Faith Mind Inscription

Faith Mind Inscription

Hsin-hsin Ming

By Third Ch'an Patriarch Chien-chih Seng-ts'an

Contents

Title of the Text

Author of the Text

Problem of Authorship

Written Sources of the Text

The Hsin-hsin Ming

The Original Text

The Text with Japanese "Current Characters" (Tõyõ Kanji)

Translation of the Text

Chinese and Japanese Transcriptions of the Text

An Analysis of the Hsin-hsin Ming

Two Mainstream Translations of the Hsin-hsin Ming

Another Verse Attributed to Chien-chih Seng-ts'an

Bibliography

Title of the Text

信心銘

Hsin-hsin Ming (Wade-Giles)

Xinxin Ming (Pinyin) Xin⁴xin¹ Ming²

Shinjinmei (or Shinjin no Mei) (Japanese)

Sinsim Myong (Korean)

Literally, Believing Heart (Mind) Inscription or Faith-Heart (Mind) Inscription

Various Translations of the Title

Different Western and Eastern translators have rendered the title "Hsin-hsin Ming" in different ways:

1. Trust Mind Inscription (Hae Kwang)

2. Inscription on Trust in the Mind (Burton Watson)

3. Inscribed On the Believing Mind (Daisetsu Teitarõ Suzuki)

4. On Believing in Mind (Daisetsu Teitarõ Suzuki)

5. Words Inscribed on the Believing Mind (Heinrich Dumoulin)

6. Verses On the Faith Mind (Richard B. Clarke)

7. On Faith in Mind (Dusan Pajin)

8. Faith in Mind (Sheng-yen)

9. Trusting In Mind (Hae Kwang)

10. On Trust in the Heart (Christmas Humphreys)

11. Trust in the Heart (Thomas Cleary)

12. Poem on the Trust in the Heart (Thomas Cleary)

13. Trusting In Mind (Stanley Lombardo)

14. Song of Trusting the Heart (translator unknown)

15. A Poetical Manuscript on Belief in the Mind (Katsuki Sekida)

16. The Mind of Absolute Trust (Stephen Mitchell)

17. The Mind of Absolute Trust (Robert F. Olson)

18. The Perfect Way (translator unknown)

Author of the Text

鑑智僧璨

Chien-chih Seng-ts'an (Wade-Giles)

Jianzhi Sengcan (Pinyin) Jian⁴zhi⁴ Seng¹can⁴

Kanchi Sõsan (Japanese)

"Seng-ts'an" is the Buddhist name of the author of the Hsin-hsin Ming, it means "Jewel of the [Buddhist] Community." (Lit. "Sangha-jewel.")

"Chien-chih" is an honorary title given to Seng-ts'an after his death, by Emperor Hsüan-tsung (Gensõ) of the T'ang dynasty. It means "Mirrorlike Wisdom."

Chien-chih Seng-ts'an, the third Ch'an patriarch in China, is also known as:

• Ch'an master Seng-ts'an (Seng-ts'an Ch'an-shih; Sõsan Zenji 僧璨禪師)

• The third patriarch Ch'an master Seng-ts'an (San-tsu Seng-ts'an Ch'an-shih; Sanso Sõsan Zenji 三祖僧璨禪師)

• Great master Chien-chih (Chien-chih Ta-shih; Kanchi Daishi 鑑智大師)

• The third patriarch great master Seng-ts'an (San-tsu Seng-ts'an Ta-shih; Sanso Sõsan Daishi 三祖僧璨大師)

Seng-ts'an is Buddhist name of the third patriarch, his real name is unknown. The following quotations contain information about Chien-chih Seng-ts'an, about which very little is known:

About Seng-ts'an

Sõsan Sêng-ts'an. The third patriarch in the lineage of the Chinese Zen Sect. In 592 he initiated Tao-hsin (Dõshin) into the profound doctrines of zen. He died in 606. After his death, he was given the title of Chien-chih ch'an-shih (Kanchi-zenji) by Emperor Hsüan-tsung (Gensõ) of the T'ang (Tõ) Dynasty. The Hsin-hsin-ming (Shinjimmei) was written by him.

(Japanese-English Buddhist Dictionary 342)

About Seng-ts'an

We have little information about the life of the Third Patriarch. His birthplace and birth date are unknown. According to the Denko-roku ("The Transmission of the Lamp"), written by Keizan Zenji (1268-1325), he was a layman over forty years old suffering from leprosy when when he met the Second Patriarch, Hui-k'o (Jap: Eka), for the first time in 551 c.e. Being deeply impressed with this layman's capacity for the Dharma, Hui-k'o shaved the Third Patriarch's head and named him Seng-ts'an (Jewel of the Community). He was gradually cured of his illness and, after they had been practicing together for two years, Hui-k'o gave him the robe and bowl signifying the transmission of the Dharma.

Anticipating the persecution of Buddhists in China prophesied by Bodhidharma, Hui-k'o ordered his successor to hide in the mountains and not to teach. The Third Patriarch remained in seclusion at Ch'ung-kung shan and Ssu-k'ung shan for over twenty-four years. He later met the monk Tao-hsin and transmitted the Dharma to him. After that, the Third Patriarch moved to Lo-fu shan, located northeast of Kung-tung (Canton), for three years. Then he returned to Ch'ung-kung shan and died there in 606 c.e. It is said that he passed away standing under a big tree with his palms together in gassho.

(The Eye That Never Sleeps xv-xvi, Introduction of Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi Roshi)

A Brief History of Seng-ts'an

The author of this Buddhist "hymn," Sengtsan (Sosan), the third (Chinese) Zen patriarch from Dharma, the first Chinese and the twenty-eighth Indian Zen patriarch, lived during the sixth century, dying in 606 A.D. His place of origin is unknown. The conversion of Sengtsan at the hands of Huike (Eka), the Second Patriarch, is recorded in the "Chuantenglu" ("Dentoroku"), Part 3:

Sengtsan asked Huike, saying, "I am diseased: I implore you to cleanse me of my sin". Huike said, "Bring me your sin and I will cleanse you of it". Sengtsan thought for awhile; then said, "I cannot get at it". Huike replied, "Then I have cleansed you of it".

