Where did the dust come from? Great wisdom in small stories

Author: Zhu Ying
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: Zen is a school of Chinese Buddhism, centered on the practice of investigating and realizing the true nature of the mind. It is also known as the Buddha Mind School. After Buddhism was introduced to China, Zen or the practice of Zen has been widely spread. During the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Southern and Northern Dynasties, numerous Zen scriptures were translated, making Zen a highly significant school of thought. It is said that Bodhidharma came from the eastern coast of India to Luoyang during the Qi and Liang Dynasties of the Southern and Northern Dynasties to propagate Zen. By the time of the fifth patriarch Hongren, who was selecting a successor, he asked everyone to compose a verse. Shenxiu wrote: "The body is a Bodhi tree, the mind a clear mirror stand; constantly wipe it clean, do not let dust gather." Hongren thought it was "not yet seen through the true nature." Huineng also composed a verse: "The Bodhi tree is fundamentally without a tree, the mirror stand is also not a stand; originally there is nothing, where can dust gather?" Hongren approved and secretly passed on the robe and law to him, making him the sixth patriarch. This is how the book got its name. The Dao Heart is the Zen Heart. The Zen Heart extends infinitely in space, transcending finite boundaries; in time, it also transcends all time and remains always present in the here and now, in the present moment, in oneself. Thus, the true Zen Heart lives in all spaces and all times. Through the reflection of no-self in the present moment, Zen reveals eternity, infinity, and freedom.