciplesbothmonksandlaymensomeofwhomIhadthepleasureofmeetingbeforethewar.Whathasbecomeofsoessentiallyspiritualaninstitutionundertheatheisticdominanceofpresentconditions?Ifithasmetthefateofsomanyothers,thebalancingcontributionwhichitcouldmaketothenewChinaisalas!nolongeravailable.Somepilgrimagestosuchcentreshavebeenstopped,othersdiscouraged.Sometempleshavebeenturnedintosecularschools.Largenumbersofmonkshavebeenforcedtodiscardtheirrobesandhavebeendrivenbackintocivilianlife.IknowthatBuddhismgenerallyisregardedasameresuperstitionbytheWesternscienceworshippingmindsoftoday'sChineseyouthandleadership.Thisattitudeisbothdangerousandfallacious.AlthoughtheBuddha,forhisownmonkcatchingreasons,andbecauseofthetimesandconditionsinwhichhelived,emphasizedthepessimisticworldview,andthuspresentedaonesidedteaching,hewasinhimselfoneofthemostilluminedmenwhoeverlived.
12TheIndianswhobroughtBuddhismtoChinabroughtalsotheirtendencytooverweighttheirdoctrineswithmetaphysicsandintellectual,logicalortheologicalspinningoutofideas.TheChineseeventuallyrevoltedagainstthistendency,whichwascompletelycontrarytotheirownpracticalandsomewhatearthyoutlook.Theyputalltheiremphasis
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onpersonalinnerexperience,onthediscoveryoftruthbysuddenenlightenment.ThiswasthebeginningofZen.
13TheoldChina,withitscharmingpergolasandinterestingpagodas,isbeingforcedtotravelontheroadtoextinction.TheoldChinahonouredaphilosopherlikeLaoTzubynamingabeautifulflowerafterhiseyebrows,butthenewChinadespiseshis"unpracticalmysticism."
14InChinaconservatismwascarriedtotheextreme,sothatpeoplecouldonlyconverseinplatitudesandclichs,inconventionalandexpectedphrases.Nodeparturefromthisrigidformulationwaspermitted.Afterathousandyearsthisbreditsownevils.TheEmpire,anditscivilization,fellapart.Changescameinquickeningsuccession.ThencametheclimaxMaoTsetung'sbrandofCommunism,withitsownspecialkindofchanges.
15ItisinterestingtorememberthattheseChineseancestralportraitshadnotonlyasentimentalinterest,werehonourednotonlythroughegoisticfamilyattachmentbutalsobecausereligiousfaithacceptedtheircontinued,thoughpsychic,existenceandlookedtothemforcounselorhelp.Bygazingataparent'sorgrandparent'spaintedface,itwasthought,theattitudeofapprovalordisapprovalwouldberevealed.
16Chinesewisdom,developedamongapeoplewhoweremoreearthythantheIndians,couldnotlosesightoftherealitiesofNaturebecauseitwasabletoseetherealitiesofcontemplation.Itbroughtbothintoitspicture,coupledYinwithYangtheevilandsuffering,theterroranddestructionthatseemfusedintotheuniverseitselfalongwiththeserenityandbliss,thebeautyandharmonyattheveryheartofthings.
17InancientChina,oneenteredthephysicalpresenceofasagequitedifferentlyfromthewayoneentereditinancientIndia.InCathayitwasimpolitetostareathisface,whereasinHindustanitwasconsideredareligiousdutytodoso.
18ThepaintedgatewasonedaytoopentomystepandadmituponthemostguardedandexclusivethresholdinallthisgreatEasterncity.Thepossessionofwealthisgenerallyknowntobeawellfittingkeytomostofouraristocraticandhumblermansions,butnonecouldpasstheporchofthishighbornChinamanunlesspossessedofthatinvisibleandspiritualemblemwhichhefirstrequired.
19ThecivilizedChinamanisdignifiedandmanneredandwassoforthousandsofyears.Today,withthedownfallofancientcodes,witheverythingreducedtolowermasslevels,heisdisappearing,andagenerationsteepedinvulgarityandcoarsenessistakinghisplace.
20ThedragonistheChineseesotericsymbolforDivineWisdomandtheexotericsymbolforsupremepower.
21Butexcessiveworshipofthepastwhichresulted,inpractice,fromConfucianstudyandexcessiveresistancetowhatwasnewanddifferenthadasuffocatingeffect:thereaction,whichbeganwiththebirthoftheRepublicandexpandedwiththeCommunisttakeover,
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wasinevitable.
22Chinesethoughthadastrongappreciationofthisparadox,thatlifeandtheworldwereinthehandsofpairsofopposites.YinandYang,GodandDevil,LuckandFatewerecoupledtogether.
23IfmostmonksinEastandWestuseprayerremembrancers,mostlyrosaries,afewinprewarChinausedotherarticles,suchasacoupleofpolishedwalnuts.
24Nocivilizationhaseverremainedstaticandchangeless,eventhoseancientoneswhocameclosesttothisconditionsuchasChina.
25ThisstatementappearedinTheChinaQuarterlyin1961:"Neitherinsidethemonasterynoroutsideitistherenowleisureformeditationandprayer.Thesimplepietyofthecommonpeopleisdiscouragedalongwiththematerialsupporttheyprovidedmonks.ThebasicpolicyistoletBuddhismdie.Intwentyyearsfromnow,twothousandyearsafteritarrivedinChina,Buddhismwillbedead."
26Whatchancedidtherickshawcoolieoftheprewardecadeshaveofabsorbingthehigherculture,ofinstructioninthehighertruth?Evenhisbodilylifewasgreatlyshortenedthenbutthetricyclerickshawoftodaymustbelesslaborious.
27AnyofficeraboveacertainrankintheserviceoftheemperorofChinawascalledamandarin.
28ChinatradedwiththeRomanEmpire,whicheagerlyboughtitssilkenfiguredgarments.Itwasmostlydonethroughintermediarymerchantswhotravelledincaravansorsailedtheseas.
29ThemandarinclassofprewarChinawererecognizablenotonlybytheirdressbutalsobytheirfaces.Theirnoseswereeitheraquilineormoreprominentthantheflatonesofthelowerclasses.
30TheChinesehadtheirownkindoffatalism.Oneshouldresignoneselftothecourseofeventsandnotstruggleagainsttheminvain.Oneshouldfollowapolicyofadaptationandexpediencyandopportunism,soastoincurtheleastpossibletroubleorhurt.Thereisnoroomhereforprinciples.
31TheoldfashionedChinamanofthepreCommunisteraandofthatlong1500yearperiodwhenthewritingsofConfuciusweretheloreofthelandwouldnotdreamofaccompanyinghisspokengreetingswithahandshake.Hewouldmakeatmostadignifiedboworattheleastanodofthehead.Tohimtheshakingofhandswasapollutingthing.
32Chinesehistoricalchroniclesgobacktotenthousandyearsago.
33
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TheancestryoftheYangchischool,astheYogaschooliscalledamongtheChinese,canbetracedbacktoIndia.
34KuYenwu:"Forgettingthatthewholecountryisafflictedwithdistressandpoverty,theysaynothingofthisbutspendtheirwholetimeinexpatiatingupon`thelofty,'`theessence,'and`theunity.^^^
Taoism
35TheChineseTaoistsascribedmostofoursufferingtomanandmostofourhappinesstoNature.
36ThenameLaoTzumeans"theoldmaster."
37TheIChingmustonlybeusedwhenallotherwaysfail:itisforextremecasesonly.
38KuoHsiang:"Whenamanisemptyandwithoutbias,everyonewillcontributehiswisdomtohim."
39Taoisatermwhichaccordingtocontextstandsforvariablemeanings:theTruth,theWay,theMoralOrder,theReasonorIntelligence(notintellect),"Thatwhichisaboveform."ItisacuriousexperiencetocomparethedeclarationofJesus,"IamtheWay,theTruthandtheLife,"withtheConfucianstatement,"TheTaoisrootedinone'sownperson."
40ThebasicprincipleandpracticalmethodofTaoismisWuWei"DoNothing."ThispuzzlestheordinaryWesternminduntilitisexplainedasequivalenttothePsalmist's"BeStill."Stoptheego'sconstantphysicalandmentalactivitytolettheOverselfin!
41TaoTehChingismostcorrectlytranslatedas"TheBookoftheWayanditsMysticPower."
42TheBookofChangessaysTaoisthesuccessorofYinandYang,ofwhatcomesfirstandwhatafterward,ofbeginningandend,movementandquiescence,darknessandlight,aboveandbelow,advanceandwithdrawal,goingandcoming,openingandclosing,fullnessandemptiness,waxingandwaning,exteriorandinterior,attractionandrepulsion,preservationanddestruction,activityandhibernation.
43ThefirstchapterofLaoTzu'slittlebookisthemostimportantbutthelastoneisthestrangest,foritdealswiththeparadoxofexistence.
44ToLaoTzutheVoidwastheessential,thereal,thesubstantial,thatwhichmatteredmosttotheTaoistSage.
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45LaoTzu,whichisatitleofhonour(theOldSage)andnotapersonalname(thesurnamewasLi),calledthehigherpower"theGreatTao."Hewrote,"HowstilltheTaois!"
46WhenLaoTzuvanishedforeverbeyondthemountainpass,heleftalegacybehindhimforwhichallquestersarebeholden.
47WherewillyoufindabookasshortasLaoTzu'sTaoTehChingandyetaswise?
48TheChineseTaoistscalledtheircontemplativepractices"sittinginforgetfulness."
49Thereisnoescapefromthisdilemma.EvenLaoTzu,whowrote,"Hewhoknowsspeaksnot.Hewhospeaksknowsnot,"falsifiedhisownassertionbywritingthefewthousandwordswithwhichhecomposedtheTaoTehChing.Hencethephilosopherisnotcommittedeithertosilenceortospeech.IntheAbsolute,botharethesame.LaoTzu'scelebratedphrasewouldhaveheldmorecorrectnessandlessexaggerationifithadbeenslightlymodifiedtoread:"Hewhospeaks,maynotknow.Hewhoknows,maynotfreelyspeak."
50ThebettertranslationofLaoTzu'sfamousphrase"HewhoknowsTaodoesnotcaretospeakofitandhewhoiseverwillingtospeakofitdoesnotknowit"shouldbesubstitutedforthemorefamiliarone,"HewhoknowstheTaodoesnotspeakhewhospeaksdoesnotknow."ForwhatdidLaoTzuhimselfdobuttrytospeakanddescribetheTao?WhatdidBuddhaandJesusandallthehostofvocalandliterarymysticsdowhentheydeliveredtheirgospels?
51SomecenturiesbeforethefirstteachingsofmeditationwerebroughtfromIndiatoChina,LaoTzuhadknown,practised,andbequeathedthemtohisfellowcountrymen.
52LaoTzuwasnotthefirstpromulgatorofthewisdomofTaoinChina,eventhoughthenamesofhispredecessorshavebeenlost.Truthistimeless.
53JustasinIndianVedantathereistheschoolofAdvaitaandtheschoolofDvaitathatis,nondualityanddualitysoinChineseTaoismthereisaschoolwhichattributeseverythingtoTaoaloneandanotherwhichattributestheworkingoftheuniversetoYinandYangthatis,thenondualistandthedualistschools.
54Taoistsholdthatnonattachmenttoresultsmeans"lettingintuitivedecisionscarryonewhithertheywillandregardlessoftheirresults."
55TheTaoistadept,LuYen,whoflourishedintheeighthcentury,istheauthorityforthefollowingsayings,whichrevealtheprofoundwisdomtobediscoveredinChineselore:"Whenthelightcirculates,thepowersofthewholebodyarrangethemselvesbeforethethrone,justaswhenakinghastakenpossessionofthecapitalandhaslaiddownthefundamentalrulesoforder,allthestatesapproachwithtribute.Thelightisthemaster.""ThelightofHeavencannotbeseen.Itiscontainedinthetwoeyes.""Thesecretofthe
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magicoflifeconsistsinusingactioninordertoachievenonaction.""Allchangesofspiritualconsciousnessdependupontheheart.""Whenamancanlethisheartdie,thentheprimordialspiritwakestolife."
56TaomeanstheWayorCourseofNature.
57Theodd(theYang)andtheeven(theYin)searchforoneanother,andgothroughtheir(successive)transformationswithoutend.
58AllthatLaoTzuhadtosaywasputintothesefewpages,thesepreciousdropsofdistilledwisdom.
59Theexpression"WeiWuWei"isusuallytranslatedasnonaction,inthesenseIthinkVivekanandausedinhisphrase"actionlessaction."Butitappearsthereareothermeaningsattributedtothisphrase.Oneisthepoweracquiredthroughmeditationwhenitreachesthetrancestatepresumablymysticaloroccultpower,butalsoordinarypower,inrelationwithotherhumansandanimals.Afurthermeaningattributedtoitisstillingofthemind.Andfinally:thesagedoesnothingyetachieveseverything(thismeaningIbelieveisfromLaoTzu).
60CommentsonexcerptsfromArthurWaley'stranslationofLaoTzu'sbook,TaoTehChing:
l.Thesagereliesonactionlessactivity,carriesonwordlessteaching,butthemyriadcreaturesareworkeduponbyhimhedoesnotdisownthem.
Herearsthembutdoesnotlayclaimtothem,controlsthembutdoesnotcallattentiontowhathedoes.
2.Heavenandearth[NatureP.B.]areruthless.
3.Thesageremainsoutsidebutisalwaysthere.
4.Whenyourworkisdone,thenwithdrawonlybyknowingwhenitistimetostopcandangerbeavoided.
5.HoldfasttotheUnityandneverquitit.
6.ReturntotherootiscalledQuietnessQuietnessiscalledsubmissiontoFatewhathassubmittedtoFatehasbecomepartofthealwaysso.
Toknowthealwayssoistobeilluminednottoknowitmeanstogoblindlytodisaster.
[CommentbyP.B.:The"alwaysso"isalsotranslatedelsewhereasthe"everso."]
[Anothercommentonthepreviousextract:Bypassingonandonthroughsuccessivestagesofhisownconsciousnessbacktotheinitialunity,amancanarriveattheTao,theWay,whichcontrolstheuniverse.Thisecstasy,calledfarawaywandering,isalsoknownasthefarawaypassingon.]
7.Therewassomethingformlessyetcompletethatexistedbeforeheavenandearthits
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truenamewedonotknow.
[Comment:Thismeanswedonotknowtowhatclassofthingsitbelongs.]
8.Thefurtheronetravelsthelessoneknows.
9.Learningconsistsinaddingtoone'sstockdaybyday[note:similartoBible's"muchlearningismuchsorrow."]
ThepracticeofTaoconsistsinsubtractingdaybyday,butbythisveryinactivityeverythingcanbeactivated.Thosewhoevolvedwontheadherenceofallwholiveunderheaven,alldidsobynotinterfering.
10.Shutthedoors,andtilltheendyourstrengthshallnotfail.
11.Ifthesage,thoughhecontrols,doesnotleadwhenhehasachievedhisaim,doesnotlinger,itisbecausehedoesnotwishtorevealhimselfasbetterthanothers.
[Comment:Toallowoneselftoberegardedsoassuperioristoloseone'spower.]
61TheoldChinesebookHsunTzucommentsonthemysticChuangTzuthathewasstoppedfromfullydiscerningwhatmanisbecausehewastoopreoccupiedwithwhatheavenis.
62IntheChinesetextsthename"Heaven"representsbothaninvisibleblissfulworldandtheHigherPowerGod.
63TheT'aiChifigureunitesbothforcesintheirplay:each,unmanifested,iscontainedintheother.
64YinYang'scorrelativeinHinducreedsis:Prakriti=Feminineprinciple,Purusha=Masculineprinciple.
65HeavenrulesYang=SunEarthrulesYin=earth.Heaven=fatherEarth=mother.Thesetwoproducephenomenaandcreatures.
66ChineseTaoistmysticsreducedtheirintakeofordinaryfoodandreplacedthedeficientportionbyeatingsubstancesbelievedtocontainortocrystallizeahighproportionofTao:theseweregold,jade,pearls,mica,cinnabar,andsilver.Themixturescontainingthemwereregardedaselixirsoflife.
67LaoTzu'striptotheWestwastraditionallysupposedtobeintendedtoconvertthebarbarians.
68WeiShu,aTaoistbookwrittenaboutthemiddleofthesixthcentury,states:"Sincethepeopleontheearthfindthepractisingofthedoctrineverydifficult,merelyhavethemerectaltarsandshrineswheretheymayworshipmorningandevening.Altarsandshrinesserveasarefugefromworldlyconcerns."
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69YangandYin:inChinesehexagramsthebrokenlineisyin,theunbrokenone,yang.
70TheancientChinesemysticalwork,theChietoTaoLun,saysthattheteachershouldobservethebehaviourandspeechofthenewcandidateforstudentshipforseveraldaysandonlythenprescribeacoursesuitabletohisdisposition.
71TheChineseEmperorHwangtiretiredfromtheworldforthreemonthsinordertopreparehimselftoreceiveaglimpseoftheTaofromanadeptnamedKwangShantaze.
72"Clearnesswithinmakesitpossibletoinvestigatethefactsexactly,"statestheancientChineseBookofChanges.Butsuchclearnesscannotbeattainedbythemindwhichisexcessivelypartisan,chargingtheoppositegrouportheirdoctrinewithtoomuchevilwhileclaimingtoomuchgoodforitsown.
