Bodhidharma's Definition of Zen

[RyanWind]

Four Sacred Verses of Bodhidharma (Daruma no Shiseiku 達磨四聖句)

#1. 教外別傳 Kyõge betsuden - A special insight into one's nature not dependent on the scriptures or practices;

Insight is seeing or realizing something about yourself that you didn't notice or weren't aware of before. It can involve ending an identification with thought or a new way of being. Scriptures or practices can help to lead to an insight, but insights into the self can be had by anyone on any path. Also, there is no guarantee a person will have insights no matter what they do or don't do.

#2. 不立文字 Furyû monji - No dependence upon words and letters;

Mindfulness is being in the moment without identifying with conceptual thought as the self. So words, sentences, are non-phenomenal background to the perceiver.

#3. 直指人心 Jikishi ninshin - Direct pointing at the non-conceptual or actual;

You don't have to think about that, you just perceive it as it is. As it is without the mind. The mind too can be observed without opinion.

#4. 見性成佛 Kenshõ jõbutsu - Seeing into one's nature and the attainment of enlightenment.

This would be the goal, but goals require the conceptual. They involve time and names and words. So attaining enlightenment is attaining a mind that just is, humble and empty. Seeking nothing. Enlightenment is what you were before you were.

[sky]

Originally Posted by RyanWind

Four Sacred Verses of Bodhidharma (Daruma no Shiseiku 達磨四聖句)

#1. 教外別傳 Kyõge betsuden - A special insight into one's nature not dependent on the scriptures or practices;

Insight is seeing or realizing something about yourself that you didn't notice or weren't aware of before. It can involve ending an identification with thought or a new way of being. Scriptures or practices can help to lead to an insight, but insights into the self can be had by anyone on any path. Also, there is no guarantee a person will have insights no matter what they do or don't do.

#2. 不立文字 Furyû monji - No dependence upon words and letters;

Mindfulness is being in the moment without identifying with conceptual thought as the self. So words, sentences, are non-phenomenal background to the perceiver.

#3. 直指人心 Jikishi ninshin - Direct pointing at the non-conceptual or actual;

You don't have to think about that, you just perceive it as it is. As it is without the mind. The mind too can be observed without opinion.

#4. 見性成佛 Kenshõ jõbutsu - Seeing into one's nature and the attainment of enlightenment.

This would be the goal, but goals require the conceptual. They involve time and names and words. So attaining enlightenment is attaining a mind that just is, humble and empty. Seeking nothing. Enlightenment is what you were before you were.

'Enlightenment is what you were before you were' words that say it all..
Sometimes it seems a veil has been lifted and you get glimpses into the true nature of reality then the veil drops again and your back to the same place.
Mybe that's the way it's surposed to be, little tasters

Interesting post Ryan, thanks.

[kingfisher]

Bodhidharma, he was the guy who stared at a wall for seven years ( or was it nine? )

When he met the emperor of China and was asked "who is this who stands before me?" he answered "I don't know" ( which is, I suppose, the insight gained from gazing at walls ) Another version has Bodhidharma answering:- " A bag of bones with nothing holy in it", which - seriously - I love.

Again, when the emperor told Bodhidharma of all of his works of good and asked just what merit he had gained, the noble sage told him "none at all". Which is good to hear, although I presume the emperor was none too pleased!

Anyway, I assume you have all heard these stories. But always good to hear them again, and reflect upon their meaning.

[jonesboy]

Interesting version and I would love to see a link to where you got that.

Here is the more standard interpretation.

Four Sacred Verses of Bodhidharma
(T2008.360a24-360c12 & 2008.364c9-364c24)

達磨四聖句 dámó sì shèng jù [Daruma no Shiseiku]

教外別傳 jiào wài bié zhuàn [Kyōge betsuden]
不立文字 bú lì wén zì [Furyū monji]
直指人心 zhí zhĭ rén xīn [Jikishi ninshin]
見性成佛 jiàn xìng chéng fó [Kenshō jōbutsu]


A special transmission outside the scriptures;
No dependence upon words and letters;
Direct pointing at the soul of man;
Seeing into one's nature and the attainment of Buddhahood.

Translated by D. T. Suzuki


A special [separate] transmission outside the teachings,
do not depend on written words,
directly point to the human mind,
see one‘s nature and become Buddha.

Translated by Piya Tan


Separate transmission outside the teachings (mind to mind transmission),
not posit the letters,
direct to the mind,
penetrate the self-nature and attain the Buddhahood.

Translated by Sing Song Liu 劉興松

No postulation of any thesis in words---
Transmission outside the scriptures---
Point straight at the mind of man---
See your nature and be enlightened.