Sengtsan realized, not simply in his mind, but in every bone of his body, that his sinfulness was an illusion, one with that of the illusion of self. As soon as we are aware of our irresponsibility, all the cause of misbehaviour disappears in so far as the cause, (the illusion of the self) is removed. If we have no self, it cannot commit sin. Yet, it must be added, "I can't see how you and I, who don't exist, should get to speaking here, and smoke our pipes, for all the world like reality". (Stevenson, "Fables")

He became the disciple of the Second Patriarch and practiced austerities and led a life of devotion and poverty, receiving the bowl and the robe, insignia of the transmission through Bodhidharma, the First Patriarch (of China) of the Buddha Mind. At this time, one of the periodic persecutions of Buddhism broke out. Sutras and images were burned wholesale; monks and nuns were returned to the lay life. Sengtsan wandered for fifteen years all over the country, avoiding persecution. In 592, he met Taohsin (Doshin), who became the Fourth Patriarch. (R. H. Blyth)

About Seng-ts'an

Seng-ts'an (Jap. Sõsan), d. 606?; the third patriarch (soshigata) of Ch'an (Zen) in China; the dharma successor (hossu) of Hui-k'o and the master of Tao-hsin. Hardly any details are known of the life of the third patriarch. There are, however, many legends about him and his meeting with Hui-k'o. According to one of these legends Seng-ts'an was suffering from leprosy when he met the second patriarch. Hui-k'o is supposed to have encountered him with the words, "You're suffering from leprosy; what could you want from me?" Seng-ts'an is supposed to have replied, "Even if my body is sick, the heart-mind (kokoro) of a sick person is no different from your heart-mind." This convinced Hui-k'o of the spiritual capacity of Seng-ts'an; he accepted him as a student and later confirmed him as his dharma successor and the thirtieth patriarch (third Chinese patriarch) in the lineage of Ch'an (Zen), which begins with Shakyamuni Buddha.

The incident that marked the "transmission from heart-mind to heart-mind" (ishin-denshin) from Hui-k'o to Seng-ts'an is given in the Denkõ-roku as follows:

The thirtieth patriarch Kanchi Daishi [daishi, "great master"] went for instruction) to the twenty-ninth patriarch and asked, "The body of the student is possessed by mortal illness. I beg you, master, wipe away my sins."

The patriarch [Hui-k'o] said, "Bring me your sins here, and I'll wipe them away for you."

The master [Seng-ts'an] sat in silence for a while, the said, "Although I've looked for my sins, I can't find them."

The patriarch said, "In that case I've already thoroughly wiped away your sins. You should live in accordance with Buddha, dharma, and sangha" [sambõ].

It is said that during the Buddhist persecution of the year 574, Seng-ts'an had to feign mental illness in order to escape execution, and that finally he went into hiding for ten years on Mount Huan-kung. His mere presence there is said to have pacified the wild tigers, which until that time had caused great fear among the local people. The authorship of Hsin-hsin-ming (Jap. Shinjinmei) is attributed to Seng-ts'an. It is one of the earliest Ch'an writings. It expounds Ch'an basic principles in poetic form and shows strong Taoist influence. The Hsin-hsin-ming begins with a famous sentence, which comes up again and again in Ch'an (Zen) literature (for instance, in example of the Pi-yen-lu): "The venerable way is not difficult at all; it only abhors picking and choosing." In this early Ch'an poem, the fusion, typical for later Ch'an (Zen), of the mutually congenial teachings of Mahâyâna Buddhism and Taoism appears for the first time.

(The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion 311)

About Seng-ts'an

Next to Hui-k'ê came Sêng-ts'an, who succeeded as the third patriarch. The interview between master and disciple took place in this manner: A layman of forty troubled with fêng-yang¹ according to the Records, came to Hui-k'ê and asked:

'I am suffering from fêng-yang; pray cleanse me of my sins.'

'Bring your sins here,' said Hui-k'ê, 'and I will cleanse you of them.'

The lay-disciple was silent for a while but finally said, 'As I seek my sins, I find them unattainable.'

'I have then finished cleansing you altogether. You should thenceforth take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Samgha (Brotherhood), and abide therein.'

'As I stand before you, O master,' asked Sêng-ts'an, 'I know that you belong to the Brotherhood, but pray tell me what are the Buddha and the Dharma?'

Replied the master: 'Mind is the Buddha, Mind is the Dharma; and the Buddha and the Dharma are not two. The same is to be said of the Brotherhood (samgha).'

This satisfied the disciple, who now said, 'Today for the first time I realize that sins are neither within nor without nor in the middle; just as Mind is, so is the Buddha, so is the Dharma; they are not two.'²

He was then ordained by Hui-k'ê as a Buddhist monk, and after this he fled from the world altogether, and nothing much of his life is known. This was partly due to the persecution of Buddhism carried on by the Emperor of the Chou dynasty. It was in the twelfth year of K'ai-huan of the Sui dynasty (a.d. 592), that he found a disciple worthy to be his sucessor. His name was Tao-hsin. He asked the master:

'Pray show me the way to deliverance.'

'Who has ever put you in bondage.'

'Nobody,'

'If so,' said the master, 'why should you ask for deliverance?'

This put the young novice on the way to final enlightenment, which he attained after many years' study under the master. When Sêng-ts'an thought that the time was ripe to consecrate him as his successor in the faith, he handed him, as the token of the rightful transmission of the Law, the robe which had come down from Bodhidharma, the first patriarch of Zen in China. He died in a.d. 606. While much of his life is obscure, his thought is gleaned from a metrical composition known as Hsin-hsin-ming, or 'Inscribed on the Believing Mind', which is one of the most valuable contributions by the masters to the interpretation of Zen teaching.

(Essays in Zen Buddhism – First Series 195-6)

¹ Understood by some to be leprosy. (Essays in Zen Buddhism – First Series 195 n.1)

² In the Vimalakîrti, chapter iii, 'The Disciples', we have the following: 'Do not worry about the sins you have committed, O monks,' said Vimalakîrti. 'Why?' Because sins are in their essence neither within nor without nor in the middle. As the Buddha taught us, all things are defiled when Mind is defiled; all things are pure when Mind is pure; and Mind is neither within nor without nor in the middle. As is Mind, so are sins and defilements, so are all things – they never transcend the suchness of truth.'

(Essays in Zen Buddhism – First Series 195 n.2)

Seng-ts'an in the Transmission of the Light

Translation of chapter 31 of the Transmission of the Light¹, by Japanese Zen Master Keizan Jõkin² (1268-1325):

Sengcan said to the Zen master Huike, "I am riddled with sickness; please absolve me of my sin." Huike said, "Bring me your sin and I will absolve you." After a long pause, Sengcan said, "When I look for my sin I cannot find it." Huike said, "I have absolved you. You should live by the Buddha, the Teaching, and the Community."

It is not known where Sengcan came from. When he visited Zen master Huike, he was a layman over forty years of age. He did not say his name, but came to the Zen master and asked for relief from his illness, as told in the story.

When Huike told him to live by the Buddha, the Teaching, and the Community, Sengcan said, "I can see you are a monk, a member of the Buddhist community; what are the Buddha and the Teaching?" Huike said, "This mind is Buddha, this mind is the Teaching; the Teaching and the Buddha are not separate. This is also true of the Community."

Sengcan said, "Today for the first time I have realized that the essence of sin is not inside, not outside, not in between. So it is also of mind. Buddha and the Teaching are not separate either." Huike regarded him as having the capacity for the teching, so he had him ordained as a monk and named him Sengcan, which means "Light of the Religious Community." After this his sickness gradually healed.

Sengcan attended Huike for two years. Then Huike said to him, "The great teacher Bodhidharma came here to China from India, and gave me both the robe and the teaching. Now I entrust them to you." He also said, "Although you have attained the teaching, for the time being you should go into the mountains and not teach publicly. There will be trouble in this country."

