Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters

8/3/2019 Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters

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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 1 of 74

Teachings From

Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters

Translated and Commented by Nguyen Giac

This book is dedicated to:

- my three teachers -- The Zen Master Thich Tich Chieu, and the lateDharma Masters Thich Thien Tam and Thich Tai Quang;- all my parents in this life and other lives;- a very special layperson who is urgently needing help fromAvalokitesvara Bodhisattva; and all sentient beings.

I am grateful to a lot of Zen monks and laypersons who translated theverses composed by ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters into the modernVietnamese language, and made reference easy for later generations.

Specifically, I am indebted to the Zen Masters Thich Thanh Tu, Tri SieuLe Manh That and to layperson Tran Dinh Son, whose works I relied onwhile working on this book.

(Extracted from a book in progress.Please feel free to use for reference purposes.

On the web: http://thuvienhoasen.org/ZenAncientMasters.htmAll suggestions are welcome.Email: [email protected] -- California, 2006)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 2 of 741 Sitting

There are three ways of sitting in meditation.First, sit and keep your mind on breathing;

Second, sit and chant the sutras;And third, sit and happily listen to the chanting of sutras.Sitting has three levels.First, sit in union;Second, sit in peacefulness;And third, sit without fetters.What does it mean to sit in union?That means your mind becomes one with your body.What does it mean to sit in peacefulness?That means your mind has no thought.What does it mean to sit without fetters?When all fetters are destroyed that means to sit without fetters.

KHUONG TANG HOI (? 280)

(COMMENT: When mindful of your breathing, you are also mindful ofyour mind. Later, you will see your mind becoming one with your breath.

When mindful of your bodily movement, you are also mindful of yourmind. Later, you will see your mind becoming one with your body.Looking at your mind, you see thoughts coming and going, just likewaves rising and falling. When you see no thoughts occurring, your mindis peaceful just like a still lake.)

1 Ngi

C ba li ngi theo o.Mt l ngi s tc.

Hai l ngi tng kinh.Ba l ngi vui nghe kinh. l ba.Ngi c ba cp.Mt l ngi hip v.Hai l ngi tnh.Ba l ngi khng c kt.Ngi hip v l g? L bm ly hnh khng ri, l ngi hip v.Ngi tnh l g? L khng nim ngh, l ngi tnh.Ngi khng c kt l g? L kt ht, l ngi khng c kt.

KHNG TNG HI (Introduction to Kinh An Ban Th Bn dch TT TrSiu L Mnh Tht.)

(BNH:Khi nim hi th, bn cng ang nim tm ca bn. Sau , bns thy tm bn tr thnh mt vi hi th. Khi nim cc hnh ng cathn, nh lc ny l ngi, bn cng ang nim tm bn. Ri bn s thy

thn v tm l mt. Nhn vo tm bn, bn thy cc nim n ri i, htnhsng ln ri xung. Khi bn thy khng nim no khi, tm bn san tnh nhmt h phng lng.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 4 of 743 Breathing

Breathing in, you feel you are breathing in;breathing out, you feel you are breathing out.

Breathing in, you know you are breathing in;breathing out, you know you are breathing out.While you breathe, you feel; then, you know.Feeling that means you feel the breath long or short.Knowing that means you are aware of the breath rising and falling,rough or smooth, slow or fast.

KHUONG TANG HOI

(COMMENT: Breathing meditation helps calm the mind easily; it is also apart of mindfulness meditation. There are many ways in breathingmeditation. Some teachers prefer to count or follow the breaths. Youshould also try this way: With eyes half open, dont count, dont follow,just feel the breaths; Be alert, and feel the breathing. Just be like a baby,and feel the breathing. A baby can not think, can not count, can not puther mind on the breaths, but she lives mostly with a sense of feeling andshe will cry when the room is too hot, or when she is hungry. Just feel

the breaths, dont count or follow it. Remember that all methods ofbreathing meditation are helpful, and you can try many different ones.The Buddha said that breathing meditation cured many illness too.)

3 Th

Hi th ra, hi th vo thiu,hi th ra, hi th vo tbit.

ng lc y l hiu, v sau l bit.Hiu l hiu hi th di ngn.Bit l bit hi th sinh dit th tchm nhanh.

KHNG TNG HI Bn dch TT Tr Siu L Mnh Tht.

(BNH: Php thin nim hi th gip tnh tm d dng; n cng l mtphn ca thin qun nim. C nhiu php nim hi th. Vi v thy acch m hay theo di hi th. Bn cng nn thcch ny: Vi mt mna chng, ng m, ng theo di, m hy cm nhn hi th; Hytnh to, v cm nhn hi th. Hy ht nhmt em b s sinh, v cmnhn hi th. Em b khng thsuy ngh, khng thm, khng thchtm vo hi th, nhng em b sng hu ht l bng cm thc, v b skhc khi trong phng qu nng, hay khi b i bng. Hy cm nhn hith, ng m hay theo di n. Hy nh rng tt c phng php nimhi thu tt, v bn c ththtp nhiu php nim hi th khcnhau. c Pht ni php thin hi th cng cha c nhiu bnh.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 6 of 746 Watchful

Watch yourself everyday, constantly.

Watch yourself, be mindful, be alert.In this dream world, dont search for Dharma counselor;Watch yourself, and see the Buddhas face on your face.

HUONG HAI (1628 1715)

(COMMENT: Watch yourself, and see you are impermanent, non-self.Watch yourself, and see whether you are living in a dream. You arechanging swiftly, endlessly. Yesterday, you had millions of different

bodies, millions of different feelings, millions of different thoughts justlike a stream flowing swiftly. Look back and see all those bodies, feelings,and thoughts just like dreams, like echoes, like mirages. Then look at theday before yesterday. Do you feel just like millions of lives away? Arethose dreams? Think nothing, just observe. Just be alert, feel the breath,observe the body breathing. And feel the life and death flowing swiftly,endlessly in your whole body.)

6 Thm St

Hng ngy qun li chnh ni mnh

Xt nt k cng ch d khinhTrong mng tm chi ngi tri thcMt thy s thy trn mt mnh.

(Phn vn tk mi thng quanThm st tduy ttkhanMc gio mng trung tm tri thcTng lai din thng snhan.)

HNG HI (1628 1715) Bn dch HT Thanh T.

