Han Shan's Rock.
Nov 4, 2010 20:02:46 GMT 1
Post by Shi Da Dao on Nov 4, 2010 20:02:46 GMT 1
During the Ming Dynasty, Ch'an master Han Shan (1546-1623) sat by a flowing stream and turned back his hearing facility to its Mind Ground essence. This is the River Dart, not far from Newbridge on Dartmoor, southern UK. The sound of the water brings calmness and eventually wisdom. That which perceives sound, is turned back to perceive that which creates sound. Listener and essence merge into an all-embracing oneness. We find the following in Charles Luk's translation of master Han Shan's autobiography:
'I concentrated my attention on a single thought, and if a visitor came, I did not speak, but only looked at him. After a while, when a visitor came he resembled a tree stump. This state of mind continued until I had no idea about the meaning of a single (Chinese) character. At first a roaring gale blew frequently and when the thaw set in torrents of water rolled down the mountains and made a thunderous noise. In the stillness it was like that of a thousand marching troops and ten thousand horses galloping at full speed; it was very disturbing. When asked (earlier before he departed) Miao Feng had said: "This surrounding is created by the mind and does not come from outside. the ancients said whoever hears the sound of water withouting using the sixth consciousness for thirty years, will achieve Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara's all pervading wisdom." Consequently I went to a wooden bridge where I sat every day. At first the noise of the water was audible as before. After a while it could only be heard when thoughts surged in my mind and not when they ceased to rise. Suddenly oneday while sitting ont he bridge as usual, I felt as if my body did not exist and the sound of the water was not heard anymore. hence forth, all the sound and noise vanished completely; I was nolonger disturbed by them.'
(Practical Buddhism: By Charles Luk - Pages 80-81.)
Master Han Shan composed this poem:
'A lone rock and one stone tablet on the river bank
Are all that remains of where princes and nobles met.
The emperor's rule, to last as long as heaven and earth,
Should be as unceasing as the Yellow River's flow.'
(Practical Buddhism: By Charles Luk - Page 76.
'I concentrated my attention on a single thought, and if a visitor came, I did not speak, but only looked at him. After a while, when a visitor came he resembled a tree stump. This state of mind continued until I had no idea about the meaning of a single (Chinese) character. At first a roaring gale blew frequently and when the thaw set in torrents of water rolled down the mountains and made a thunderous noise. In the stillness it was like that of a thousand marching troops and ten thousand horses galloping at full speed; it was very disturbing. When asked (earlier before he departed) Miao Feng had said: "This surrounding is created by the mind and does not come from outside. the ancients said whoever hears the sound of water withouting using the sixth consciousness for thirty years, will achieve Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara's all pervading wisdom." Consequently I went to a wooden bridge where I sat every day. At first the noise of the water was audible as before. After a while it could only be heard when thoughts surged in my mind and not when they ceased to rise. Suddenly oneday while sitting ont he bridge as usual, I felt as if my body did not exist and the sound of the water was not heard anymore. hence forth, all the sound and noise vanished completely; I was nolonger disturbed by them.'
(Practical Buddhism: By Charles Luk - Pages 80-81.)
Master Han Shan composed this poem:
'A lone rock and one stone tablet on the river bank
Are all that remains of where princes and nobles met.
The emperor's rule, to last as long as heaven and earth,
Should be as unceasing as the Yellow River's flow.'
(Practical Buddhism: By Charles Luk - Page 76.