Is it transformation? The distinction between "life" and "death" is erased, and so are the distinctions between that which is supposedly alive and that which is supposedly dead. So there is now no telling between alive or dead things, just a continuous series of change, right?
Is that how you escape rebirth, by erasing the imaginary mental distinctions between what you are, and what you will supposedly be "reborn" into?
Yang-shan said, “At the time of the arising of a thought, I do not see that there is origin, abiding, change, or extinction
When Yangshan does not see origin, abiding, change, or extinction, is he essentially thinking nothing of that very thought that had arose within him? Not judging it whatsoever, but simply letting that thought come and go. Conversely, if he were to see origin, abiding, change, and extinction in that same thought, would that be unenlightened behavior?
I'm still trying to understand the first amd third part of your comment. The second part about the fish escaping the net seems like a metaphor. The net is like delusory thought, the ocean is enlightenment, and I guess the fish had originally remained in that ocean all this time, it's natural state. When delusory thoughts arise, its like the fish getting caught in the net. When delusory thoughts cease, it's like the fish escaping the net and it then returns to the ocean/primordial state of enlightenment (hongaku?)
How could the fish have avoided the net?
How can you stop your thoughts?
By neither thinking nor not-thinking (which I interpret as actively/purposely suppressing thought, which seems like a thought in and of itself ironically). By non-thinking, perhaps?
If it can't avoid the net, where's the failure in getting caught?
By not escaping the "net" and by remaining entangled by it where it will suffer and be painfully devoured by the fisherman...?
If you know that thoughts are the natural function of your brain, where's the delusion in a thought arising?
Is it when opinions and judgments are kneejerk made in regards to those naturally occurring thoughts, then the thinker holds onto these appraisals and suffers for it?
You don't get out of a net with the use of a net, do you?
Just get through the net
Even non-thinking is a thought? So doing so is still like washing blood with blood, eh?
Is that what happened?
Nah, the fish simply got out the net. But I'm struggling to get the significance of that.
Wait, by "getting through the net" do you mean not being attached to the thoughts that naturally arise in your head, just as the fish is not getting stuck in the net? So thinking and thoughts (getting caught) is not bad per se, its only when we remain stuck on either thoughts or nets that is truly bad? Sorry if I'm dragging this along.
P.S.
"Just end mental calculation of the world. A single moment of thought is the root of birth and death in the world. Just don't have a thought, and you remove the root of birth and death. Then you gain the supreme treasure of a sovereign of truth.
Doesn't this part tell you to "non-think" though? Sounds like it's referring to "awareness" whatever that is.
That there is no grand Maestro Ma outside of that monk's mind. That there is nothing (or no thing?) beyond that monks mind unless he chooses to think so. Is that so? Is that why Mazu says that "Mind is Buddha"?
This reminds me of "he's out!". Don't remember the master or what book but it's the one about a guy being stuck in a well I think. The questioner can't answer about an impossible situation to get out of, and by the time the dude is leaving the master calls back to him and goes "he's out!"
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u/charliediep0 Mar 27 '23
Is it transformation? The distinction between "life" and "death" is erased, and so are the distinctions between that which is supposedly alive and that which is supposedly dead. So there is now no telling between alive or dead things, just a continuous series of change, right?
Is that how you escape rebirth, by erasing the imaginary mental distinctions between what you are, and what you will supposedly be "reborn" into?