(BNH: Hy nhn chnh bn, v thy rng bn l v thng, v ng. Hynhn chnh bn, v xem c phi bn ang sng trong mt gic m. Bnang bin i mau chng, bt tn. Hm qua, bn c hng triu thnkhc nhau, hng triu cm th khc nhau, hng triu nim khc nhau yht nhmt dng sui chy xit. Hy nhn li v xem tt c cc thn ,cm th, v nim y ht nhm, nhting vang, nho nh.Ri

hy nhn vo ngy trc ngy hm qua. Bn c cm thy nhl hngtriu kip xa cch khng? C phi chng l m? Hy quan st, ngkhi nim. Hy tnh to, hy cm nhn hi th, hy quan st thn bnang th. V hy cm thy sng v cht ang tri chy mau chng, bttn trong tan thn bn.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 7 of 747 The Spring

When spring goes, all flowers die.

When spring comes, all flowers smile.Before the eyes, all things flow endlessly.Over the head, old age comes already.Dont say that with the spring gone, all flowers fall.Last night, in the front yard, a branch of mai flower.

MAN GIAC (1052 1096)

(COMMENT: Mai is a kind of flower that blossoms in springtime in

Vietnam. Notice the contrast between the first and last line; also, the lastline of the poem is a fragment sentence, without a verb, showing thestate of unborn, unmoving, undying. While the stream manifests asendless waves rising and falling, the nature of water stays unmoved,uncreated. Now look at your mind, and see thoughts coming and going,arising and vanishing. The mind is just like a mirror that shows you theimages of all things reflected. All images come and go, but the reflectivityis still there, unmoving, undying. Now, listen to the sound of two hands

clapping, then listen to the sound of one hand clapping. Do you hear thesoundless? The sound comes and goes, but the nature of hearing abilityis still there even in your sleep, unchanging, unmoving, undying.)

7 Ma Xun

Xun i trm hoa rng,Xun n trm hoa ci.

Trc mt vic i mi,Trn u gi n ri.Ch bo xun tn hoa rng ht,m qua, sn trc, mt cnh mai.(Xun khbch hoa lc,Xun o bch hoa khai.Strc nhn tin qu,Lo tng u thng lai.Mc v xun tn hoa lc tn,

nh tin tc d nht chi mai.)

MN GIC (1052 - 1096) - Bn dch HT Thanh T.

(BNH: Mai l mt lai hoa n vo ma xun VN. Hy ghi nhn stringhch gia dng u v cui bi th; thm na, dng cui l mt cukhng y , thiu ng t, cho thy trng thi ca bt sinh, bt ng,bt dit. Trong khi dng sui hin l nhl cc t sng bt tn ht sinh

ri dit, tnh ca nc vn bt ng, v tc. By gi hy nhn vo tmca bn, v thy nim n ri i, sinh ri dit. Tm y ht nhmt tmgng cho bn thy hnh nh vn php c phn chiu. Tt c cc nhn ri i, nhng tnh phn chiu vn , bt ng, bt dit. By gi,hy nghe ting v ca hai bn tay, ri hy nghe ting v ca mt bntay. Bn c nghe ting v thanh? m thanh n ri i, nhng tnh nghevn cn ngay c trong gic ng ca bn, khng di i, bt ng, btdit.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 11 of 7412 Not Two Things

All Buddhist gates are from your essence,

and the essence of all things are from your mind.Your mind and all things are one, not two things.The fetters of samsara are all void.Blessedness and sinfulness, right and wrong all are illusions.CUU CHI (circa 11th century)

(COMMENT: Nonduality. Not two things. Dont think, dont reason. Feelit, live it. Try to feel it even just half an hour, then you will believe inZen.

First, with eyes half open, be quiet, say nothing in your mind; feel thebreath in and out, gently feel every breath. Later, see that your wholebody is breathing just gently watch your whole body feel the breath,every breath. Later, see that your whole body and mind become onewith the breath. Then let your whole body gently feel the world around.Because you are non-self, you feel that you become one with the windaround, with the sounds from the beach, with the trees along the street,with the birds flying, and with all things you see, your hear. In your

mirror mind, all things appear equally, all things are illusions; only thereflecting mind is shining.)

12 Khng hai php

Phm tt c cc php mn vn ttnh ca cc ngi,

tnh tt c cc php vn ttm ca cc ngi.Tm php nht nh, vn khng hai php.Phin no tri buc, tt cu khng.Ti phc phi quy, tt cu huyn.CU CH Bn dch HT Thanh T

(BNH: Bt nh. Khng hai. ng nghngi, ng bin lun. Hy cmnhn, hy sng n. Hy thcm nhn n cho d ch na gi, ri bn stin vo Thin.

Trc tin, vi mt m h, githt lng l, khng ni g trong tm; hycm nhn hi th vo v ra, hy du dng cm nhn tng hi th. Sau, hy thy rng tan thn bn ang th -- hy du dng quan st tanthn bn cm nhn hi th, tng hi th. Sau , hy thy rng tanthn v tm ca bn tr thnh mt vi hi th. Ri hy tan thn cabn cm nhn thgii chung quanh. Bi v bn l v ng, bn cm thyrng bn tr thnh mt vi ngn gi quanh y, vi cc m vang tbbin, vi cc hng cy dc bn ng ph, vi cc con chim ang bay,

v vi mi thbn thy, bn nghe. Trong gng tm ca bn, tt cxut hin bnh ng, tt cu l o nh; ch c tm phn chiu l angchiu sng.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 12 of 7413 Swallow Flying

In the sky, the swallow flies;underwater its image shines.

The swallow has no intention to leave any trace;the water, no purpose to keep any image.HUONG HAI (1628 1715)

(COMMENT: When King Le Du Tong asked for a summary of Buddhistteachings, Zen master Huong Hai said this four-line poem. Watch theworld, and see all things reflected in your mind. Follow the Buddhaswords, Nothing should be clung to. Also dont cling to the happinessyou are feeling now, even dont cling to this peaceful meditation you

might get addicted to, even dont cling to any feel-good method orwhatsoever. Dont cling to anything in this suffering world. Even theblissfulness you feel now in meditation will bind you in this sufferingrealm, if you cling to it; mostly, that blissfulness is not the Nirvana yet.)

13 Nhn Bay

Nhn bay trn khngBng chm y nc

Nhn khng duNc khng tm lu bng.(Nhn qu trng khngnh trm hn thyNhn v di tch chi Thy v lu nh chi tm.)

