Showing posts with label karmic inclination. Show all posts
Showing posts with label karmic inclination. Show all posts

Monday, July 23, 2018

Heretics and Buddhas

"During the time of the Buddha, there were some who slandered him and became disciples of heretics and demons." -- Mud & Water by Bassui, edited by A. Braverman

While some might wish to think of  "Heretics" in conjunction with an event such as the Christian-fueled Spanish Inquisition or the Crusades of Europe, fewer would bring the name of the Buddha to mind. Yet the great Zen master, Bassui does. It seems that all thinking souls are moved to discernment. He writes:

"Today's students of the Way go to teachers everywhere, but they don't want to penetrate all the way to the bottom of the great matter. They journey to the east, to the west, north and south, and take pride in having met many teachers. They try to surpass others with Zen stories and they collect paradoxical words and clever expressions from old masters. These are the ways of Heretics."

Writing further on the subject, Bassui delves into the value of knowledge. He writes of the karmic affinity for the way. Stating that some people have an affinity for the way while others do not, so if your karma does not discern a natural attraction, one that is immediate and affected, then you  neither trust nor believe what is taught. If, on the other hand, affinity is present, then that person will form a natural and easy bond with you. "Whether you follow the right path, or the path of heretics, depends upon your karmic inclination....A truly good teacher...does not destroy people's sight."

Thursday, November 4, 2010

The Buddhahood of Ordinary People

"Those whose karmic inclination led them on the right path, ended up realizing their true nature and became enlightened." --Mud and Water by Bassui, ed. by A. Braverman

Bassui notes that "the way of the lesser vehicle and path of expedient means, are all established as temporary dharmas... What ordinary person does not have karmic inclination for the Way?" Further, he writes, "there is no ice or snow apart from water, and the Buddhahood of ordinary people can be likened to snow and ice melting and becoming water. From the beginning nothing has ever been lost."

And because of "one mistaken thought -- I am ordinary -- they think that they cannot; enlightenment is difficult to realize." Even for those in who this thought becomes deeply embedded in their minds Bassui continues his talk by saying, "people who preach to others without clearly seeing into their own nature are like the blind leading the blind. This mind is nothing other than Buddha nature.