Yuanwu starts out as most good Zen teachers do by saying, “Here at my place there is no Zen to explain and no Path to transmit.” Then they go about quickly explaining the “nothing.” In this section of his book he, of course, does exactly that! How great that the ancestors worked so hard to keep us on our toes about “nothing.”
Within each of us is the “fundamental matter that is inherent in everyone (page 67).”[1] What we might call in Unity that divine spark or goodness within us, that oneness with all things big and small, animal, mineral, and vegetable! And when we forget that we are a divine spark of all there is we can easily fall into those traps of greed, anger, jealousy, attachments, contrived actions, confusion, and false sentiments, so Yuanwu says!
Who wants to fall into all of those traps? Not me that’s for sure! So, what can we do? What does Yuanwu suggest? “You do not exert any mental effort: you go along freely with the natural flow, without any grasping or rejecting. This is the real esoteric seal (page 68).[2]
Finally, he writes, “Bearing this esoteric seal is like carrying a lamp hidden in the darkness as you roam through the world without longing or fear—it is all the realm of your own great liberation, continuing forever without interruption (page 68).”[3] Just this! We simply deal with whatever comes our way each and every moment in the most appropriate and helpful way we can. Shine your “light” onto the situation and all darkness must disappear. That’s the law.
You can turn up that light at any time by simply sitting and taking time each day to encounter that quiet place in body, mind, and spirit. H. Emilie Cady in her Unity book, Lessons in Truth wrote: Every man must take time daily for quiet and meditation. In daily meditation lies the secret of power. No one can grow in either spiritual knowledge or power without it… No one would ever dream of becoming a master in music except by spending some time daily alone with music (page 7).[4]
Give yourself the present of being alone in the present moment as long and as often as you can. The more you do that the brighter the hidden lamp in you will shine for all to see. Be the light that lights up the room, the road, the town, and the world! Stop trying and simply be it! Simply Shine!
[1] Cleary J.C. and Cleary, T. (1994) Zen Letters Teachings of Yuanwu. Boston & London: Shambhala
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Cady, H. E. (1902 1st Printing) Lessons in Truth. Unity Village, MO: Unity House
For thirty years no guests came by;
This brings to mind the last time I was on a swing—out and back I went over and over. Sometimes my feet had to touch the ground so I could give myself a little push which propelled me into the air toward the open sky and clouds. How free I felt, how filled with glee I felt as I flew through the air, out and back, out and back into the “stage of great peace.” Free at last from my entanglements! So just keep swinging out and back and watch what happens!
“embryo of sagehood” to grow and mature. I really like the term: embryo of sagehood. I find myself thinking about the word sage and wonder if there is anyone alive today that I could say was speaking and acting like a sage. Someone that we all can look up to, someone we desire to emulate, someone we might consider a living, breathing, sage.
Yuanwu’s teachings are filled with words of wisdom and actions for the everyday person to incorporate into his or her life. Although he may have lived from 1063-1135 his words are still pertinent to how we can live our lives each day with optimism. He is also known by Buddhists as the author of the Blue Cliff Record a compilation of 100 koans and his commentaries.