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  A monk asked the priest Kan-feng:
-Bhagavats in the ten directions got one straight road to Nirvana. I dare to ask where that road is?
Kan-feng lifted up his staff, drew a line in the air, and said:
-Here it is.
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UNDERSATNDING ZEN
In reading scriptures and studying the doctrines, you should turn all words
right around and apply them to yourself. All the verbal teachings point to
the inherent nature of the immediate mirroring awareness. As long as this
is not affected by anything, existent or otherwise, it is your guide. It can shine
through all realms, whether they exist or not.
This adamantine wisdom, wherein you have your share of freedom and
independence. If you cannot understand in this way, then even you could
recite the whole canon and all its branches of knowledge, that would only
make you conceited. Paradoxically, it shows contempt for Buddhas; it is
not true practice.

Ch'an master Pai-chang
translated by Thomas Cleary


 



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