73ItwasfittingthatwhenConfuciusmetLaoTzuheshouldtreattheoldermanwithrespect.AndthiswassonotonlybecauseLaoTzuwastwodecadesolderbutalso,andmore,becausehewasonetowhom"Heavenwasmadeclear."ThereforetherecognitionandrespectwereshownbyConfucius.
74TheparadoxicalteachingofLaoTzuismoreeasilyunderstoodthroughtheteachingofhismostimportantdiscipleChuangTzu.Thestyleofoneisterseandsuccinctwhereasthatoftheotherisdiffuseandextended.
75FromLaoTzu'saddresstoConfuciuson"Simplicity":"Thechafffromwinnowingwillblindaman.Mosquitoeswillbiteamanandkeephimawakeallnight,andsoitiswithallthetalkofyoursaboutcharityanddutytoone'sneighbour.Itdrivesonecrazy.Sir,strivetokeeptheworldinitsoriginalsimplicitywhysomuchfuss?Thewindblowsasitlisteth,soletvirtueestablishitself.Theswaniswhitewithoutadailybathandtheravenisblackwithoutdyeingitself.Whenthepondisdryandthefishesaregaspingforbreathitisofnousetomoistenthemwithalittlewateroralittlesprinkling.Comparedtotheiroriginalandsimpleconditioninthepondandtheriversitisnothing."
76
TheHeavensarestillnosound.WherethenshallGodbefound?Searchnotindistantskies,Inman'sownHearthelies.ShaoYung(ancientChinesepoetandmystic)
77WhenLaoTzusawthatChouwasbreakingup,heleftthekingdom.
78"Whoknowsman,hasdiscernment.Whoknowshimself,hasillumination."LaoTzu
79
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"WithouterrortherecouldbenosuchthingasTruth,"runsanoldChineseproverb.
Confucius,Confucianism,neoConfucianism
80ToooftenConfuciusisdismissedasbeingmerelyateacherofethicsitisdeniedthatheisalsoaspiritualteacher.Buthetaughtselfcontrol.Suchcontrollessensaman'sattachmentto,andserviceof,hisego.Isnotsuppressionofegoismanimportantpartofallspiritualteaching?
81Confuciuslived2500yearsagoyetfor1500yearshiswisdomwashighlyprizedthroughoutChina.Hedescribedastandardandidealtobesoughtforhumanbehaviourandhumansocialintercourse.Characterandconductneedtobedisciplinedandpolished,heaffirmed,andproperdecorummustenterintoone'srelationswithothers.Properrespectmustbeshowntothoseentitledtoit.TheChineserightlyconsideredhimasagewhoknewtheultimatesignificanceoflife,whowasenlightenedandunderstoodthehiddenmeaningandthehigherpurposeofhumanexistence.ForthesereasonsIalsoadvocatethatthismatterofrefinedbehaviourberegardedinatotallynewlightasaformofspiritualexpressionanddevelopment.
82IfConfuciuswasanethicalthinker,hedidnotstopthere.Hewantedanurbane,civilized,literatesociety.
83Confuciuspresentedanethicalsystemofwhichacodeofetiquettewasapartandaroundwhichnoreligioustraditionenwrappeditself.
84IamanadmirerofConfuciusbecausehesetupastandardwhichhecalledthatofthesuperiorman,theselfdisciplinedman,theculturedmanwithatrainedprecisemindandyetamanwhodidnotneglectthearts,thefinerfeelings,butcultivatedthemtoo.
85Confuciusofteninculcatedthereverentialspiritandmusicalresponsiveness.Itisamistaketobelievehetaughtonlyadrywoodenceremonialism.
86ConfuciusisreportedtohavemetandtalkedwithLaoTzu,whomhethereaftercalled"thedragon."
87Confuciusrecommendedgentlemanlyconductandpolishedpropriety,refinedmannersandaculturedmind.Itistruethathewasprimarilyasociallawgiver,buthewasalsoasage.Itwasnotonlythathesoughttoprovideafixedpatternforkeepingthesocietyofhistimepeacefulandorderly.Hiswisdomwasnotmerelyworldlywisdom.Butitsspiritualdepthwillnotberecognizedbyordinarypersons.
88WhathappenedtoConfuciusiswhathappenedtoothergreatteachers.Hisdoctrineswerecrystallizedsorigidlythattheypreventedfurthernewcreativity,deniedmentalfreedom,andrestrictedadaptabilitytocontemporaryneeds.
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89BalancedoutwardlivingtogetherwithanunperturbednaturewastheidealsetupbyConfucius.Thiswashis"DoctrineoftheMean."
90WemodernsdonothavetogoalongwithallConfucius'teachingshissupportofthepracticeofelaboratecostlyritualsduringfuneralsandprolongedmourningafterthemisregrettable.
91Confuciusexpressedinhisownactionswhathetaughtothers.Heembodiedhisteaching.
92KungFutze(Confucius):Incertaincircles,mostlytheyoung,therebellious,andtheprotesters,therearescepticalsneersattheascriptionorthetermgentleman.Tothemitconnotesinheritedoracquiredwealthusedtosecureprivilegedstatusanddenotesasuperiorarrogantattitudetowardlowercastes.
93Confuciusdidnotdenytheexistenceofspiritualworldsbuttaughtthattheyshouldbelefttotakecareofthemselves,thatmenshouldconcentrateontheirpracticaldutieshereandnow.
94"Tobesincere,courteous,andcalmisthefoundationofthepracticeoflove."ChuHsi(11301200)
95Thecourtesyexpressedinpolitelivingandthevirtueexpressedingoodlivingthisistheacquirementwhichmakes"theBetterMan,"inConfucius'phrase,andthisiswhathebadeuscultivate.
96Mencius,whointerpretedorexpoundedorappliedConfucius'teaching,wrote:"WheresoevertheSuperiorManabides,thereisaspiritualizinginfluence."ThisaloneshowsthatConfuciuswasmorethanamoralizer.
97Roughly,itmaybesaidthatLaoTzufavouredtheideaofsuddenenlightenmentwhereasConfuciusfavouredthatof"enlightenmentbydegrees."
ThewaytoGodlinessisopentoall:thehumblestpeasantmaybecomeholy.Buttothosewhounderstandthatthereisanevolutionatworkamonghumanbeings,suchacondition,thoughwelcome,isnotenough.Confuciusperceivedthisandleftittootherstopreachreligionandmysticism.Headdedthefurtheridealofthewellbehavedrefinedandcultivatedperson.
Confucius'"SuperiorPerson"idealwasawellequilibratedbeinglivinginawellorderedequilibratedsociety.
98ThereweregoodthingsintheCodeofEthicsdrawnupbyConfuciustoguidehisfellowChinese.Itwasgoodtorespectancestorsandwhatwassoundintraditiontorespectparentsandolder,moreexperiencedpeopletobekindtochildren,servants,andanimalsand,inthefaceoftroubleordeath,tokeepanunbrokenfortitude.
99
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WhatamandoesinhisprivatedomesticorfamilylifewastoConfuciusnolessimportantthanwhathedidinpublic,althoughthesagedealtmorewiththelatter.
100Confucius'modelwasthemanwhowasrighteous,benevolent,wellbehaved,andwise.
101TheConfucianidealofperfectmanners,superiorcharacter,obediencetoauthorityandprotocol,respectfortraditionandelders,scholarship,loyaltytothefamilyancestorsandthestateworkedwellforoverathousandyearsbutwassetupwhenconditionsweretremendouslydifferentfromtoday's.
102AnotherreasonwhyConfuciusputformaletiquetteforwardwasbecauseitkeptsocietyorderly.
103ArrogantselfsufficiencyisnotincludedinConfucius'truegentlemanliness.
Itisnottitle,rank,wealth,orotherouterflummerywhichmakestherealgentleman.Andyetallcancontributetowardsitbytheiraccompanyingobligations.
104ConfuciusdidnotencouragesomeofthosesportswhichinfatuatetheWesternyouth.Indeedtheexplorationofmountainsandravineswasstrictlybanned.Anyunnecessaryactivitywhichendangeredlifeorriskedinjurywasnotallowedaspossiblydoingviolencetothebody.Totheextentofdisapprovingofinvasivewarsandaggressiveattacks,LaoTzuwasapacifistbutheapprovedofapeople'srighttodefendthemselvesagainstaggressors.
105ConfucianismwaspredominantinChina.ItgotfromBuddhismacosmologyandaphilosophywhichitlackeditself.
106"Iamtransmitting,notcreating,"confessedConfucius.
107TheConfucianidealoftheSuperiorManisusefultofollowbutincompletetocontemplate.ThisisthemanwhoseemotionsaregovernedbyreasonandwhosereasonisguidedbytheGood.
