3-China, Japan, Tibet - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

14/5/2015 China, Japan, Tibet - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

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China,Japan,Tibet

GeneralnotesonChina

1WhereastheIndianschoolssoughtliberationfromthemiseryofbirthandrebirths,theChineseschoolssoughthappypeace,ajoyousmind.

2TheChinesetemperamentwastoorealistictofollowtheIndianintoamerelymetaphysicalviewoflifeandtoopracticaltorunawaywithitintoanescapistview.Indeed,theverynameoftheprincipalreligionofChinaConfucianismistheDoctrineoftheMean,theMeanbeingthemiddlepointbetweentwoextremes,thebalancebetweentwosides.EventhetwomostcelebratedChinesemysticsexhibitedtheirnationaltendenciesintheirwritingandphilosophicallyunitedtheideaofrealbeingwiththeideaofillusorybeing.SuchwereLaoTzuandChuangTzu.LiketheIndians,theChinesewerereadytofindoutwhatotherworldlinesshadtoofferthembutunliketheIndians,theywerenotreadypermanentlytoforsaketheworldlylifewhiledoingso.EventheBuddhistschool,whichhaslastedlongestandremainedstrongestinChina,istheonenamed"TheRoundDoctrine"meaningthatitiswidelyroundedtoincludeboththespiritualandthematerial.Thisisthe"Tendai"school.

3InChinesephilosophytomaintainanevenbalanceiscalled"theMean."Thiscalmisconsideredessentialifhisglimpsesarenottobeendedbyaman'sreturntohisselfcentereddesires.

4TheChinesehavealwayssoughtandinsisteduponapractical(whichincludesethical)applicationofanylineofthought,religion,philosophy.InthistheydifferfromtheIndians,whosetendencytolosethemselvesinemptyabstractionsandmereverbalismstheyrejected.

5Hewasrichlygarbed,butashebowedbeforeme,hisalmostobsequiousmannergavemetheconvictionthathewasaservant.AndIwasright.

HeraisedhisfingerstohislipsandmadeafewsignswhichIinstantlyperceivedtomeanthathewasdumb.Thenheslippedhishandintohisbosom,towithdrawitamomentlaterandhandmealetterenclosedinastrongparchmentwithaheavysealontheback.ThesealboresomeChinesecharactersgroupedinacirclearoundapictureshowingamanholdingaflamingtorchinhislefthand,andasharpswordinthisright.

Iopened,andthisiswhatIread:"TheLordoftheDragonsendstheegreetingsandawaitsthycomingattheHouseoftheHundredLamps.Followthespeechlessone."

6IwasledtotheHouseoftheHundredLamps.Evensuchthingsasthewindowframeswerepaintedwithpeachcolouredlacquer....Almostoneexpectedtohearthepatterof



tinyfeetacrossthefloorand,lookingup,toseealittleChineseprincess,withslantingeyesandflowerlikeface,passthroughtheroomlikeawraith.

7IfChinaforsomanycenturieshadherstronggrouptendency,therewasstillaminority,muchsmallerinnumberbuteliteincharacter,whichvaluedandupheldtheindividualandfortifiedhimagainstconformitywhereconformityledtoabasingtheIdeal,whichprizedsolitudeasameanstodeeperthoughtandspiritualcontemplationasagainstpressureoffamily,tribe,andoverneighbourliness.These"ingoing"sects,notablythestudentsanddisciplesofChuangTzuandLaoTzu,producedhermits,itistruebuttheyalsoproducedusefulcitizenswhokeptaproperbalancebetweencityandcountry,worldandself,activityandwithdrawal.Theyprizedtheirmomentofsilencefortheenlightenmentitbroughtthem,orthehealingitgavethem.

8IfthemosquesofNearandMiddleEasternlandsarearchitecturallywellsuitedtoapriestlessandbishoplessfaith,aswellasbeingaestheticallypleasing,thetemplesofprewarChinawerethesame.Theirtiledroofs,wingedbypaintedblack,green,orvermillioneaves,weresupportedbylacqueredandgildedpillars.

9Ithinkeagerlyofthosetightlycurledtinyleavesunfoldinginthestimulusofhotbubblingwater,soontogivetheiraromaticrefreshingliquortomywaitingcup.ThistoowasChina'sgifttome,alongwiththeCh'antenetsandthatprecious,alltooshorttext,TaoTehChingbyLaoTzu.

10TheCommunistshavemadedeterminedattemptstowipeoutalltheTaoistsocietiesandtoenfeebletheBuddhistones.Taoistleaderswereviciouslyexecuted,Buddhistmonasterieswereseizedandconfiscated,andBuddhisttempleswereconvertedintosocalledworkers'culturecentres,thatis,Communistpropagandacentres.

11ThemodernChineseBuddhistmovementcalledWeiShihtaughtasitsfundamentaltenettheprincipleofmentalism.TheteachingsareidenticalwithandprobablyderivedfromtheSanskritYogacaraschool.ItschiefcentrewasatNanking,andfromthedoorsofits"ChinaInnerKnowledgeCollege"therewentforthanumberofwellinstructeddisciplesbothmonksandlaymensomeofwhomIhadthepleasureofmeetingbeforethewar.Whathasbecomeofsoessentiallyspiritualaninstitutionundertheatheisticdominanceofpresentconditions?Ifithasmetthefateofsomanyothers,thebalancingcontributionwhichitcouldmaketothenewChinaisalas!nolongeravailable.Somepilgrimagestosuchcentreshavebeenstopped,othersdiscouraged.Sometempleshavebeenturnedintosecularschools.Largenumbersofmonkshavebeenforcedtodiscardtheirrobesandhavebeendrivenbackintocivilianlife.IknowthatBuddhismgenerallyisregardedasameresuperstitionbytheWesternscienceworshippingmindsoftoday'sChineseyouthandleadership.Thisattitudeisbothdangerousandfallacious.AlthoughtheBuddha,forhisownmonkcatchingreasons,andbecauseofthetimesandconditionsinwhichhelived,emphasizedthepessimisticworldview,andthuspresentedaonesidedteaching,hewasinhimselfoneofthemostilluminedmenwhoeverlived.

12TheIndianswhobroughtBuddhismtoChinabroughtalsotheirtendencytooverweighttheirdoctrineswithmetaphysicsandintellectual,logicalortheologicalspinningoutofideas.TheChineseeventuallyrevoltedagainstthistendency,whichwascompletelycontrarytotheirownpracticalandsomewhatearthyoutlook.Theyputalltheiremphasis



onpersonalinnerexperience,onthediscoveryoftruthbysuddenenlightenment.ThiswasthebeginningofZen.

13TheoldChina,withitscharmingpergolasandinterestingpagodas,isbeingforcedtotravelontheroadtoextinction.TheoldChinahonouredaphilosopherlikeLaoTzubynamingabeautifulflowerafterhiseyebrows,butthenewChinadespiseshis"unpracticalmysticism."

14InChinaconservatismwascarriedtotheextreme,sothatpeoplecouldonlyconverseinplatitudesandclichs,inconventionalandexpectedphrases.Nodeparturefromthisrigidformulationwaspermitted.Afterathousandyearsthisbreditsownevils.TheEmpire,anditscivilization,fellapart.Changescameinquickeningsuccession.ThencametheclimaxMaoTsetung'sbrandofCommunism,withitsownspecialkindofchanges.

15ItisinterestingtorememberthattheseChineseancestralportraitshadnotonlyasentimentalinterest,werehonourednotonlythroughegoisticfamilyattachmentbutalsobecausereligiousfaithacceptedtheircontinued,thoughpsychic,existenceandlookedtothemforcounselorhelp.Bygazingataparent'sorgrandparent'spaintedface,itwasthought,theattitudeofapprovalordisapprovalwouldberevealed.

16Chinesewisdom,developedamongapeoplewhoweremoreearthythantheIndians,couldnotlosesightoftherealitiesofNaturebecauseitwasabletoseetherealitiesofcontemplation.Itbroughtbothintoitspicture,coupledYinwithYangtheevilandsuffering,theterroranddestructionthatseemfusedintotheuniverseitselfalongwiththeserenityandbliss,thebeautyandharmonyattheveryheartofthings.

17InancientChina,oneenteredthephysicalpresenceofasagequitedifferentlyfromthewayoneentereditinancientIndia.InCathayitwasimpolitetostareathisface,whereasinHindustanitwasconsideredareligiousdutytodoso.

18ThepaintedgatewasonedaytoopentomystepandadmituponthemostguardedandexclusivethresholdinallthisgreatEasterncity.Thepossessionofwealthisgenerallyknowntobeawellfittingkeytomostofouraristocraticandhumblermansions,butnonecouldpasstheporchofthishighbornChinamanunlesspossessedofthatinvisibleandspiritualemblemwhichhefirstrequired.

19ThecivilizedChinamanisdignifiedandmanneredandwassoforthousandsofyears.Today,withthedownfallofancientcodes,witheverythingreducedtolowermasslevels,heisdisappearing,andagenerationsteepedinvulgarityandcoarsenessistakinghisplace.

20ThedragonistheChineseesotericsymbolforDivineWisdomandtheexotericsymbolforsupremepower.

21Butexcessiveworshipofthepastwhichresulted,inpractice,fromConfucianstudyandexcessiveresistancetowhatwasnewanddifferenthadasuffocatingeffect:thereaction,whichbeganwiththebirthoftheRepublicandexpandedwiththeCommunisttakeover,



wasinevitable.