Sengcan said, "Since you know about this, please give me some instructions." Huike said. "It is not that I know – this is the prediction given to Bodhidharma by Prajnatara, who said, 'Inside the heart is auspicious, but outside is bad luck.' According to my calculations, this prediction refers to your generation. Think about these words and don't get caught up in worldly problems."

After that Sengcan lived in seclusion in the mountains for ten years. This was the time that the Martial Emperor of the Wei dynasty persecuted the Buddhist religion. Because of this Sengcan changed his appearance and stayed in the mountains, dwelling in no fixed place.

While in this condition Sengcan met the novice Daoxin, who was to become his successor. He said to Daoxin, "After my teacher transmitted Zen to me, he went to the big city and spent thirty years there. Now that I have found you, why should I stay here?" Then we went to another mountain, but later returned to his old abode. The local people flocked to him and offered support. He gave extensive explanations of the essence of mind for the people, then at a religious meeting he died under a tree. His Poem on the Trust in the Heart was recorded and circulates even today. Later he was given the title Master of Mirrorlike Knowledge.

The sickness plaguing him in his first meeting with Huike was leprosy. But as he associated with the Zen master, his sickness disappeared. There is nothing special about this story: understanding that the nature of sin is ungraspable, he realized that the nature of mind is originally pure. Thus he heard that the Buddha and the Truth are not separate, that mind and reality are thus. When you really know the original mind, there is no difference in dying in one place and being born in another – how much less could there be any distinction of sin and virtue there! Thus the body-mind after all does not exist; we are fundamentally free from skin, flesh, bones, and marrow. Therefore his disease disappeared and his original mind appeared.

In expounding the essence of the teaching, Sengcan said, "The supreme Way is without difficulty – it is only averse to discrimination." In conclusion he said, "There is no way to talk about it – it is not of the past, future, or present." Really there is no inside or outside, no in between – what would you choose, what reject? You cannot take, you cannot leave. Once you have no hate or love, you are empty and clear. At no time do you lack, nothing is extra.

Yet even so, investigate throughly to reach the point of ungraspability, to arrive at the realm of ungraspability. Without becoming nihilistic, not being like wood or stone, you should be able to "strike space and make an echo, tie lightning to make a form." Carefully observe the realm where there are no tracks or traces, yet don't hide there. If you can be like this, even though "that is not the present phenomena, it is not within reach of ear or eye," you should see without hindrance, you should comprehend without deviation.

Can we add a discerning word to this story?

Essential emptiness has no inside or outside –

Sin and virtue leave no traces there.

Mind and Buddha are fundamentally thus;

The Teaching and Community are clear.

(Transmission of Light 129-131 Sengcan)

Notes

¹ Denkõroku 傳光錄伝光録

² Keizan Jõkin 瑩山紹瑾

Notes on the Chinese Names and Terms Used in the Quotations

Chinese ideograms of some of the Chinese terms used in the above quotations:

1. The second patriarch Shen-kuang Hui-k'o (Shinkõ Eka, 487-593) (神光慧可).

2. Ching-te Record of the Transmission of the Lamp (Ching-te Ch'uan-teng Lu, Keitoku Dentõroku

景德傳燈錄景徳伝灯録).

3. The meaning of feng-yang (風恙) is not clear. Some authors think that it is leprosy (lepra, or Hansen's disease). The related

Chinese word feng means paralysis, leprosy, or insanity. (See Ilza Veith, The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine p. 49

feng 瘋).

4. Tao-hsin (Dõshin 道信).

5. The title, Master of "Mirrorlike Wisdom" is "Chien-chih" (鑑智).

The Dharma Transmission From Hui-k'o to Seng-ts'an

The incident that marked the Dharma transmission from Hui-k'o to Seng-ts'an is related in the chapter 31 of the Transmission of the Light (Denkõroku), by Japanese Zen Master Keizan Jõkin (1268-1325), as follows:

[The interview between Seng-ts'an and master Hui-k'o took place in the following manner:]

弟子身纏風恙、請和尚懺罪。

I am riddled with sickness; please absolve me of my sin.

將罪來、與汝懺。

Bring me your sin and I will absolve you.

覓罪不可得。

When I look for my sin I cannot find it.

與汝懺罪竟。宜依佛法僧住。

I have absolved you. You should live by the Buddha, the Teaching, and the Community.

Seng-ts'an asked Hui-k'o:

今見和尚、已知是僧。未審何名佛、法。

I can see you are a monk, a member of the Buddhist community; what are the Buddha and the Teaching?

是心是佛、是心是法、法佛無二、僧寶亦然。

This mind is Buddha, this mind is the Teaching; the Teaching and the Buddha are not separate. This is also true of the Community.

今日始知罪性不在内、不在外、不在中間、如其心然、佛法無二也。

Today for the first time I have realized that the essence of sin is not inside, not outside, not in between. So it is also of mind. Buddha and the Teaching are not separate either.

師深器之、即爲剃髪、云、是吾寶也。宜名僧璨。

Hui-k'o saw that Seng-ts'an's understanding is profound, he shaved his head and said: This is my treasure. I name him Seng-ts'an.

Seng-ts'an attended Hui-k'o for two years. Then Hui-k'o said to him,

菩提達磨遠自竺乾、以正法眼藏并信衣密付於吾、吾今授汝。汝當守護、無令斷絕。

Bodhidharma came here to China from India, and gave me both the robe and the teaching. Now I entrust them to you.

Hui-k'o gave him Bodhidharma's robe and bowl signifying the transmission of the Dharma. He said:

汝受吾教、宜處深山、未可行化、當有國難。

Although you have attained the teaching, for the time being you should go into the mountains and not teach publicly. There will be trouble in this country.

Seng-ts'an said:

師既預知、願垂示誨。

Since you know about this, please give me some instructions.

非吾知也。斯乃達磨傳般若多羅懸記云、｢心中雖吉外頭凶｣是也。吾校年代、正在于汝。

汝當諦思前言、勿罹世難。然吾亦有宿累、今要酬之。善去善行、俟時傳付。師付囑已、即往鄴都、隨宜説法。

It is not that I know – this is the prediction given to Bodhidharma by Prajnatara¹, who said, "Inside the heart is auspicious, but outside is bad luck." According to my calculations, this prediction refers to your generation. Think about these words and don't get caught up in worldly problems.

¹ The 27th Buddhist patriarch in India and Bodhidharma's master Prajnatara, his name means "Pearl of Wisdom" (般若多羅).

The Dharma Transmission From Seng-ts'an to Tao-hsin

Tao-hsin asked Seng-ts'an:

願和尚慈悲、乞與解脱法門。

Pray show me the way to deliverance.

誰縛汝。

Who has ever put you in bondage?

無人縛。

Nobody has put me in bondage.

更何求解脱。

If so, why should you ask for deliverance?

With these words, Tao-hsin attained his final enlightenment.

Problem of Authorship

Although the third patriarch Seng-ts'an has historically been accepted as the author of the Hsin-hsin Ming, contemporary scholarship doubts whether he was in fact the author. There is no record that Hui-k'o or Seng-ts'an ever wrote anything. The expressions and idioms used in the work have caused certain scholars to place the date of its composition in a later year.

