by Sheng-yen Lu
GaiGai!
One cloudy night, the moon did not appear. The clouds had colors of inky black, dark gray, dusty gray, light black and pale white just like the multi-shades created by the black brush paint.
Anyone that learns to paint knows the “black brush paint can create up to five different tones!”
Now, I finally realize:
Emotional affairs can be complicated due to obscure feelings. Feelings like tastes could be sweet, sour, bitter, spicy hot, or salty. If you savor these tastes slowly, Wow! Some of them could really be hard to get used to!
Jealousy!
Envy!
All are included.
Some say that emotions cannot tolerate one grain of sand. They also say that the eyes, to be clear and bright, will not tolerate one speck of dust.
I hope very much:
Our emotions would be carefully cleansed every day.
Our journey would be smooth without a hitch.
Our personality would be sunny and gentle.
Our fervor would maintain optimal.
Our affairs would not be disrupted by any third party.
I believe we could amicably manage these worries, which are unworthy of our consideration. Most importantly, we must trust each other. Right?
Xuan Jue’s poem:
An attained cultivator has no quest for knowledge or cause
No need to rid desires or seek the truth
Ignorance and true nature are both Buddha-nature
Imagery of empty body is Dharmakaya
Dharmakaya realizes emptiness
Return to the origin is the genuine Buddha-Nature
Five aggregates come and go like the empty clouds
Three poisons blisters must be popped
Avici karma vanishes
When true reality of non-duality is validated
Thus realizing there is no dharma
Any falsification to delude sentient beings
Causes one to land in the Tongue Pulling Hell for unlimited
kalpas
I feel this poem conveys: “Lying is the worst.”
It is not “real.” If it is “real,” it would definitely get rid of the “five aggregates” and eradicate the “three poisons.”
Concerning emotions, the scariest is “deceit” and the worst is to “cheat.”
The emotional bubble will burst even with the slightest touch!
Human emotions are as such and can result “resentments.”
I am a cultivator so I know:
The dream clearly has six realms.
Awakened is boundless emptiness.
Let’s “cherish” this! For this is my “genuineness”!
A poem for you:
Concerning emotions
Remember
Mustn’t be fanatical
Because wildly fanatical
Can sometimes make matters worse
Need to care attentively
For the future road still has far to go
Not too rushed
Not too slow
Not to hit the rocks
I have always been very careful
Adjusting
Along the way
Not to give it time
To idly vanish