22Chinesethoughthadastrongappreciationofthisparadox,thatlifeandtheworldwereinthehandsofpairsofopposites.YinandYang,GodandDevil,LuckandFatewerecoupledtogether.

23IfmostmonksinEastandWestuseprayerremembrancers,mostlyrosaries,afewinprewarChinausedotherarticles,suchasacoupleofpolishedwalnuts.

24Nocivilizationhaseverremainedstaticandchangeless,eventhoseancientoneswhocameclosesttothisconditionsuchasChina.

25ThisstatementappearedinTheChinaQuarterlyin1961:"Neitherinsidethemonasterynoroutsideitistherenowleisureformeditationandprayer.Thesimplepietyofthecommonpeopleisdiscouragedalongwiththematerialsupporttheyprovidedmonks.ThebasicpolicyistoletBuddhismdie.Intwentyyearsfromnow,twothousandyearsafteritarrivedinChina,Buddhismwillbedead."

26Whatchancedidtherickshawcoolieoftheprewardecadeshaveofabsorbingthehigherculture,ofinstructioninthehighertruth?Evenhisbodilylifewasgreatlyshortenedthenbutthetricyclerickshawoftodaymustbelesslaborious.

27AnyofficeraboveacertainrankintheserviceoftheemperorofChinawascalledamandarin.

28ChinatradedwiththeRomanEmpire,whicheagerlyboughtitssilkenfiguredgarments.Itwasmostlydonethroughintermediarymerchantswhotravelledincaravansorsailedtheseas.

29ThemandarinclassofprewarChinawererecognizablenotonlybytheirdressbutalsobytheirfaces.Theirnoseswereeitheraquilineormoreprominentthantheflatonesofthelowerclasses.

30TheChinesehadtheirownkindoffatalism.Oneshouldresignoneselftothecourseofeventsandnotstruggleagainsttheminvain.Oneshouldfollowapolicyofadaptationandexpediencyandopportunism,soastoincurtheleastpossibletroubleorhurt.Thereisnoroomhereforprinciples.

31TheoldfashionedChinamanofthepreCommunisteraandofthatlong1500yearperiodwhenthewritingsofConfuciusweretheloreofthelandwouldnotdreamofaccompanyinghisspokengreetingswithahandshake.Hewouldmakeatmostadignifiedboworattheleastanodofthehead.Tohimtheshakingofhandswasapollutingthing.

32Chinesehistoricalchroniclesgobacktotenthousandyearsago.

33



TheancestryoftheYangchischool,astheYogaschooliscalledamongtheChinese,canbetracedbacktoIndia.

34KuYenwu:"Forgettingthatthewholecountryisafflictedwithdistressandpoverty,theysaynothingofthisbutspendtheirwholetimeinexpatiatingupon`thelofty,'`theessence,'and`theunity.^^^

Taoism

35TheChineseTaoistsascribedmostofoursufferingtomanandmostofourhappinesstoNature.

36ThenameLaoTzumeans"theoldmaster."

37TheIChingmustonlybeusedwhenallotherwaysfail:itisforextremecasesonly.

38KuoHsiang:"Whenamanisemptyandwithoutbias,everyonewillcontributehiswisdomtohim."

39Taoisatermwhichaccordingtocontextstandsforvariablemeanings:theTruth,theWay,theMoralOrder,theReasonorIntelligence(notintellect),"Thatwhichisaboveform."ItisacuriousexperiencetocomparethedeclarationofJesus,"IamtheWay,theTruthandtheLife,"withtheConfucianstatement,"TheTaoisrootedinone'sownperson."

40ThebasicprincipleandpracticalmethodofTaoismisWuWei"DoNothing."ThispuzzlestheordinaryWesternminduntilitisexplainedasequivalenttothePsalmist's"BeStill."Stoptheego'sconstantphysicalandmentalactivitytolettheOverselfin!

41TaoTehChingismostcorrectlytranslatedas"TheBookoftheWayanditsMysticPower."

42TheBookofChangessaysTaoisthesuccessorofYinandYang,ofwhatcomesfirstandwhatafterward,ofbeginningandend,movementandquiescence,darknessandlight,aboveandbelow,advanceandwithdrawal,goingandcoming,openingandclosing,fullnessandemptiness,waxingandwaning,exteriorandinterior,attractionandrepulsion,preservationanddestruction,activityandhibernation.

43ThefirstchapterofLaoTzu'slittlebookisthemostimportantbutthelastoneisthestrangest,foritdealswiththeparadoxofexistence.

44ToLaoTzutheVoidwastheessential,thereal,thesubstantial,thatwhichmatteredmosttotheTaoistSage.



45LaoTzu,whichisatitleofhonour(theOldSage)andnotapersonalname(thesurnamewasLi),calledthehigherpower"theGreatTao."Hewrote,"HowstilltheTaois!"

46WhenLaoTzuvanishedforeverbeyondthemountainpass,heleftalegacybehindhimforwhichallquestersarebeholden.

47WherewillyoufindabookasshortasLaoTzu'sTaoTehChingandyetaswise?

48TheChineseTaoistscalledtheircontemplativepractices"sittinginforgetfulness."

49Thereisnoescapefromthisdilemma.EvenLaoTzu,whowrote,"Hewhoknowsspeaksnot.Hewhospeaksknowsnot,"falsifiedhisownassertionbywritingthefewthousandwordswithwhichhecomposedtheTaoTehChing.Hencethephilosopherisnotcommittedeithertosilenceortospeech.IntheAbsolute,botharethesame.LaoTzu'scelebratedphrasewouldhaveheldmorecorrectnessandlessexaggerationifithadbeenslightlymodifiedtoread:"Hewhospeaks,maynotknow.Hewhoknows,maynotfreelyspeak."

50ThebettertranslationofLaoTzu'sfamousphrase"HewhoknowsTaodoesnotcaretospeakofitandhewhoiseverwillingtospeakofitdoesnotknowit"shouldbesubstitutedforthemorefamiliarone,"HewhoknowstheTaodoesnotspeakhewhospeaksdoesnotknow."ForwhatdidLaoTzuhimselfdobuttrytospeakanddescribetheTao?WhatdidBuddhaandJesusandallthehostofvocalandliterarymysticsdowhentheydeliveredtheirgospels?

51SomecenturiesbeforethefirstteachingsofmeditationwerebroughtfromIndiatoChina,LaoTzuhadknown,practised,andbequeathedthemtohisfellowcountrymen.

52LaoTzuwasnotthefirstpromulgatorofthewisdomofTaoinChina,eventhoughthenamesofhispredecessorshavebeenlost.Truthistimeless.

53JustasinIndianVedantathereistheschoolofAdvaitaandtheschoolofDvaitathatis,nondualityanddualitysoinChineseTaoismthereisaschoolwhichattributeseverythingtoTaoaloneandanotherwhichattributestheworkingoftheuniversetoYinandYangthatis,thenondualistandthedualistschools.

54Taoistsholdthatnonattachmenttoresultsmeans"lettingintuitivedecisionscarryonewhithertheywillandregardlessoftheirresults."

55TheTaoistadept,LuYen,whoflourishedintheeighthcentury,istheauthorityforthefollowingsayings,whichrevealtheprofoundwisdomtobediscoveredinChineselore:"Whenthelightcirculates,thepowersofthewholebodyarrangethemselvesbeforethethrone,justaswhenakinghastakenpossessionofthecapitalandhaslaiddownthefundamentalrulesoforder,allthestatesapproachwithtribute.Thelightisthemaster.""ThelightofHeavencannotbeseen.Itiscontainedinthetwoeyes.""Thesecretofthe



magicoflifeconsistsinusingactioninordertoachievenonaction.""Allchangesofspiritualconsciousnessdependupontheheart.""Whenamancanlethisheartdie,thentheprimordialspiritwakestolife."

56TaomeanstheWayorCourseofNature.

57Theodd(theYang)andtheeven(theYin)searchforoneanother,andgothroughtheir(successive)transformationswithoutend.

58AllthatLaoTzuhadtosaywasputintothesefewpages,thesepreciousdropsofdistilledwisdom.

59Theexpression"WeiWuWei"isusuallytranslatedasnonaction,inthesenseIthinkVivekanandausedinhisphrase"actionlessaction."Butitappearsthereareothermeaningsattributedtothisphrase.Oneisthepoweracquiredthroughmeditationwhenitreachesthetrancestatepresumablymysticaloroccultpower,butalsoordinarypower,inrelationwithotherhumansandanimals.Afurthermeaningattributedtoitisstillingofthemind.Andfinally:thesagedoesnothingyetachieveseverything(thismeaningIbelieveisfromLaoTzu).

60CommentsonexcerptsfromArthurWaley'stranslationofLaoTzu'sbook,TaoTehChing:

l.Thesagereliesonactionlessactivity,carriesonwordlessteaching,butthemyriadcreaturesareworkeduponbyhimhedoesnotdisownthem.

Herearsthembutdoesnotlayclaimtothem,controlsthembutdoesnotcallattentiontowhathedoes.

2.Heavenandearth[NatureP.B.]areruthless.

3.Thesageremainsoutsidebutisalwaysthere.

4.Whenyourworkisdone,thenwithdrawonlybyknowingwhenitistimetostopcandangerbeavoided.

5.HoldfasttotheUnityandneverquitit.