108ItistheConfucianidealtodowhatisrightandtorefrainfromdoingwhatiswrong,irrespectiveofwhetherornotitispleasingtohisnaturalselfishness.
109ThegoodmannerswhichConfucianteachingbroughtintomiddleandhigherclassesoftheChinesepeoplefor1500yearsincludedadislikeofexcitementandanger,whichwereconsideredquitevulgar.
110ThenameofConfuciusistoooftenassociatedwithimprisonmentinastiffformalism.
111WhatChouTunYitheMasterChou,ashewasaffectionatelycalledcreatedwasamovementwhichvitallyrenewed,greatlyexpanded,andvigorouslyreshapedwhathad
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beenConfucianism,amovementwhichwaslaterestablishedasthe"MindSchool"byLuHsiangShanandstilllaterreacheditsclimaxwithWangYangming,whoproducedaneffectivesynthesisinwhichBuddhistandTaoisticelementsarenoticeable,alongwiththefundamentalConfucianonesandwithhisownpersonalcontributions.
112ChouTunYi'sideaswerepartlybasedonTheDoctrineoftheMean,asmallbookwrittenbyConfucius'grandsonTzuSzu.ItnowformsChapter28oftheConfucianclassicBookofRites.
113ChouTunYiwasthepioneerwhoworkedoutthestartingpointoftheNeoConfuciansystem,the"DiagramoftheSupremeUltimate,"whichshowstheuniverse'sevolution.
114ChouTunYiwroteonebooktitledTheDiagramoftheUltimateExplainedandanothertitledComprehensiveUnity.
115MasterChouTunYi(10171073):ChouTunYiwasanativeofthepresenttownofNingYuaninHunanprovince.Hewasapioneer,thefirstoftheNeoConfucianistsbelongingtotheirsecondrevival,whichwasintheSungdynasty.WangYangmingwasastilllatermemberofthisgroupbutofthelaterMingDynasty(l368l644).
116ChouTunYihasachapterinJ.PercyBruce'sChuHsiandhisMasters,London,1923.OnthelatterbookseealsoE.R.Hughes'TheGreatLearningandtheMeaninAction,NewYork,1943.
117ChouTunYiwaspraisedbyWangYangmingforhis"rarepeaceablemindedness."
118TheSupremeUltimate,atermChouTunYitookfromtheBookofChangesisinfiniteandimperishable,andthesourceofthecosmos.Itprovidestheethics,theMoralOrder,theLawforallthings,yetitequateswiththeUltimateless(explainedlater).
ForChouTunYi,Law=thecontrollingnonphysicalprincipleofeveryobjectandcreature.
TaohasonemeaningforConfuciansasthe"Standardofhumanconduct"butfortheTaoistsanothermeaningastherealitybehindthecosmos.
YinandYangareevolvedoutoftheSupremeUltimate.Theyarethenegativeandpositive,thequiescentandactive,femaleandmale,softandhard,darkandbrightprinciple.Throughtheirinteractiontheybringaboutallphenomena.Sometimesoneprevails,sometimestheother,butatnotimeiseithereverabsent.
TheFiveElementsareproducedbyYinandYang.
Thesefivestagesaresuccessivelycyclicalandinvolutionaryfromspiritdowntomatter.Ether,thoughinvisible,isconsideredmaterial.
NeoConfuciansrejecttheBuddhistviewthattheworldisillusory.
ThetermUltimatelesswasusedbyLaoTzu,whoalsocalledittheLimitless.
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ChouTunYiwasinfluencedbyalearnedscholaroftheclassics,MuHsiu,whoreceivedhisideasfromahermitChungFang,whowasadiscipleoffamousTaoist,ChenTuan.
119ChouTunYi'sworkswerepublishedbyhispupils,thebrothersCheng,whotaughtYangShih,whowasasourceofideasforLuHsiangshan.
120ChouTunYiwasknownastheMasterofLienHsi(10171073).HisofficialpostwasasPrefectofNanchang,inKiangsi.HebuiltamountainretreatnearKulingwhichhecalledtheLienHsiStudio.
121OutofthegreatNothing,whichistheVoid,arisesthatwhichissymbolicallyandmathematicallythesinglepoint.Itisthefirstappearancewithinspaceandtime.
Thispointturnsitselfintotheline,whosetwoendsopposeandcomplementeachother.Thisisthecosmicsymbolofuniversalpolarity,calledbytheChineseYinYang,ormasculinefeminine,positiveandnegative,projectiveandreceptive,creationanddisintegration.
Thenextphaseofthisdynamicactiveprocessis,stillspeakingsymbolically,thedevelopmentwhichspreadsitselfoutintotheentireCosmositself,likeafan,movingbyitselfasifbymagic.
OutoftheirownthinkingtheGreeksdevelopedsomewhatsimilarmystical,metaphysical,andmathematicalideaswhosegeometryisbasedonthepoint,theline,theplane,andthesolid.
122"IfIcandevelopmymindcompletely,IbecomeidentifiedwithHeaven,"declaredLuHsiangshan(11391193).Thisexactlyexplainsthemessageofphilosophytoeveryman.Noeducationwhichignoresthiscanthereforebecalledafulleducation,perhapsnotevenatrueone.
ChouTunYiwrote,"Thewayofthesageisnothingbutlove,righteousness,theMean,andcorrectness.Preserveit,anditwillbeennobling.Practiseit,anditwillbebeneficial.Prolongit,anditwillmatchHeavenandEarth.Isitnoteasyandsimple?Isithardtoknow?Ifso,itisbecausewedonotpreserve,practise,andprolongit."
123LuHsiangshan(11391193)originatedaschoolofphilosophyboldlydevelopedfromtheNeoConfucianistoneoftheSungDynasty(9601280).Histeaching,aMonisticIdealism,reacheditsculminationwithWangYangming(14721529),whoexpoundedanddevelopedit.
LuHsiangshanlecturedforseveralyearsatElephantMountaininKiangsi,socalledhimself"theoldmanofElephantMountain."Hemarriedattwentyninetoaculturedwoman.Inthenationalexaminationforgovernmentalposts,hispaperstoodoutasdistinctiveamongseveralthousand.HewasgivenanofficialpostintheImperialAcademy.Hislecturesweresoeloquentastoattractlargecrowds.WhenthecelebratedChuHsiassertedthatwidthofknowledgeshouldbeconsideredthefoundationofvirtue,LurepliedthatdiscoveryoftheOriginalMindshouldprecedeit.Whenhebecameamagistrate,heprovedhimselftobeaspracticalinworldlymattersashewaspenetratinginmetaphysicalones.Herebuiltthecrumblingcitywalls,eliminatedofficialextravagance,reducedcorruption,cutdowncrime,andquickenedlegalproceedings.Yet
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laterhedeclinedpromotion,for,withallthisactivity,hecontinuedtolecturewheneverpossible.Hediedpeacefullyaftertellinghisfamily,"Iamgoingtodie,"andsittinginmeditationforseveralhours.SomeofhissayingsandhisfewwritingswerecollectedtogetheranditwasthisbookthatWangYangmingrepublishedin1521,sohighlydidheesteemit.
OneshouldcultivatethefeelingofReverence,taughtLu.Hewrites:"ItisincorrecttoexplainthattheMindofmanisequivalenttodesireandtheMindofSpirittoHeavenlyLaw.HowcanmanhavetwoMinds?MindandLawdonotadmitofdualism....ThisMindhasnobeginningorenditpermeateseverywhere.Evilisaninescapablefactandapracticalexperience.Ascholarlymanmustfirstmakefirmhiswill.
"Peopleofthepresentgeneration...eventhoughtheyareengagedthewholedaywiththebooksofthesages,whenweaskwhatisthelodgingplaceoftheirwill[wefind]theyarerushinginadirectionoppositetothatofthesages."
ChanFoumin,apupilofLu,wrote:"Isatquietlywithclosedeyes,exertingmyselftoholdfastandpreserve(myMind).Throughthenightintothefollowingday,Ididthisforhalfamonth.SuddenlyIrealizedthatmyMindhadbeenrestoredtoitspurityandbrightness,andwasstandingintheMean(chung)(thatis,withoutinclinationordeflection).Iwenttotheteacher,whometmewithhiseyesandsaid`ThisLawhasalreadybeenmanifestedinyou.^^^
Lu:"Establishyourself,sitstraight,foldhands,collectyourforces,andbecomelordoveryourself....Bewithoutthought,immovable,silent,withoutaction,practisenonassertion(wuwei)."
"Thewholedayyourelyonexternalopinions,andhavealreadybecomeentangledinsuperficialdoctrinesandemptytheories."
"ThetrueLawunderHeavendoesnotadmitofduality."
