And perhaps, like this monk, you also want relief. My sense is that the monk was struggling with the many troublesome thoughts, emotions, and feelings that arise in mind. When the monk came to Baoshou and asked, “Sir, when the ten thousand things come at you all at once, what can you do?” Baoshou responded, “Don’t try to control them!” So, what did Joju mean when he said, “Then carry it along”? The monk said, “But I’m not carrying anything. Love and compassion is the job of our original nature.Ī monk asked Joju, “I’m not carrying anything, how should I practice?” That is the original job of someone who has put it all down. And the last part refers to Buddha’s getting up from under the Bodhi Tree and helping all beings get out of suffering. The second part means that when you put it all down, you naturally wake up from your attachment dream. He would always end his letters by saying, “I hope you only go straight, ‘don’t know,’ which is clear like space, soon get enlightenment and save all beings from suffering.” This teaching style has three parts: The first part is “put it all down.” “Don’t know” is another term for our original mind, the mind that is not attached to anything. Our founding teacher, Zen Master Seung Sahn, wrote many letters over the years responding to student’s questions about Zen. Han Shan replied, “I already put the woman down, but you are still carrying her.” Finally, he blurted out, “We are monks! How could you pick up a woman like that?” Later in the evening Han Shan and the monk stopped at an inn to rest. He set her down on the other side of the creek and the monks continued on their way. She was stuck! Han Shan offered to carry her across, for which she was grateful. Tan Shan and a novice monk were traveling around together when one day they encountered a beautiful woman in very fine clothes standing beside a swollen and muddy creek. Here’s a famous story from Tang Dynasty China. He’s famous for getting enlightenment after hearing just one sentence from the Diamond Sutra: “When thinking arises in your mind, don’t attach to it.” This is the easiest way to understand “put it all down” and nonattachment. The founder of the modern Zen style of teaching was Hui Neng, the Sixth Patriarch. In the Zen school this teaching comes down to us through the Diamond Sutra. Then you can see, hear, smell, taste, touch and think clearly. If you don’t attach to any idea about yourself or the world then you are free. “Put it all down” means to let go of your opinion, your condition and your situation. You should put down the six roots, the six dusts and the six consciousnesses, then you will be free from life and death.” The Buddha said, “I’m not referring to your flowers. “I’ve put down the flowers, what else is there to put down?” The Buddha said, “Put it down.” The man then laid the flower in his right hand down. The Buddha said, “Put it down.” The man placed the flower in his left hand in front of the Buddha. One day a Brahmin came to the Buddha to make an offering of flowers. Very simple! When the clouds lift the sun shines. That’s my experience, and that’s your experience too. Here in Singapore it’s cloudy this afternoon, but I know if it clears up the sun will be shining brightly. Every enlightenment story is about putting it all down and waking up to our original nature.
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