Christianity: The Deadliest Poison and Zen: The Antidote to All Poisons - Chapter-08

Fictitious father, crackpot son

29 January 1989 pm in Gautam the Buddha Auditorium

OUR BELOVED MASTER,

YAKUSAN ONCE ASKED HIS DISCIPLE, UNGAN, "I HEARD THAT YOU KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THE LIONS -- IS THAT TRUE?"

UNGAN REPLIED, "YES, IT IS."

YAKUSAN ASKED, "HOW MANY OF THEM DO YOU GET AND DEAL WITH?"

"SIX," UNGAN REPLIED.

YAKUSAN THEN SAID, "I ALSO KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THE LION."

UNGAN ASKED, "HOW MANY DO you GET?"

Christianity: The Deadliest Poison and Zen: The Antidote to All Poisons - Chapter-07

Not faith, but fear

28 January 1989 pm in Gautam the Buddha Auditorium

OUR BELOVED MASTER,

UNGAN REMAINED WITH YAKUSAN FOR SOME TIME, THEN ONE DAY DECIDED TO LEAVE: HE EXPLAINED TO YAKUSAN THAT HE HAD MADE A VOW TO STAY WITH HYAKUJO. YAKUSAN AGREED, AND UNGAN SET OFF DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, DOGO ACCOMPANYING HIM A LITTLE WAY, AND THEN RETURNING TO YAKUSAN, WHO ASKED, "DID YOU SEE YOUR BROTHER OFF?"

"YES, I DID," REPLIED DOGO, AND THEN ADDED, "IS IT ALRIGHT FOR MY BROTHER TO LEAVE YOU?"

"YOU DON'T HAVE TO ASK SUCH A THING," SAID YAKUSAN. "WE HAVE BEEN VERY INTIMATE FOR SUCH A LONG TIME -- WE CAN DO OR SAY WHATSOEVER WE WOULD LIKE TO. SO THERE IS NOTHING FOR YOU TO ASK ME."

"NO, OSHO," SAID DOGO. "YOUR WORD CAN BECOME A REFERENCE FOR THE FUTURE, SO PLEASE SAY SOMETHING."

"OKAY, I WILL SAY ONE THING," REPLIED YAKUSAN. "THE EYES ARE ALRIGHT, ONLY THE DISCIPLINE IS LACKING."

HEARING THIS, DOGO IMMEDIATELY LEFT THE MONASTERY IN PURSUIT OF HIS BROTHER. WHEN HE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM THE FOLLOWING DAY, DOGO TOLD UNGAN WHAT YAKUSAN HAD SAID. THE TWO BROTHERS TURNED AROUND AND WENT BACK TO YAKUSAN, AND REMAINED WITH HIM TILL HIS DEATH.

Friends, One of the would-be sannyasins, Graeme McIntyre, has left his body in deep meditation in this Gautama the Buddha Auditorium, amongst other meditators, in deep peace and silence. He had expressed his desire to become a sannyasin that very evening.

Christianity: The Deadliest Poison and Zen: The Antidote to All Poisons - Chapter-06

Good soldiers of christ

27 January 1989 pm in Gautam the Buddha Auditorium

OUR BELOVED MASTER,

ONCE, WHEN UNGAN WAS IN YAKUSAN'S PRESENCE, THE MASTER SAID TO HIM, "WHAT DOES HYAKUJO OSHO USUALLY TEACH?"

UNGAN REPLIED, "HE SAYS, 'GO BEYOND THREE PHRASES,' OR 'GO BEYOND SIX PHRASES AND GET IT.'" YAKUSAN COMMENTED, "WITH A DISTANCE OF SEVEN HUNDRED MILES BETWEEN US, FORTUNATELY WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH HYAKUJO." BUT THEN HE CONTINUED, "WHAT ELSE DOES HE TEACH?"

UNGAN SAID, "ONCE, AFTER THE DISCOURSE, WHEN THE CONGREGATION STOOD UP FROM THEIR SEATS, HYAKUJO CALLED OUT TO THEM. WHEN THEY LOOKED BACK AT THE MASTER, HYAKUJO SAID, 'WHAT IS THAT?'" YAKUSAN COMMENTED, "YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT EARLIER -- HYAKUJO IS STILL DOING WELL. THANKS TO YOU, I WAS ABLE TO SEE HYAKUJO."