"TheuniverseismyMind."
124LurejectedthepessimismandasceticismofBuddhismbutacceptedotherfeaturesofZen.
125Luregardsgoodnessasinnateinman,whilehisevilisacquiredthroughcircumstancesandhidesit.
If,ahundredthousandgenerationshence,sagesweretoappear,theywouldhavethissameMind.IfintheEast,theWest,theSouth,ortheNorth,thereweretoappearsages,theytoowouldhavethissameMind....MindisonlyoneMind.TheMindofanygivenperson,orofasageathousandgenerationsago,theirMindsareallonelikethis....AllmenhavethisMind.
MindisthesameastheLaw,World'sgoverningPrinciple,Virtue,orMoralOrderinherentintheCosmicOrder.
126PoMinsaid:"EvilanddepravityarethingsIhaveneverdaredtocommit."Lureplied:"Itisonlybecauseofrigidcontrolinthisrespect.Buttherearesomethingswhichcannotbecontrolled,andsuchwillinfuturealsorequireeffort.ThatiswhyonemustgetknowledgeofwhatHeavenhasbestoweduponus.Ifwesucceedindevelopingwhat
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Heavenhasthusbestowed,sorichandnoble,thenonewillautomaticallykeepawayfromevilanddepravity.Onewillonlyadheretotheuprightand,furthermore,willunderstandthatwithwhichwehavebeeninnatelyendowed."
127Luregardsthepossibilitiesforevilinmanthatarebroughtoutbyenvironmenthistoryandexperiencesasinherentbutincidental,henceforedoomedtopassawayandvanish,whereashisoriginalgoodnessisindestructible.
128LuteachesthatOriginalMindcanbeknownandunderstood.
129LuHsiangshanwasafamousadvocateandeloquentexpounderofthementalistteachingintwelfthcenturyChina.StudentscametohislecturesincrowdsfromalldistrictsinEasternCathay.Yethisardentconvictionofmentalism'struthdidnotdiminishinanywayhiscapabilityandefficiencyasagovernmentofficial.Onthecontrary,sosatisfiedwerehissuperiorswithhispracticalperformanceinminorpositionsthathewasappointedgovernorandmagistrateofthecityofChingMenHsien,wherehewashighlysuccessfulinfulfillingallhisresponsibilities.Hewasofferedastillhigherpromotionbutrefusedit,forinbetweenhisdutiesandinleisurehourshealsofoundtimetoteachstudentsandgivelectures.
130ItwasthespecialcontributionoftheWangYangmingschooltosynthesizethesubtlestmentalismwiththemostpracticalroutineofdailylife,theholinessofferventreligionwiththeobligationstosociety,thedisciplineofselfwiththefreedomofundogmaticmind.
131ThethoughtdevelopedbyLuHsiangshanandlaterledtoitslogicalendbyWangYangmingiscalledtheLuWangSchool,orMindSchool.Theyarenot"SubjectiveIdealists"inasolipsisticsense,fortheyholdthereisoneUniversalMindunderthefiniteones.
WangexpoundsMonisticIdealism,theonenessoftheuniverseanditsrepresentation,withallphenomena,intheMindthatspace(extension)andtime(succession)existonlyintheMind.
132Afternearlyonethousandyearsofusefulexistence,Confucianismhadsunktoalowlevelithadbecomefeeble,corrupt.WangYangmingwasthemanwhoarousedittonewlifeandstrengthandinspireditafresh.
133Wang'sconceptofIntuitiveKnowledgemakesitcalm,unaffectedbysuggestions,opinions,orinfluencesfromoutside:itexistsinequilibrium,bestowedbyMind.ItsfulldevelopmentleadstothehighestGood.Butthedevelopmentcanhappenonlyifappliedtopracticalactionandmoralconduct.
134IfIadmireWangYangmingsogreatlyitisbecausehecombinedinhispersonqualitiesandcapacitieswhichprovedthatitispossibletolivethephilosophiclifetothefull.Hewasinhisfiftysevenyearsoflifeasuccessfulmilitarycommander,anexcellentmagistrate,atalentedpoet,adiscriminatinganalystofreligions,acultivatorofintuition,apractiserofmeditation,andateacherofphilosophy.HenotonlybroughttogetherthebestinConfucius'teaching,inBuddhismandTaoism,butmadevaluablecontributionsof
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hisowntothissynthesis.ItishoweverneedfultoexplaintoWesternstudentsthatWang'steachingoftheunityofKnowledgeandConductdoesnotrefertointellectualknowledgebuttointuitiveKnowledge.TothisunionorMutualityofKNOWINGandDOINGhegavethenameof"SINCERITY."Thetheorylearntfrombooksorlecturesdoesnotofitselfnecessarilyhavepowertomovethewillbutintuitiondevelopedinthecourseoftimebypractisingmentalquiet,emotionalcalm,andpersonaldetachmenthasthispower.WhattheIndianguruscalleddetachmentisreallythesameaswhattheChinesephilosopherslikeLaoTzucalled"nonaction,"andthisisthetermWangused.Itdoesnotmeandoingnothingbutkeepingtoacertainemotionaldisinvolvementwhiledoingthings,anattitudeitselfarisingfrom,orhelpedby,thequiescencepractice.Anotherdefinitionof"Sincerity"isharmonywiththePrincipleoftheUniverse.
135WangYangmingwasborninthetownofYuyao,inChekiangprovince.Lu'sgreatinfluenceonhimwasininsistingthatvirtueisabstractuntilmadeconcreteinAction.
136WangisconsideredthegreatestphilosopheroftheMingdynasty.
137When,withthepassageoftime,Confucianteachingandpracticebecamestiff,formal,andhollow,whencorrectoutwardappearanceofvirtuetooktheplaceofitsinnerexistence,thenhypocrisyruledandthereformswhichChouTunYiinitiatedandWangYangmingcompletedbecameessential.
138Wangleftseventydisciplesafterhisdeath.Theywereindifferentprovinces,andinvariedsituations.
139WangwroteaprefacetothecollectedworksofLuHsiangshan.
140WangYangmingwasattheendofaninterestingperiodofdevelopmentwhichopenedwithChouTunYi(10171073)andmovedawayfromthestiffnarrowthoughtofConfuciustoaflexible,widerwisdom.
141WangYangmingispicturedonmyscrollintheformalprescribedrobeofamandarin.Hisfaceissternbutnotsombrehismouth,reticentandnotoftenopened,isthinlyfringedallaroundwithgreyhair.
142P.B.'spaintingofWangYangmingshowedhiminadifferenthatfromtheprintwhichwascopiedfromabookonhim.Thisisbecausebothwereofficialhatsofoffice(status)anddifferatdifferentstagesofhiscareer,asherosefromlowertohigherappointments.
Ch'anBuddhism
143WehaveonlytolookinanyJapanesedrawingorChinesepaintingatthedarkfiercefaceandglaringeyesofBodhidharmatofeelthatanyteachingcomingfromthismanmustbeabrupt,terse,direct,likelytoshock,andcertaintosurprise.
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144Whenthetenfingersarefoldedtogether,theyformsymbolicallythetwoaspects(activeandpassive)oftheOneReality.Whenoutspreadtheysymbolizetenaspectsofitshumanexpression,thus:Lefthand:littlefinger=benevolence,next=virtue,middlefinger=submission,resignation,calmness,index=strength,thumb=meditationRighthand:littlefinger=comprehension,understanding,next=practicalmethodused,middlefinger=ideals,indexfinger=powerandthumb=highestknowledge.ThisplanwasdrawnupbyChineseMahayana.
145ItwasathirteenthcenturyCh'anBuddhist,LiuPingchuang,whocameoutofhisretirementformeditationtoguidethecelebratedMongolemperorKublaiKhaningettingridofthechaosintowhichtheadministrationofChinahadfallen.Hispracticalreformsweresuccessfulandtheemperoradmiredhimasastatesman,trustedhimasanadviser,andvaluedhishelp.Norwashenarrowlylimitedinhisspiritualstudies:theethicsandsocialpoliticalideasofConfucius,themonkishdisciplinesandcontemplationsofBuddhism,andthemysteriesofTaoismwereallembracedandsynthesized.Hehadnoofficialtitleuntilafterhisdeath,butwantednone.AftertwentysixyearsofsuchcapableanddistinguishedserviceheagainretiredtoseclusionandspentthelastsixyearsofhislifeinTaoisticstudy,practices,andmeditation.
146InaChineseZenninthcenturytextbyHsiYunwefindthescathingwordsaddressedtothemanysectarianbabblers:"SpeaknotoftheAbsolutewithamindlikeanape."
147ZenisnotaJapaneseinventedproductbutaJapanesedressedChineseproduct.AsCh'an,itwasfullydevelopedinChinabeforetheJapanesegotholdofit.