6.ReturntotherootiscalledQuietnessQuietnessiscalledsubmissiontoFatewhathassubmittedtoFatehasbecomepartofthealwaysso.

Toknowthealwayssoistobeilluminednottoknowitmeanstogoblindlytodisaster.

[CommentbyP.B.:The"alwaysso"isalsotranslatedelsewhereasthe"everso."]

[Anothercommentonthepreviousextract:Bypassingonandonthroughsuccessivestagesofhisownconsciousnessbacktotheinitialunity,amancanarriveattheTao,theWay,whichcontrolstheuniverse.Thisecstasy,calledfarawaywandering,isalsoknownasthefarawaypassingon.]

7.Therewassomethingformlessyetcompletethatexistedbeforeheavenandearthits



truenamewedonotknow.

[Comment:Thismeanswedonotknowtowhatclassofthingsitbelongs.]

8.Thefurtheronetravelsthelessoneknows.

9.Learningconsistsinaddingtoone'sstockdaybyday[note:similartoBible's"muchlearningismuchsorrow."]

ThepracticeofTaoconsistsinsubtractingdaybyday,butbythisveryinactivityeverythingcanbeactivated.Thosewhoevolvedwontheadherenceofallwholiveunderheaven,alldidsobynotinterfering.

10.Shutthedoors,andtilltheendyourstrengthshallnotfail.

11.Ifthesage,thoughhecontrols,doesnotleadwhenhehasachievedhisaim,doesnotlinger,itisbecausehedoesnotwishtorevealhimselfasbetterthanothers.

[Comment:Toallowoneselftoberegardedsoassuperioristoloseone'spower.]

61TheoldChinesebookHsunTzucommentsonthemysticChuangTzuthathewasstoppedfromfullydiscerningwhatmanisbecausehewastoopreoccupiedwithwhatheavenis.

62IntheChinesetextsthename"Heaven"representsbothaninvisibleblissfulworldandtheHigherPowerGod.

63TheT'aiChifigureunitesbothforcesintheirplay:each,unmanifested,iscontainedintheother.

64YinYang'scorrelativeinHinducreedsis:Prakriti=Feminineprinciple,Purusha=Masculineprinciple.

65HeavenrulesYang=SunEarthrulesYin=earth.Heaven=fatherEarth=mother.Thesetwoproducephenomenaandcreatures.

66ChineseTaoistmysticsreducedtheirintakeofordinaryfoodandreplacedthedeficientportionbyeatingsubstancesbelievedtocontainortocrystallizeahighproportionofTao:theseweregold,jade,pearls,mica,cinnabar,andsilver.Themixturescontainingthemwereregardedaselixirsoflife.

67LaoTzu'striptotheWestwastraditionallysupposedtobeintendedtoconvertthebarbarians.

68WeiShu,aTaoistbookwrittenaboutthemiddleofthesixthcentury,states:"Sincethepeopleontheearthfindthepractisingofthedoctrineverydifficult,merelyhavethemerectaltarsandshrineswheretheymayworshipmorningandevening.Altarsandshrinesserveasarefugefromworldlyconcerns."



69YangandYin:inChinesehexagramsthebrokenlineisyin,theunbrokenone,yang.

70TheancientChinesemysticalwork,theChietoTaoLun,saysthattheteachershouldobservethebehaviourandspeechofthenewcandidateforstudentshipforseveraldaysandonlythenprescribeacoursesuitabletohisdisposition.

71TheChineseEmperorHwangtiretiredfromtheworldforthreemonthsinordertopreparehimselftoreceiveaglimpseoftheTaofromanadeptnamedKwangShantaze.

72"Clearnesswithinmakesitpossibletoinvestigatethefactsexactly,"statestheancientChineseBookofChanges.Butsuchclearnesscannotbeattainedbythemindwhichisexcessivelypartisan,chargingtheoppositegrouportheirdoctrinewithtoomuchevilwhileclaimingtoomuchgoodforitsown.

73ItwasfittingthatwhenConfuciusmetLaoTzuheshouldtreattheoldermanwithrespect.AndthiswassonotonlybecauseLaoTzuwastwodecadesolderbutalso,andmore,becausehewasonetowhom"Heavenwasmadeclear."ThereforetherecognitionandrespectwereshownbyConfucius.

74TheparadoxicalteachingofLaoTzuismoreeasilyunderstoodthroughtheteachingofhismostimportantdiscipleChuangTzu.Thestyleofoneisterseandsuccinctwhereasthatoftheotherisdiffuseandextended.

75FromLaoTzu'saddresstoConfuciuson"Simplicity":"Thechafffromwinnowingwillblindaman.Mosquitoeswillbiteamanandkeephimawakeallnight,andsoitiswithallthetalkofyoursaboutcharityanddutytoone'sneighbour.Itdrivesonecrazy.Sir,strivetokeeptheworldinitsoriginalsimplicitywhysomuchfuss?Thewindblowsasitlisteth,soletvirtueestablishitself.Theswaniswhitewithoutadailybathandtheravenisblackwithoutdyeingitself.Whenthepondisdryandthefishesaregaspingforbreathitisofnousetomoistenthemwithalittlewateroralittlesprinkling.Comparedtotheiroriginalandsimpleconditioninthepondandtheriversitisnothing."

76

TheHeavensarestillnosound.WherethenshallGodbefound?Searchnotindistantskies,Inman'sownHearthelies.ShaoYung(ancientChinesepoetandmystic)

77WhenLaoTzusawthatChouwasbreakingup,heleftthekingdom.

78"Whoknowsman,hasdiscernment.Whoknowshimself,hasillumination."LaoTzu

79



"WithouterrortherecouldbenosuchthingasTruth,"runsanoldChineseproverb.

Confucius,Confucianism,neoConfucianism

80ToooftenConfuciusisdismissedasbeingmerelyateacherofethicsitisdeniedthatheisalsoaspiritualteacher.Buthetaughtselfcontrol.Suchcontrollessensaman'sattachmentto,andserviceof,hisego.Isnotsuppressionofegoismanimportantpartofallspiritualteaching?

81Confuciuslived2500yearsagoyetfor1500yearshiswisdomwashighlyprizedthroughoutChina.Hedescribedastandardandidealtobesoughtforhumanbehaviourandhumansocialintercourse.Characterandconductneedtobedisciplinedandpolished,heaffirmed,andproperdecorummustenterintoone'srelationswithothers.Properrespectmustbeshowntothoseentitledtoit.TheChineserightlyconsideredhimasagewhoknewtheultimatesignificanceoflife,whowasenlightenedandunderstoodthehiddenmeaningandthehigherpurposeofhumanexistence.ForthesereasonsIalsoadvocatethatthismatterofrefinedbehaviourberegardedinatotallynewlightasaformofspiritualexpressionanddevelopment.

82IfConfuciuswasanethicalthinker,hedidnotstopthere.Hewantedanurbane,civilized,literatesociety.

83Confuciuspresentedanethicalsystemofwhichacodeofetiquettewasapartandaroundwhichnoreligioustraditionenwrappeditself.

84IamanadmirerofConfuciusbecausehesetupastandardwhichhecalledthatofthesuperiorman,theselfdisciplinedman,theculturedmanwithatrainedprecisemindandyetamanwhodidnotneglectthearts,thefinerfeelings,butcultivatedthemtoo.

85Confuciusofteninculcatedthereverentialspiritandmusicalresponsiveness.Itisamistaketobelievehetaughtonlyadrywoodenceremonialism.

86ConfuciusisreportedtohavemetandtalkedwithLaoTzu,whomhethereaftercalled"thedragon."

87Confuciusrecommendedgentlemanlyconductandpolishedpropriety,refinedmannersandaculturedmind.Itistruethathewasprimarilyasociallawgiver,buthewasalsoasage.Itwasnotonlythathesoughttoprovideafixedpatternforkeepingthesocietyofhistimepeacefulandorderly.Hiswisdomwasnotmerelyworldlywisdom.Butitsspiritualdepthwillnotberecognizedbyordinarypersons.

88WhathappenedtoConfuciusiswhathappenedtoothergreatteachers.Hisdoctrineswerecrystallizedsorigidlythattheypreventedfurthernewcreativity,deniedmentalfreedom,andrestrictedadaptabilitytocontemporaryneeds.



89BalancedoutwardlivingtogetherwithanunperturbednaturewastheidealsetupbyConfucius.Thiswashis"DoctrineoftheMean."

90WemodernsdonothavetogoalongwithallConfucius'teachingshissupportofthepracticeofelaboratecostlyritualsduringfuneralsandprolongedmourningafterthemisregrettable.

91Confuciusexpressedinhisownactionswhathetaughtothers.Heembodiedhisteaching.

92KungFutze(Confucius):Incertaincircles,mostlytheyoung,therebellious,andtheprotesters,therearescepticalsneersattheascriptionorthetermgentleman.Tothemitconnotesinheritedoracquiredwealthusedtosecureprivilegedstatusanddenotesasuperiorarrogantattitudetowardlowercastes.

93Confuciusdidnotdenytheexistenceofspiritualworldsbuttaughtthattheyshouldbelefttotakecareofthemselves,thatmenshouldconcentrateontheirpracticaldutieshereandnow.

94"Tobesincere,courteous,andcalmisthefoundationofthepracticeoflove."ChuHsi(11301200)

95Thecourtesyexpressedinpolitelivingandthevirtueexpressedingoodlivingthisistheacquirementwhichmakes"theBetterMan,"inConfucius'phrase,andthisiswhathebadeuscultivate.

