From the first not a thing is

Attributed to the 6th Patriarch of the Zen school, Huineng

D.T Suzuki described Huineng’s teaching here as a bomb because of it’s implications, and I think he’s right. It is the ultimate preclusion of form, doctrine, practice, mental objects, etc.

There are questions about the authenticity of much of the record attributed to huineng, but either way this teaching gets echoed by other zen masters through the centuries

  • ZenFriedRice
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    1 year ago

    Ah classic. HuangBo was a great read, though my first time through it my book was repeatative to the point of me belive in something. Needed to step away and then come back for it to sink in.

    • theksepyroOPM
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      1 year ago

      It’s one of my favs. Lots of different translation options (for portions of his record anyway) that help to make what he says quite clear

      • ZenFriedRice
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        1 year ago

        Ah good idea. I’ve got a bunch of books, but they are all just one translation each. I’ve never thought any seeking out other translations.

        • theksepyroOPM
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          1 year ago

          I like to imagine using multiple translations as a kind of triangulation on the original intent. It’s often not necessary, but when there’s something that makes absolutely no sense to me at first, that’s the initial step I like to take