The ordinary mind of a sentient being is more or less sensory consciousness. One can say of it that it perceives reality in the way of seeing, hearing, feeling, conceptualizing, and being self-aware. When the question is asked, “What is the pure, luminous Mind?” it is the ordinary mind that wants to perceive it. But the luminous Mind (prabhâsvaracitta) is not accessible to sensory consciousness although the latter is contained in Mind which has no sensory characteristics. Zen master Huang-po said of this Mind:
It is not green nor yellow, and has neither form nor appearance. It does not belong to the categories of things which exist or do not exist, nor can it be thought of in terms of new or old.
To say the least, this presents the ordinary mind of a sentient being with a seemingly insurmountable problem: how to gain access to the luminous Mind without trying to search for it under familiar sense related categories. This was Huike’s problem when he came to Bodhidharma for help. His long quest for the true Mind had eluded him. His meeting with Bodhidharma is found in the Collection from the Founder’s Halls (1.73, 6ff.).
“Huike: ‘Please, Master, bring peace to my heart-mind!’ Bodhidharma: ‘Show me your heart-mind, and I will pacify it!’ Huike: ‘I have searched for it, but I could not find it.’ Bodhidharma: ‘If you could search for it, how could it be your very own heart-mind? And how should I bring peace to it?’ Then Bodhidharma said to Huike, ‘I have once and for all pacified the heart-mind for you. Do you now see it?’ At these words, Huike was greatly awakened” (trans. Urs App).
As it seems clear, Huike had the wrong mind in mind! He was using his sensory consciousness in an effort to try and perceive the luminous Mind as if it were a determinate thing. His repeated failures had finally driven him to seek out the help of Bodhidharma. Ironically, from Bodhidharma's perspective Huike was like a moron who went in search of light using a lighted candle or as the old Zen saying goes, he went riding an ass in search of an ass. He didn't understand what the luminous really meant—yet he was using it all the time.
As long as we try to pigeonhole the luminous, animative Mind that gives our body life, into something for sensory consciousness we will never meet such a Mind face to face. Reminding us of such a mind, Bodhidharma says:
“The Buddha is your real body, your original mind. This mind has no form or characteristics, no cause or effect, no tendons or bones. It’s like space. You can’t hold it. It’s not the mind of materialists or nihilist. Except for a tathagata, no one else—no mortal no deluded being—can fathom it” (trans. Red Pine).
"Ironically, from Bodhidharma's perspective Huike was like a moron who went in search of light using a lighted candle"
Knowing the persian "mind" I highly doubt Bodhidharma (who was persian and not hindu) reviewed the painful search of Huike from this POV. Perhaps we are having a subconscious revelation or glimpse into your "enlightened" self?
Wisdom might be there but certainly not spiritual beauty which only the greatest sages can possess.
There are many great sages in the east. What makes them great is their ability to convey the profound teachings of the Mind and Soul without need to show off or brag or make public jokes of others spiritual short comings, for such acts would only reflect badly upon themselves.
Their language filled with light, never dry, never boring, despite the passing of great spans of time, never ceases to affect the human spirit and remind them on the important nature and essence behind all things.
One such sage with an exquisite language and ability to move an entire world with his spirit was Saadi:
The following poem of his decorates the Hall of the United Nations in New York (which was quoted by President Obama):
"Human beings are members of a whole, In creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain, Other members uneasy will remain.
If you have no sympathy for human pain, the name human you cannot retain."
Another goes like this;
Crush not yon ant, who stores the golden grain;
He lives with pleasure, and will die with pain;
Learn from him rather to secure the spoil
Of patient cares and persevering toil
Once asked, “Who did you learn politeness from?” he answered, “From the impolite people, for I simply avoided whatever disgusting manner I saw in them.”
We are all reminded how easy it is to suffer when ones vision is temporary blurred and the truth eludes the self but as a "spiritual" teacher or guide to mock the once lesser able of the past in the name of a good pun or other is just plain evidence of a spirit still in error and far from having removed the subtle & very subtle delusions and influences from that which is not self (eg Mara).
Others might be impressed by your "buddhist" articles flowered with various german, greec and sanskrit abbreviations as to "validate" a mere claim as actual fact to an ignorant reader. I am certainly not.
Z
Posted by: zeenix | June 22, 2009 at 11:10 AM