HNG HI Bn dch HT Thanh T

(BNH: Khi Vua L D Tng hi thno l i Pht Php, Thin S

Hng Hi c bi th bn cu ny. Hy nhn vo thgii, v thy mithphn nh trong tm ca bn. Hy theo li Pht dy, Khng bmchp thg c. Cng ng m chp vo ci hnh phc bn ang cmthy by gi, cng ng m chp vo php mn thin nh an tnh mbn c th say m nghin ngp n, cng ng m chp vo bt kphng php cm-thy-thai-mi no hay bt cg. ng bm chp gvo bt cg trong ci au kh ny. Ngay c san lc bn ang cmthy by gi trong thin tp cng s tri buc bn vo ci au kh ny,

nu bn bm chp vo n; hu ht, san lc cha phi Nit Bnu.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 16 of 7419 Crossing the Ocean

All things, originally, are just like nothingness.

There is neither existence nor emptiness.Those who know that nature will recognize that sentient beings andBuddha are equal.The moon of Lankavatara is quiet; the vessel of Prajnaparamita, void.Realize the emptiness [of all things], and use this emptiness insight toapprehend the existence. Then you know how to live in the rightcontemplation, naturally at all times.HUE SINH (? 1063)(COMMENT: Lankavatara and Prajnaparamita are two Mahayana

scriptures. Both are studied in most Zen monasterries. The rightcontemplation mentioned above is a part of the Noble Eightfold Path.)

19 Qua Bin

Php gc nhkhng php,Chng c cng chng khng.

Nu ngi bit php y,Chng sanh cng Pht ng.Trng Lng-gi vng lngThuyn Bt-nh rng khng.Bit khng, khng gic cChnh nh mc thong dong.(Php bn nhv phpPhi hu dic phi vNhc nhn tri thphp

Chng sanh dPht ng.Tch tch Lng-gi nguytKhng khng hi chu.Tri khng, khng gic huTam-mui nhm thng chu.)HU SINH Bn dch HT Thanh T.(BNH: Lng Gi v Bt Nh Ba La Mt l hai b kinh Bc Tng. Hu htthin vin u hc c hai kinh ny. Chnh nh ni trn l mt phn

trong Bt Chnh o.)

20 Empty Mind

The true nature is empty, nowhere to grasp.

With an empty mind, you will see the self-nature easily.In the mountain burning, the jewels color is shining bright.In the kiln firing, the lotus blossoms beautifully.NGO AN (1019 1088)(COMMENT: The mountain burning and the kiln firing symbolize thissuffering world. The jewel and the lotus symbolize the Buddha Nature,the Buddha within yourself, and the Nirvana you are never away.)

20 Tm Khng

Diu tnh rng khng chng thvin,Rng khng tm ng vic d tin.Ti nhun sc ngc trong ni chy,L la hoa sen n tht xinh.(Diu tnh hv bt kh phan,Hv tm ngc h nan.Ngc phn sn thng sc thng nhun,

Lin pht l trung thp v cn.)NGN Bn dch HT Thanh T.(BNH: Ngn ni b nung chy, v l la chy tng trng cho thgiiau kh ny. Ngc v hoa sen tng trng Pht Tnh, tc v Pht trongbn, v l Nit Bn m bn cha bao gi la xa.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 17 of 7421 Mind Teachings

Eternally dwelling in worlds,unborn and undying that is called Buddha.Understanding the mind teachings of Buddha,attaining enlightenment along with interpreting scriptures those arecalled Patriarchs.Buddha and Patriarchs are just one.Only the bookworm wrongly says they have high and low levels.Moreover, Buddha is awareness.Quiet since infinite time, dwelling eternally -- this awareness is.And all sentient beings have it.

Because their passion defilements cover this awareness,all sentient beings follow the karmaand fall into the cycle of rebirth then all the realms of samsara exist.THONG BIEN (? 1134)

(COMMENT: After meditating for a while, you should read many Buddhistscriptures, go to many temples, talk to many different sectarian teachers,and find a tradition you feel comfortable most. Then you should formally

take refuge in the Three Precious Ones -- Buddha, Dharma, Sangha and receive the precepts to make sure that we will never fall into lowerrealms, and will always move forward on the way to liberation.)

21 Tm Tng

Thng tr thgian, khng sanh khng dit gi l Pht.R bit tm tng ca Pht, hnh v gii tng ng gi l T.Pht v T ch l mt, bi nhng k lm hc di ni c hn km m thi.V li, Pht l gic. Ci gic ny xa nay lng l thng tr. Tt c chngsanh u ng c l ny, ch v tnh trn che lp, theo nghip tri ln,chuyn thnh cc ci.THNG BIN Bn dch HT Thanh T.

(BNH: Sau khi thin tp mt thi gian, bn nn c nhiu kinh Pht, ithm nhiu cha, ni chuyn vi nhiu v thy cc tng phi khc nhau,

v tm mt truyn thng m bn cm thy thai mi nht. Ri bn nnchnh thc quy y Tam Bo Pht, Php, Tng v th gii bo mrng bn s khng bao gi ri vo cc ci thp, v s lun lun tin trnng ti qu v gii that.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 19 of 7423 Weird Thing

I have a weird thing not blue, not yellow, not black, not red, not white.Both monks and laypersons who like birth and dislike death are theoutlawed.They dont know that birth and deaththough are different trails, but just only gain and loss.If you say birth and death are different ways,you cheat both Sakyamuni and Maitreya.If you know birth and death, death and birth,then you understand where I dwell.

You all, Zen practitioners and future learners,should not accept patterns and guidelines.GIOI KHONG (circa 12th century)

(COMMENT: All patterns and guidelines are the finger pointing, not themoon you want to see. If you dont have the guidelines, you dont knowhow to practice Zen. But when you cling to it as truth, you neverunderstand the mind teachings. This is the gateless gate, and also thepathless path.)

23 Vic Kc

Ta c mt vic kc,Chng xanh vng en trng.C ngi ti gia, xut gia,Thch sanh, chn tl gic.Chng r sanh tkhc ng,Sanh tch l c mt.Nu cho sanh tkhc ng,La c Thch-ca, Di-lc.V bit sanh t, sanh t,Mi hiu lo tng ch nu,

Mn nhn, hu hc, cc ngi,Ch nhn khun mu php tc.(Ng hu nht skc,Phi thanh hunh xch bch hc.Thin h ti gia xut gia,Thn sanh tvi tc.Bt tri sanh td l,Sanh tch th tht c.Nhc ngn sanh td,Trm khc Thch-ca Di-lc.Nhc tri sanh t, sanh t,Phng hi lo tng xnc.Nhng hu hc mn nhn,Mc nhn bn tinh qutc.)

GII KHNG Bn dch HT Thanh T.

