Dropping Ashes on the Buddha: The Teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn

by Seung Sahn

But everybody's opinion is different. How can you say that your opinion is correct and somebody else's is wrong? This is delusion.

Problematic.

you want to understand the truth, you must let go of your situation, your condition, and all your opinions. Then your mind will be before thinking. “Before thinking” is clear mind. Clear mind has no inside and no outside. It is just like this. “Just like this” is the truth.

“Before thinking” is clear mind. Clear mind has no inside and no outside. It is just like this. “...

these opposites are mutual, because they are made from the same substance.

“Substance has no name and no form. Energy, mind, God, and matter are all name and form. Substance is the Absolute. Having name and form is having opposites. So the whole world is like the blind men fighting among themselves. Not understanding yourself is not understanding the truth.

Thinking is desire, desire is suffering. All things are separated into opposites: good and bad, beautiful and ugly, mine and yours. I like this; I don't like that. I try to get happiness and avoid suffering. So life here is suffering, and suffering is life.

All things have name and form, but their names and forms come from emptiness and will return to emptiness. This is still thinking.

You must keep don't-know mind always and everywhere. This is the true practice of Zen.

So it is very important not to be attached either to thinking or to not-thinking. You mustn't be upset by anything that goes on in your mind. Only don't worry and keep don't-know mind.

What is great faith? Great faith means that at all times you keep the mind which decided to practice, no matter what.

If you question with great sincerity, there will only be don't-know mind.

Soen-sa held up his watch and said, “What is this?” The student said, “A watch.” Soen-sa said, “You are attached to name and form. This is not a watch.” “What is it?” “You already understand.”

So if you are attached to the form of this cup, you don't understand the truth. If you say this is a cup, you are attached to name and form. But if you say it is not a cup, you are attached to emptiness. Is this a cup or not?”

“So Zen mind means returning to original mind. Original mind is before thinking.

After thinking, there are opposites. Before thinking, there are no opposites. This is the Absolute.

You mustn't be attached to words. If you are attached to Jo-ju's No, you can't understand Jo-ju's mind. If you are attached to my words, you can't

“Who makes it quiet?” The student shrugged his shoulders. Soen-sa said, “You do. Noisy and quiet are made by your thinking.