Translated by Whalen Lai

http://terebess.hu/zen/bodhidharma-eng.html

[RyanWind]

Originally Posted by jonesboy

A special transmission outside the scriptures;
No dependence upon words and letters;
Direct pointing at the soul of man;
Seeing into one's nature and the attainment of Buddhahood.

Translated by D. T. Suzuki

Nice translation.

[jonesboy]

Originally Posted by RyanWind

Nice translation.

Thank you Ryan and let me share more on what a special transmission outside of scripture is about.

Transmission is a component of many traditions, but it a major component of the inner (or mystical) aspects of the gnostic Christian tradition. Transmissions can be "sent" by divine beings and also masters or adepts of the tradition.

There are two main types of transmission. The lower form is at the level of the "mind" and is often called a mind transmission. The higher form is at the level of the heart (or inner heart) and is often called a "light" transmission.

A mind level transmission is commonly associated with the 3rd eye (mind) and is at the astral level. Energy is sent in a directed way to another being, and this energy is translated by the mind into some sort of vision (or healing). The experience (and power) of the transmission is highly dependent on both the clarity of the sender and receiver beings. Depending on the "frequency range" of the transmission, issues and fears in the subconscious mind may be hit. The resulting mind translation can create a very wild perception/experience. This is also why astral travel/mediumship is not recommended in many traditions, as it is possible for the mind to be "fooled" or for negative beings to hide behind deep subconscious issues and fears. Finally, this type of transmission is still at the level of duality, as the mind still believes there are two beings (sender and receiver) and hence is subject to things like the perception of "shielding".

A light level transmission is very rare and at the level of the "inner heart" or soul. To send such a transmission, one must have realized oneness, or in Christian terms be at least a highly developed "saint" (or master of the tradition). To even notice/receive such a transmission one must have an open heart (open 4th chakra). A light transmission is beyond the local mind and is a communication directly at the soul level. Depending on one's integration at the soul level, the information is then sort of "decompressed" into components that can be understood by the mind. Those with a developed third eye and the capacity to receive a light transmission will often "see" the transmitting soul which can look like a multicolored burning bush at the level of conscious mind.

In a light transmission, the sender has realized oneness and sort of "overlays" their aspect of consciousness on the person, then the natural "light" that they are flows through. In a light transmission, everything that is the sending "being" is included/given to the person. In the process, it is more about the persons ability to "receive". To the receiving person it can feel like "being in a bubble" or like their body pressure has dramatically increased/gotten heavy. Additionally, a divine being/master can share/extend mind clarity (peace that passes human understanding) and the Holy Spirit (Kundalini) in the process.

Transmissions are normally at the "grace" of the divine beings. Mental clarity and an open heart are the key in contacting divine beings. Once one realizes oneness, you can directly overlay/merge with divine beings up to your relative clarity.

http://www.thedaobums.com/topic/3151...sticism/page-1

Also to help understand what type of realization is needed for such a light transmission.



So my questions are two: how do you describe or characterize the energy you send to people, and why can I often not feel it, even though later on I do see major changes in my own behavior that parallel what you described energetically?

Sharing presence (or space) is not the same thing as someone sending energy to another person. It is not "me" sending energy to "you" (dualistic) with the classical healer like energy connection. It is more like a being one with, or like I said in an earlier post, knowing that there is no separation, so that there is none. This "being" rather than "seeing" (two different people) is what some people like have called light (or light level). This being is not just a localized thing, but as clarity grows encompasses all.

The clearing and change that you describe is sort of the local body-mind noticing things that have spontaneously cleared after the fact that were released at a level beyond the perception of your local mind. Some call this a light purification loop (or purification in the light). It is hard to explain, but maybe this analogy will help a little...

It is kind of like everyone is standing in the middle of a river, but the river is beyond their perception. When sharing presence, relatively, I become like the mouth end of the river. With the balancing component, you also notice the river (of light). First the flow hits you and clears stuff, and ultimately one realizes that they are the flow itself...

http://www.thedaobums.com/topic/41978-q-a-for-jeff/

[RyanWind]

Originally Posted by jonesboy

There are two main types of transmission.

I don't believe in transmission as you define it.

[jonesboy]

Originally Posted by RyanWind

I don't believe in transmission as you define it.

It can be demonstrated :)

[Still_Waters]

Originally Posted by jonesboy

No postulation of any thesis in words---
Transmission outside the scriptures---
Point straight at the mind of man---
See your nature and be enlightened.

Translated by Whalen Lai

http://terebess.hu/zen/bodhidharma-eng.html

Why then are there so many words here ?

[jonesboy]

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

Why then are there so many words here ?

It is just a description of the transmission in Zen and what it is used for.