(BNH: Tt c khun mu php tc l ngn tay ch, khng phi mt

trng m bn mun thy. Nu bn khng c cc hng dn , bnkhng bit lm sao tp Thin. Nhng khi bn bm chp vo n nhchnl, bn s khng bao gi hiu c php mn tm tng ny. y l cakhng ca, v cng l ng i khng c ng i.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 21 of 7426 Illusory Body

This illusory body was originally born from emptiness and stillness,just like images appearing in a mirror.Realizing that all forms are all empty,instantly in this illusory body you realize the true form.BON TICH (1100 1176)

(COMMENT: Empty. True form. Just look around. Are all things aroundyou emptiness? And how can we realize the true form in this illusorybody? How can we feel that, experience that, and live that? Justmeditate.)

26o Thn

Thn huyn vn tkhng tch sanh,Dng t trong gng hin bng hnh.Bng hnh gic r khng tt c,Thn huyn chp mt chng tng chn.(Huyn thn bn tkhng tch sanh,Du nhcnh trung xut hnh tng.Hnh tng gic liu nht thit khng,Huyn thn tu du chng tht tng.)Ni k xong, Sth tch, th 77 tui.BN TNH Bn dch HT Thanh T.

(BNH: Khng. Tht tng. Hy nhn quanh. C phi vn php quanhbn u l khng? V lm sao bn c thchng ng tht tng trong othn ny? Lm sao bn c thcm thy nhth, kinh nghim nhth,

v sng nhth? Hy thin tp.)

27 Inaction

Profound originally, the emptiness manifests itself visibly.A peaceful wind blows, and creates all the universe.Wish all human beings know the bliss of inaction,because attaining the inaction is coming home.CHAN KHONG (1045 1100)

(COMMENT: Inaction is another name of Nirvana.)

27 V Vi

Diu bn thnh thang r tby,Gi ha thi dy khp ta-b.Ngi ngi nhn c v vi lc,Nu c v vi mi l nh.(Diu bn hv minh tkhoa,Ha phong xuy khi bin ta-b.Nhn nhn tn thc v vi lc,Nhc c v vi thy th gia.)

CHN KHNG Bn dch HT Thanh T.

(BNH: V vi l mt tn khc ca Nit Bn.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 25 of 7432 Butterflies

With the spring coming back, butterflies and flowers meet here.Urged by timely passions, butterflies and flowers unite.All butterflies and flowers, since infinite time, have been illusions.You should keep your mind unmoved, despite all the butterflies andflowers.GIAC HAI (circa 11th century)

(COMMENT: All passions tie us to this world, just like butterflies hoveringaround flowers. You see a beautiful woman, have a nice talk with her,and her lovely face might be imprinted in your memory for decades.

While you grow old, while you are waiting to die in bed, her image inyour memory is still young and lovely even she in real life must be an oldwoman with white hair and wrinkles. If you have a thought of clinging tothat young and lovely image, you have no way to break free from thissuffering realm. But you should not try to empty that image from yourmind. Dont try to empty anything from your mind, because that isimpossible and unsuitable. And because that image is empty in nature.Just realize the law of dependent origination, just see the emptinessnature of all things that is the way of meditation. Open your eyes, andsee it.)

32 Bm

Xun v hoa bm gp nhau y,Hoa bm phi cn hp lc ny.Hoa bm xa nay u l huyn,Gitm bn cht bm hoa thy.(Xun lai hoa ip thin tri th,Hoa ip ng tu cng ng k.Hoa ip bn lai giai th huyn,Mc tu hoa ip hng tm tr.)

Thin SGIC HI (Khong thk 11-12) Bn dch HT Thanh T

(BNH: Tt c cc say m buc chng ta vo thgii ny, y ht nhbm ln quanh hoa. Bn gp mt thiu np, ni chuyn vui avi nng, v khun mt d thng ca nng c th in vo tr nh bntrong nhiu thp nin v sau. Khi bn gi i, trong khi bn ch cht trnging bnh, hnh nh nng trong tr nh bn vn th tr v d thngcho d trong i thc, nng hn phi l mt b c tc bc v da nhn.Nu bn c mt nim chp gily hnh nh th tr v d thng , bnkhng c cch no gii that ra khi ci au kh ny. Nhng bn cngng tm cch xa i hnh nh trong tm bn. ng tm cch xa ibt cg trong tm bn, bi v iu bt kh v khng thch nghi. Vbi v hnh nh trong bn cht li l tnh khng rng rang. Hy nhnra nh lut duyn khi, hy nhn thy tnh khng ca vn php lthin o. Hy m hai mt bn ra, v nhn thy n.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 29 of 7436 Birth and Death

The true nature is profound and omnipresent;Its inwardness is originally emptiness and stillness.Not identical with birth and death,

it functions unhinderedly.Thus birth comes from nowhere,and death goes to nowhere.DAO HUE (circa 12th century)

(COMMENT: How can you see and hear its stillness? Sitting motionlessand silencing all the noise? The stillness nature is not apart from themotion or the noise. You will touch it, feel it, see it, hear it when you

realize the nonself nature of all things.Zen Master Thuong Chieu, my Dharma uncle, once was asked about theway of Zen. The old monk Thuong Chieu took a small pebble, threw it ata wall, and asked if the student heard the sound of the pebble hitting thewall. The student said, Yes, Master. I heard it. Zen Master ThuongChieu said, Thats the Way.)

36 Sinh v T

o Hu bo:- Chn tnh diu vin, thtkhng tch,

vn dng tti, chng ng vi sanh t.Thnn, sanh khng tu n, tchng i vu.DAO HUE (~ 1190) Bn dch HT Thanh T

(BNH: Lm sao bn c ththy v nghe tnh khng tch ? Ngi btng v tt ht mi tingn? Tnh vng lng khng ri khi schuynng hay tingn. Bn s s chm n, cm nhn n, thy n, nghe nkhi bn chng ng tnh v ng ca vn php.

Thin SThng Chiu, v sthc ca ti, mt ln c hi v Thin. Vsgi Thng Chiu cm ln mt vin si nh, nm vo tng, v hithin sinh c nghe ting vin si chm tng hay khng. Thin sinh p,Tha thy, con nghe ting . Thin SThng Chiu ni, lo.)


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44 Illusions

All things in this world of illusion are all illusions.Meditating in this world of illusion is all illusion.

Dont cling to both kinds of illusions; thus you destroy all illusions.HIEN QUANG (? 1221)

(COMMENT: Everything is like a dream, a mirage, an echo, an illusion.Buddha said so. Then why do we have to meditate? Because we have towake up from this dream. We should not stay longer in this sufferingworld. We have to cross the samsara river to reach the nirvana shore.Meditation is like crossing the river; however, if we think meditation is

something ultimately real, then we still get stuck in the dream.So, meditate like an ox, made out of mud, crossing a river. The more youmeditate, the faster the ox vanishes. See that for yourself.)