148ShenHui(ChineseZenMaster):"Withoutpractising[yoga],byattainingtocorrectunderstandingalone,andbydeeplyimpregnatingyourselfwithit,allthechiefentanglementsanddeceptiveideaswillgraduallyfallaway."
149InJapanShenHuirejectedthewayofwatchingthemindtoconcentrateittoentermeditation.Hetaughtthatsuchformsneednotbeused.TohavenothoughtswasenoughtoletthePureOriginalMindappear.Theattitudeofgoodwill,thepracticeofselfdenialisthefirstrule.ShenHuifurtherclaimedhiswastheSchoolofSuddenEnlightenment.Itislikechildbirth,whichisasuddenaffairbutthechildrequiresalongprocessofnurtureandeducationbeforeattainingitsfullbodilyandintellectualgrowth.Hederidedallthebooksintheworldandhimselfwrotenone.
150ThedhyanaofSanskritbecamethech'anorch'antingofChineseandthezazenofJapanese.Allmeancontemplation.
151GarmaC.C.Changsaid,"WhattheZenMastershavedoneistopointoutourdelusionsinthinkingofthenonexistentasexistentandtheexistentasnonexistent."HemeansnonexistentasmatterbutexistentasMind.
152SixthZenPatriarch:"Youshouldfirstcastasideallmentalactivityandletnothoughtsariseinyou.ThenIshallpreachtheDharmaforyou."AfteralongintervalofsilencethePatriarchcontinued,"Notthinkingofgoodorevil,rightatthisverymomentthatisyour
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originalface!"HuiMingwasimmediatelyenlightened.
153Huashang,aChineseMahayanistleaderandtutoroftheKingofTibetintheearlybeginningsofBuddhismthere,taughtthatattainmentdoesnottakeplaceslowlyasaresultofprotractedandonerousstruggle,butsuddenlyandintuitively:"Themanwhothinksofnothing,whoturnshisattentiontonothing,willfreehimselffromSamsara."ThisofcoursebecameaCh'anschooltenet.
Japan
154WhereasIndianBuddhistandVedanticthoughtdeploredlife'sbrevity,Japanesethought,whilealsodeploringit,refusedtofollowthemindenouncingthebodyasanobstacle,muchlessintodenyingitsexistence.ZenMasterDogenassertedthatweoughttorespectthebody,sinceitisthroughthislifeandthisbodythatwehavetheopportunitytopractisethe"GoodLaw."
155Thefollowingareequivalenttermsforoneandthesamething:OriginalPureMindofZenBuddhism,PureConsciousnessofVedanta,AlayaofMahayanaBuddhism.
156D.T.SuzukiwasalaydiscipleofSoyenShaku,aroshi(guru)atEngakujiTemplewhowentoninvitationtoattendtheWorldParliamentofReligionsin1893heldatChicagothesameoneatwhichVivekanandaspoke.D.T.SuzukitravelledwithhimtoactastranslatorandlaterremainedintheU.S.A.alone.ThuswasZenlaunchedintheWest,butitwasSuzuki'ssteadyunremittingworkwhichcontinuedtheimpulsegivenbySoyen.Hedidthisbylectures,translationsoftexts,aperiodicaljournal,andfinallybooks.TherewardofmarkedattentiondidnotcomehoweveruntilWorldWarIIended,whentheinterestinZensuddenlyerupted.
157ToomanyWesternersinterestedinJapaneseZenassumethattheworkonriddles,calledkoans,isitsprincipalway.Thisisnotso.ItisnotacceptedorpractisedbytheotherimportantbranchofZen,theSoto.Thenonlogicalkoanmethodisnotrecommendedforthoseonaphilosophicalpathanddoesnotallyharmoniouslywithit.
158ItwasnottillathousandyearshadpassedsincetheintroductionofBuddhismintoChina,andnottillfourhundredyearsafterBodhidharmahadbroughttheZenformofitthere,thatthekoantechniqueassumedanyprominenceatallamongthemethodsofmeditation.EventothisdayoneofthetwoJapaneseZenschools,theSoto,makesonlylittleuseofkoans.
159TheessenceofChineseCh'anwasadaptedbytheJapanese,andevenaltered,tosuittheirownnationalcharacter.ItbecametheirZen.
160ZenBuddhismisaformofmysticism,perhapsoneofitshighestifmostpuzzlingforms,andnotaphilosophy.Thereforeitisincomplete,onesided.Theevidenceforthisisinherentinitselfforitdisdainsmetaphysics,study,reason,andstakeseverythingonaflashintuitiongotbymeditation.Thereisherenosuchcheckonthecorrectness
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completenessandfinalityofsuchanintuitionasisprovidedbyphilosophy.Afurtherevidenceliesinthehistoryofitsownfounder.BodhidharmaadmittedlytravelledtoChinatogiveouthisteachingyet,afterhisarrival,hecontentedhimselfwithsittingincompletesolitudefornineyearsatSungShan,waitingforaprospectivediscipletoapproachhim.Hadhebeenasage,however,hewouldsurelyhavefilledthosenineyearswithmakinghisknowledgereadilyavailabletowhoeverwasreadyforit,andifthereexistednosuchelite,hewouldinthatcasehavehelpedthemasseswithsimplerifmoreindirectformsoftruth.
161InJapantheZenteachingtookdifferentforms.SomewereincrediblyGodlessbutothershadGods.SomeamongthemoneswhichSuzukiconsideredofhighattainmentrejectedallforms.MoreoverthiswasregardedasthesecretteachingoftheBuddhahimself!
162Zenkoanexercises:Thesereallyareinsoluble,hencethepupilreachesapointwherehehastogiveitupasaninsolubleriddlewiththis,hegivesuptheintellectandego,andgetsillumination.
163ItisanerrortobelievethatthekoanisaninventionoftheJapanesemindhowever,thatmindmayhaverecastit.Kunganwasalreadypart,althoughalaterpart,oftheCh'andoctrineinChinabeforeitwastakenupbytheislandneighbours.
164ThosewhobelievethatapermanentandstableenlightenmentcanbegotfromthekoanpracticesofZenwithoutanyothersortofpreparationcanfindnosupportfortheirbeliefinthehighertruthofIndiatheoriginalfountainheadoranyotherBuddhistland.Thekoancannotbyitselfbringmorethanatemporaryglimpsethatatbestwillnecessarilyfadeaway.
165Thosewhocareforkoanswillwanderaboutincirclesandintheendcomebackwithemptyhands.Theywillhavetostartafreshonanewroadhavinglearntthatwisdomisnothiddeninlunacyexceptformindsalreadyconfusedordistorted.
166ItisnotsufficientlyrealizedbyWesternstudentsofZenBuddhismthattherearevariousschoolsofZen,andthatitisagreaterrortoidentifyitsolelywiththeKoanSchool,althoughthisistheonethathasbeenmuchfavouredbythem.IndeedtheSotoZenSchool,oneofthemostimportantandwidespread,rejectsthekoanpracticeentirely.Asforthefierce,almostfrenziedconcentrationonakoanwhichsooftenprevails,theSotofounder,MasterDogen,pointedoutthatitwasfarbettertowaitinsilence,patiently,untilaglimpseisreceived.
167Zenprescribesfreedomfromdogmatizinghencekeepingafreshmind.Itcallsforquicknessofreflexesandreactionshencesuperbselfcontrol.
168Inkarate,toperformadifficultfeatsuchasbreakingabrickbyasharpblowwiththeedgeofthehand,themindmustfirstbebrieflymadecompletelyblank.Theblowisthenspontaneous,immediate,deliveredbyforce,andunhinderedbycalculatingthought.Opponentsdonotlookintoeachother'seyes.Why?Becauseiftheintentiontomakethenextmovearises,thethoughtwillrevealitselfbytheslightestlossofbalancewhenthoughttendstoaffectthebody'smuscles.Theopponentdivinestheintentionbygazing
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intotheeyes,sotheylookdowntothechest.
169AnexampleofthissymbolicbutenigmaticformofexpressionmaybetakenfromJapaneseZen.Thephrase"originalface"means"seeingthefundamentalselfnature."
170Dhyanaispronounced"Jan."H.P.Blavatskywrites:"Dhyana,Dan,Janna,Dzan,Djan,(Japanese,Zen,hencetheBookofDzyan),inmodernChineseandTibetanphoneticsCh'an,isthegeneraltermfortheesotericschoolsandtheirliterature.IntheoldbooksJannaisdefinedas`reformingoneselfbymeditationandknowledge,'asecondinnerbirth."
171TheJapaneseZenBuddhistswerespirituallysensitiveenoughandaestheticallyculturedenoughtorecognizethehighervaluesofteadrinking.
