Zen Buddhism Master Rinzai: Excerpts from the Lin-ji lu

1: From Burton Watson’s translation A monk asked, ‘What is the basic meaning of Buddhism?’ The Master gave a shout. The monk bowed low. The Master said, ‘This fine monk is the kind who’s worth talking to!’

2. From Burton Watson’s translation The master instructed the group, saying: ‘Followers of the Way, the Dharma of the Buddhas calls for no special undertakings. Just act ordinary, without trying to do anything particular. Move your bowels, piss, get dressed, eat your rice, and if you get tired, then lie down.’

3. From Burton Watson’s translation ‘Fellow-believers, you rush around frantically one place and another - what are you looking for, trampling till the soles of your feet are squashed flat? There is no Buddha to be sought, no Way to be carried out, no Dharma to be gained.’

4. From Burton Watson’s translation The Master ascended the hall and said, ‘Here in this lump of red flesh there is a True Man with no rank. Constantly he goes in and out of the gates of your face. If there are any of you who don’t know this for a fact, then look! Look!

4 Con’td At that time there was a monk who came forward and asked, ‘What is he like - the True Man with no rank?’ The Master got down from his chair, seized hold of the monk and said, ‘Speak! Speak!’ The monk was about to say something, whereupon the Master let go of him, shoved him away, and said ‘True Man with no rank - what a shitty ass-wiper!’ The Master then returned to his quarters.

5. From Burton Watson’s translation ‘Followers of the Way, you take the words that come out of the mouths of a bunch of old teachers to be a description of the true Way…The really good friend is someone who dares to speak ill of the Buddha, speak ill of the patriarchs, pass judgment on anyone in the world, throw away the Tripitaka, … and in the midst of opposition and assent search out the real person...

5. Cont’d … Followers of the Way, here and there you hear it said that there is a Way to be practised, a Dharma to become enlightened to. Will you tell me then just what Dharma there is to become enlightened to, what Way there is to practice? In your present activities, what is it you lack?… A man of old said… ‘The everyday mind - that is the Way.’’