Niu-t'ou Fa-jung¹ (594-657), a disciple of Tao-hsin, composed a poem called Mind Inscription² (Hsin Ming) and the similarity between the Hsin-hsin Ming and the Hsin Ming has caused scholars to speculate that Hsin-hsin Ming was actually written after the time of the sixth patriarch Hui-neng³ (638-713), as an improved, condensed version of the Mind Inscription.

According to Japanese scholars Nishitani Keiji and Yanagida Seizan, the Hsin-hsin Ming was composed in the eighth century, two centuries after Seng-ts'an (see Nishitani Keiji and Yanagida Seizan, eds., Zenke Goroku⁴ vol.2; Tõkyõ: Chikuma Shobõ, 1974, pp. 105-112). Yanagida Seizan also suspects that the Hsin-hsin Ming is the work of the fourth patriarch Tao-hsin (580-651). Chinese scholar Yin-shun shares this opinion in his Chung-kuo Ch'an-tsung Shih⁵, pp. 52-60.

Some scholars also believe that the author of the Hsin-hsin Ming was not Seng-ts'an but the fourth Ch'an patriarch Tao-hsin. As observed in most religious and spiritual traditions, putting down to writing what one's master recited was a common practice. It is therefore also possible, as some scholars suspect, that Seng-ts'an only recited the poem, and it was later written by one of his disciples.

Notes

¹ Niu-t'ou Fa-jung (Gozu Hõyû 牛頭法融)

² Hsin Ming (Shinmei 心銘)

³ Hui-neng Ta-chien (Enõ Daikan 慧能大鑑)

⁴ Zenke Goroku (禅家語録)

⁵ Chung-kuo Ch'an-tsung Shih (中国禅宗史)

Written Sources of the Text

There were no separately published editions of the Hsin-hsin Ming. The classical source of the Hsin-hsin Ming is the chapter 30 of the Transmission of the Lamp. Full title of this work is Ching-te Record of the Transmission of the Lamp¹ and it is found in the Japanese canon of Buddhist sûtras titled Taishõ Daizõkyõ², vol. 48, No. 2010.

Two Tun-huang manuscripts³ containing the text of the Hsin-hsin Ming were discovered in 1926 (Pelliot 2104, 4638; Stein 4037, 5692). Presently, one of these manuscripts is in Paris and the other in London. The manuscripts were collated by Kim Ku-Kyông⁴ in 1931 and later reprinted in the Taishõ Shinshû Daizõkyõ⁵, 85.1283-1290. One of the manuscripts is the Record of the Masters and Disciples of the Lankâ⁶ which contains historical information about the first Ch'an patriarchs (Pelliot 3436, Stein 2054). There are minor variations between the Taishõ Daizõkyõ version and the versions in the Tun-huang manuscripts.

In one of the Tun-huang manuscripts, the Hsin-hsin Ming is conjoined with another famous Ch'an poem, the Song of Realizing the Way⁷ of Ch'an master Yung-chieh Hsüan-chüeh⁸ (Yõka Genkaku, 655-713). This text also contains twenty-four verses of the popular edition of the book published and circulated under the title Ch'an-men Mi-yao-chüeh⁹ (Zenmon Hiyõketsu) (Pelliot 2104, 4638; Stein 4037, 5692). There is also a popular edition of the poem, with variant characters and verses, titled Faith-Mind Inscription of the Third Patriarch of Sui Dynasty¹⁰.

Notes

¹ Ching-te Ch'uan-teng Lu (Keitoku Dentõroku 景德傳燈錄景徳伝灯録)

² Taishõ Daizõkyõ (大正大藏經大正大蔵経)

³ Tonkõhon (敦煌本)

⁴ 金九經

⁵ Taishõ Shinshû Daizõkyõ (大正新修大藏經大正新修大蔵経)

⁶ Leng‑chia Shih-tzu Chi (Ryõga Shijiki 楞伽師資記)

⁷ Cheng-tao-ko, Shõdõka (證道歌証道歌)

⁸ 永嘉玄覺

⁹ Ch'an-men Mi-yao Chüeh (Zenmon Hiyõketsu 禪門秘要決)

¹⁰ Sui-chao San-tsu Hsin-hsin Ming (Zuichõ Sanso Shinjinmei 隨朝三祖信心銘)

The Hsin-hsin Ming

The title of the Hsin-hsin Ming may be explained in the following way:

信

Hsin means "belief" or "faith." This is not the faith in the ordinary sense, it is a belief that comes from firsthand experience, a faith which arise out of supreme knowledge and wisdom of enlightenment. This "believing" is an affirmation that all existence or reality is essentially the Buddha mind, which is our true nature. Hsin is the conviction that at the bottom of all phenomena lies the One Mind, the Buddha mind, which is one with our real nature, the Buddha-nature.

心

Hsin literally means "heart." It means mind, not the deluded mind of the ignorant but the Buddha-mind. Hsin is the mind that merge with the all-encompassing One Mind.

銘

Ming literally means "inscription." It means written expression or record. Ming also means warnings or admonitions.

Hsin-hsin Ming is one of the earliest and most influential Zen writings. It is usually referred to as the first Zen poem. It consists of 146 unrhymed four-character¹ verses² (lines), total 584 characters³. The Hsin-hsin Ming was composed in shih⁴ form. Shih was the principal poetic form in use in the early period, it is first used in the Book of Odes⁵ (Shih-ching, Shikyõ). Like the early shih, the Hsin-hsin Ming consists of lines that are 4-characters in length, but contrary to most shih, no end rhyme is employed in the poem.

As a characteristic of shih, one line usually constitutes a single syntactical unit. Since one character represents one syllable, and since classical Chinese is basically monosyllabic, this means that there are usually four words to a line. Lines tend to be end-stopped, with few run-on lines, so that the efffect is of a series of brief and compact utterances.

This concise form of four characters a line is shorter than the general run of Chinese verse, which usually has five or seven characters per line. Economy, even starkness of expression is a characteristic of the Hsin-hsin Ming. It is more of a verse than poetry and its brevity is one of the peculiar characteristics of this famous work. Its contents is closer to the Buddhist sûtras than poems. In fact, the Hsin-hsin Ming can be regarded as a sûtra. Many verses are like a short Zen saying and therefore can be taken as if they are a single-sentence Zen maxim. The original text was not divided in stanzas. Some translators divided the poem in different ways, with or without adding numbers to them.

