You should not consider the mind to be that which reflects upon visual forms, sounds, tastes, and tactile sensations. Many people think that the mind is simply that which reflects upon what is seen and heard and is able to distinguish between good, bad, and so forth. Thus they regard the sixth sense, the intellect, to be the mind. But such views are just delusive thinking. Before seeing, before feeling, and before thinking: what is the mind? This alone is what you have to search for and awaken to.
Kusan Sunim, translated by Martine Batchelor, from The Way of Korean Zen (Weatherhill)
Received as Daily Dharma from Tricycle.com on the 29th of May 2009
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When I first read this my mind just stopped and went blank. Re-reading it has the same effect. What is the mind?
A few moments later I realise just how much precious meditation time I spend indulging the intellect! And the same applies outside formal meditation also.
More practice.
Wednesday 1 July 2009
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1 comment:
Kusan Sunim, coming out of the same tradition as Seung Sahn Sunim, points to the importance of *don't know* - that before-thinking state that gives us nothing to grasp. What a relief to let go!
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