44 Huyn

Php huyn u l huyn,Tu huyn u l huyn,

Hai huyn u chng nhn,Tc l trcc huyn.(Huyn php giai th huyn,Huyn tu giai th huyn,Nh huyn giai bt tc,Tc th trchhuyn.)

Thin SHIN QUANG (? - 1221) Bn dch HT Thanh T

(BNH: Vn php u nhm, nhqung nng, nhvang, nhhuyn.c Pht ni nhth. Vy, ti sao chng ta phi thin nh? Bi v chngta phI tnh thc ra khi gic m ny. Chng ta khng nn lu hntrong thgii au kh. Chng ta phi vt dng sng sinh tti bNit Bn. Thin nh cng ht nhvt sng; tuy nhin, nu chng tanghrng Thin l ci g thc sl thc, th chng ta s vn kt tronggic m ny.Do vy, hy tu thin nhmt con tru vt sng, m tru ny lm bngbn. Bn cng thin nh, th con tru cng tan bin nhanh hn. Hy t

chng ng nhth.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 37 of 7445 PHT TM CA Ci tm mun php l tm Pht


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45 PHT TM CA

Pht! Pht! Pht! Khng ththyTm! Tm! Tm! Khng thni.Nu khi tm sanh l Pht sanh

Nu khi Pht dit l tm dit.Dit tm cn Pht chuyn khng uDit Pht cn tm khi no ht?Mun bit Pht tm, sanh dit tmi n sau ny Di-lc quyt.Xa khng tm, nay khng PhtPhm, Thnh, ngi, tri nhin chp.Tm thkhng th cng khng phi

Pht tnh chng hcng chng tht.Bng dng dy, bng dng dngXa qua nay li lung nghbn.u ch chn vi tha T tngLi khin yu ma nh mnh lng.Mun tm tm, ng tm ngoiBn thnhnhin trng lng.Nit-bn sanh tbuc rng sungPhin no B-i ch rng.

Tm tc Pht, Pht tc tmDiu ch sng ngi sut c kim.Xun n, tnhin hoa xun nThu v, hin r nc thu su.B vng tm, gichn tnhNhngi tm bng m qun knh.u bit bng c tni gngChng r vng ttrong chn hin.

Vng n khng tht cng khng hGng nhn khng cong cng khng thng.Cng khng ti, cng khng phcLm snh ma-ni cng bch ngc.Ngc c vt chchu c tTnh vn khng hng cng khng lc.Cng khng c, cng khng mt,By ln by l bn mi chn.Tam c cu tnh nht trong khng

Lc vn hnh sng trn bin.Lng, lng, lng, chm, chm, chm

Ci tm mun php l tm Pht.Tm Pht li cng tm ta hpLy nhnhin sut c kim.i cng thin, ngi cng thinTrong l la rc, mt hoa sen.

kh mt th thm khc ni an tin hy an tin.Chao! Chao! Chao! i! i! i!Bt trong bin c ni chm rng.Cc hnh v thng tt c khngLinh ct Tin sch no thy?Tnh tnh thc, thc tnh tnhBn gc p t ch chinh nghing.

Ngi no ni y tin c nTrn nh T-l ct bc iHt!TU TRUNG THNG S TRN TUNG (1230 - 1291)

-- Bn dch HT Thanh T

(BNH: Bi th ny ni nhiu qu. Bt k li bnh no ni y u s lmtn thng vp thi ca ca n.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 43 of 74if i i


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51 Manifesting

Appearing clearly all day and night,the self nature manifests suitably.

Seeing the true eternity acting through the six senses,you will move across, up and downamong all phenomena with complete enlightenment.CHAN NGUYEN (1647 1726)

(COMMENT: Many Zen masters believe that koan meditation solely mightnot be helpful. While reviving the 700-year-old Truc Lam Zen School tobecome the largest Zen school in Vietnam now, the well-known ZenMaster Thanh Tu gave his dozens of Zen monasteries a new curriculumin which the koan study is only a part. This Zen master emphasizesmindfulness of the mind with an approach he called Tri Vong, meaningKnowing the False urging meditator to watch the mind, to be mindfulof the false thoughts, and not to wander with them. While the falsethinning out, the emptiness, or the True Mind, would be realized. Thenmeditator should live with this realization all day and night; this stage iscalled Song Voi Ong Chu, meaning Living With The Chief.)

51 Hin L

By hin r rng c sut ngy,y l ttnh mc ph by.

Chn thng ng dng su cn thy,Mun php dc ngang gic ng ngay.(Hin hch phn minh thp nh th,Thchi ttnh nhm thi vi.Lc cn vn dng chn thng kin,Vn php tung honh chnh bin tri.)CHN NGUYN (1647 - 1726) Bn dch HT Thanh T

(BNH: Nhiu Thin Stin rng php tu cng n n c c thkhngli ch. Trong khi hi phc dng Thin Trc Lm c t700 nm trctr thnh Thin phi ln nht VN by gi, v Thin SThanh Tniting trao cho hng chc Thin vin ca ngi mt gio trnh mi,trong hc v cng n ch l mt phn thi. Thin Sny nhn mnhstnh thc ca tm vi php m ngi gi l Tri Vng, ngha l nhn bitcc vng thc gic thin gia hy nhn tm, hy tnh bit cc vng nim,v ng lang thang vi chng. Khi cc vng mng dn i, th TnhKhng, tc Chn Tm, sc nhn ra. Ri th thin gia hy sng vi

chng ng ny c ngy m; giai on ny gi l Sng Vi ng Ch.)

Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 44 of 7452 F ll i th E ti 52 T Kh M Ti


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52 Following the Emptiness

Orginally, from the void of origin,following the emptiness to come

and then to leave along the emptiness,we originally neither come nor leave.How can birth and death bother us?NHU TRUNG LAN GIAC (1696 1733)

(COMMENT: Birth and death? The world-renowned Zen Master NhatHanh answered, No birth, no death. Currently the most famousVietnamese Zen master, he has established many Zen monasteriesworldwide, authored dozens of books on Buddhism, and promoted worldpeace via Engaged Buddhism. He emphasized breathing meditation, andwrote many beautiful poems on mindfulness.He said in a dharma talk in The Peace Walk 2002:Breathing in--I feel I am alive.Breathing out--I smile to life.Is Zen Master Nhat Hanhs explanation on birth and death different fromthe ancient Zen Master Nhu Trung Lan Giacs?Should you have your own explanation and your own experience on life?)