The Hsin-hsin Ming has an important place In Ch'an Buddhist tradition. The poem has been very influential in Zen circles and many important commentaries were written on it. The opening stanza, "The best way is not difficult. It only excludes picking and choosing," is quoted by many Zen masters as well as in the classical Zen works such as the Blue Cliff Records⁶. Along with the following influential poems, it is considered as a poem which reveals the essence of Zen philosophy:

1. Song of Realizing the Way

Cheng-tao-ko (Shõdõka, 證道歌)

(variant title 証道歌)

by Ch'an master Yung-chieh Hsüan-chüeh (Yõka Genkaku, 655-713 永嘉玄覺)

2. Harmony of Difference and Sameness

Ts'an-t'ung-ch'i (Sandõkai 參同契)

by Ch'an master Shih-t'ou Hsi-ch'ien (Sekitõ Kisen, 700-790 石頭希遷)

3. Song of Precious Mirror Samadhi

Pao-ching San-mei-ko (Hõkyõ Zanmaika 寶鏡三昧歌)

by Ch'an master Tung-shan Liang-chieh (Tõsan Ryõkai, 807-869 洞山良价)

4. Mind Inscription

Hsin Ming (Shinmei 心銘)

by Ch'an master Niu‑t'ou Fa-jung (Gozu Hõyû, 594-657 牛頭法融)

5. Mind King Inscription

Hsin-wang Ming (Shinnõmei 心王銘)

by Ch'an master Fu-hsi (Fukyû, ?-569 傅翕)

The title of the work bears resemblance to three previously composed poems:

1. Mind King Inscription

Hsin-wang Ming (Shinnõmei 心王銘)

by Ch'an master Fu-hsi (Fukyû, ?-569 傅翕)

2. Inscription of Stopping the Mind

Hsi-hsin Ming (Sokushinmei 息心銘)

by Chou dynasty (1050-256 b.c.) Ch'an master Wang-ming (Bõmei 亡名)

3. Enlightenment-Mind Inscription

Wu-hsin Ming (Goshinmei 悟心銘)

by Elder Yüan-yin (Yüan-yin Lao-jen; Gen'on Rõnin 元音老人)

Another important Ch'an poem Mind Inscription (Hsin Ming; Shinmei 心銘), bears a similar title and it is influenced by the Hsin-hsin Ming. This poem attributed to Ch'an master Niu‑t'ou Fa-jung⁷ (Gozu Hõyû) has many points in common with the Hsin-hsin Ming, their contents as well as styles are similar.

A unique aspect of the Hsin-hsin Ming is the particular Taoist concepts it contains, the poem, therefore, blends together Buddhist and Taoist teachings. Words of Taoist origin such as non‑action (wu‑wei⁸), no‑mind (wu‑hsin⁹), one‑mind (i-hsin¹⁰), spontaneity (tzu‑jan¹¹), vacuity (hsü¹²), and deep meaning (hsüan-chih¹³) clearly shows the profound influence that Taoism had on Zen.

Notes

¹ Four-character (four-word) (ssu-yen 四言)

² Verse (kou 句)

³ Character (tzu 字)

⁴ Shih (詩)

⁵ Shih-ching (Shikyõ 詩經詩経)

⁶ Case 57, Pi-yen Lu (Hekiganroku 碧巖錄碧巌録)

⁷ Niu‑t'ou Fa-jung (Gozu Hõyû, 594-657 牛頭法融)

⁸ 無爲

⁹ 無心

¹⁰ 一心

¹¹ 自然

¹² 虚

¹³ 玄旨

The following quotations contain further information on the Hsin-hsin Ming:

Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi Rõshi

The famous Hsin hsin ming (Jap: Shin jin mei) is known as the first Zen poem. It consists of 146 four-word lines, directly and vividly expressing the Zen spirit in a simple, compact form. An outstanding characteristic of the poem is that it is written in genuine Chinese without using any Sanskrit or Pali Buddhist terms.

The main themes expressed in the Hsin hsin ming derive from Two Entries and Four Acts, one of the few authentic writings of the great Zen Patriarch Bodhidharma, who brought Buddhism from India to China in the sixth century. The roots of Bodhidharma's work can be traced to the Vimalakirtinirdesa Sutra, written sometime before the third century c.e. in India. Even though authorship of the Hsin hsin ming is traditionally attributed to the Third Patriarch, Chien-chih Seng-ts'an (Jap: Kanchi Sosan), the idioms employed in the poem have caused some scholars to place the date of its composition in a later year.

[. . .]

The title Hsin hsin ming is translated as Verses on the Faith Mind. The title of a poem is sometimes likened to the forehead, which expresses a person's unique characteristics. In Hsin hsin ming, hsin is generally understood as "faith." However, the word is also used in a different sense in the context of the verses, as, for example, at the very end:

Hsin hsin pu erh 信心不二

Faith mind are not two

Pu erh hsin hsin 不二信心

Nondual faith mind

The translator renders these lines as:

To live in this faith is the road to nonduality

because the nondual is one with the trusting mind.

In this context, faith does not have the usual meaning of "having faith in something," but rather that faith is the very fact of existence or reality itself. Dogen Zenji says, "Without attaining Buddhahood, the faith won't manifest. Where the faith manifests, Buddhas and Patriarchs manifest" (Shobogenzo). The Nirvana Sutra says, "Great faith is no other than Buddha nature." Kozan Garyu says that "one thousand seven hundred koans are all together the expression of this mind."

The word ming means "written expression" and also "warnings or admonitions," hence the title means "the verbal expression of the fact that the very nature of existence and of all the phenomenal world are no other than the faith mind." The Hsin hsin ming declares:

Although all dualities come from the one

Do not be attached even to this One.

That is to say, at the bottom of the two there is one and at the bottom of one there is zero. And that zero is "just this," the unborn one Mind, which is the faith mind.

From the time of its composition up to the present day, the Hsin hsin ming has been published and translated repeatedly by various scholars and appreciated by different Chinese and Japanese masters, who have written numerous commentaries on it. The masters' frequent references to the poem have authenticated it as a genuine expression of the spirit of Zen.

In the Sung dynasty, the verse Hsin hsin ming nien-ku of Chen-hsieh Ch'ing-liao (Jap: Shinketsu Seiryo, 1088-1151) was the first major commentary. Two centuries later, in the Yuan dynasty, Chung-feng Ming-pen (Jap: Chuho Myohun, 1263-1323) commented on the Hsin hsin ming. In 1667, during the Ming dynasty, Wei-lin (Jap: I Rin) wrote Hsin hsin ming chu-yu (Jap: Jakugo).

The founder of the Japanese Soto School, Dogen Zenji (1200-1253), quoted a number of passages from the Hsin hsin ming in his Eihei-koroku, written in Chinese. In 1303, Keizan Zenji, the cofounder of the Japanese Soto School, wrote the most famous Japanese commentaries on the verse, known as the Hsin hsin ming nentei ("Teisho on the Hsin hsin ming). In 1781, during the Edo period, Kozan Garyu wrote a commentary, the Hsin hsin ming yatosui, which also contains Chen-hsieh Ch'ing-liao's verse and Keizan's Nentei. Rinzai master Isshi Benshu (1608-1646) also wrote a major commentary in Japanese entitled the Hsin hsin ming benchu.

