Question: What is the difference between Zen and Pure Land practice
In Zen, we keep asking who is chanting the name of the Buddha. All we think about is where the name of the Buddha is coming from. We keep asking, until we find out who we were before we were born. This is Zen. We work with one mind. And if the mind runs off somewhere, we follow it whereever it goes, until the mind finally becomes quiet, until there’s no Zen to Zen, no question to question, until we reach the stage where we question without questioning and without questioning we keep questioning. We keep questioning until we finally find an answer, until delusions come to an end, until we can swallow the world, all its rivers and mountains, everything, but the world can’t swallow us, until we can ride the tiger, but the tiger can’t ride us, until we find out who we really are. This is ZenIn Pure Land practice, we just chant the name of the Buddha, nothing more. We chant with the mind. We chant without making a sound, and yet the sound is perfectly clear. And when we hear the sound, the chant begins again. It goes around and around. The chant doesn’t stop and the mind doesn’t move. The sound arises, we hear the sound, but our mind doesn’t move. And when our mind doesn’t move, delusions disappear. And once they’re gone, the one mind chants. The result is the same as Zen, and Zen practice includes pure land practice. If you don’t practice both, you become one-sided.
Question: Is Pure land more appropriate for the present age?
All practices are appropriate. ....All practices are related...All practices are like candy. People like different kinds, but its just candy. The Dharma is empty.
No comments:
Post a Comment