Friends, The Christians have been claiming that they have discovered the world. It is just holy shit. Columbus never discovered America, he re-discovered it. It had been discovered many times before, and there are valid evidences for it.

Christianity: The Deadliest Poison and Zen: The Antidote to All Poisons - Chapter-05

Turning lions into sheep

26 January 1989 pm in Gautam the Buddha Auditorium

OUR BELOVED MASTER,

ON A RAINY DAY, MONK GAO VISITED YAKUSAN, WHO COMMENTED, "TODAY IT'S QUITE HUMID."

"I WILL BEAT THIS DRUM," SAID GAO.

UNGAN SAID, "THERE IS NO LEATHER -- WHAT DRUM DO YOU BEAT?"

DOGO ADDED, "THERE IS NO DRUM -- WHAT LEATHER DO YOU BEAT?"

AND YAKUSAN COMMENTED, "TODAY, THE MELODY IS VERY GOOD."

ONCE, AT THE MEALTIME, YAKUSAN HIMSELF BEAT THE DRUM, AND MONK GAO ENTERED THE HALL, DANCING. YAKUSAN DROPPED THE DRUMSTICK AND ASKED, "WHICH PIECE IS THAT?"

Christianity: The Deadliest Poison and Zen: The Antidote to All Poisons - Chapter-04

This you call civilization?

25 January 1989 pm in Gautam the Buddha Auditorium

OUR BELOVED MASTER,

ONCE, WHEN YAKUSAN WAS RECITING A SUTRA, A MONK ASKED HIM:

"YOU DON'T USUALLY ALLOW US TO RECITE SUTRAS. WHY DO YOU YOURSELF RECITE A SUTRA?"

"I JUST WANT TO ENTERTAIN MY EYES," REPLIED YAKUSAN.

THE MONK ASKED, "CAN I ALSO RECITE SUTRAS LIKE YOU?"

"IF YOU WANT TO RECITE SUTRAS LIKE ME," ANSWERED YAKUSAN, "YOU MUST PIERCE EVEN THROUGH THE HIDE OF A COW."

ON ANOTHER OCCASION, YAKUSAN WAS ASKED BY GOVERNOR RI, "WHAT ARE THE PRECEPTS, MEDITATION AND WISDOM?"

YAKUSAN ANSWERED, "THIS POOR MONK HASN'T SUCH USELESS FURNITURE."

Christianity: The Deadliest Poison and Zen: The Antidote to All Poisons - Chapter-03

The sword and the lotus

24 January 1989 pm in Gautam the Buddha Auditorium

OUR BELOVED MASTER,

YAKUSAN TALKED WITH MEIKEI OSHO AND LATER TOLD UNGAN: "MEIKEI WAS ONCE A GOVERNMENT SUPERINTENDENT IN HIS PAST LIFE."

UNGAN ASKED, "OSHO, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE IN YOUR PAST LIVES?"

YAKUSAN REPLIED, "BEING AFRAID AND SHAKY, WITH HUNDREDS OF UGLINESSES AND THOUSANDS OF CLUMSINESSES, I SOMEHOW HAVE MANAGED TO LIVE LIVES."

UNGAN LATER REPEATED THIS TO DOGO, WHO COMMENTED: "IT IS A GOOD STORY, BUT ONE QUESTION IS MISSING."

"WHAT, MAY I ASK?" INQUIRED UNGAN.

DOGO SAID, IN THE MANNER OF LITERARY, SCHOLARLY CHINESE: "HOW DID YOU BECOME LIKE THAT?"

UNGAN TOOK THE QUESTION TO YAKUSAN, USING THE SAME SCHOLARLY CHINESE.

YAKUSAN ANSWERED, "I NEVER OPEN ANY BOOKS."

ON ANOTHER OCCASION, YAKUSAN ASKED UNGAN, "A HORSE HAS HORNS; CAN YOU SEE THEM?"