In modern times, several Japanese commentaries have been written. Among the most famous are the commentaries by Kodo Sawaki Roshi on Keizan Zenji's Hsin hsin ming nentei and by Kodo Akino Roshi on Kozan Garyu's Hsin hsin ming yatosui. In addition, Ian Kishizawa Roshi has written the Hsin hsin ming kattoshu. D.T. Suzuki also gave concise, pithy comments on the Hsin hsin ming. The most recent commentary was written by Koun Yamada Roshi. (The Eye That Never Sleeps xv-xviii)

Thomas Cleary

"Huike's successor Sengcan, is traditionally credited with authorship of 'The Trusting Heart,' one of the earliest and most enduringly popular works on Zen. Quotations from this favorite work appear throughout later Zen literature. Generally speaking, it is a guide to Zen meditation, but the unifying theme is mental balance. Many of the Zen instructions translated in the present volume are very much in the spirit of this early Zen classic." (Zen Essence 93)

Heinrich Dumoulin

"a poem attributed to the Third Patriarch, Seng-ts'an (d. 606), 'Words Inscribed on the Believing Mind.' Part of the poem reads: 'When the one mind does not arise, the myriad things (dharma) are no obstacle./When there is no obstacle, no thing appears./And when no thing appears, there is no mind.' As D.T. Suzuki makes clear in his English paraphrase, these verses should not be understood in a nihilistic sense. The key idea of the poem is the unity of nondualistic reality. For the enlightened mind, all duality is overcome."

(Zen Buddhism: A History, Japan 280)

Christmas Humphreys

"Here, then, to conclude, is an extract from the glorius poem of the third Chinese Patriarch Seng-ts'an which he called 'On Trust in the Heart'. It may be asked why, as it seems the most simple, it is put at the end of so much harder reading. The answer is that although it is simple it is at the same time enormously profound, and until it is realized that these are not moral maxims for the class-room, but fragments from a vast and deep experience, the quintessence of all the teaching that has gone before, they will not be appreciated at their true value." (Zen – A Way of Life 127)

Author Unknown

Suzuki sensei's fine translation of Seng-ts'an's 'Hsin-hsin-ming' ('On Believing in Mind,' pages 76-82), the very first verse treatise on Zen – which in the original Chinese takes up just two thirds of a page in the more than 100,000 pages of 'Taisho' – a text which embodies the quintessence of Zen and that deserves to be far better known.

(From a book review of Manual of Zen Buddhism by D.T. Suzuki)

The Original Text

The original text of the Hsin-hsin Ming with obsolete Chinese ideograms.

言但若極無十要非一契兩泯一眼夢迷法六不任執大一境無二二前歸多一止莫圓違毫至　三

語能不大在方急思切心既其如若幻生無塵好性之道空由咎由見空根言種動逐同順釐道　祖

道如如同不智相量不平不所體不虚寂異不勞合失體同能無一不轉得多不歸有太相有無　僧

斷是此小在者應處留等成以玄睡華亂法惡神道度寛兩境法有住變旨慮通止縁虚爭差難　璨

非何必不十皆唯識無所一不兀諸何悟妄還何逍必無齊能不一慎皆隨轉兩止勿無是天唯　大

去慮不見方入言情可作何可爾夢勞無自同用遙入易含由生亦莫由照不處更住欠爲地嫌　師

來不須邊目此不難記倶有方忘自把好愛正疏絶邪無萬境不莫追妄失相失彌空無心懸揀　信

今畢守表前宗二測憶息爾比縁除捉惡著覺親惱路難象能心守尋見宗應功動忍餘病隔擇　心

　信一有極宗不眞虚狐究止萬心得一將智欲繫放小不欲能一纔不須絶遣唯一良不欲但　銘

　心即即小非二如明疑竟動法若失切心者取念之見見知隨心有用臾言有滯種由識得莫

　不一是同促皆法自盡窮無齊不是二用無一乖自狐精兩境不是求返絶沒兩平取玄現憎

　二切無大延同界照淨極動觀異非邊心爲乘眞然疑麤段滅生非眞照慮有邊懷捨旨前愛

　不一無忘一無無不正不動歸萬一良豈愚勿昏體轉寧元境萬紛唯勝無從寧泯所徒莫洞

　二切即絶念不他勞信存止復法時由非人惡沉無急有是逐法然須卻處空知然以勞存然

　信即是境萬包無心調軌無自一放斟大自六不去轉偏一能無失息前不背一自不念順明

　心一有界年容自力直則止然如卻酌錯縛塵好住遲黨空沉咎心見空通空種盡如靜逆白

The Text with Japanese "Current Characters" (Tõyõ Kanji)

In the following text, the obsolete characters in the original text are replaced with newer, simplified characters used in contemporary Japanese. These newer characters are indicated with gray font color.

言但若極無十要非一契両泯一眼夢迷法六不任執大一境無二二前帰多一止莫円違毫至　三

語能不大在方急思切心既其如若幻生無塵好性之道空由咎由見空根言種動逐同順釐道　祖

道如如同不智相量不平不所体不虚寂異不労合失体同能無一不転得多不帰有太相有無　僧

断是此小在者応処留等成以玄睡華乱法悪神道度寛両境法有住変旨慮通止縁虚争差難　璨

非何必不十皆唯識無所一不兀諸何悟妄還何逍必無斉能不一慎皆随転両止勿無是天唯　大

去慮不見方入言情可作何可爾夢労無自同用遥入易含由生亦莫由照不処更住欠為地嫌　師

來不須辺目此不難記倶有方忘自把好愛正疏絶邪無万境不莫追妄失相失弥空無心懸揀　信

今畢守表前宗二測憶息爾比縁除捉悪著覚親悩路難象能心守尋見宗応功動忍余病隔択　心

　信一有極宗不真虚狐究止万心得一将智欲繋放小不欲能一纔不須絶遣唯一良不欲但　銘

　心即即小非二如明疑竟動法若失切心者取念之見見知随心有用臾言有滞種由識得莫

　不一是同促皆法自尽窮無斉不是二用無一乖自狐精両境不是求返絶没両平取玄現憎

　二切無大延同界照浄極動観異非辺心為乘真然疑麁段滅生非真照慮有辺懐捨旨前愛

　不一無忘一無無不正不動帰万一良豈愚勿昏体転寧元境萬紛唯勝無従寧泯所徒莫洞

　二切即絶念不他労信存止復法時由非人悪沈無急有是逐法然須却処空知然以労存然

　信即是境万包無心調軌無自一放斟大自六不去転偏一能無失息前不背一自不念順明

　心一有界年容自力直則止然如却酌錯縛塵好住遅党空沈咎心見空通空種尽如静逆白

Translation of the Text

Translated by Prof. Dusan Pajin of Belgrade University, Yugoslavia

F

1

唯嫌揀擇

it only excludes picking and choosing.

洞然明白

it will enlighten itself.

天地懸隔

and heaven and earth are set apart.

莫存順逆

do not be for or against.

是爲心病

makes the mind sick.

徒勞念靜

it is useless to quiet thoughts.

無欠無餘

with nothing lacking, nothing in excess.

所以不如

there is no suchness.

         1

勿住空忍

do not dwell in emptiness.

泯然自盡

everything will stop by itself.