52 TKhng M Ti

Vn t khng gcTkhng m n

Li tkhng m iTa vn khng n iTsanh lm g ly.(Bn tng v bnTng v vi laiHon tng v vi khNg bn v lai khTsanh h tng ly.)

Thin S NHTRNG LN GIC (1696 - 1733) Bn dch HT Thanh T

(BNH: Sinh v t? Nht Hnh, v Thin Sni ting thgii, tr li,Khng sng, khng cht. Hin l v Thin SVit Nam ni ting nht,ngi lp nhiu Thin vin khp thgii, san hng chc sch v PhtGio, v ku gi ha bnh thgii xuyn qua Pht Gio Dn Thn. Nginhn mnh php thin hi th, v vit nhiu bi th hay v tnh thc.Ngi ni trong mt bui php thai trong Cuc i B Ha Bnh 2002:

Th vo Ti thy ti sngTh ra ti mm ci vi i.Gii thch ca Thin SNht Hnh v sinh tc khc vi gii thch caThin SNhTrng Ln Gic thi xa khng?Bn c nn c gii thch ring, v nn c ring kinh nghim ca bn vcuc i?)

Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 45 of 7453 Dharma Heir

53 Ngi Ni Dng Php


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Understanding that the Great Way has no words,entering the gate of nonduality,completing the countless teachings

Who would be that future dharma heir?TINH TUYEN (1674 1744)

(COMMENT: The meditation traditions in Vietnam mostly came fromChina centuries ago. Some Zen schools transformed into new ones, andthe teaching from Bodhidharma reincarnated in new forms and in newhistorical contexts.In the twentieth century, a different tradition came without any koan.The Theravada Buddhism spread to Vietnam, first from Cambodia andlater from Thailand, and revealed Vipassana meditation as a powerfultool to calm the mind and an understandable way to liberation.Is there any difference between Zen and Vipassana? Are they differentapproaches to master the mind? Do they belong to the countlessteachings that we have to practice?And, is there only one taste of liberation?)

53 Ngi Ni Dng Php

o c khng liVo ca chng hai

Php mn v lngAi l k sau.(Cho v ngnNhp bt nh mnPhp mn v lngThy th hu cn.)

Thin S TNH TUYN (1674 - 1744) Bn dch HT Thanh T

(BNH: Cc dng Thin ti VN hu ht tTrung Quc truyn sang tnhiu thk trc. Mt vi dng Thin chuyn ha thnh cc Thin phimi, v gio php tBt Ma li ti sinh trong cc hnh thc miv trong han cnh lch smi.Trong thk hai mi, mt truyn thng khc truyn sang mkhng c cng n.Pht Gio Theravada, cn gi l Nam Tng, truyn sang Vit Nam, trctin l tCam Bt v sau l tThi Lan, v em vo php Thin

Vipassana, cn gi l Thin Minh St, nhmt cng c mnh lit antm v nhmt li i ti gii that c thhiu c.C d bit no gia Thin Tng v Vipassana? C phi l nhng phpkhc nhau lm ch tm mnh? C phi hai php ny nm trong vlng php mn m chng ta phi tu tp? V, c phi ch c mt v cagii that?)

Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 46 of 7454 Nothing Attainable

54 V S c


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All things are formless,unborn, undying.Thus there is nothing attainable.

Thus truly the Buddha spoke.HAI QUYNH (1728 1811)

(COMMENT: Watch your mind. Is the mind formless? The image comesand goes; the mind sees the image coming and going. The sound comesand goes; the mind hears the sound coming and going. Because themind is formless, it can reflect all things coming and going in countlessforms. Also because it is formless, the mind could manifest as the imageyou see, and as the sound you hear. The image is a state of the mind.Similarly, the sound is a state of the mind. See that.A student once asked Zen Master Tich Chieu about Zen. This old monk,also my root teacher, pointed to the front yard of the temple, and said,The puddle is the Buddha.)

54 V Sc

Cc php khng tngChng sanh chng dit

Bi khng chcL tht Pht ni.(Chphp khng tngBt sanh bt ditDv scTh chn Pht thuyt.)

Ni xong, Sngi yn lng th tch.Thin S HI QUNH hiu TPHONG (1728 - 1811) Bn dch HTThanh T

(BNH: Hy nhn vo tm. C phi tm khng c hnh tng? Hnh nhti v i; tm nhn thy hnh nh ti v i. m thanh ti v i; tm nghem thanh ti v i. Bi v tm khng hnh tng, tm c thhin l ccphp ti v i trong v lng hnh tng. Cng bi v l v tng, nntm c thhin l nhl hnh nh m bn thy, v nhm thanh mbn nghe. Hnh nh l mt trng thi ca tm.Tng t, m thanh l mt trng thi ca tm. Hy thy th.

Mt ln, mt hc tr hi Thin STch Chiu v Thin. V scao tuiny, cng l bn sca ti, ch vo sn trc ca cha, v ni, Vngnc trc sn l Pht.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 48 of 7456 Mind Only 56 Duy C Tm Thi


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56 d O y

Realizing that the mind is void, and the scene is still,you will go beyond the holy and unholy.

If your thought clings to scenes, sensations will arise,and ten thousand fetters will restrain you.The heavenly beings, human beingsand all phenomena are ultimately in here.The I and the others are just one originally, the mind only.THONG VINH (circa 19th century)

(COMMENT: The scene is still? How can we know and experience thatthe scence is quiet, silent, soundless, and transquil? The world alwayshas some noise. Listen to your mind; you could hear that the mindalways makes some noise.Nearly thirty years ago, I asked Zen Master Tich Chieu, Why theShurangama Sutra says that the existence of all phenomena is the mindnature, and that the mind nature is the existence of all phenomena?The Zen master replied, All the waves are water.)

