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Main Case Edit

Zen master Dajian Huineng of Mount Caoxi was once asked by a monastic, "Who has grasped the significance of Huangmei [the Fifth Ancestor, Daman Hongren]?"1

Huineng said, "Those who understand the Buddhadharma have it."2

The monastic said, "Do you have it, Master?"3

Huineng said, "No, I do not have it."4

The monastic said, "How come you don't have it?"5

Huineng said, "Because I don't understand the Buddhadharma."6

Notes Edit

This fellow is playing with shadows. Once you grasp it, what do you have? What is he saying? Planting grass seeds doesn't produce cabbages. Suddenly they are both up to their nostrils in foul water. He pleads his innocence, but it's embarassing it's come this far. He wants to know. He hasn't realized yet that the ground beneath his feet is about to disappear. Even the yellow-faced old barbarian didn't understand.

In understanding, just understand clearly without settling down in understanding. In not understanding, just don't know without attaching to not knowing.

The Buddhadharma is beyond knowing and not knowing. Knowing is being caught up in the words and ideas that describe reality; not knowing is blank conciousness. The reality of things cannot be found in either extreme.

Capping Verse Edit

The illiterate woodcutter from the south

still doesn't understand.

It's not that there is no such thing;

it's just that it cannot be grasped.

Appearances Edit