Dizang requested a monastic from Baofu Monastery, “How does your grasp educate the true-Self?” The monastic stated, “As soon as Grasp Baofu instructed the meeting, ‘I cowl your eyes to allow you to see what is just not seen. I cowl your ears to allow you to hear what is just not heard. I restrain your thoughts to allow you to surrender pondering.’” Dizang stated to the monastic, “Let me ask you, ‘Once I don’t cowl your eyes, what do you see? Once I don’t cowl your ears, what do you hear? Once I don’t restrain your thoughts, what do you discern?’” Upon listening to these phrases, the monastic had realisation.
Scholar: “Why did Grasp Baofu cowl the monk’s eyes and ears?”
Grasp: “With a purpose to cease him from seeing and listening to what’s seen and heard when they aren’t coated.”
Scholar: “Why didn’t Dizang cowl the monk’s eyes and ears?”
Grasp: “With a purpose to cease him from seeing and listening to what’s seen and heard when they’re coated.”
Commentary:
What it’s best to see and listen to is what you’ll be able to’t cease seeing and listening to it even for a second.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All photographs ©Simon Hathaway