止更彌動

and rest will move you again.

寧知一種

how will you know oneness?

二處失功

you will miss in two ways.

從空背空

following emptiness you are always behind it.

轉不相應

the more you will go astray.

無處不通

                                    信心銘

Faith-Mind Inscription

至道無難

The best way is not difficult

但莫憎愛

Once you stop loving and hating

毫釐有差

Depart for a hairbreadth

欲得現前

If you want it to appear

違順相爭

To set longing against loathing

不識玄旨

Not knowing the deep meaning (of the way)

圓同太虚

Complete it is like great vacuity

良由取捨

When you grasp and reject

莫逐有縁

Do not follow conditions,

一種平懷

Cherishing oneness in the hearth,

止動歸止

Rest to stop motion,

唯滯兩邊

If you are merely in either,

一種不通

Not understanding oneness

遣有沒有

Expelling being you will be without it,

多言多慮

The more words and thoughts

絶言絶慮

and there is nothing you cannot understand.

隨照失宗

following the outcome you lose the source.

勝卻前空

and surpass the emptiness of things.

皆由妄見

all have their cause in ignorance.

         1

唯須息見

only abstain from views.

慎勿追尋

be careful not to pursue them.

紛然失心

and mind is lost in confusion.

一亦莫守

however, do not even maintain the one.

萬法無咎

then everything is without blame.

不生不心

no arising, no mind.

境逐能沈

the object is expelled when the subject sinks.

能由境能

the subject is related to the object.

元是一空

their origin is one emptiness.

齊含萬象

evenly containing innumerable forms.

         1

寧有偏黨

and you will not be for or against.

無易無難

neither easy nor difficult.

轉急轉遲

now in haste, then too late.

必入邪路

                                                   Stop speaking, stop thinking

歸根得旨

Return to the root and obtain the purport;

須臾返照

For a moment turn inward,

前空轉變

Changes that go on in emptiness

不用求眞

Do not seek the true,

二見不住

Do not dwell in dual views,

纔有是非

The slightest trace of right and wrong

二由一有

One being is the source of the two,

一心不正

With one mind there is no arising,

無咎無法

No blame, no things;

能隨境滅

The subject follows when the object ceases

境由能境

The object is related to the subject

欲知兩段

If you want to know these two

一空兩同

In one emptiness both are equal

不見精

Do not differentiate coarse and fine

大道體寛

The great way is all‑embracing

小見狐疑

Small views are irresolute, full of doubt,

執之失度

and you will go astray.

體無去住

essence neither goes nor abides.

逍遙絶惱

and go free of troubles.

昏沈不好

it darkens, sinks and spoils.

何用疏親

of what use are strange and familiar?

         1

勿惡六塵

do not dislike the six sense‑objects.

還同正覺

turns out equal to perfect awakenness.

愚人自縛

the fool ties himself.

妄自愛著

ignorance leads to preference.

豈非大錯

is it not a great mistake?

悟無好惡

awakening negates liking and disliking.

妄自斟酌

lead to absurd consideration.

何勞把捉

why strive to grasp them?

一時放卻

away with this once for all.

諸夢自除

all dreams stop by themselves.

         1

萬法一如

all things are of one suchness.

兀爾忘縁

resolutely neglect conditions.

                                                   Grasp beyond measure

放之自然

Letting go leads to spontaneity,

任性合道

Accord your nature with the way

　念乖眞

Fettered thinking strays from the real,

不好勞神

To weary the spirit is not good;

欲取一乘

In following the One vehicle

六塵不惡

Not disliking the six sense‑objects

智者無爲

The wise performs through non‑action,

法無異法

Things are not different,

將心用心

To use the mind to hold the mind,

迷生寂亂

Out of confusion arise rest and disturbance;

一切二邊

All opposite sides

夢幻虚華

Dreams, illusions, flowers in the air,

得失是非

Profit and loss, right and wrong;

眼若不睡

If the eyes are not closed

心若不異

If the mind does not discriminate

一如體玄

In the deep essence of one suchness

歸復自然

you return again to spontaneity.

不可方比

and nothing can be compared.

動止無止

set rest in motion and there is no resting.

一何有爾

how will one be for you?

不存軌則

and there is no principle or rule retained.

所作倶息

which stops every action.

1

正信調直

true faith is firm and harmonized.

無可記憶

nothing to remember.

不勞心力

power of the mind is not exerted.

識情難測

sense or feeling cannot fathom this.

無他無自

there is neither other nor self.

唯言不二

only express non‑duality.

無不包容

nothing is left out.

皆入此宗

all belong to this teaching.

一念萬年

beyond a moment, or an eon.

十方目前

everywhere in front of the eyes.

忘絶境界

when boundaries are forgotten.

萬法齊觀

When all things are beheld as even

泯其所以

Put an end to the cause

止動無動

Cease movement and no movement arises;

兩既不成

When both do not make a whole

究竟窮極

Investigate to the end

契心平等

Accord the mind with Impartiality

狐疑盡淨

All doubts are cleared,

一切不留

Nothing is detained,

虚明自照

Vacuous, enlightened, self‑illumined;

非思量處

Thought is useless here,

眞如法界

In the real suchness of the thing‑realm

要急相應

Swiftly to accord with that

不二皆同

In non-duality all is equal,

十方智者

The wise from all directions

宗非促延

This teaching is not urgent, or extensive,

無在不在

Not here, not there,

極小同大

Very small and large are equal,

不見邊表

the limits cannot be seen.

無即是有

with non‑being there is being.

必不相守

do not hold on to it.

一切即一

all is one.

何慮不畢

worry not for finality.

不二信心

Non‑duality is faith in mind.

非去來今

with no past, present, future.

極大同小

Very large and small are equal,

有即是無

With being there is nonbeing,

若不如此

If not so –

一即一切

One is all,

但能如是

Merely with such ability

信心不二

Faith in mind is non‑dual.

言語道斷

Discourse here stops –

Chinese and Japanese Transcriptions of the Text

For those who want to read the Hsin-hsin Ming in Chinese or Japanese, Chinese and Japanese transcriptions of the text are given here.

Throughout this article, the Tun-huang manuscript version of the text is used. As with most Chinese texts, there are minor differences between various versions of the Hsin-hsin Ming. Variant lines and characters in the Taishõ Daizõkyõ (vol. 48, No. 2010) version are indicated in this section.

1 First lines are Chinese readings (Wade-Giles transcription system).

2 Second lines are Chinese readings (Pinyin transcription system).

3 Third lines are Japanese readings (kanbun yomi kudashi) according to Hepburn transcription system (Hebonshiki).

4 Fourth lines are the translations of Dusan Pajin.

Variant lines and characters are indicated on the right side.

When pronunciations or English translations of the variant characters are the same as the original characters, no variant pronunciations or translations are given.

1 至道無難　唯嫌揀擇

Chih-tao wu-nan. Wei hsien chien-tse.

Zhi⁴dao² wu²nan². Wei² xian² jian³ze².

Shidõ bunan. Tada kenjaku o kirau. (Shidõ bunan. Yui ken kenjaku.)

