Zen Roots by Red Pine

Author:Red Pine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Catapult
Published: 2021-12-16T00:00:00+00:00

Seven: “After Shenxiu wrote his poem, he returned to his room unseen and lay down. At dawn, the Fifth Patriarch sent for the court artist, Lu Zhen, to come to the south corridor to paint scenes from the Lankavatara. The Fifth Patriarch suddenly saw the poem. After he read it, he told Lu, ‘You’ve gone to so much trouble and come so far, we will pay you thirty thousand coins,189 but there is no need to paint any murals. The Diamond Sutra says, “Attributes are a fiction.”190 It would be better if we kept this poem for deluded people to recite. Anyone who relies on this for their practice won’t fall into any of the three unfortunate states of existence. And it will be a great help to anyone who cultivates the Dharma.’

“The Master then called his disciples together and burned incense before the poem. When everyone saw this, they were filled with respect. The Master said, ‘Any of you who recites and understands this poem will see their nature. And anyone who relies on this for their practice won’t descend into a lesser state of existence.’ As his disciples recited it, they all did so with reverence and exclaimed how wonderful it was.

“Later, the Fifth Patriarch called Shenxiu to his room and asked, ‘Did you write the poem? If you did, you’re ready to receive my Dharma.’

“Shenxiu said, ‘I’m guilty. It’s true. I was the one who wrote it. But I don’t dare ask for the patriarchship, only for the Master’s judgment as to whether your disciple has acquired enough wisdom to understand what is truly important or not.’

“The Fifth Patriarch said, ‘This poem of yours shows your understanding has reached the threshold but has not yet entered the door. If an ordinary person uses your poem in their practice, they won’t regress. But someone who seeks perfect enlightenment will never realize it by means of such an understanding. If you want to enter the door, you have to see your nature. Go back and think about this for a few days and write me another poem. If you can enter the door and see your nature, I will give you the robe and the Dharma.’ Shenxiu left, but after several days he still hadn’t written anything.”

Eight: “It happened that one of the novices walked past the milling room chanting Shenxiu’s poem. As soon as I heard it, I knew it was by someone who hadn’t seen their nature or understood what was really important. I asked the boy, ‘What poem were you reciting just now?’

“The novice said, ‘Don’t you know? The abbot said nothing is more important than life and death, and he wants to pass on his robe and Dharma. He told his disciples to write a poem and show it to him, and he’ll give his robe and Dharma to whichever disciple understands what is truly important, and that person will become the Sixth Patriarch. One of the senior monks, Shenxiu, wrote this “Formless Poem” on the south corridor.

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