96Mencius,whointerpretedorexpoundedorappliedConfucius'teaching,wrote:"WheresoevertheSuperiorManabides,thereisaspiritualizinginfluence."ThisaloneshowsthatConfuciuswasmorethanamoralizer.

97Roughly,itmaybesaidthatLaoTzufavouredtheideaofsuddenenlightenmentwhereasConfuciusfavouredthatof"enlightenmentbydegrees."

ThewaytoGodlinessisopentoall:thehumblestpeasantmaybecomeholy.Buttothosewhounderstandthatthereisanevolutionatworkamonghumanbeings,suchacondition,thoughwelcome,isnotenough.Confuciusperceivedthisandleftittootherstopreachreligionandmysticism.Headdedthefurtheridealofthewellbehavedrefinedandcultivatedperson.

Confucius'"SuperiorPerson"idealwasawellequilibratedbeinglivinginawellorderedequilibratedsociety.

98ThereweregoodthingsintheCodeofEthicsdrawnupbyConfuciustoguidehisfellowChinese.Itwasgoodtorespectancestorsandwhatwassoundintraditiontorespectparentsandolder,moreexperiencedpeopletobekindtochildren,servants,andanimalsand,inthefaceoftroubleordeath,tokeepanunbrokenfortitude.

99



WhatamandoesinhisprivatedomesticorfamilylifewastoConfuciusnolessimportantthanwhathedidinpublic,althoughthesagedealtmorewiththelatter.

100Confucius'modelwasthemanwhowasrighteous,benevolent,wellbehaved,andwise.

101TheConfucianidealofperfectmanners,superiorcharacter,obediencetoauthorityandprotocol,respectfortraditionandelders,scholarship,loyaltytothefamilyancestorsandthestateworkedwellforoverathousandyearsbutwassetupwhenconditionsweretremendouslydifferentfromtoday's.

102AnotherreasonwhyConfuciusputformaletiquetteforwardwasbecauseitkeptsocietyorderly.

103ArrogantselfsufficiencyisnotincludedinConfucius'truegentlemanliness.

Itisnottitle,rank,wealth,orotherouterflummerywhichmakestherealgentleman.Andyetallcancontributetowardsitbytheiraccompanyingobligations.

104ConfuciusdidnotencouragesomeofthosesportswhichinfatuatetheWesternyouth.Indeedtheexplorationofmountainsandravineswasstrictlybanned.Anyunnecessaryactivitywhichendangeredlifeorriskedinjurywasnotallowedaspossiblydoingviolencetothebody.Totheextentofdisapprovingofinvasivewarsandaggressiveattacks,LaoTzuwasapacifistbutheapprovedofapeople'srighttodefendthemselvesagainstaggressors.

105ConfucianismwaspredominantinChina.ItgotfromBuddhismacosmologyandaphilosophywhichitlackeditself.

106"Iamtransmitting,notcreating,"confessedConfucius.

107TheConfucianidealoftheSuperiorManisusefultofollowbutincompletetocontemplate.ThisisthemanwhoseemotionsaregovernedbyreasonandwhosereasonisguidedbytheGood.

108ItistheConfucianidealtodowhatisrightandtorefrainfromdoingwhatiswrong,irrespectiveofwhetherornotitispleasingtohisnaturalselfishness.

109ThegoodmannerswhichConfucianteachingbroughtintomiddleandhigherclassesoftheChinesepeoplefor1500yearsincludedadislikeofexcitementandanger,whichwereconsideredquitevulgar.

110ThenameofConfuciusistoooftenassociatedwithimprisonmentinastiffformalism.

111WhatChouTunYitheMasterChou,ashewasaffectionatelycalledcreatedwasamovementwhichvitallyrenewed,greatlyexpanded,andvigorouslyreshapedwhathad



beenConfucianism,amovementwhichwaslaterestablishedasthe"MindSchool"byLuHsiangShanandstilllaterreacheditsclimaxwithWangYangming,whoproducedaneffectivesynthesisinwhichBuddhistandTaoisticelementsarenoticeable,alongwiththefundamentalConfucianonesandwithhisownpersonalcontributions.

112ChouTunYi'sideaswerepartlybasedonTheDoctrineoftheMean,asmallbookwrittenbyConfucius'grandsonTzuSzu.ItnowformsChapter28oftheConfucianclassicBookofRites.

113ChouTunYiwasthepioneerwhoworkedoutthestartingpointoftheNeoConfuciansystem,the"DiagramoftheSupremeUltimate,"whichshowstheuniverse'sevolution.

114ChouTunYiwroteonebooktitledTheDiagramoftheUltimateExplainedandanothertitledComprehensiveUnity.

115MasterChouTunYi(10171073):ChouTunYiwasanativeofthepresenttownofNingYuaninHunanprovince.Hewasapioneer,thefirstoftheNeoConfucianistsbelongingtotheirsecondrevival,whichwasintheSungdynasty.WangYangmingwasastilllatermemberofthisgroupbutofthelaterMingDynasty(l368l644).

116ChouTunYihasachapterinJ.PercyBruce'sChuHsiandhisMasters,London,1923.OnthelatterbookseealsoE.R.Hughes'TheGreatLearningandtheMeaninAction,NewYork,1943.

117ChouTunYiwaspraisedbyWangYangmingforhis"rarepeaceablemindedness."

118TheSupremeUltimate,atermChouTunYitookfromtheBookofChangesisinfiniteandimperishable,andthesourceofthecosmos.Itprovidestheethics,theMoralOrder,theLawforallthings,yetitequateswiththeUltimateless(explainedlater).

ForChouTunYi,Law=thecontrollingnonphysicalprincipleofeveryobjectandcreature.

TaohasonemeaningforConfuciansasthe"Standardofhumanconduct"butfortheTaoistsanothermeaningastherealitybehindthecosmos.

YinandYangareevolvedoutoftheSupremeUltimate.Theyarethenegativeandpositive,thequiescentandactive,femaleandmale,softandhard,darkandbrightprinciple.Throughtheirinteractiontheybringaboutallphenomena.Sometimesoneprevails,sometimestheother,butatnotimeiseithereverabsent.

TheFiveElementsareproducedbyYinandYang.

Thesefivestagesaresuccessivelycyclicalandinvolutionaryfromspiritdowntomatter.Ether,thoughinvisible,isconsideredmaterial.

NeoConfuciansrejecttheBuddhistviewthattheworldisillusory.

ThetermUltimatelesswasusedbyLaoTzu,whoalsocalledittheLimitless.



ChouTunYiwasinfluencedbyalearnedscholaroftheclassics,MuHsiu,whoreceivedhisideasfromahermitChungFang,whowasadiscipleoffamousTaoist,ChenTuan.

119ChouTunYi'sworkswerepublishedbyhispupils,thebrothersCheng,whotaughtYangShih,whowasasourceofideasforLuHsiangshan.

120ChouTunYiwasknownastheMasterofLienHsi(10171073).HisofficialpostwasasPrefectofNanchang,inKiangsi.HebuiltamountainretreatnearKulingwhichhecalledtheLienHsiStudio.

121OutofthegreatNothing,whichistheVoid,arisesthatwhichissymbolicallyandmathematicallythesinglepoint.Itisthefirstappearancewithinspaceandtime.

Thispointturnsitselfintotheline,whosetwoendsopposeandcomplementeachother.Thisisthecosmicsymbolofuniversalpolarity,calledbytheChineseYinYang,ormasculinefeminine,positiveandnegative,projectiveandreceptive,creationanddisintegration.

Thenextphaseofthisdynamicactiveprocessis,stillspeakingsymbolically,thedevelopmentwhichspreadsitselfoutintotheentireCosmositself,likeafan,movingbyitselfasifbymagic.

OutoftheirownthinkingtheGreeksdevelopedsomewhatsimilarmystical,metaphysical,andmathematicalideaswhosegeometryisbasedonthepoint,theline,theplane,andthesolid.

122"IfIcandevelopmymindcompletely,IbecomeidentifiedwithHeaven,"declaredLuHsiangshan(11391193).Thisexactlyexplainsthemessageofphilosophytoeveryman.Noeducationwhichignoresthiscanthereforebecalledafulleducation,perhapsnotevenatrueone.

ChouTunYiwrote,"Thewayofthesageisnothingbutlove,righteousness,theMean,andcorrectness.Preserveit,anditwillbeennobling.Practiseit,anditwillbebeneficial.Prolongit,anditwillmatchHeavenandEarth.Isitnoteasyandsimple?Isithardtoknow?Ifso,itisbecausewedonotpreserve,practise,andprolongit."

123LuHsiangshan(11391193)originatedaschoolofphilosophyboldlydevelopedfromtheNeoConfucianistoneoftheSungDynasty(9601280).Histeaching,aMonisticIdealism,reacheditsculminationwithWangYangming(14721529),whoexpoundedanddevelopedit.

