He's on his way back home

He's on his way back home

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Unborn Buddha Mind

Re-reading an old book: Bankei Zen.

Great teachings from an 17th century Japanese Zen Master! 
His teachings remain relevant and refreshing to today's world.
The essence of his teaching is on the Unborn Buddha Mind.
It reminds me of Master Seung Sahn's "Don't Know Mind" very much =)

His teaching emphasised that there is no need to attain the Buddha Mind (we cannot attain it actually, as it is unborn) since it is always with us, always available, in the here and the now...

...as you are all turned this way listening to me talk, if out back there's the cawing of crows, the chirping of sparrows or the rustling of the wind - you hear them without making any mistake about them, and that's what is called hearing with the Unborn...

...the Buddha Mind is like a bright mirror.  It reflects whatever is in front of it. It is not deliberately trying to reflect things...

...whether you are going to be deluded or you're not going to, all depends on the present state of your mind...

This brings to my mind also the practice of shikantaza, which also involves effortless and choiceless awareness, all that is required is "opening the hand of thought" ( I quote Uchiyama Roshi) and returning to the present moment, the here and the now, where without any effort or choice, we see, hear, smell, taste and touch...

 May all of us continue to enjoy our practice and be well and happy.
Amituofo. =)


Friday, November 7, 2014

The Magic of Awareness

Recently just completed reading this book "The Magic of Awareness" by Anam Thubten.
Rinpoche speaks with great clarity on the central theme that enlightenment is always available to us in the most ordinary of moments.

One nice para lifted from the book:

When we know how to give rise to this gentle heart (be kind to ourselves), then we are not in a hurry and we no longer have to be antagonistic to ourselves...  We are already Buddha, yet there is compassion toward this temporary dream of duality.  This dream is not going to last eternally.  Believe it or not, the universe will provide us with much magic and many miracles to help us wake up. All dreams come to an end.  It's just a matter of time.

Another nice para:

Whatever helps us become aware of the naturally transcendent state of who we are is the right method, the right technique... Whatever works is the right method.  The method doesn't have to be Buddhist and it doesn't have to be complicated.  It can be so simple that, perhaps, all we need to do is pause periodically.  Perhaps we simply become aware of our breath, or remember some sacred verses now and then.  We may not even need to recite those verses.  Sometimes all we need to do is to remember them.

Highly recommend this book =)