Christianity: The Deadliest Poison and Zen: The Antidote to All Poisons - Chapter-02

Service with a smile

23 January 1989 pm in Gautam the Buddha Auditorium

OUR BELOVED MASTER,

THERE WAS A MONK WHO HAD STAYED WITH YAKUSAN FOR THREE YEARS AND SERVED AS THE HEAD COOK. ONCE, YAKUSAN ASKED HIM,

"HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE?"

"THREE YEARS," THE MONK REPLIED.

"I DON'T KNOW YOUR FACE AT ALL," SAID YAKUSAN.

THE MONK DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT YAKUSAN MEANT, AND, OUT OF RESENTMENT, LEFT THE MONASTERY.

ANOTHER MONK ONCE SAID TO YAKUSAN, "I HAVE A DOUBT. PLEASE, MASTER, CLEAR IT AWAY."

YAKUSAN SAID, "THEN COME TO ME AT THE REGULAR DISCOURSE."

Christianity: The Deadliest Poison and Zen: The Antidote to All Poisons - Chapter-01

The opium of the people

22 January 1989 pm in Gautam the Buddha Auditorium

OUR BELOVED MASTER,

ON ONE OCCASION, YAKUSAN WROTE DOWN THE CHINESE CHARACTER SIGNIFYING BUDDHA, AND ASKED HIS DISCIPLE, DOGO: "WHAT IS THIS LETTER?"

DOGO REPLIED, "IT'S THE LETTER FOR 'BUDDHA'."

YAKUSAN COMMENTED, "YOU ARE A MONK SO FULL OF CHATTER!"

ONCE, AT THE EVENING DISCOURSE, YAKUSAN DIDN'T LIGHT THE CANDLE AS USUAL. A MONK CAME AND STOOD BY HIS SIDE. YAKUSAN SAID, "I HAVE A VERY SPECIAL PHRASE. IF A BULL GIVES BIRTH, I WILL TELL IT TO YOU."

I Celebrate Myself - 07

Existence is celebration

OUR BELOVED MASTER,

ONE DAY, SEKITO ANNOUNCED TO EVERYBODY THAT THE NEXT DAY THEY WOULD WEED THE GRASS IN FRONT OF THE BUDDHA HALL. THE FOLLOWING DAY, ALL THE MONKS GATHERED WITH SICKLES IN THEIR HANDS, BUT ONLY TANKA CAME WITH A TRAY FILLED WITH WATER.

BEFORE COMING THERE HE HAD WASHED HIS HAIR, BUT IT WAS NOT YET SHAVEN. NOW HE KNEELED DOWN IN FRONT OF SEKITO, AND SEEING HIM, SEKITO LAUGHED, AND SHAVED TANKA'S HEAD. AS THE MASTER USUALLY DID, SEKITO GAVE TANKA SOME SPECIFIC COMMANDMENTS, BUT AS HE DID SO, TANKA WALKED AWAY COVERING HIS EARS WITH HIS HANDS.

TANKA THEN LEFT FOR KOSEI TO SEE MA TZU. ARRIVING AT THE MONASTERY, HE WENT INTO THE HALL AND, CLIMBING ON THE STATUE OF MANJUSHRI, SAT THERE. THE OTHER MONKS WERE ASTONISHED AND TOLD MA TZU, WHO CAME IN, LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID, "MY SON IS TENNEN."

TANKA CAME DOWN, MADE A BOW AND SAID, "THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A DHARMA NAME."

I Celebrate Myself - 06

Come to your own festival

OUR BELOVED MASTER,

SHODAI, WHO WAS BORN IN 738 IN CHINA AND DIED IN 820, WAS A DISCIPLE OF SEKITO.

SHODAI STAYED AT MOUNT NANGAKU UNDER SEKITO FOR THREE YEARS, THEN WENT TO MOUNT SHUKO WHERE HE SAW MA TZU.

MA TZU ASKED, "WHAT DID YOU COME HERE FOR?"

SHODAI SAID, "I CAME HERE FOR BUDDHA'S JAMUNA DARSHAN."

MA TZU SAID, "BUDDHA HAS NO JAMUNA DARSHAN. JAMUNA DARSHAN IS THE WORLD OF DELUSION. YOU ARE FROM MOUNT NANGAKU, BUT IT SEEMS THAT YOU HAVE NOT YET KNOWN THAT YOU NEED SEKITO. SO YOU SHOULD GO BACK."

HEARING THAT, SHODAI WENT TO SEKITO. ON MEETING THE MASTER, SHODAI ASKED SEKITO, "WHAT IS BUDDHA?"

SEKITO REPLIED, "THERE IS NO BUDDHA NATURE IN YOU."

SHODAI ASKED, "WHAT ABOUT ALL LIVING BEINGS?"

I Celebrate Myself - 05

Don't knock, wait!

OUR BELOVED MASTER,

GOSETSU AFTER BECOMING A MONK UNDER MA TZU, CAME TO SEKITO AND SAID, "IF YOU SETTLE THIS WITH ONE WORD, I WILL STAY HERE. IF NOT, I WILL LEAVE."

SEKITO, KNOWING THAT THIS MAN HAD PROMISE, MADE A GESTURE, BUT GOSETSU DID NOT GET IT. SO GOSETSU TOOK HIS LEAVE AND MADE FOR THE GATE, WHEN SEKITO CALLED TO HIM "TEACHER!"

GOSETSU TURNED AROUND, AND SEKITO SAID, "FROM BIRTH TO OLD AGE, IT IS ONLY THE FELLOW THERE AND NOTHING ELSE -- DON'T LOOK ANYWHERE FURTHER."

AT THIS, GOSETSU WAS GREATLY ENLIGHTENED. HE STEPPED ON HIS STICK TO BREAK IT AND STAYED THERE.

ONCE, SEKITO SAID TO HIS ASSEMBLED MONKS, "EVEN IF LANGUAGE IS USED, IT IS IRRELEVANT."

HEARING THIS, YAKUSAN SAID, "EVEN IF LANGUAGE IS NOT USED, IT IS IRRELEVANT."

SEKITO SAID, "HERE, EVEN A NEEDLE CANNOT GET THROUGH."

YAKUSAN SAID, "HERE, IT IS LIKE PLANTING A FLOWER ON A ROCK."

I Celebrate Myself - 04

Showering invisible flowers

OUR BELOVED MASTER,

SEKITO'S "SONG OF THE GRASS HUT."

I MAKE A GRASS HUT IN WHICH INSIDE THERE IS NO WORLDLY TREASURE.

I EAT AND SLEEP NATURALLY AND EASILY. WHEN I MADE THE HUT, THE REEDS WERE NEW. WHEN THE HUT GETS TORN, I COVER IT WITH REEDS AGAIN. THE PERSON LIVING IN THE HUT IS ALWAYS THERE. HE DOES NOT BELONG TO INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. I DO NOT LIVE WHERE ORDINARY PEOPLE LIVE; I DO NOT LOVE WHAT ORDINARY PEOPLE LOVE.

ALTHOUGH THE HUT IS SMALL, IT CONTAINS THE DHARMA WORLD. A MAN OF ZEN UNDERSTANDS IT WELL. BODHISATTVAS OF THE SUPREME VEHICLE HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, BUT THE MEDIOCRE ARE BOUND TO BE DUBIOUS.

IF I WERE ASKED WHETHER THIS HUT BREAKS DOWN OR NOT, I WOULD SAY THAT THE SUBJECT IS ORIGINALLY BOTH IN THE BREAKABLE AND UNBREAKABLE. I DON'T LIVE IN THE NORTH OR SOUTH OR THE WEST OR EAST.

THE FOUNDATION OF THE HUT IS THE MOST SOLID. UNDER THE GREEN PINE TREE, IN THE HUT'S BRIGHT WINDOW -- EVEN A GOLDEN PALACE CAN'T COMPARE. IF I COVER MYSELF WITH THE OLD QUILT, EVERYTHING SETTLES. THEN I DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING.

I Celebrate Myself - 03

The paradise of yourself

OUR BELOVED MASTER,

ONE TIME, WHEN DAITEN CAME TO SEKITO, THE MASTER ASKED HIM, "ARE YOU A ZEN MONK OR AN ORDINARY MONK?"

DAITEN REPLIED, "I'M A ZEN MONK."

SEKITO ASKED, "WHAT is ZEN?"

DAITEN REPLIED, "IT IS RAISING EYEBROWS AND MOVING EYEBALLS."