LuHsiangshanlecturedforseveralyearsatElephantMountaininKiangsi,socalledhimself"theoldmanofElephantMountain."Hemarriedattwentyninetoaculturedwoman.Inthenationalexaminationforgovernmentalposts,hispaperstoodoutasdistinctiveamongseveralthousand.HewasgivenanofficialpostintheImperialAcademy.Hislecturesweresoeloquentastoattractlargecrowds.WhenthecelebratedChuHsiassertedthatwidthofknowledgeshouldbeconsideredthefoundationofvirtue,LurepliedthatdiscoveryoftheOriginalMindshouldprecedeit.Whenhebecameamagistrate,heprovedhimselftobeaspracticalinworldlymattersashewaspenetratinginmetaphysicalones.Herebuiltthecrumblingcitywalls,eliminatedofficialextravagance,reducedcorruption,cutdowncrime,andquickenedlegalproceedings.Yet



laterhedeclinedpromotion,for,withallthisactivity,hecontinuedtolecturewheneverpossible.Hediedpeacefullyaftertellinghisfamily,"Iamgoingtodie,"andsittinginmeditationforseveralhours.SomeofhissayingsandhisfewwritingswerecollectedtogetheranditwasthisbookthatWangYangmingrepublishedin1521,sohighlydidheesteemit.

OneshouldcultivatethefeelingofReverence,taughtLu.Hewrites:"ItisincorrecttoexplainthattheMindofmanisequivalenttodesireandtheMindofSpirittoHeavenlyLaw.HowcanmanhavetwoMinds?MindandLawdonotadmitofdualism....ThisMindhasnobeginningorenditpermeateseverywhere.Evilisaninescapablefactandapracticalexperience.Ascholarlymanmustfirstmakefirmhiswill.

"Peopleofthepresentgeneration...eventhoughtheyareengagedthewholedaywiththebooksofthesages,whenweaskwhatisthelodgingplaceoftheirwill[wefind]theyarerushinginadirectionoppositetothatofthesages."

ChanFoumin,apupilofLu,wrote:"Isatquietlywithclosedeyes,exertingmyselftoholdfastandpreserve(myMind).Throughthenightintothefollowingday,Ididthisforhalfamonth.SuddenlyIrealizedthatmyMindhadbeenrestoredtoitspurityandbrightness,andwasstandingintheMean(chung)(thatis,withoutinclinationordeflection).Iwenttotheteacher,whometmewithhiseyesandsaid`ThisLawhasalreadybeenmanifestedinyou.^^^

Lu:"Establishyourself,sitstraight,foldhands,collectyourforces,andbecomelordoveryourself....Bewithoutthought,immovable,silent,withoutaction,practisenonassertion(wuwei)."

"Thewholedayyourelyonexternalopinions,andhavealreadybecomeentangledinsuperficialdoctrinesandemptytheories."

"ThetrueLawunderHeavendoesnotadmitofduality."

"TheuniverseismyMind."

124LurejectedthepessimismandasceticismofBuddhismbutacceptedotherfeaturesofZen.

125Luregardsgoodnessasinnateinman,whilehisevilisacquiredthroughcircumstancesandhidesit.

If,ahundredthousandgenerationshence,sagesweretoappear,theywouldhavethissameMind.IfintheEast,theWest,theSouth,ortheNorth,thereweretoappearsages,theytoowouldhavethissameMind....MindisonlyoneMind.TheMindofanygivenperson,orofasageathousandgenerationsago,theirMindsareallonelikethis....AllmenhavethisMind.

MindisthesameastheLaw,World'sgoverningPrinciple,Virtue,orMoralOrderinherentintheCosmicOrder.

126PoMinsaid:"EvilanddepravityarethingsIhaveneverdaredtocommit."Lureplied:"Itisonlybecauseofrigidcontrolinthisrespect.Buttherearesomethingswhichcannotbecontrolled,andsuchwillinfuturealsorequireeffort.ThatiswhyonemustgetknowledgeofwhatHeavenhasbestoweduponus.Ifwesucceedindevelopingwhat



Heavenhasthusbestowed,sorichandnoble,thenonewillautomaticallykeepawayfromevilanddepravity.Onewillonlyadheretotheuprightand,furthermore,willunderstandthatwithwhichwehavebeeninnatelyendowed."

127Luregardsthepossibilitiesforevilinmanthatarebroughtoutbyenvironmenthistoryandexperiencesasinherentbutincidental,henceforedoomedtopassawayandvanish,whereashisoriginalgoodnessisindestructible.

128LuteachesthatOriginalMindcanbeknownandunderstood.

129LuHsiangshanwasafamousadvocateandeloquentexpounderofthementalistteachingintwelfthcenturyChina.StudentscametohislecturesincrowdsfromalldistrictsinEasternCathay.Yethisardentconvictionofmentalism'struthdidnotdiminishinanywayhiscapabilityandefficiencyasagovernmentofficial.Onthecontrary,sosatisfiedwerehissuperiorswithhispracticalperformanceinminorpositionsthathewasappointedgovernorandmagistrateofthecityofChingMenHsien,wherehewashighlysuccessfulinfulfillingallhisresponsibilities.Hewasofferedastillhigherpromotionbutrefusedit,forinbetweenhisdutiesandinleisurehourshealsofoundtimetoteachstudentsandgivelectures.

130ItwasthespecialcontributionoftheWangYangmingschooltosynthesizethesubtlestmentalismwiththemostpracticalroutineofdailylife,theholinessofferventreligionwiththeobligationstosociety,thedisciplineofselfwiththefreedomofundogmaticmind.

131ThethoughtdevelopedbyLuHsiangshanandlaterledtoitslogicalendbyWangYangmingiscalledtheLuWangSchool,orMindSchool.Theyarenot"SubjectiveIdealists"inasolipsisticsense,fortheyholdthereisoneUniversalMindunderthefiniteones.

WangexpoundsMonisticIdealism,theonenessoftheuniverseanditsrepresentation,withallphenomena,intheMindthatspace(extension)andtime(succession)existonlyintheMind.

132Afternearlyonethousandyearsofusefulexistence,Confucianismhadsunktoalowlevelithadbecomefeeble,corrupt.WangYangmingwasthemanwhoarousedittonewlifeandstrengthandinspireditafresh.

133Wang'sconceptofIntuitiveKnowledgemakesitcalm,unaffectedbysuggestions,opinions,orinfluencesfromoutside:itexistsinequilibrium,bestowedbyMind.ItsfulldevelopmentleadstothehighestGood.Butthedevelopmentcanhappenonlyifappliedtopracticalactionandmoralconduct.

134IfIadmireWangYangmingsogreatlyitisbecausehecombinedinhispersonqualitiesandcapacitieswhichprovedthatitispossibletolivethephilosophiclifetothefull.Hewasinhisfiftysevenyearsoflifeasuccessfulmilitarycommander,anexcellentmagistrate,atalentedpoet,adiscriminatinganalystofreligions,acultivatorofintuition,apractiserofmeditation,andateacherofphilosophy.HenotonlybroughttogetherthebestinConfucius'teaching,inBuddhismandTaoism,butmadevaluablecontributionsof



hisowntothissynthesis.ItishoweverneedfultoexplaintoWesternstudentsthatWang'steachingoftheunityofKnowledgeandConductdoesnotrefertointellectualknowledgebuttointuitiveKnowledge.TothisunionorMutualityofKNOWINGandDOINGhegavethenameof"SINCERITY."Thetheorylearntfrombooksorlecturesdoesnotofitselfnecessarilyhavepowertomovethewillbutintuitiondevelopedinthecourseoftimebypractisingmentalquiet,emotionalcalm,andpersonaldetachmenthasthispower.WhattheIndianguruscalleddetachmentisreallythesameaswhattheChinesephilosopherslikeLaoTzucalled"nonaction,"andthisisthetermWangused.Itdoesnotmeandoingnothingbutkeepingtoacertainemotionaldisinvolvementwhiledoingthings,anattitudeitselfarisingfrom,orhelpedby,thequiescencepractice.Anotherdefinitionof"Sincerity"isharmonywiththePrincipleoftheUniverse.

135WangYangmingwasborninthetownofYuyao,inChekiangprovince.Lu'sgreatinfluenceonhimwasininsistingthatvirtueisabstractuntilmadeconcreteinAction.

136WangisconsideredthegreatestphilosopheroftheMingdynasty.

137When,withthepassageoftime,Confucianteachingandpracticebecamestiff,formal,andhollow,whencorrectoutwardappearanceofvirtuetooktheplaceofitsinnerexistence,thenhypocrisyruledandthereformswhichChouTunYiinitiatedandWangYangmingcompletedbecameessential.

138Wangleftseventydisciplesafterhisdeath.Theywereindifferentprovinces,andinvariedsituations.

139WangwroteaprefacetothecollectedworksofLuHsiangshan.

140WangYangmingwasattheendofaninterestingperiodofdevelopmentwhichopenedwithChouTunYi(10171073)andmovedawayfromthestiffnarrowthoughtofConfuciustoaflexible,widerwisdom.

141WangYangmingispicturedonmyscrollintheformalprescribedrobeofamandarin.Hisfaceissternbutnotsombrehismouth,reticentandnotoftenopened,isthinlyfringedallaroundwithgreyhair.

142P.B.'spaintingofWangYangmingshowedhiminadifferenthatfromtheprintwhichwascopiedfromabookonhim.Thisisbecausebothwereofficialhatsofoffice(status)anddifferatdifferentstagesofhiscareer,asherosefromlowertohigherappointments.

Ch'anBuddhism

143WehaveonlytolookinanyJapanesedrawingorChinesepaintingatthedarkfiercefaceandglaringeyesofBodhidharmatofeelthatanyteachingcomingfromthismanmustbeabrupt,terse,direct,likelytoshock,andcertaintosurprise.



