THE UNFETTERED MIND: WRITINGS OF THE ZEN MASTER TO THE SWORD MASTER by TAKUAN SOHO
Author:TAKUAN SOHO [SOHO, TAKUAN]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-05-20T21:00:00+00:00
ANNALS OF THE SWORD TAIA
Presumably, as a martial artist, I do not fight for gain or loss, am not concerned with strength or weakness, and neither advance a step nor retreat a step. The enemy does not see me. I do not see the enemy. Penetrating to a place where heaven and earth have not yet divided, where Ying and Yang have not yet arrived, I quickly and necessarily gain effect42.
Presumably indicates something I do not know for sure.
Originally this character was read with the meaning "lid". For example, when a lid is put on a tier of boxes, although we do not know for sure what has been put inside, if we use our imaginations we will hit the mark six or seven times out of ten. Here also I do not know for sure, but figure tentatively that it must be so. Actually, this is a written for we use even about things we do know for sure. We do this to humble ourselves and so as not to seem to be speaking in a knowing manner.
Martial artist is as the character indicates.
Not to fight for gain or loss, not to be concerned with strength or weakness means not vying for victory or worrying about defeat, and not being concerned with the functions of strength or weakness.
Neither advance a step nor retreat a step means taking neither one step forward nor one step to the rear. Victory is gained without stirring from where you are.
The me of "the enemy does not see me" refers to my True Self. It does not mean my perceived self.
People can see the perceived self; it is rare for them to discern the True Self. Thus, I say, "The enemy does not see me."
I do not see the enemy. Because I do not take the personal view of the perceived self, I do not see the martial art of the enemy's perceived self43. Although I say, "I do not see the enemy" this does not mean I do not see the enemy right before my very eyes. To be able to see the one without seeing the other is a singular thing.
Well then, the True Self is the self that existed before the division of heaven and earth and before one's father and mother were born. This self is the self within me, the birds and the beasts, the grasses and the trees and all phenomena. It is exactly what is called the Buddha-nature.
This self has no shape or form, has no birth, and has no death. It is not a self that can be seen with the aid of your present physical eye. Only the man who has received enlightenment is able to see this. The man who does see this is said to have seen into his own nature and become a Buddha.
Long ago, the World Honored One went into the Snowy Mountains and after passing six years in suffering, became enlightened44. This was the enlightenment of the True Self. The
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