Six Patriarchs Platform Sutra: Buddha's Singing at Caoxi; Chan Talks: The Master's Rod and; The Root of Vegetables: The Taste of Life

Author: Cai Zhizhong
Publisher:
Publishing Date: Not available
Features: "Zen Sayings · Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch · The Vegetarian's Manual"
Author: Many people come to me to learn about Zen before asking me many questions. Their reason is that before climbing the stairs, they want to know what is on the upper floor and whether it is worth them climbing up to see. Whether the scenery on the upper floor can pique their interest. I tell them that the content of Zen should be compared to a person who has never eaten a mango and one who has eaten a mango. If you have never eaten a mango, no matter how you describe its shape, color, and texture and flavor to you, you still won't know the true taste of a mango. You must taste it yourself to know. Over the years, I have often thought about why Zen is so attractive. For general Buddhists, their love for Zen is natural. However, strangely, Zen has a particularly force towards the Chinese people, and on some level, it transcends religion. Therefore, we see many non-Buddhist outsiders who oppose Buddhism and cannot even find fault with Zen because there is almost nothing to criticize about it. It transcends all forms and deadlocks and directly enters the depths of people's hearts. We can even say: "When everything reaches the peak of creativity, it somewhat reflects Zen. Of course, these are not the true essence of Zen, but they are still enough to move people and inspire admiration. Over the years, I have often thought about why Zen is so attractive. For general Buddhists, their love for Zen is natural. However, strangely, Zen has a particularly force towards the Chinese people, and on some level, it transcends religion. Therefore, we see many non-Buddhist outsiders who oppose Buddhism and cannot even find fault with Zen because there is almost nothing to criticize about it. It transcends all forms and deadlocks and directly enters the depths of people's hearts. We can even say: "When everything reaches the peak of creativity, it somewhat reflects Zen. Of course, these are not the true essence of Zen, but they are still enough to move people and inspire admiration."