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Zen practice is not clarifying conceptual distinctions,
but throwing away one’s preconceived views and notions and the sacred texts and all the rest, and piercing through the layers of coverings over the spring of self behind them.

All the holy ones have turned within and sought the self,
and by this went beyond all doubt.
To turn within means all the 24 hours and in every situation,
to pierce one by one through the layers covering the self,
deeper and deeper, to a place that cannot be described.

- Daikaku (1213-1279)

To return to your original state of being,
You must become a master of stillness.
Activity for health’s sake,
Never carried to the point of strain,
Must alternate with perfect stillness.
Sitting motionless as a rock,
Turn next to stillness of mind.
Close the gates of the senses.
Fix your mind upon one object or,
Even better, enter a state
Of objectless awareness.
Turn the mind in upon itself
And contemplate the inner radiance.

- Anonymous

The birds have vanished into the sky.
Now the last cloud drains away.
We sit together, the mountain and me,
Until only the mountain remains.

- Li Po (701–762)

People who practice the Way should not seek externally.
The essence of mind has no defilement; it is originally complete and perfect of itself.
Just detach from illusory objects and it is enlightened to suchness as is.

- Master Chinul (1158-1210)

Because you grasp labels and slogans,
You are hindered by
Those labels and slogans,
Both those used in
Ordinary life and those
Considered sacred.
Thus they obstruct your
Perception of objective truth,
And you cannot understand clearly.

- Linji (d.867)

Calm yourself, quiet yourself,
Master your senses.
Look right into the source of mind,
Always keep it shining bright,
Clear and pure.
Do not give rise to an indifferent mind.

- Hongren (602-675)

Few people believe their
Inherent mind is Buddha.
Most will not take this seriously,
And therefore are cramped.
They are wrapped up in illusions, cravings,
Resentments, and other afflictions,
All because they love the cave of ignorance.

- Fenyang

I'd write something, but it would be too much.

The triple world with its irritating vexations is like a house afire; who could bear to stay there long, willingly suffering perpetual torment?
If you want to avoid going round and round in circles, nothing compares to seeking Buddhahood.
If you want to seek Buddhahood, Buddha is mind. Need mind be sought afar?

- Master Chinul (1158-1210)

Rough were the mountain stones,
And the path very narrow.
When I reached the temple,
Bats were in the dusk.
I climbed to the hall,
Sat on the steps,
And drank in the rain washed air

- Han Yu

Lord, make me a channel for thy peace
that where there is hatred, I may bring love
that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness
that where there is discord, I may bring harmony
that where there is error, I may bring truth
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith
that where there is despair, I may bring hope
that where there are shadows, I may bring light
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted
to understand, than to be understood
to love, than to be loved.

For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.

Amen.

— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 99

NEW DAY
God bless everyone
no exceptions

Make no mistake about it;
if you do not find it now,
you will repeat the same routines for myriad eons,
a thousand times over again,
following and picking up on objects that attract you.

We are no different from Shakyamuni Buddha.
Today, in your various activities, what do you lack?
The spiritual light coursing through your six senses has never been interrupted.
If you can see in this way,
you will simply be free of burdens all your life.

- Lin Chi (d ~867)

an empty teacup is full of tao

@rookie54

The Master graciously serves the scholar tea, just like he does to every visiting guest.

While the Master is pouring tea, the scholar talks about Tao.

The Master continues pouring, even when the cup is filled to the brim. The cup soon overflows, and the scholar can no long pretend not to see it.

“It’s overfull, Sir!” Exclaims he. “No more tea will go in!”

“You are like this cup,” says the master. “How can I show you Tao unless you first empty your cup?”

You may have heard this story before, but do you know you could be unknowingly doing what the scholar does? For example, do you remember to empty your mind everyday, before the next day begins. If you have not, how can you allow anything fresh to fill up your mind in the new day?
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He who is most perfect seems to be lacking; yet his resources are never outworn.
He who is most full seems vacant; yet his uses are inexhaustible.

Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching