Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Essential Wisdom
No Attachment to Dust
Zengetsu, a Chinese master of the T'ang dynasty, wrote the following advice for his pupils:
Living in the world yet not forming attachments to the dust of the world is the way of a true Zen student.
When witnessing the good action of another encourage yourself to follow his example. Hearing of the mistaken action of another, advise yourself not to emulate it.
Even though alone in a dark room, be as if you were facing a noble guest. Express your feelings, but become no more expressive than your true nature.
Poverty is your teasure. Never exchange it for an easy life.
A person may appear a fool and yet not be one. He may only be guarding his wisdom carefully.
Virtues are the fruit of self-discipline and do not drop from heaven of themselves as does rain or snow.
Modesty is the foundation of all virtues. Let your neighbors discover you before you make yourself known to them.
A noble heart never forces itself forward. Its words are as rare gems, seldom displayed and of great value.
To a sincere student, every day is a fortunate day. Time passes but he never lags behind. Neither glory nor shame can move him.
Censure yourself, never another. Do not discuss right and wrong.
Some things, though right, were considered wrong for generations. Since the value of righteousness may be recognized after centuries, there is no need to crave an immediate appreciation.
Live with cause and leave results to the great law of the universe. Pass each day in peaceful contemplation.
Zengetsu, a Chinese master of the T'ang dynasty, wrote the following advice for his pupils:
Living in the world yet not forming attachments to the dust of the world is the way of a true Zen student.
When witnessing the good action of another encourage yourself to follow his example. Hearing of the mistaken action of another, advise yourself not to emulate it.
Even though alone in a dark room, be as if you were facing a noble guest. Express your feelings, but become no more expressive than your true nature.
Poverty is your teasure. Never exchange it for an easy life.
A person may appear a fool and yet not be one. He may only be guarding his wisdom carefully.
Virtues are the fruit of self-discipline and do not drop from heaven of themselves as does rain or snow.
Modesty is the foundation of all virtues. Let your neighbors discover you before you make yourself known to them.
A noble heart never forces itself forward. Its words are as rare gems, seldom displayed and of great value.
To a sincere student, every day is a fortunate day. Time passes but he never lags behind. Neither glory nor shame can move him.
Censure yourself, never another. Do not discuss right and wrong.
Some things, though right, were considered wrong for generations. Since the value of righteousness may be recognized after centuries, there is no need to crave an immediate appreciation.
Live with cause and leave results to the great law of the universe. Pass each day in peaceful contemplation.
Labels: the road to contentment
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All have a modicum of truth but the following is suspect:
"Censure yourself, never another. Do not discuss right and wrong."
Sounds like the good little junior monks have no say, word or judgement in things.
"Grasshopper" in Kungfu exercised his martial talents for right.
Pete
"Censure yourself, never another. Do not discuss right and wrong."
Sounds like the good little junior monks have no say, word or judgement in things.
"Grasshopper" in Kungfu exercised his martial talents for right.
Pete
It's admonishment about not judging others and seeing beyond the duality of right/wrong or birth/death. Great evils redeem themselves if they cause the greater betterment of Mankind.
jb, do jeh for sharing this. these morsels couldn't have come at a better time.
pete, excellent point, still remember, the scripts for Kungfu were written by Westerners.
Bruce Lee was kicked off the show before it started.
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pete, excellent point, still remember, the scripts for Kungfu were written by Westerners.
Bruce Lee was kicked off the show before it started.
# posted by 
: 3:43 PM
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