144Whenthetenfingersarefoldedtogether,theyformsymbolicallythetwoaspects(activeandpassive)oftheOneReality.Whenoutspreadtheysymbolizetenaspectsofitshumanexpression,thus:Lefthand:littlefinger=benevolence,next=virtue,middlefinger=submission,resignation,calmness,index=strength,thumb=meditationRighthand:littlefinger=comprehension,understanding,next=practicalmethodused,middlefinger=ideals,indexfinger=powerandthumb=highestknowledge.ThisplanwasdrawnupbyChineseMahayana.

145ItwasathirteenthcenturyCh'anBuddhist,LiuPingchuang,whocameoutofhisretirementformeditationtoguidethecelebratedMongolemperorKublaiKhaningettingridofthechaosintowhichtheadministrationofChinahadfallen.Hispracticalreformsweresuccessfulandtheemperoradmiredhimasastatesman,trustedhimasanadviser,andvaluedhishelp.Norwashenarrowlylimitedinhisspiritualstudies:theethicsandsocialpoliticalideasofConfucius,themonkishdisciplinesandcontemplationsofBuddhism,andthemysteriesofTaoismwereallembracedandsynthesized.Hehadnoofficialtitleuntilafterhisdeath,butwantednone.AftertwentysixyearsofsuchcapableanddistinguishedserviceheagainretiredtoseclusionandspentthelastsixyearsofhislifeinTaoisticstudy,practices,andmeditation.

146InaChineseZenninthcenturytextbyHsiYunwefindthescathingwordsaddressedtothemanysectarianbabblers:"SpeaknotoftheAbsolutewithamindlikeanape."

147ZenisnotaJapaneseinventedproductbutaJapanesedressedChineseproduct.AsCh'an,itwasfullydevelopedinChinabeforetheJapanesegotholdofit.

148ShenHui(ChineseZenMaster):"Withoutpractising[yoga],byattainingtocorrectunderstandingalone,andbydeeplyimpregnatingyourselfwithit,allthechiefentanglementsanddeceptiveideaswillgraduallyfallaway."

149InJapanShenHuirejectedthewayofwatchingthemindtoconcentrateittoentermeditation.Hetaughtthatsuchformsneednotbeused.TohavenothoughtswasenoughtoletthePureOriginalMindappear.Theattitudeofgoodwill,thepracticeofselfdenialisthefirstrule.ShenHuifurtherclaimedhiswastheSchoolofSuddenEnlightenment.Itislikechildbirth,whichisasuddenaffairbutthechildrequiresalongprocessofnurtureandeducationbeforeattainingitsfullbodilyandintellectualgrowth.Hederidedallthebooksintheworldandhimselfwrotenone.

150ThedhyanaofSanskritbecamethech'anorch'antingofChineseandthezazenofJapanese.Allmeancontemplation.

151GarmaC.C.Changsaid,"WhattheZenMastershavedoneistopointoutourdelusionsinthinkingofthenonexistentasexistentandtheexistentasnonexistent."HemeansnonexistentasmatterbutexistentasMind.

152SixthZenPatriarch:"Youshouldfirstcastasideallmentalactivityandletnothoughtsariseinyou.ThenIshallpreachtheDharmaforyou."AfteralongintervalofsilencethePatriarchcontinued,"Notthinkingofgoodorevil,rightatthisverymomentthatisyour



originalface!"HuiMingwasimmediatelyenlightened.

153Huashang,aChineseMahayanistleaderandtutoroftheKingofTibetintheearlybeginningsofBuddhismthere,taughtthatattainmentdoesnottakeplaceslowlyasaresultofprotractedandonerousstruggle,butsuddenlyandintuitively:"Themanwhothinksofnothing,whoturnshisattentiontonothing,willfreehimselffromSamsara."ThisofcoursebecameaCh'anschooltenet.

Japan

154WhereasIndianBuddhistandVedanticthoughtdeploredlife'sbrevity,Japanesethought,whilealsodeploringit,refusedtofollowthemindenouncingthebodyasanobstacle,muchlessintodenyingitsexistence.ZenMasterDogenassertedthatweoughttorespectthebody,sinceitisthroughthislifeandthisbodythatwehavetheopportunitytopractisethe"GoodLaw."

155Thefollowingareequivalenttermsforoneandthesamething:OriginalPureMindofZenBuddhism,PureConsciousnessofVedanta,AlayaofMahayanaBuddhism.

156D.T.SuzukiwasalaydiscipleofSoyenShaku,aroshi(guru)atEngakujiTemplewhowentoninvitationtoattendtheWorldParliamentofReligionsin1893heldatChicagothesameoneatwhichVivekanandaspoke.D.T.SuzukitravelledwithhimtoactastranslatorandlaterremainedintheU.S.A.alone.ThuswasZenlaunchedintheWest,butitwasSuzuki'ssteadyunremittingworkwhichcontinuedtheimpulsegivenbySoyen.Hedidthisbylectures,translationsoftexts,aperiodicaljournal,andfinallybooks.TherewardofmarkedattentiondidnotcomehoweveruntilWorldWarIIended,whentheinterestinZensuddenlyerupted.

157ToomanyWesternersinterestedinJapaneseZenassumethattheworkonriddles,calledkoans,isitsprincipalway.Thisisnotso.ItisnotacceptedorpractisedbytheotherimportantbranchofZen,theSoto.Thenonlogicalkoanmethodisnotrecommendedforthoseonaphilosophicalpathanddoesnotallyharmoniouslywithit.

158ItwasnottillathousandyearshadpassedsincetheintroductionofBuddhismintoChina,andnottillfourhundredyearsafterBodhidharmahadbroughttheZenformofitthere,thatthekoantechniqueassumedanyprominenceatallamongthemethodsofmeditation.EventothisdayoneofthetwoJapaneseZenschools,theSoto,makesonlylittleuseofkoans.

159TheessenceofChineseCh'anwasadaptedbytheJapanese,andevenaltered,tosuittheirownnationalcharacter.ItbecametheirZen.

160ZenBuddhismisaformofmysticism,perhapsoneofitshighestifmostpuzzlingforms,andnotaphilosophy.Thereforeitisincomplete,onesided.Theevidenceforthisisinherentinitselfforitdisdainsmetaphysics,study,reason,andstakeseverythingonaflashintuitiongotbymeditation.Thereisherenosuchcheckonthecorrectness



completenessandfinalityofsuchanintuitionasisprovidedbyphilosophy.Afurtherevidenceliesinthehistoryofitsownfounder.BodhidharmaadmittedlytravelledtoChinatogiveouthisteachingyet,afterhisarrival,hecontentedhimselfwithsittingincompletesolitudefornineyearsatSungShan,waitingforaprospectivediscipletoapproachhim.Hadhebeenasage,however,hewouldsurelyhavefilledthosenineyearswithmakinghisknowledgereadilyavailabletowhoeverwasreadyforit,andifthereexistednosuchelite,hewouldinthatcasehavehelpedthemasseswithsimplerifmoreindirectformsoftruth.

161InJapantheZenteachingtookdifferentforms.SomewereincrediblyGodlessbutothershadGods.SomeamongthemoneswhichSuzukiconsideredofhighattainmentrejectedallforms.MoreoverthiswasregardedasthesecretteachingoftheBuddhahimself!

162Zenkoanexercises:Thesereallyareinsoluble,hencethepupilreachesapointwherehehastogiveitupasaninsolubleriddlewiththis,hegivesuptheintellectandego,andgetsillumination.

163ItisanerrortobelievethatthekoanisaninventionoftheJapanesemindhowever,thatmindmayhaverecastit.Kunganwasalreadypart,althoughalaterpart,oftheCh'andoctrineinChinabeforeitwastakenupbytheislandneighbours.

164ThosewhobelievethatapermanentandstableenlightenmentcanbegotfromthekoanpracticesofZenwithoutanyothersortofpreparationcanfindnosupportfortheirbeliefinthehighertruthofIndiatheoriginalfountainheadoranyotherBuddhistland.Thekoancannotbyitselfbringmorethanatemporaryglimpsethatatbestwillnecessarilyfadeaway.

165Thosewhocareforkoanswillwanderaboutincirclesandintheendcomebackwithemptyhands.Theywillhavetostartafreshonanewroadhavinglearntthatwisdomisnothiddeninlunacyexceptformindsalreadyconfusedordistorted.

166ItisnotsufficientlyrealizedbyWesternstudentsofZenBuddhismthattherearevariousschoolsofZen,andthatitisagreaterrortoidentifyitsolelywiththeKoanSchool,althoughthisistheonethathasbeenmuchfavouredbythem.IndeedtheSotoZenSchool,oneofthemostimportantandwidespread,rejectsthekoanpracticeentirely.Asforthefierce,almostfrenziedconcentrationonakoanwhichsooftenprevails,theSotofounder,MasterDogen,pointedoutthatitwasfarbettertowaitinsilence,patiently,untilaglimpseisreceived.

167Zenprescribesfreedomfromdogmatizinghencekeepingafreshmind.Itcallsforquicknessofreflexesandreactionshencesuperbselfcontrol.

