Impractical Ch'an

[Shi Da Dao]

"When the wind blows - the grass must bend," (Confucius - Lunyu - Analects 7:19)

“当风吹过草时，草必须弯曲”（《论语》- 7:19）

I was approached by an individual who stated that he had no intention of disciplining his mind or body - and that he possessed NO inclination to 'train'.

'Well,' I said, 'You are already there!' - 'Well done!'

The secret is that it does not matter what path one pursues - be it Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana or Tantrayana - if you realise the 'empty mind ground', then the teachings of ALL these Systems fall into place, and make an 'integrative' sense! All is a 'Collective' reality with NO contradictions despite the very real (and crucial) differences of approach!

Licchavi Vimalakirti came to the foot of that tree and said to me, Reverend Sariputra, this is not the way to absorb yourself in contemplation. You should absorb yourself in contemplation so that neither body nor mind appear anywhere in the triple world. You should absorb yourself in contemplation in such a way that you can manifest all ordinary behavior without forsaking cessation. You should absorb yourself in contemplation in such a way that you can manifest the nature of an ordinary person without abandoning your cultivated spiritual nature.

In striving to perform one's religious duty, the first thing is to observe the rules of discipline. For discipline is the fundamental of the Supreme Bodhi; discipline begets immutability and immutability begets wisdom. Master Xu Yun.

Interestingly, when Master Xu Yun was travelling on a boat - a young woman came up to him and took all her clothes off - implying that she was willing for sexual activity to take place. This young lady was a peasant and was certainly NOT a Buddhist monastic. Why was this young lady behaving in a very unusual way for a Chinese person? I discussed this with Richard Hunn around 2000 - and he said that Charles Luk had been told that there were Nationalist attempts at discrediting Xu Yun because he had directly confronted Chiang Kai-Shek due to his conversion to Christianity - and his subsequent attempt at 'converting' the entirety of China as a 'government policy'! The objective seems to have been to a) accuse Xu Yun of inappropriate (homosexual) acts with young (male) monastics, and if that did not work (it did not), then b) was to entrap Xu Yun into an amorous interaction with a young woman! Master Xu Yun laughed at the former and simply 'sat' and entered a deep meditative state in the case of the latter! The young woman said that there was a 'glow' around Xu Yun as he sat quietly and withdrew his attention inward. This woman later admitted that she had been 'paid' by a government Official in an attempt to mislead Xu Yun!

Following the Vinaya Discipline is the act of adhering to 'Sila' or Buddhist morality. This adherence should be gentle but consistent - like a breeze gently blowing the long grass - which 'bends' as the air moves amongst its stems! Mistakes and misjudgements can be made - but as such errors are only to be expected they are met with compassion and understanding. Mistakes exist to be 'corrected' and one's moral judgement 'strengthened' as a consequence. Many such mistakes have there root in a lack of appropriate experience. Inexperience can sometimes be as dangerous as deliberate bad behaviour. Still, the Vinaya Discipline is reinforced by the Bodhisattva Vows as together a 'triad' of effort is generated - the 'Practitioner', the 'Vinaya Discipline' and the Bodisattva Vows'!



The 'wind' (for the Buddhist) is the Authority of the Word of the Buddha! When the Dharma-Wind blows - we (as 'individuals') must 'adapt' our minds and bodies so that ALL greed, hatred and delusion are completely uprooted and NEVER permitted to manifest again! The above saying of Confucius can be translated more literally as:

"The wind blows through the grass - when this happens - the grass 'bends'!"

When I asked Richard Hunn what happens after realising the 'enlightenment' experience? He was 'serious' - as he could be (like 'iron') and said 'Traditionally, Chinese Ch'an Masters REFUSED to talk about this. Why? Who do you know who is enlightened?'