172TheteaceremonywasstartedinChinaonethousandyearsagobyZenpriestsandspreadintoJapanacoupleofcenturieslater.WhereasChinesepriestsstartedittowardoffdrowsinessinmeditationtheJapaneselaitymadeitpopular.Slowlyitchangeduntilthesixteenthcentury,whenthepresentritewasfinalizedbyZenpriests.Thegreatestpossibleeconomyofmovementsisaimedat.Theriteisanexerciseinrefinement,gracefulness,andcalm.ButsurprisinghumilityisalsoembodiedinitinawaystrangelyreminiscentoftheEgyptianGreatPyramid,forliketheentrancetotheKing'sChamber,theentrytotheTeaChamberisthroughanopeningsosmallandsolowinthewallthatavisitorisforcedtobenddownandalmostcrawlthrough.
173Exceptforourfirstmeeting,teaseemstobeassociatedwithmycontactswithProfessorD.T.Suzuki.HeinvitedmetohelpmyselffromtheeverbubblingsamovarofthelightcolouredweaktastinggreenteawhichwasthenationalJapanesedrink.ThiswasattheEngakujiMonastery,Temple,andAcademyinthosefaroffyearsbeforethewar.Thiswasthefittingplace,thepertinentatmosphere,inwhichtotalkquietlyaboutZen.Thenwemetagain,aboutadecadelater,afterthewar,attheLosAngelesJapaneseBuddhistTemplewherehewasstayingasaguest.Heofferedsomelittleroundricecakesthistimetoeatwiththetea.Inoticedthathenowputalumpofsugarbetweenhisfrontteethandheldittherewhilehedrank.ThethirdtimeheaskedmetoteawasacoupleofyearslateratColumbiaUniversity,whereheagainwasaguest.TherewehadWesternstyletoastedrollsastheaccompaniment.Afterhissecretaryassistantremovedthetrays,wewentatgreatlengthandinmuchdetailintoacomparisonofIndianyoga,philosophy,andtextswithZenChineseandJapanesemeditationmethods,philosophy,andtexts.Iwasamazedathisextraordinaryerudition,forhenotonlyknewexactlywherethereferencessupportinghisstatementscouldbefound,buthisabilitytoreadSanskritandChinese,alongwithhisnativeJapaneseandearlyacquiredEnglish,gaveawidthandauthoritywhichfewothermenpossessed.HisbasicpointwasthatwhereasZensoughtandachieveddirectpenetrationtoreality,Indianyogasoughtandachievedmentalstillnessnotnecessarilythesameandcertainlyinferior.Wewereunabletocometoafullagreement,sowegraduallydriftedawayfromthematterandhetalkedconfidentiallywithtouchinghumblenessofhisownspiritualstatus."Theyconsidermeamaster,"hesaidfinally,"butIconsidermyselfastudent."ThenbeforeleavingIsuggestedthatwemeditatetogether,communinginthesilentwaythatwaswellunderstoodinbothJapanandIndia."ButIonlymeditateinprivate,alone,"heprotested,"orintheassemblyofazendo(monastichallforgroupmeditation).Nobodyhaseveraskedmetodothisbefore."Butintheendheyielded,andtherewesatwiththegreyuniversitywallsofColumbiaall
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around,thewarmsummersunshinecominginthroughthewindows.
174ItwasaJapanesesaintofthethirteenthcentury,Nichiren,founderoftheNichirenShusectofBuddhismandstillworshippedbyafewmillionJapanese,whodenouncedtheZensectsas"devils"!ButitisinterestingtonotethattheNichirenismoreconcernedwithpracticalaffairs,withreorganizingsecularlifeintheworld,thanwithphilosophyandmysticism,whichpreoccupyZennists.
175Suzuki:"OnethingcharacterizingZentemplesandmonasteriesisthattheyarecleanandingoodorder,andthemonksarereadytotakeupmanualwork."
176IftheGreeksareindividualistic,theJapanesearenot:theyarejoiners.TheJapaneseneedsthereassuringsenseofbelongingtoagroup,thelargerthebetter.Heneedsthemoralsupportgainedfromidentifyinghimselfwithanorganizedsectionofsociety.
177GotoRoshi,contemporaryZenguru,claimedthat"ZenhasbeenmisinterpretedtotheWestbecausetheinterpretershavenotfinishedtheirtraining.Sotheyhavetalkedofgoalsinsteadofthemethod."(Bymethodhemeantzazen,sittingstillinmeditationP.B.)SeePaulMenpahl,TheMatterofZen,NewYorkUniversityPress.
178WheninvadingsoldiersburntdowntheroominwhichtheyhadlockedKaisen,MasterofaZenmonasteryinJapan,hesaid,"ThepracticeofZendoesnotnecessarilyrequirethebeautyoflandscape.Whenoneputsoutallthoughtsevenfireiscooltohim."
179TheOrienthaschangedenough,alas!andisstillfastchangingitsinwardcharacterandoutwardconditions.Tokyo,whenIfirstsawJapan,wasalreadywellonthewaytobecomingaChicago,butKyotowasstillalargelyunspoiledartisticintellectualculturalcentre.Now,morethanfortyyearslater,Iamtoldithaskeptmuchofitscharmstillbutisfastaddingenoughindustrytomakeanyonewonderwhatwillsurvivebytheendofthenextfortyyears.
180MasterDogen(thirteenthcenturyfounderofSotoZensect)wasanextremistinmetaphysicalandethicalideasandespeciallyinsocialones.
181TheblowsdeliveredbytheseJapaneseZenmasterswhicharereportedtobefollowedbysuddenenlightenmentrepresentaformofinitiationunknowntoIndia,wherealmosteverypossibleformhasbeenthoughtofandused.ButitwaslefttoJapantothinkof,anduse,physicalviolenceforsuchasacredpurpose!
182TheecstaticrapturesofaSaintTeresadonotappearinthecalminsightsofaZensage.
183TheZenlayman,livingintheworldandnotinamonastery,triestotranscendwhateverentershislife.
184SuzukitoldsomeonethathisownZenmasterwasthelastofthegreatZenmasters.Since
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hisdeaththepresentKaliYugamastersarefromthispointofviewonlysocalledones.
185When,duringourvisittoJapan,wesoughtforthefootprintsofZen,wefoundallthatwasworthwhileinitnowbelongedtoadeadpastandonlyaminutehandfulofearnestbutignoredscholarskeptitsbookishmemoryalive,asidefromahandfulofmonksandpriestswhohadlostitsoldvitalspiritandlackeditskeenintellectualism.ZenhadbecomeinfactameremuseumpieceamongthepeopleoftheRisingSun.
Tibet
186LakeManazowar,Tibet:Thestormsweptlakeisalsoprofoundlysacredintheireyes.Themountainrisesabruptlyfromthetracklessplainnotfarfromthefrontier.Thereisnothingbutbleak,heightborderedwildernessforhundredsofmilesineveryotherdirection,withonlyanoccasionalhillperchedBuddhistmonasteryortemporarytentvillagetorelieveitasitbroodsunchangedoverthissnowyfastness,andcivilizationisstillabsent.
Hereisaregionwhichhasalwaysbeenshroudedinmystery,whichremainseveninthistwentiethcenturyaloof,likeahermitamongtheworld'splaces.Thegroundeverywhereishardandfrozenkeenandviolentwindsdescendintotheglaciersandcutrelentlesslyacrosstheirsurfaces.Theclimaticrigoursofexcessivecoldandpiledsnowrenderitnearlyinaccessibletothetravellerfornearlythreefourthsoftheyear.IhavelivedatvariouspointsalongtheIndoTibetanborderandsampledamiteoftheatmospherewhichsurroundstheHimalayanregion.DizzyheightsandruggedprecipicestoppedbythecontinuoussnowylineofHimalayameetone'sgazeeverywhere.
Onemightwalkonfootorrideonhorsebackalongthethreadliketrailsformileswithoutmeetingasoul.Silencerulesalldaylikeasovereign,untiltheafternoonthundergrowlsacrosstheridgesandvalleysandpinnaclesofthemountainslikethedetonationofahighexplosive.Mosteveningsareheraldedbylightning.
187BecauseTibetwassolongisolatedfromtheinfluencesofmoderntimes,whenthepressureofthisbalancingtwowayinfluenceinserteditselfinthecountry'shistory,theeffectwashighlypainfultotheTibetans.Haditbeenvoluntarilysoughtandacceptedearlier,itwouldhavecomeinmuchmoregentlyandeasily.Butitwasstubbornlyresisted.Soithadtocomeinforcibly,throughtheChinese,andbecauseitcameatsolateanhourithadsomuchthemoretocover.Thecompressionintimebroughtthemostdrasticexperiences,theworstsufferings,totheunfortunateillledpeople.