168Inkarate,toperformadifficultfeatsuchasbreakingabrickbyasharpblowwiththeedgeofthehand,themindmustfirstbebrieflymadecompletelyblank.Theblowisthenspontaneous,immediate,deliveredbyforce,andunhinderedbycalculatingthought.Opponentsdonotlookintoeachother'seyes.Why?Becauseiftheintentiontomakethenextmovearises,thethoughtwillrevealitselfbytheslightestlossofbalancewhenthoughttendstoaffectthebody'smuscles.Theopponentdivinestheintentionbygazing



intotheeyes,sotheylookdowntothechest.

169AnexampleofthissymbolicbutenigmaticformofexpressionmaybetakenfromJapaneseZen.Thephrase"originalface"means"seeingthefundamentalselfnature."

170Dhyanaispronounced"Jan."H.P.Blavatskywrites:"Dhyana,Dan,Janna,Dzan,Djan,(Japanese,Zen,hencetheBookofDzyan),inmodernChineseandTibetanphoneticsCh'an,isthegeneraltermfortheesotericschoolsandtheirliterature.IntheoldbooksJannaisdefinedas`reformingoneselfbymeditationandknowledge,'asecondinnerbirth."

171TheJapaneseZenBuddhistswerespirituallysensitiveenoughandaestheticallyculturedenoughtorecognizethehighervaluesofteadrinking.

172TheteaceremonywasstartedinChinaonethousandyearsagobyZenpriestsandspreadintoJapanacoupleofcenturieslater.WhereasChinesepriestsstartedittowardoffdrowsinessinmeditationtheJapaneselaitymadeitpopular.Slowlyitchangeduntilthesixteenthcentury,whenthepresentritewasfinalizedbyZenpriests.Thegreatestpossibleeconomyofmovementsisaimedat.Theriteisanexerciseinrefinement,gracefulness,andcalm.ButsurprisinghumilityisalsoembodiedinitinawaystrangelyreminiscentoftheEgyptianGreatPyramid,forliketheentrancetotheKing'sChamber,theentrytotheTeaChamberisthroughanopeningsosmallandsolowinthewallthatavisitorisforcedtobenddownandalmostcrawlthrough.

173Exceptforourfirstmeeting,teaseemstobeassociatedwithmycontactswithProfessorD.T.Suzuki.HeinvitedmetohelpmyselffromtheeverbubblingsamovarofthelightcolouredweaktastinggreenteawhichwasthenationalJapanesedrink.ThiswasattheEngakujiMonastery,Temple,andAcademyinthosefaroffyearsbeforethewar.Thiswasthefittingplace,thepertinentatmosphere,inwhichtotalkquietlyaboutZen.Thenwemetagain,aboutadecadelater,afterthewar,attheLosAngelesJapaneseBuddhistTemplewherehewasstayingasaguest.Heofferedsomelittleroundricecakesthistimetoeatwiththetea.Inoticedthathenowputalumpofsugarbetweenhisfrontteethandheldittherewhilehedrank.ThethirdtimeheaskedmetoteawasacoupleofyearslateratColumbiaUniversity,whereheagainwasaguest.TherewehadWesternstyletoastedrollsastheaccompaniment.Afterhissecretaryassistantremovedthetrays,wewentatgreatlengthandinmuchdetailintoacomparisonofIndianyoga,philosophy,andtextswithZenChineseandJapanesemeditationmethods,philosophy,andtexts.Iwasamazedathisextraordinaryerudition,forhenotonlyknewexactlywherethereferencessupportinghisstatementscouldbefound,buthisabilitytoreadSanskritandChinese,alongwithhisnativeJapaneseandearlyacquiredEnglish,gaveawidthandauthoritywhichfewothermenpossessed.HisbasicpointwasthatwhereasZensoughtandachieveddirectpenetrationtoreality,Indianyogasoughtandachievedmentalstillnessnotnecessarilythesameandcertainlyinferior.Wewereunabletocometoafullagreement,sowegraduallydriftedawayfromthematterandhetalkedconfidentiallywithtouchinghumblenessofhisownspiritualstatus."Theyconsidermeamaster,"hesaidfinally,"butIconsidermyselfastudent."ThenbeforeleavingIsuggestedthatwemeditatetogether,communinginthesilentwaythatwaswellunderstoodinbothJapanandIndia."ButIonlymeditateinprivate,alone,"heprotested,"orintheassemblyofazendo(monastichallforgroupmeditation).Nobodyhaseveraskedmetodothisbefore."Butintheendheyielded,andtherewesatwiththegreyuniversitywallsofColumbiaall



around,thewarmsummersunshinecominginthroughthewindows.

174ItwasaJapanesesaintofthethirteenthcentury,Nichiren,founderoftheNichirenShusectofBuddhismandstillworshippedbyafewmillionJapanese,whodenouncedtheZensectsas"devils"!ButitisinterestingtonotethattheNichirenismoreconcernedwithpracticalaffairs,withreorganizingsecularlifeintheworld,thanwithphilosophyandmysticism,whichpreoccupyZennists.

175Suzuki:"OnethingcharacterizingZentemplesandmonasteriesisthattheyarecleanandingoodorder,andthemonksarereadytotakeupmanualwork."

176IftheGreeksareindividualistic,theJapanesearenot:theyarejoiners.TheJapaneseneedsthereassuringsenseofbelongingtoagroup,thelargerthebetter.Heneedsthemoralsupportgainedfromidentifyinghimselfwithanorganizedsectionofsociety.

177GotoRoshi,contemporaryZenguru,claimedthat"ZenhasbeenmisinterpretedtotheWestbecausetheinterpretershavenotfinishedtheirtraining.Sotheyhavetalkedofgoalsinsteadofthemethod."(Bymethodhemeantzazen,sittingstillinmeditationP.B.)SeePaulMenpahl,TheMatterofZen,NewYorkUniversityPress.

178WheninvadingsoldiersburntdowntheroominwhichtheyhadlockedKaisen,MasterofaZenmonasteryinJapan,hesaid,"ThepracticeofZendoesnotnecessarilyrequirethebeautyoflandscape.Whenoneputsoutallthoughtsevenfireiscooltohim."

179TheOrienthaschangedenough,alas!andisstillfastchangingitsinwardcharacterandoutwardconditions.Tokyo,whenIfirstsawJapan,wasalreadywellonthewaytobecomingaChicago,butKyotowasstillalargelyunspoiledartisticintellectualculturalcentre.Now,morethanfortyyearslater,Iamtoldithaskeptmuchofitscharmstillbutisfastaddingenoughindustrytomakeanyonewonderwhatwillsurvivebytheendofthenextfortyyears.

180MasterDogen(thirteenthcenturyfounderofSotoZensect)wasanextremistinmetaphysicalandethicalideasandespeciallyinsocialones.

181TheblowsdeliveredbytheseJapaneseZenmasterswhicharereportedtobefollowedbysuddenenlightenmentrepresentaformofinitiationunknowntoIndia,wherealmosteverypossibleformhasbeenthoughtofandused.ButitwaslefttoJapantothinkof,anduse,physicalviolenceforsuchasacredpurpose!

182TheecstaticrapturesofaSaintTeresadonotappearinthecalminsightsofaZensage.

183TheZenlayman,livingintheworldandnotinamonastery,triestotranscendwhateverentershislife.

184SuzukitoldsomeonethathisownZenmasterwasthelastofthegreatZenmasters.Since



hisdeaththepresentKaliYugamastersarefromthispointofviewonlysocalledones.

185When,duringourvisittoJapan,wesoughtforthefootprintsofZen,wefoundallthatwasworthwhileinitnowbelongedtoadeadpastandonlyaminutehandfulofearnestbutignoredscholarskeptitsbookishmemoryalive,asidefromahandfulofmonksandpriestswhohadlostitsoldvitalspiritandlackeditskeenintellectualism.ZenhadbecomeinfactameremuseumpieceamongthepeopleoftheRisingSun.

Tibet

186LakeManazowar,Tibet:Thestormsweptlakeisalsoprofoundlysacredintheireyes.Themountainrisesabruptlyfromthetracklessplainnotfarfromthefrontier.Thereisnothingbutbleak,heightborderedwildernessforhundredsofmilesineveryotherdirection,withonlyanoccasionalhillperchedBuddhistmonasteryortemporarytentvillagetorelieveitasitbroodsunchangedoverthissnowyfastness,andcivilizationisstillabsent.

Hereisaregionwhichhasalwaysbeenshroudedinmystery,whichremainseveninthistwentiethcenturyaloof,likeahermitamongtheworld'splaces.Thegroundeverywhereishardandfrozenkeenandviolentwindsdescendintotheglaciersandcutrelentlesslyacrosstheirsurfaces.Theclimaticrigoursofexcessivecoldandpiledsnowrenderitnearlyinaccessibletothetravellerfornearlythreefourthsoftheyear.IhavelivedatvariouspointsalongtheIndoTibetanborderandsampledamiteoftheatmospherewhichsurroundstheHimalayanregion.DizzyheightsandruggedprecipicestoppedbythecontinuoussnowylineofHimalayameetone'sgazeeverywhere.

Onemightwalkonfootorrideonhorsebackalongthethreadliketrailsformileswithoutmeetingasoul.Silencerulesalldaylikeasovereign,untiltheafternoonthundergrowlsacrosstheridgesandvalleysandpinnaclesofthemountainslikethedetonationofahighexplosive.Mosteveningsareheraldedbylightning.