SEKITO SAID, "EXCLUDING RAISING EYEBROWS AND MOVING EYEBALLS, BRING YOUR ORIGINAL FACE AND SHOW IT TO ME."

DAITEN SAID, "PLEASE OSHO, EXCLUDE RAISING EYEBROWS AND MOVING EYEBALLS, AND LOOK AT ME."

SEKITO SAID, "I HAVE EXCLUDED THEM."

DAITEN SAID, "I HAVE GIVEN IT TO YOU."

SEKITO SAID, "WHAT IS THE NO-MIND YOU HAVE GIVEN TO ME?"

DAITEN SAID, "NOT DIFFERENT FROM YOU, OSHO."

SEKITO SAID, "NO CONCERN ABOUT YOU."

DAITEN SAID, "REALLY, THERE IS NOT A NO-MIND NATURE."

I Celebrate Myself - 02

Ringing bells in your heart

OUR BELOVED MASTER,

WHEN DAITEN FIRST CAME TO SEKITO, THE MASTER ASKED HIM, "WHAT IS YOUR NO-MIND?"

DAITEN REPLIED, "THE ONE WHO SPEAKS IS IT."

AT THIS, SEKITO SHOUTED, "KWATZ!" -- AND LEFT.

TEN DAYS LATER, DAITEN AGAIN CAME TO SEKITO AND ASKED, "THE LAST ANSWER I SAID TO YOU WAS NOT NO-MIND. WHAT IS NO-MIND?"

SEKITO SAID, "WITHOUT RAISING EYEBROWS OR MOVING EYEBALLS, BRING YOUR NO-MIND HERE."

DAITEN SAID, "THERE IS NO NO-MIND TO BE BROUGHT."

SEKITO SAID, "BASICALLY, NO-MIND IS. WHY DO YOU SAY NO-MIND IS NOT? THAT IS THE WRONG STATEMENT."

AT THIS, DAITEN WAS GREATLY ENLIGHTENED.

I Celebrate Myself - 01

The grand rebellion

OUR BELOVED MASTER,

SEKITO SAID:

"MY TEACHING, WHICH HAS COME DOWN FROM THE ANCIENT BUDDHAS, IS NOT DEPENDENT ON MEDITATION OR ON DILIGENT APPLICATION OF ANY KIND.

"WHEN YOU ATTAIN THE INSIGHT AS ATTAINED BY THE BUDDHA, YOU REALIZE THAT NO-MIND IS BUDDHA, AND BUDDHA IS NO-MIND; THAT NO-MIND, BUDDHA, SENTIENT BEINGS, BODHI, AND KLESA, ARE OF ONE AND THE SAME SUBSTANCE WHILE THEY VARY IN NAMES.

"YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT YOUR OWN NO-MIND ESSENCE IS NEITHER SUBJECT TO ANNIHILATION NOR ETERNALLY SUBSISTING, IS NEITHER PURE NOR DEFILED. IT REMAINS PERFECTLY UNDISTURBED AND SELF-SUFFICIENT. THE SAME IS SO WITH THE WISE AND THE IGNORANT. YOUR NO-MIND ESSENCE IS NOT LIMITED IN ITS WORKING, AND IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CATEGORY OF MIND, CONSCIOUSNESS, OR THOUGHT.

"THE THREE WORLDS OF DESIRE, FORM, AND NO-FORM, AND THE SIX PATHS OF EXISTENCE ARE NO MORE THAN MANIFESTATIONS OF YOUR MIND ITSELF. THEY ARE ALL LIKE THE MOON REFLECTED IN WATER, OR IMAGES IN THE MIRROR. HOW CAN WE SPEAK OF THEM AS BEING BORN OR AS PASSING AWAY?

Tao The Three Treasures Volume-1 Chapter - 10

Wisdom And Understanding

The first question:

Question 1:

DO WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING INCREASE GRADUALLY OR DO THEY COME AS EXPLOSIONS?

UNDERSTANDING NEVER COMES, neither as a sudden phenomenon nor as a gradual one, because it is always there. You have it right now. It is not going to happen somewhere in the future. You are carrying it within you, just as a seed carries the tree, a woman carries a child. You are carrying it right now. Now it depends on you: if your intensity is total you will achieve it suddenly, if your intensity is not total you will achieve it by and by, in steps. But understanding never comes to you - you are understanding. Enlightenment is not something that happens to you - you are enlightenment.

Remember this; then it is a choice, your choice. If you desire it totally, in that fire of total desire all that covers that understanding burns; suddenly the light is there. But it is up to you. It is not part of the nature of enlightenment to happen gradually or to happen suddenly.

Don't throw off the responsibility, that's how people create philosophies and schools. In Japan two schools of Zen exist: one believes in sudden enlightenment, another believes in gradual enlightenment - as if these are the qualities of enlightenment, as if they belong to enlightenment.

They don't belong to enlightenment. Enlightenment is always there; it is for you to choose. If your desire is total not even a single moment is lost. But if your desire is not total it means that you yourself are not willing it to happen right now. You want to postpone it, you want it tomorrow, some other day. Then you go on playing tricks.

Tao The Three Treasures Volume-1 Chapter - 09

On The Wise Ones Of Old

ON THE WISE ONES OF OLD

THE WISE ONES OF OLD HAD SUBTLE WISDOM

AND DEPTH OF UNDERSTANDING,

SO PROFOUND THAT THEY COULD NOT BE UNDERSTOOD

AND BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT BE UNDERSTOOD,

PERFORCE MUST THEY BE SO DESCRIBED:

CAUTIOUS, LIKE CROSSING A WINTRY STREAM,

IRRESOLUTE, LIKE ONE FEARING DANGER ALL AROUND,

GRAVE, LIKE ONE ACTING AS GUEST,

SELF-EFFACING, LIKE ICE BEGINNING TO MELT,

GENUINE, LIKE A PIECE OF UNDRESSED WOOD,

OPEN-MINDED, LIKE A VALLEY,

AND MIXING FREELY, LIKE MURKY WATER.

WHO CAN FIND REPOSE IN A MUDDY WORLD?

BY LYING STILL, IT BECOMES CLEAR.

WHO CAN MAINTAIN HIS CALM FOR LONG?

BY ACTIVITY, IT COMES BACK TO LIFE.

HE WHO EMBRACES THIS TAO

GUARDS AGAINST BEING OVERFULL.

BECAUSE HE GUARDS AGAINST BEING OVERFULL

HE IS BEYOND WEARING OUT AND RENEWAL

ON THE WISE ONES OF OLD

SOCRATES WAS DYING.

Tao The Three Treasures Volume-1 Chapter - 08

Attaining Absolute Indifference

The first question:

Question 1:

YOU HAVE SAID MUCH LATELY ABOUT INNER SILENCE AND EMPTINESS. AFTER TWO YEARS AS YOUR DISCIPLE, MUCH OF THE TIME, PARTICULARLY DURING THE MEDITATIONS AT THE ASHRAM, MY MIND SEEMS MORE THAN EVER TO BE OUT OF CONTROL AND WORKING LIKE A COMPUTER GONE MAD. I TRY TO BE A WITNESS TO THE WHOLE ABSURDITY, BUT THE MONSTER GOES ON AND ON!

LET THE MONSTER GO on and on and don't you be worried. The very worry is the problem, not the monster.

The whole world is going on and on: rivers go on flowing, clouds go on moving in the sky, birds go on chattering in the trees. Just why are you so against only the mind? Let it also go on and on - you be unconcerned.

Witnessing is not an effort. When you are unconcerned the witness arises. Be indifferent to the mind; in the climate of indifference the witness arises. The very idea that you have to stop it is wrong, that you have to still it is wrong, that you have to do something about this constant ongoing process is wrong. You are not required to do anything. If you do anything it won't help - it will help the trouble, not you. That's why when you meditate you feel the mind going more mad; when you don't meditate it is not so mad. When you are meditating you are too concerned with the mind, trying your hardest to make it still. Who are you? And why should you be worried about the mind?

What is wrong with it? Allow the thoughts, let them move like clouds.

Tao The Three Treasures Volume-1 Chapter - 07

On The Utility Of Not Being

ON THE UTILITY OF NOT-BEING:

THIRTY SPOKES UNITE AROUND THE NAVE;

FROM THEIR NOT-BEING (LOSS OF THEIR INDIVIDUALITY)

ARISES THE UTILITY OF THE WHEEL.

MOLD CLAY INTO A VESSEL;

FROM ITS NOT-BEING (IN THE VESSEL'S HOLLOW)

ARISES THE UTILITY OF THE VESSEL.

CUT OUT DOORS AND WINDOWS IN THE HOUSE (WALL),

FROM THEIR NOT-BEING (EMPTY SPACE)

ARISES THE UTILITY OF THE HOUSE.

THEREFORE BY THE EXISTENCE OF THINGS WE PROFIT.

AND BY THE NON-EXISTENCE OF THINGS WE ARE SERVED.

THE DEEPEST CORE of being is non-being. The foundation of isness is nothingness. And when I say nothingness I don't mean nothingness - I only mean no-thingness.

Form exists on the base of the formless. The form comes out of the formless just as waves come out of the sea, and then the form drops, dissolves into the formless again. The name arises out of the nameless, falls back, returns to the original source, becomes nameless again. Life arises out of death and moves to death again. The very basic thing to remember is that these opposites are not opposites, they are complementary. Death is not against life, nonexistence is not against existence, non-being is not against being. They are two polarities of the same phenomenon, which transcends all understanding.

Tao The Three Treasures Volume-1 Chapter - 06

There Is No Meaning

The first question:

Question 1:

YOU HAVE SAID THAT EVERY GESTURE FROM A MASTER IS SIGNIFICANT, AND OFTEN THE ANSWER IS GIVEN IN WHAT IS NOT SAID RATHER THAN WHAT IS SAID. BUT OFTEN WHEN YOU LOOK OR GLANCE AT ME, AND I FEEL THERE IS A MESSAGE, I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO IDENTIFY THE MESSAGE WITHOUT USING MY MIND. AND EVEN WHEN I DO USE MY MIND I AM NOT SURE.

THE MIND CANNOT BE USED. Once you use the mind you have missed the point. Silence has to be understood in silence; a no-word message is to be understood wordlessly. If you try to understand through words and through mind you will miss it, you will misunderstand it. Then your own mind has come in. Then you will interpret it. Then it will not be pure, it will not be the same.

And if you ask, "Then what to do?" you ask a wrong question. The question of how arises from the mind. There is no question of how. You be silent. Don't do anything, don't try to interpret it, don't try in any way to interfere with it - let it spread over your being. You may not be able to identify it right now because it is vaster than the mind and all identifications are from the mind. You may not be able to know exactly what it is, but there is no need. You may not be able to decipher, decode the meaning of it, but there is no need. Let the wordless message reach to your wordless center. It is a deep contact, and the contact is the meaning. It is a deep penetration, and the penetration is the meaning.

You pass by a rosebush and you look at a roseflower. What is the meaning? If-you start thinking about the roseflower, the mind enters and the roseflower is lost. Then the mind creates a wall of words, thoughts, concepts and you cannot even see the roseflower there.

Tao The Three Treasures Volume-1 Chapter - 05

On The Danger Of Overweening Success

ON THE DANGER OF OVERWEENING SUCCESS

STRETCH A BOW TO THE VERY FULL

AND YOU WILL WISH YOU HAD STOPPED IN TIME.

TEMPER A SWORD TO ITS VERY SHARPEST,

AND THE EDGE WILL NOT LAST LONG.

WHEN GOLD AND JADE FILL YOUR HALL,

YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

TO BE PROUD WITH WEALTH AND HONOR

IS TO SOW THE SEEDS OF ONE'S OWN DOWNFALL.

RETIRE WHEN YOUR WORK IS DONE,

SUCH IS HEAVEN'S WAY.

ON THE DANGER OF OVERWEENING SUCCESS

LOGIC MOVES to the very extreme - life never. That's how logic misses life. Logic has a tendency to reach to a conclusion - life is never concluding.

Life has no conclusion. It goes on and on and on without any conclusion; it is without any beginning and without any end, it is always in the middle, it is always in the present, it is an on-going process.

That's how a logical mind becomes by and by dead; that's how logic becomes its own downfall.