188Morethanthirtyyearsago(in1936)IpubliclypleadedwiththeTibetanGovernmenttorenouncetheirland'stotalaloofnessandtoreplaceitbyadiscreetlylimitedaloofness,toprepareforanineluctableexchangewiththeoutsideworld.Thepleawentunheeded.Buttoday(1967)theircountryisheldcaptiveandmodernizingchangesarebeingcruellyandruthlesslyenforced.FiftythousandrefugeesexistdismallyinIndia,athousandmorelivehereinSwitzerland.[Asof1986,therewere100,000refuges,80,000ofthemlivinginIndia.Ed.]
189Ethiopiaisolatedherselfandherancientreligionforcenturies.ButMussolinibroke
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rudelyintothisbyhisinvasionandconquest.NowTibet,withanevenstricterisolation,hasbeenforcedtocomeintocontactwiththeworldandtheoldideas,theoldways,theoldpeaceisgoing.Theoldreligionwillgoalongwithit.BothEthiopiaandTibetwerefullyentitledtoliveastheywished,asquiethermitkingdoms.Theyhadamoralrighttobeleftalone.Butalas!theworldholdsopposingoraggressiveforces,evilmatchesitselfagainsteachindividual'sgood,eachnation'sgood.
190"Wehadtolearnthebitterlessonthattheworldhasgrowntoosmallforanypeopletoliveinharmlessisolation."DalaiLama,1962
191Atisha,theIndianmonkwhohelpedrestoreandpurifyMahayanaBuddhisminTibet,wasauthorofTheLampoftheRightWay.
192TheweaknessesofTibetanBuddhismaspractisedtodayaretheamountofsuperstitionmingledwithGautama'soriginalpuredoctrinethefailuretoadaptitselftotheexigencies,thetendencies,andtheconditionsofthetwentiethcentury,sofarastheyaregoodandproperandameliorativeandtheunwillingnesstoacceptWesternlearningandscience,wherethesecanbebeneficiallyadded.
193ThetragicfateofTibetanrefugees,dyingoftuberculosisnearDarjeelingorbeggingforacrustatBuddhGaya,attheveryspotwhereGautamagothisenlightenment,iscommentaryenoughonthosedreamerswhowouldairilydismisseverythingincludingtheworld,thebody,andtheeventsofhistoryasmeremaya,unrealandnotexistent,hencetobeignored.
194Itwasoneman'spersonalandnationalisticambition,hisGodhatingmaterialism,whichwaslargelybehindthecrueltreatmentTibetrecentlyreceivedfromChina.Thisman,beingbothamilitaristandamegalomaniac,hastheveryoppositeoutlooktotheoneinculcatedbyBuddha.ThereforeassoonashistroopsenteredTibettheysoughttodestroythenationalreligionofBuddhism.
195InTibettheydesecratedthemonasteries,persecutedthelamas,humiliatedtheabbots,andtriedtoeradicatethereligionitself.
196IfweenquirewhyCommunismisnowasortofnemesistothereligionofTibetandevenbeginstothreatenIndia,wemustrememberthatthevillagersareruledasmuchbysuperstitionandfanaticismasbypietyandwisdom.TheyarecertainlynotguidedintheireverydaylivingbythehigherphilosophicormysticculturewhichmostlyattractstheinterestofforeignerstoBuddhismandHinduism.
197NestorianChristianmissionariesfromCentralAsiawereactiveinTibetintheseventhcenturyandgainedanumberofconverts.ButBuddhism,whichcameintothecountryonlyalittleearlier,wasadoptedbythekingandsowonthecontest.ThereisnopointinspeculatingwhatwouldhavehappenedifTibethadturnedtoJesus'message,insteadofGautama's,andwhatthisstrangelandwouldhavedonewith,andto,it.
198Therecometomemoryagainthenarrowgorges,thetallpinesofthelowerHimalayas
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andtheloftycedars(calledlocallydeodars)ofthehigherlevels,theblackbearssearchingforfood,thelittletradingpostwhereTibetanscametoexchangetheirfewagriculturalorpastoralproducts.
199ThelamatoldwithdifficultyhisstoryofescapeintheretinueoftheDalaiLama.Therewereonlywords...phrases...brokensentences.Butitwasenoughtoshowwhattremendousfaithandendurancewentintotheenterpriseofclimbingtofrozenheights,crossinganddescendingtheHimalayanworldbylittleusedbecausemoreruggedways.
200PadmaSambhava(TibetanMaster):"Iftheseeker,whensought,cannotbefound,thereuponisattainedthegoaloftheseeking,theendofthequestitself.Thenthereisnoneedtosearchforanythingandthereisnothingtobepractised."
201Milarepa,theTibetanyogi:"Ifyeknownotthesecretandthesubtlemethods,mereexerciseofzealwillmakethePathwaylong."
202Thegreatinvocationwhichthelamasuseandinscribeontheirtempleflagsorbyroadsidestone,"OmManiPadmeHum,"isalsoaphrasethatholdsthemindsofyogisthroughoutIndia.Thismysticalphrasewhenchantedcorrectly,arreststhealienhearerandcaptivateshisimagination.
203SuchisthegripoftheselamasthatacommonTibetansayingruns:"WithoutaLamainfront,thereisnoapproachtoGod."Andsuchisthegripoftheirreligionthatevenprofessionalbanditsusetheprayerwheelandrosary,carryingthemundertheirbreastsintheirsheepskinsevenwhenintheveryactofthreateningtheirvictimwithswordorgun.
204HighDignitariesoftheTibetanlamaistreligionandhighabbotsoftheirmonasteriesandChineseroyaltiessatintheirgrantedaudiencesorperformedritesonahighseatorhighdaishalfveiledbyshadows.
205TherearedifferentkindsofhermitsinTibet:thebookhermit,whoseobjectinsecludinghimselfistoattainknowledgethe"goodworks"hermit,whoseeksthegoalbydiligenceingoodworksandwhomaybeeitheralamaoralaymanandtwootherkinds,bothofwhomaimatacquiringpeculiarpowers.Thebookhermitisalamawhoshutshimselfinacaveinthemountainsorinacellinthelamaseryforatermofnineyears,ninemonths,andninedaysforthepurposeofprayerandstudy[Thelengthoftimemayvary,butisnowmostcommonlythreeyears,threemonths,andthreedaysEd.].Hemayengageinconversationtwiceadayonceinthemorningandonceintheeveningbuthedoesnotshowhimself.Hisvisitorsarefriendsandrelativesor,ifheiswealthy,businessmenseekinstructionsabouthisproperty.Whenheispreparedtotalk,heringsabell.Hehasgenerallytwomeals,butsometimesonlyone.Whenhehascompletedhisexacttermhecomesoutandthereafterenjoysgreatreputeasalamaofgreatknowledgeandonewhomthegodsarelikelytofavour.Thegoodworkshermitreliesondeedsratherthanonknowledgeandremainsahermituntilhedies.Goodworksaremanifestedthroughsixdifferentagencies,namely:throughtheeyes,byregardingChojong,lamas'holymountainsthroughtheears,bylisteningtolamas'talksandtothescripturesthroughthemouth,byrecitingscriptures,bypraying,andbygoodtalkthroughthebody,byfastingandmakingprostrationsthroughthehands,byturningprayerwheelsandmakingprayerflagsandthroughthefeet,bycircumambulatingholymountainsandmakingpilgrimages
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totheholyplaces.Butitisthemindthatmatters.Ifthismindisbad,itislikealakeofpoisoniftheeyesarebad,theyarelikepoolsofbloodifthemouthisbad,itisliketheflamesoffireifthehandsarebad,theyarelikeswordsandifthefeetarebad,theyarelikelightning,thatistosay,asdeadlytoman'ssoulashisfeetaretoinnumerableinsects.Thegoodworkshermitrisesthreehoursaftermidnightandringsabelltoletthegodsknowthatheisabouttopray.Allthedayisoccupiedinreadingprayerbooks,praying,anddoinggoodworksthroughthesixdifferentagenciesandhehasonlyonemealdaily,atmidday.Hismethodofprayingintheeveningisasfollows:facingtheWest,hestandswithpalmstogether,supposedlyenclosingajewel,andtouches,successively,firsthisforehead,thenhislips,thenhisbreast.Intouchingtheforehead,heinvokesthebodyofBuddha,whoresidesinthecrownofthehead.Intouchingthemouth,heinvokesBuddha'slaws.Andintouchingthebreast,heinvokesBuddha'smind.Hethenkneelsdownwithpalmsflatonthegroundandmakesasinglekowtow.Thesetwoperformancesarerepeated,oneaftertheother,manyhundredtimesifthelama'sphysiqueisverystrong,hemayrepeatthisthousandsoftimes.Eachdayisthesameuntilhedies.Hemaylivethusforthirtyyears.
TheNotebooksarecopyright19841989,ThePaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundation.