FREE Zen Newsletter!
Exploring “Your mind is Buddha” is “Your mind being Buddha”
What the Buddhas and Ancestors, without exception, have traditionally maintained and entrusted to us is, simply, that this very mind of ours is Buddha…
We may thoroughly examine these terms in the form, for instance, of “Your very mind is Buddha,” or in the form of “Your mind, at this very moment, is Buddha,” or “Buddha, right now, is your mind,” or “Your very mind is what ‘Buddha’ is,” or “This ‘Buddha’ is your mind right now.” To thoroughly explore the meaning in this manner is precisely an instance of one’s very mind being Buddha. In promoting the meaning, the Ancestors passed it on in a straightforward manner as “Your very mind is Buddha,” and it has come down to us today, accurately transmitted in this form.
The so-called ‘mind which has been correctly Transmitted’ refers to the whole mind being synonymous with ‘all thoughts and things’, and all thoughts and things are what constitute ‘the whole mind’.
~Dogen, Shobogenzo, Soku Shin Ze Butsu, Hubert Nearman
Hi Ted,
What about not-mind? Is not-mind also Buddha?
(Asked with sincerity – not just dharma combat.)
Thank you,
Barry
Hello Barry,
Thank you for your comment.
I would say it really depends on what we mean by “not-mind” and “Buddha” (outside the words).
If we both agree on the reliability of the Buddhist teachings on emptiness, nonduality, and interdependance as revealed in the Mahayana sutras then we could say, “mind is not-mind, therefore mind is mind” (as each implies and depends on the other–raise one, both are there, don’t raise one, niether are there).
Exploring your question from this perspective we can see that if “mind is Buddha” then without a doubt “not-mind is also Buddha.”
But then we can get caught up in an infinite digression saying, “not-mind is Buddha” thus “not-mind is also not-Buddha”, and “not-not-mind is also not-not-Buddha” ad infinitum.
Matsu taught, “This very mind is Buddha.”
Later, when this had become a slogan, or idol to some students, Matsu taught, “Not mind, not Buddha.”
I don’t think the truth he was transmitting changed, just the way he expressed it. I suspect that both teachings have opened the eyes of many.
I can’t go without saying that your “asking with sincerity” if “not-mind is Buddha” is “your mind being Buddha.”
Three Full Bows.
Peace,
Ted
Entire theory of Buddhism is based on control of mind. It is rightly said that “This very mind is Buddha”. If you have clean mind and control over it you need not roam around in search of Buddha.
In the present context, this has come true. All evils that is happening around the world are due to unclean mind. Buddha’s teaching has become even more practical today.
I bow to Buddha, I bow to Sangha, I bow to Dhamma.
Peace be there
Guru.
Hello Guru Padsambhava,
Thank you for sharing your comments.
Peace,
Ted
Awesome book,(The Flatbed Sutra of Louie Wing) it’s opened my eyes or should I say, it’s opened up Buddha…?
sincerely,
Rachelle
Hola Amigo,
What strikes me is how compassionate all these “Teachings” are. At every moment and at every turn, we find a willing teacher pointing the way. A brother of mine recently introduced me to a wonderful modern boddhisatthva. Boddhisattvha Campbell taught his students “If you really want to help the world, you will have to teach how to live in the world.” Right now, Campbell, Matsu, Shak are teaching how to live in the world and joyfully following their bliss. To know this is to realize their bliss is nothing other than your bliss.
Here’s to “following your bliss.”
“Y”
Hello Yamakoa,
Thank you. Great to hear from you!
Ah yes, Bodhisattva Campbell has given me many hints on finding Easter eggs. I especially like your observation about what one must do BEFORE following their bliss–they must FIND it, sort of like finding the ox before being able to ride it home.
Then there is the question about how one follows their bliss during the less enchanting activities of life, like do the dishes. I asked Joshu about this once, thinking he might have some secret to give me (his dishes always looked so clean). “Hey Josh!”, I said calling him by the short version of of his name. “How can I follow my bliss when I got to do the dishes?”
“Wash your bowl.”
At first, I thought he was being rude–next thing you know, I thought, he will be telling me that the oak tree in the yard was the reason for Bodhidharma’s comming from the West. Then suddenly, it knocked me off the cushion.
That’s all it comes to, that’s all it comes to…
Peace,
Ted
Hello Rachelle,
Thank you for the kind, and encouraging words!
(I will give you the money on Saturday) Ha!
Peace,
Ted
Hello Ted
Seeking to find
What to exclude from “Buddha”
I am sorry to report
There is nothing
regards
Ted, Terrific! Enlightening! I really enjoyed this book. You really opened my eyes, my mind, and my heart. I will continue to read your posts, thanks for that and keep ‘em coming. Bud
Hello Pete,
Seeking to find
What to include as “Buddha”
I am happy to report
There is nothing.
Peace,
Ted
Hi Bud,
Thank you for your comments.
I am happy to hear that you found my contribution helpful.
Peace,
Ted
Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life.