Enlightening Words

This is an excerpt from “Trust in Mind”, or in Chinese, the “Hsin Shin Ming”. It is the first known Chan poem. In China, they use the word ‘Chan’, while the Japanese use ‘Zen’ - Zen started in China when Bodhidharma came from the west (India). So Toism met Buddhism and Chan (Zen) was born. I’ll add more information here sometime today. Just know that this is a very sophisticated, direct, and simple instruction. It is the bone, so to speak, of the Buddha’s teachings and introduces us directly to ‘The Way’: correct function, correct situation, correct relationship or the view of shunyata (emptiness).

Trust in Mind
the Hsin Shin Ming

The Great Way is not difficult:
Just don’t pick and choose.
Cut off all likes or dislikes
And it is clear like space.

The slightest distinction
Splits heaven from earth.
To see the truth
Don’t be for or against.

Likes and dislikes
Are the mind’s disease.
If you miss the deep meaning,
It is useless to still your thoughts

It is clear as vast space,
Nothing missing, nothing extra.
If you choose or reject,
You cannot see things as they are.

Outside, don’t get tangled in things.
Inside, don’t get lost in emptiness.
Be still and become One,
And confusion stops by itself