56 uy C

Tm khng cnh lng vt thnh siu phm nhim tnh sanh mun mi tri buc

Tri ngi cc php trn ti trong yTa ngi mt thgc ch l tm.(Tm khng cnh tch vit thnh siu phm nhim tnh sanh vn oan h phcThin nhn chphp tn ti k trungB ng nht thnguyn bn duy tm.)i S THNG VINH 19 th century Bn dch HT Thanh T

(BNH: Cnh vng lng? Lm sao chng ta c thbit v kinh nghimrng cc cnh vn ang vng lng, im lng, v thanh, v tch mch? Thgii lun lun c vi ting ng. Hy lng nghe tm ca bn; bn c thnghe rng tm lun lun gy ra vi ting ng.Gn ba mi nm trc, ti hi Thin STch Chiu, Ti sao Kinh LngNghim ni rng ton tng tc tnh, v rng ton tnh tc tng?Thin Str li, Ton sng tc nc.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 51 of 7459 Going Home 59 V Nh


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Over seventy years in this realm,living harmoniously with emptiness and existence,

I now fulfill the vow, prepare to go home,and dont need to ramble about for the way of Patriarchs.LIEU QUAN (? 1743)

(COMMENT: When you realize the true nature of phenomena, you seethat emptiness and existence are inseparable. Living harmoniously withemptiness and existence is indeed living with the realization thatemptiness is inseparable from existence.From that realization, wisdom arises along with compassion, and youunderstand that wisdom is inseparable from compassion. You areinseparable from the world.Buddha says that we all have had countless lives, and that we and allsentient beings have been former relatives in some ways. In anotherexplanation, we should see that all beings have been our fathers ormothers in previous lives.Think of that, have that feeling, see that feeling spreading throughoutyour body and the world, and wish for all beings to be happy and

liberated.)

Hn by mi nm ci ny,Khng khng sc sc thy dung thng

Hm nay nguyn mn v qu cNo phi bn ba hi T tng.(Tht thp dnin thgii trungKhng khng sc sc dic dung thngKim triu nguyn mn hon gia lH tt bn man vn t tng.)

Thin S LIU QUN (? - 1743) Bn dch HT Thanh T

(BNH: Khi bn nhn ra tnh tht ca vn php, bn thy rng Khng vC khng h tch ri nhau. Sng ha hp vi Khng v C thc slsng vi chng ng rng Tnh Khng th khng h la xa ci ng Hu,ci ng Th.Tchng ng, tr tu khi ln cng vi tbi, v bn hiu rng tr tuth khng tch ri tbi. Bn khng h tch ri vi thgii.c Pht ni rng chng ta u tng tri qua v lng kip, v rngchng ta v tt c chng sinh nguyn l quyn thuc xa xa trong cchno . Trong mt gii thch khc, chng ta nn xem rng tt c chng

sinh tng l cha hay l m chng ta cc kip trc.Hy nghnhth, hy c cm gic nhth, hy thy cm gic lanta tan thn chng ta v khp thgii, v hy c nguyn cho tt cchng sinh hnh phc v c gii that.)

Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 52 of 7460 Six Words 60 Su Ch


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Sitting still on Dai Hung Mountain so many years,my body is ending; but truly the way is not.

Holding the six words constantly, being preordained,I now pass them on to future generations, revealing the way of Zen.PHO TINH (circa 19th century)

(COMMENT: Nowadays, a majority of Vietnamese Buddhists practice thePure Land teachings, keep holding the six words -- reciting the name ofAmitabha Buddha and wishing to be reborn in the Pure Land. Many ofthem practice together Zen and the Pure Land. Is Zen different from thePure Land school? The debate is still going on. Some, including ZenMaster Pho Tinh, say the two schools are not different.)(To be continued)

Nhiu nm ngi tnh ni i HngQu tht thn cng o chng cng

Su chchuyn tr thn th kTruyn mi i sau sng T tng.(Kinh nin tnh ta i Hng phongTht th thn cng o bt cngLc tchuyn tr thn th kLu truyn hu thhin tng phong.)i S PH TNH (circa 19th century) Bn dch HT Thanh T

(BNH: Hin nay, a sPht TVit Nam tu theo php Tnh , lin tcth tr su ch nim danh hiu Pht A Di v nguyn sinh vo ciTnh . Trong , nhiu ngi song tu c Thin Tng v Tnh . Cphi Thin khc vi Tnh ? Cuc tranh lun vn ang tip din. Mt sv thy, trong c Thin SPh Tnh, ni rng hai tng phi ny khngkhc g nhau.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 56 of 7465 Illusory 65 Huyn


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Originally there is no place [for the six senses dwelling].Any place is true dharma.

True dharma is thus illusory.Illusory existence is not nothing.NH HNG (? - 1051)

(COMMENT: If you say that you are living in a dream, then what isoutside this dream? Is this world illusory? Dont try to answer thatquestion. Just practice hard, and dont mind anything else. Buddha said,I am awake. We are not awake yet, so we should leave that questionfor Buddha.)

Xa nay khng xsXs l chn tng,

Chn tng nhthhuynHuyn c l khng khng.(Bn lai v xsXs th chn tngChn tng nhth huynHuyn hu tc khng khng.)

Trng Lo NH HNG (? - 1051) - Bn dch HT Thanh T

(BNH: Nu bn ni bn ang sng trong mt gic m, th ci g ngai

gic m ny? C phi thgii ny l huyn? ng cgng tr li cu hi. Hy tinh tn tu tp, v ng bn tm g khc. c Pht ni, Ta tnh thc. Chng ta cha tnh thc, do vy nn cu hi ny li choc Pht.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 61 of 7473 Tathagata

Being on earth having human body

74 Dharma of Equality

You should know that Buddha attains the omniscient wisdom examines


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Being on earth, having human body,you have in your mind the Tathagata Store

illuminating profoundly in all places.Searching for the mind, however, you will only find emptiness.THNG CHIU (? - 1203)(COMMENT: You have something in your mind? Even if you think youhave something called the Tathagata Store in your mind, please drop allyou have. Gently drop the mind, and observe the unborn mind. Sit down,gently breathe in and out; even if you think you have something called asthe unborn mind, just drop all you have.)

73 NhLai

i lm thn ngi,Ni tm NhLai tng.Chiu soi cng khp ni,Tm li cng rng.(Ti thvi nhn thn,Tm vi NhLai tng,

Chiu diu th v phng,Tm chi cnh ti khong.)Thin STHNG CHIU (? - 1203) - Bn dch HT Thanh T(BNH: Bn c nhng thg trong tm bn? Ngay c bn nghrngbn c g gi l NhLai Tng trong tm, xin lm n bung b ht ttc nhng g bn c. Hy du dng bung b tm i, v hy qun st tmv sanh. Hy ngi xung, hy du dng th vo v ra; ngay c nu bnnghl bn c ci g gi l tm v sanh, hy bung b mi thbn c.)

You should know that Buddha attains the omniscient wisdom, examinesall the meanings, has no doubts about the dharma of equality, bears no

mind and no appearance, doesnt leave and doesnt stop, passes beyondall measures and boundaries, stays away from the two sides, dwells inthe middle way, and surpasses all the words.Y SN ( ? - 1213 )(COMMENT: Decades ago, I asked my root master Tich Chieu aboutprecepts for Zen practitioners. The old monk replied that only oneprecept needed to be kept in mind: see the equality of all things.)

74 Bnh ng

- Cc ngi nn bit, NhLai thnh ng Chnh Gic, i tt c nghakhng cn ch no qun st, i vi php bnh ng khng c nghi hoc,khng tm khng tng, khng i khng dng, khng lng khngngn, xa la hai bn, tr trung o, vt ngoi tt c vn t.Thin SY SN ( ? - 1213 ) - Bn dch HT Thanh T(BNH: Nhiu thp nin v trc, ti hi bn sca ti l Thy TchChiu v gii ca Thin gia. V sgi ny tr li rng ch c mt gii cn

gitrong tm: hy thy tnh bnh ng ca vn php.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 66 of 7479 Message

The ten thousand attachments are cut; this one body is at ease.Living over forty years, I see life is just a long dream.

79 Li Nhn

Mun duyn ct t, mt thn nhnHn bn mi nm gic mng trng


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My message to all is that dont ask anymore.The other side is the infinity with moon and winds.PHP LOA (1284 - 1330)

(COMMENT: Is this life a long dream? Even after we wake up? What isthe difference among the dreams you had last night and the years inyour childhood? Do you feel that you are reincarnating every morningafter the sleep? Do you feel that you are reincarnating every momentafter the breath? Then, observe to see who is truly the person that youare among millions of the persons that youve been. There is not a real

you -- just like there is not a real bubble among millions of bubblesforming and popping in the ocean. Is there something called the infinity?Is there something called the infinity threading all millions of personsyouve been? You know youve been changing endlessly. And you knowyou are the thoughts being manifested. Lets breathe in and out gently,and observe the working of the mind. If there is the infinity, it must bethere, neither coming nor going. Dont give it a name.)

Nhn bo mi ngi thi ch hiBn kia trng gi rng thnh thang.(Vn duyn ti on nht thn nhnTthp dnin mng huyn gianTrn trng chnhn hu t vnNa bin phong nguyt cnh man khoan.)

Thin SPHP LOA (1284 - 1330) - Bn dch HT Thanh T

(BNH: Cuc i l mt gic m di? Ngay c sau khi chng ta thc dy?Nhng g khc nhau gia cc gic m bn c m qua v nhng nm

thu ca bn? Bn c cm thy rng bn ang ti sinh mi bui sngsau gic ng? Bn c cm thy rng bn ang ti sinh trong tngkhonh khc sau hi th? Ri th, hy quan st xem bn thc sl aitrong shng triu nhn vt m bn l trong i. Khng c mt ci bnthc no y ht nh, khng c mt bt nc thc no gia hng triubt nc thnh hnh v v ra trn mt bin. C ci g gi l v tnkhng? C ci g gi l ci v tn xuyn sut hng triu nhn vt m bn tng l hay khng? Bn bit, bn ang bin i v tn. V bn bitbn l cc nim ang c hin l. Hy th vo v th ra du dng, vquan st vn hnh ca tm. Nu c ci v tn, n phi , khng nkhng i. ng t tn cho n.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 71 of 7487 Seeing the Nature

That spot is empty; its nature is originally emptiness.Such are all things; all have the nature of emptiness.Beyond the sky and earth so vast is the universe

87 Kin Tnh

Mt im rng rang thvn khng,Mun iu to ha y cng.Bao la th gii ngoi tri t


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Beyond the sky and earth, so vast is the universe.Though shining countless worlds, so serene is the cold light.It neither increases at the enlightened, nor decreases at theunenlightened.It appears square or round in receptacles at ease.When the water is still, the moon appears in thousands of rivers.As the flower blossoms, the whole universe glows in red.CHN NGUYN (1647 - 1726)

(COMMENT: If someone asks you about the afterlife, what should you

do? Just ring a bell, and tell the questioner to show where the soundsgone. It doesnt mean that there is nowhere or somewhere for the sounddwelling. It means that all phenomena are just the one mind. Buddhasays Nirvana is the extinction of desire, of hatred and of illusion. If wedont understand the working of the mind, we can not extinguish the fireof desire, of hatred and of illusion.)

Bao la thgii ngoi tri t,Lng nh hn quang ci ci trong.Thnh chng thm phm chng bt,Vung trn ty mn mc dung thng.Nghn sng nc lng trng in bng,Hoa n khp ni rc sc hng.Nht im hv thbn khng,Vn ban to ha gi cng.Bao la thgii cn khn ngoi,Trm tch hn quang st hi trung.

Ti Thnh bt tng phm mc gim,Phng vin ty kh nhm dung thng.Thy trng nguyt hin thin giang n,Sc nh hoa khai i a hng.CHN NGUYN (1647 - 1726) - Bn dch HT Thanh T

(BNH: Nu c ai hi bn v ci hu t, bn nn lm g? Hy g mtting chung, v yu cu ngi kia ch ra ni u ting chung i. Nhthkhng c ngha l khng c ni no hay c ni no ting chungan tr. N c ngha l vn php ch l mt tm. c Pht ni Nit Bn lkhi chm dt tham, sn v si. Nu chng ta khng hiu vn hnh catm, chng ta khng thdp tt la ca tham, sn v si.)


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Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters Page 74 of 7490 The What Is

You are asking me; that is your mind manifesting. I am replying you;that is my mind manifesting. If you have no mind, how can you know to

90 Ci ng Th

ng hi ti tc l tm ng. Ti p ng, tc l tm ti. Nu ngkhng tm, nhn u bit hi ti ? Nu ti khng tm, nhn u bit p


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ask me? If I have no mind, how can I know to reply you. Your mind ismanifesting right at the time you are asking me. Since the time withoutbeginning, this mind has manifested in all your actions all the time.According to circumstances, this mind is manifesting while you are facingme now, talking and asking; this mind is the true nature. What is askinghere? What is talking here? What is having the ability to put a questionhere?CHAN NGUYEN (1647 1726)

(COMMENT: What is asking here? What is talking here?Even when you see it, you still have no words to say about it.That is the gateless gate.)

THE END

ng ? Chnh ngay khi ng hi ti, tc l tm ng. Tm ny tv thykip cho n hin gi, mi hnh ng, to tc, trong tt c thi cngnhngay y, i din hin dng, ty c thu bung, i i tha hi,chng phi tnh l g ? Ci g tha hi y ? Ni nng l ci g ? Ci ghay bit hi ?CHN NGUYN (1647 1726) - Bn dch HT Thanh T

(BNH: Ci g ang hi ni y? Ci g ang ni ni y?Ngay c khi bn thy n, bn cng khng c li no ni v n.

l v mn quan vy.)

HT

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