187BecauseTibetwassolongisolatedfromtheinfluencesofmoderntimes,whenthepressureofthisbalancingtwowayinfluenceinserteditselfinthecountry'shistory,theeffectwashighlypainfultotheTibetans.Haditbeenvoluntarilysoughtandacceptedearlier,itwouldhavecomeinmuchmoregentlyandeasily.Butitwasstubbornlyresisted.Soithadtocomeinforcibly,throughtheChinese,andbecauseitcameatsolateanhourithadsomuchthemoretocover.Thecompressionintimebroughtthemostdrasticexperiences,theworstsufferings,totheunfortunateillledpeople.

188Morethanthirtyyearsago(in1936)IpubliclypleadedwiththeTibetanGovernmenttorenouncetheirland'stotalaloofnessandtoreplaceitbyadiscreetlylimitedaloofness,toprepareforanineluctableexchangewiththeoutsideworld.Thepleawentunheeded.Buttoday(1967)theircountryisheldcaptiveandmodernizingchangesarebeingcruellyandruthlesslyenforced.FiftythousandrefugeesexistdismallyinIndia,athousandmorelivehereinSwitzerland.[Asof1986,therewere100,000refuges,80,000ofthemlivinginIndia.Ed.]

189Ethiopiaisolatedherselfandherancientreligionforcenturies.ButMussolinibroke



rudelyintothisbyhisinvasionandconquest.NowTibet,withanevenstricterisolation,hasbeenforcedtocomeintocontactwiththeworldandtheoldideas,theoldways,theoldpeaceisgoing.Theoldreligionwillgoalongwithit.BothEthiopiaandTibetwerefullyentitledtoliveastheywished,asquiethermitkingdoms.Theyhadamoralrighttobeleftalone.Butalas!theworldholdsopposingoraggressiveforces,evilmatchesitselfagainsteachindividual'sgood,eachnation'sgood.

190"Wehadtolearnthebitterlessonthattheworldhasgrowntoosmallforanypeopletoliveinharmlessisolation."DalaiLama,1962

191Atisha,theIndianmonkwhohelpedrestoreandpurifyMahayanaBuddhisminTibet,wasauthorofTheLampoftheRightWay.

192TheweaknessesofTibetanBuddhismaspractisedtodayaretheamountofsuperstitionmingledwithGautama'soriginalpuredoctrinethefailuretoadaptitselftotheexigencies,thetendencies,andtheconditionsofthetwentiethcentury,sofarastheyaregoodandproperandameliorativeandtheunwillingnesstoacceptWesternlearningandscience,wherethesecanbebeneficiallyadded.

193ThetragicfateofTibetanrefugees,dyingoftuberculosisnearDarjeelingorbeggingforacrustatBuddhGaya,attheveryspotwhereGautamagothisenlightenment,iscommentaryenoughonthosedreamerswhowouldairilydismisseverythingincludingtheworld,thebody,andtheeventsofhistoryasmeremaya,unrealandnotexistent,hencetobeignored.

194Itwasoneman'spersonalandnationalisticambition,hisGodhatingmaterialism,whichwaslargelybehindthecrueltreatmentTibetrecentlyreceivedfromChina.Thisman,beingbothamilitaristandamegalomaniac,hastheveryoppositeoutlooktotheoneinculcatedbyBuddha.ThereforeassoonashistroopsenteredTibettheysoughttodestroythenationalreligionofBuddhism.

195InTibettheydesecratedthemonasteries,persecutedthelamas,humiliatedtheabbots,andtriedtoeradicatethereligionitself.

196IfweenquirewhyCommunismisnowasortofnemesistothereligionofTibetandevenbeginstothreatenIndia,wemustrememberthatthevillagersareruledasmuchbysuperstitionandfanaticismasbypietyandwisdom.TheyarecertainlynotguidedintheireverydaylivingbythehigherphilosophicormysticculturewhichmostlyattractstheinterestofforeignerstoBuddhismandHinduism.

197NestorianChristianmissionariesfromCentralAsiawereactiveinTibetintheseventhcenturyandgainedanumberofconverts.ButBuddhism,whichcameintothecountryonlyalittleearlier,wasadoptedbythekingandsowonthecontest.ThereisnopointinspeculatingwhatwouldhavehappenedifTibethadturnedtoJesus'message,insteadofGautama's,andwhatthisstrangelandwouldhavedonewith,andto,it.

198Therecometomemoryagainthenarrowgorges,thetallpinesofthelowerHimalayas



andtheloftycedars(calledlocallydeodars)ofthehigherlevels,theblackbearssearchingforfood,thelittletradingpostwhereTibetanscametoexchangetheirfewagriculturalorpastoralproducts.

199ThelamatoldwithdifficultyhisstoryofescapeintheretinueoftheDalaiLama.Therewereonlywords...phrases...brokensentences.Butitwasenoughtoshowwhattremendousfaithandendurancewentintotheenterpriseofclimbingtofrozenheights,crossinganddescendingtheHimalayanworldbylittleusedbecausemoreruggedways.

200PadmaSambhava(TibetanMaster):"Iftheseeker,whensought,cannotbefound,thereuponisattainedthegoaloftheseeking,theendofthequestitself.Thenthereisnoneedtosearchforanythingandthereisnothingtobepractised."

201Milarepa,theTibetanyogi:"Ifyeknownotthesecretandthesubtlemethods,mereexerciseofzealwillmakethePathwaylong."

202Thegreatinvocationwhichthelamasuseandinscribeontheirtempleflagsorbyroadsidestone,"OmManiPadmeHum,"isalsoaphrasethatholdsthemindsofyogisthroughoutIndia.Thismysticalphrasewhenchantedcorrectly,arreststhealienhearerandcaptivateshisimagination.

203SuchisthegripoftheselamasthatacommonTibetansayingruns:"WithoutaLamainfront,thereisnoapproachtoGod."Andsuchisthegripoftheirreligionthatevenprofessionalbanditsusetheprayerwheelandrosary,carryingthemundertheirbreastsintheirsheepskinsevenwhenintheveryactofthreateningtheirvictimwithswordorgun.

204HighDignitariesoftheTibetanlamaistreligionandhighabbotsoftheirmonasteriesandChineseroyaltiessatintheirgrantedaudiencesorperformedritesonahighseatorhighdaishalfveiledbyshadows.

205TherearedifferentkindsofhermitsinTibet:thebookhermit,whoseobjectinsecludinghimselfistoattainknowledgethe"goodworks"hermit,whoseeksthegoalbydiligenceingoodworksandwhomaybeeitheralamaoralaymanandtwootherkinds,bothofwhomaimatacquiringpeculiarpowers.Thebookhermitisalamawhoshutshimselfinacaveinthemountainsorinacellinthelamaseryforatermofnineyears,ninemonths,andninedaysforthepurposeofprayerandstudy[Thelengthoftimemayvary,butisnowmostcommonlythreeyears,threemonths,andthreedaysEd.].Hemayengageinconversationtwiceadayonceinthemorningandonceintheeveningbuthedoesnotshowhimself.Hisvisitorsarefriendsandrelativesor,ifheiswealthy,businessmenseekinstructionsabouthisproperty.Whenheispreparedtotalk,heringsabell.Hehasgenerallytwomeals,butsometimesonlyone.Whenhehascompletedhisexacttermhecomesoutandthereafterenjoysgreatreputeasalamaofgreatknowledgeandonewhomthegodsarelikelytofavour.Thegoodworkshermitreliesondeedsratherthanonknowledgeandremainsahermituntilhedies.Goodworksaremanifestedthroughsixdifferentagencies,namely:throughtheeyes,byregardingChojong,lamas'holymountainsthroughtheears,bylisteningtolamas'talksandtothescripturesthroughthemouth,byrecitingscriptures,bypraying,andbygoodtalkthroughthebody,byfastingandmakingprostrationsthroughthehands,byturningprayerwheelsandmakingprayerflagsandthroughthefeet,bycircumambulatingholymountainsandmakingpilgrimages



totheholyplaces.Butitisthemindthatmatters.Ifthismindisbad,itislikealakeofpoisoniftheeyesarebad,theyarelikepoolsofbloodifthemouthisbad,itisliketheflamesoffireifthehandsarebad,theyarelikeswordsandifthefeetarebad,theyarelikelightning,thatistosay,asdeadlytoman'ssoulashisfeetaretoinnumerableinsects.Thegoodworkshermitrisesthreehoursaftermidnightandringsabelltoletthegodsknowthatheisabouttopray.Allthedayisoccupiedinreadingprayerbooks,praying,anddoinggoodworksthroughthesixdifferentagenciesandhehasonlyonemealdaily,atmidday.Hismethodofprayingintheeveningisasfollows:facingtheWest,hestandswithpalmstogether,supposedlyenclosingajewel,andtouches,successively,firsthisforehead,thenhislips,thenhisbreast.Intouchingtheforehead,heinvokesthebodyofBuddha,whoresidesinthecrownofthehead.Intouchingthemouth,heinvokesBuddha'slaws.Andintouchingthebreast,heinvokesBuddha'smind.Hethenkneelsdownwithpalmsflatonthegroundandmakesasinglekowtow.Thesetwoperformancesarerepeated,oneaftertheother,manyhundredtimesifthelama'sphysiqueisverystrong,hemayrepeatthisthousandsoftimes.Eachdayisthesameuntilhedies.Hemaylivethusforthirtyyears.

TheNotebooksarecopyright19841989,ThePaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundation.

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3-China, Japan, Tibet - Notebooks of Paul Brunton