*note* Zen Master Man Gong (1872 - 1946)I love this guy...
quote"Zen Master Man Gong (1872 - 1946) was the leading dharma heir of Zen Master Kyong Ho. His first awakening came while practicing with the kong-an: "The ten thousand dharmas return to the one: Where does the one return to?"
He shared Kyong Ho's focus on bringing Zen to lay men and women, as well as monks and nuns. During the Japanese occupation of Korea (1905 - 1945), Korean monks and nuns were forced to renounce their celibacy and marry in the manner of Japanese Buddhism. However, Man Gong refused to obey the Japanese order and was able to sustain traditional Korean Zen throughout the occupation. Following the end of World War II, he wrote the famous calligraphy, "The Whole World Is A Single Flower."
Man Gong was noted for his ability to cut through students' attachments to name and form, as shown in this dialogue:
A monk once asked Man Gong, "Where is the Buddha's teaching?"
Man Gong replied, "Right in front of you."
The monk then said, "You say, 'Right in front of you,' but I don't see it."
"You make I," answered Man Gong, "so you don't see it."
The monk asked him, "Do you see it, Master?"
Man Gong responded, "If you make I, it's difficult to see it. But if you make you, it's even more difficult to see it."
Whenever we separate the world (into you and I, right and wrong, etc.), we trade the truth of life for a story about experience. Man Gong continually cut away the storytelling, to reveal things as they are. He once wrote the following poem about this:
Holding a bamboo stick, never stop.
Already arrive in front of Bo Duk Cave.
Who is host, who is the guest? They cannot see each other.
Only very close by, the gurgle of the stream.
Man Gong added this commentary to the poem: "The sound of the stream takes away both host and guest." That's Man Gong's teaching."
You can read his book here http://www.scribd.com/doc/34788567/Teachings-of-Zen-Master-Man-Gong
And lovely final dharma talk before he died..from http://www.kwanumzen.com/primarypoint/v17n3-1999-fall-mangongsunim-finaldharmaspeech.html
Among all creatures, human beings are the most valuable because they are able to attain their true selves!
The way of the Buddha cannot be attained through thinking or theories.
Nothingness is the most frightening thing to human beings.
Most people think about the universe in only materialistic terms, but the true substance of the universe cannot be found that way.
My true Dharma speech cannot be heard -- that is my final Dharma speech...
-added by danny-
ps..I'll try to explain what he meant...
...........
Among all creatures, human beings are the most valuable because they are able to attain their true selves!
He means here that the knowing aspect is only possible on the human form..he means that if you are an ant,you just follow the pattern..that's why he says..Among all creatures, human beings are the most valuable because they are able to attain their true selves!
The way of the Buddha cannot be attained through thinking or theories...
What he means by that?..he means the very mind you're using is just a product of the kripto awareness inside you..no thinking and no teachings can NOT help you,unless you access the root cause of the thinking itself!
POnder...
Since the universe is DUAL...born of tension between yang and yin...always act knowing the good side is there..if you look for it,and know how the universe works..
The witness is not part of creation ..yet..is the source.Why?..to know itself..I see you..
But do you see me,my friend?
Nothingness is the most frightening thing to human beings...this is the part I like the most.
People believe they loose themselves when meditating...why?...remember the duality of the universe,and the one whom is not dual?
But I tell you..unless you loose yourself,you won't discover yourself.
And the powers inside you will either force you by pain..or by Clint Eastwood..trust me.
Most people think about the universe in only materialistic terms, but the true substance of the universe cannot be found that way....
He means that manifestation cannot be taken as real..since is bound on time..space...and a nice coffin waiting for your ass soon...don't be stupid!
My true Dharma speech cannot be heard -- that is my final Dharma speech....he means that the one expresses,but you can't touch it..it is the source,but above..is you inside,but knowing itself by manifesting as you..but above all..can't touch it.
Why is that?..because he touches itself experiencing himself in your form..isn't that amazing?..kisses..Among all creatures, human beings are the most valuable because they are able to attain their true selves!
The way of the Buddha cannot be attained through thinking or theories.
Nothingness is the most frightening thing to human beings.
Most people think about the universe in only materialistic terms, but the true substance of the universe cannot be found that way.
My true Dharma speech cannot be heard -- that is my final Dharma speech.(Zen Master Man Gong)
........
To nourish the vital energy, keep watch in silence;
In order to subdue the mind, act with non-action.
Of movement and stillness, be aware of their origin;
There is no work to do, much less someone to seek.
The true and constant must respond to phenomena;
Responding to phenomena, you must be unconfused.
When unconfused, the nature will stabilize by itself;
When the nature stabilizes, energy returns by itself.
When energy returns, the elixir crystallizes by itself;
Within the pot, the trigrams of heaven and earth are joined.
Yīn and yáng arise, alternating over and over again;
Every transformation comes like a clap of thunder.
White clouds form and come to assemble at the peak;
The sweet nectar sprinkles down Mount Sumeru.
Swallow for yourself this wine of immortality;
You wander so freely—who is able to know you?
Sit and listen to the tune played without strings;
Clearly understand the mechanism of creation.
It comes entirely from these twenty lines;
A true ladder going straight to Heaven.-Daoist text -