The essence, form, and function of the mind 心之體相用

The mind has its essence, its form, and its function. To understand its function is to understand karma and causality. To understand its form is to understand emptiness. To understand its essence is to realize the pure awareness that is neither created nor perishable. To be enlightened to the mind's essence, form, and function is to know the bodhi mind.

心有體、相、用。悟到心之用即是了達因果。悟到心之相即是了達空性。悟到心之體即是了達不生滅的覺性。體相用全部悟到了即是菩提心。

Sixfold Buddhahood (六即佛)

六即佛

南宋‧普潤大師

理即佛：

動靜理全是，行藏事盡非，冥冥隨物去，杳杳不知歸
名字即佛：

方聽無生曲，始聞不死歌，今知當體是，翻恨自蹉跎
觀行即佛：

念念照常理，心心息幻塵，遍觀諸法性，無假亦無真
相似即佛：

四住雖先落，六塵未盡空，眼中猶有翳，空裡見花紅
分證即佛：

豁爾心開悟，湛然一切通，窮源猶未盡，尚見月朦朧
究竟即佛：

從來真是妄，今日妄皆真，但復本時性，更無一法新

The Sixfold Buddhahood

By Master Pu Run, South Song Dynasty

In Principle:
In stillness and in motion, the Great Principle embodies all
Yet in ignorance, all your moves go against It.
Blindly you pursue the worldly things,
Without knowing where you’ll end up.

In Name:
The tune of the unborn, the song of the deathless
Had just been heard.
Seeing the truth in everything as it is,
You cried, “How I had lived my life in vain!”

In Contemplation:
Thought by thought you’re mindful of the ever present Principle
Moment by moment each delusion ceases
Contemplate the entire Dharma realm, you find
The nature of all things is neither real nor unreal.

In Resemblance:
The four abidances are cleared,
Yet the six dusts are not emptied.
The disease is still in your eyes—
Seeing red flowers from emptiness!

In Progressive Realization:
Suddenly your mind is fully awakened;
In all clarity everything is understood.
Haven’t yet reached the ultimate source,
The moon still appears somewhat hazy.

Ultimate Buddhahood:
Before, all that appeared real were illusions
Now, all illusions are part of reality.
Simply return everything to its original nature;
There is nothing new whatsoever.

2009 Zen 7 Retreat Initiation

Has it really been two months since I last posted? Time does fly.

The Zen 7 Retreat has started yesterday, on Christmas day.

60 diligent participants are ready to make an real effort to see their original nature. Since many people had to be turned away because the retreat was full, we decided to hold another Zen 7 from 3/28 ~ 4/4. Those interested should sign up soon, because it is already more than half full.

Here are the Initiation Verse for the Zen 7:

   寒冬風寒意不寒    殿內佛光暖入懷
   抖落千般人不是    放卻萬種世間乖
   念念明湛照常理    心心寂然息幻塵
   忽得晴空爆碎矣    覷得娘生前面門

諸位知識，即今起七一事，最後一句又怎麼說法？

   莫執莫放莫掛礙    無心無住無形骸

起—


In English:

Initiation Verse
December 25, 2009

Chilly winter, cold winds, but your hearts are not
   In the Hall the Buddha’s light warms your minds.
Let’s drop the hundred gripes with others
   And the thousand misgivings of the world outside.
Thought by thought, with clarity, you’re mindful of the Ever Present;
   Moment by moment, in stillness, each delusion ceases.
Suddenly, when the sky is blown away,
   You get to see the face before you’re born.

Good cultivators, for this Zen-Seven Initiation, how does the last verse go?

Neither grasp, nor let go, nor worry;
  There is no mind, no abiding, and no body.

Begin—