The best way is not difficult. It only excludes picking and choosing.

3 但莫憎愛　洞然明白

Tan mo tseng-ai, tung-jan ming-pai.

Dan⁴ mo⁴ zeng¹ai⁴, dong⁴ran² ming²bai².

Tada zõai nakunba, tõnen to shite meihaku nari.

Once you stop loving and hating, it will enlighten itself.

5 毫釐有差　天地懸隔

Hao li yu ch'a, t'ien-ti hsüan ke.

Hao² li² you³ cha¹, tian¹di⁴ xuan² ge².

Gõri mo sha areba, tenchi haruka ni hedataru.

Depart for a hairbreadth, and heaven and earth are set apart.

7 欲得現前　莫存順逆

Yü te hsien-ch'ien, mo ts'un shun-ni.

Yu⁴ de² xian⁴qian², mo⁴ cun² shun⁴ni⁴.

Genzen o en to hosseba, jungyaku o zon suru nakare.

If you want it to appear, do not be for or against.

9 違順相爭　是爲心病

Wei-shun hsiang-cheng, shih wei hsin ping.

Wei²shun⁴ xiang¹zheng¹, shi⁴ wei² xin¹ bing⁴.

Ijun ai arasou, kore o shinbyõ to nasu.

To set longing against loathing, makes the mind sick.

11 不識玄旨　徒勞念靜

Pu-shi hsüan-chi, tu lao nien-ching.

Bu⁴shi⁴ xuan²zhi³, tu² lao² nian⁴jing⁴.

Genshi o shirazareba, itazura ni nenjõ ni rõ su.

Not knowing the deep meaning (of the way), it is useless to quiet thoughts.

13 圓同太虚　無欠無餘

Yüan-t'ung tai-hsü, wu-chien, wu-yü.

Yuan²tong² tai⁴xu¹, wu²qian⁴, wu²yu².

Madoka naru koto taikyo ni onaji, kakuru koto naku, amaru koto nashi.

Complete it is like great vacuity, with nothing lacking, nothing in excess.

15 良由取捨　所以不如

Liang yu ch'u-she, so-i pu-ju.

Liang² you² qu³she³, suo³yi³ bu⁴ru².

Makoto ni shusha ni yoru, yue ni funyo nari.

When you grasp and reject, there is no suchness.

17 莫逐有縁　勿住空忍

Mo chu yu yüen, wu chu kung jen.

Mo⁴ zhu² you³ yuan², wu⁴ zhu⁴ kong¹ ren³.

Uen o ou koto nakare, kûnin ni jû suru koto nakare.

Do not follow conditions, do not dwell in emptiness.

19 一種平懷　泯然自盡

I-cheng p'ing huai, ming-jan tzu chin.

Yi¹zhong³ ping² huai², min³ran² zi⁴ jin⁴.

Isshu heikai nareba, minnen to shite onozu kara tsuku.

Cherishing oneness in the hearth, everything will stop by itself.

21 止動歸止　止更彌動

□□□□　二□□□

erh

er⁴

nisho

Chih tung kui chih, chih keng mi tung.

Zhi³ dong⁴ gui¹ zhi³, zhi³ geng⁴ mi² dong⁴.

Dõ o yamete ki ni shi sureba, shi sara ni iyoiyo dõzu.

Rest to stop motion, and rest will move you again.

23 唯滯兩邊　寧知一種

Wei chih liang-pien, ning chih i-chung?

Wei² zhi⁴ liang³bian¹, ning² zhi¹ yi¹zhong³?

Tada ryõhen ni todokooraba, nanzo isshu o shiran ya?

If you are merely in either, how will you know oneness?

25 一種不通　兩處失功

I-chung pu-t'ung, liang-ch'u shih kung.

Yi¹zhong³ bu⁴tong¹, liang³chu³ shi¹ gong¹.

Isshu tsûzezareba, ryõsho ni kõ o shissu.

Not understanding oneness, you will miss in two ways.

27 遣有沒有　從空背空

Ch'ien yu mei yu, ts'ung kung pei kung.

Qian³ you³ mei² you³, cong² kong¹ bei⁴ kong¹.

U o yareba u o bosshi, kû ni shitagaeba kû ni somuku.

Expelling being you will be without it, following emptiness you are always behind it.

29 多言多慮　轉不相應

To yen, to lu chuan pu hsiang-ying.

Duo¹ yan², duo¹ lu⁴ zhuan³ bu⁴ xiang¹ying⁴.

Tagon, taryo utata sõõ sezu.

The more words and thoughts the more you will go astray

31 絶言絶慮　無處不通

Chüeh yen, chüeh lu wu-ch'u pu-t'ung.

Jue² yan², jue² lu⁴ wu²chu³ bu⁴tong¹.

Zetsugon, zetsuryo tokoro to shite tsûzezu to iu koto nashi.

Stop speaking, stop thinking and there is nothing you cannot understand.

33 歸根得旨　隨照失宗

Kui ken te chih. Sui chao shih tsung.

Gui¹ gen¹ de² zhi³. Sui² zhao⁴ shi¹ zong¹.

Kon ni ki sureba shi o e. Shõ ni shitagaeba shû o shissu.

Return to the root and obtain the purport. Following the outcome you lose the source.

35 須臾返照　勝卻前空

Hsü-yü fan-chao, sheng-ch'üeh ch'ien-kung.

Xu¹yu² fan³zhao⁴, sheng⁴que⁴ qian²kong¹.

Shuyu mo hanshõ sureba, zenkû ni shõkyaku su.

For a moment turn inward, and surpass the emptiness of things.

37 前空轉變　皆由妄見

Ch'ien-kung chuan-pien chieh yu wang-chien.

Qian²kong¹ zhuan³bian⁴ jie¹ you² wang⁴jian⁴.

Zenkû no tenpen wa mina mõken ni yoru.

Changes that go on in emptiness all have their cause in ignorance.

39 不用求眞　唯須息見

Pu-yung ch'iu chen, wei hsü hsi-chien.

Bu⁴yong⁴ qiu² zhen¹, wei² xu¹ xi²jian⁴.

Shin o motomuru koto o mochiizare, tada subekaraku ken o yamu beshi.

□□□□　□勿□□

wu

wu⁴

Do not seek the true, only abstain from views.

41 二見不住　慎莫追尋

Erh-chien pu-chu, chen mo chui-hsün.

Er⁴jian⁴ bu⁴zhu⁴, shen⁴ mo⁴ zhui¹xun².

Niken ni jûsezu, tsutsushinde tsuijin suru koto nakare.

Do not dwell in dual views, be careful not to pursue them.

43 纔有是非　紛然失心

Ts'ai yu shih-fei fen-jan shih hsin.

Cai² you³ shi⁴fei¹ fen¹ran² shi¹ xin¹.

Wazuka ni zehi areba funnen to shite shin o shissu.

The slightest trace of right and wrong and mind is lost in confusion.

45 二由一有　一亦莫守

Erh yu i yu, i i mo shou.

Er⁴ you² yi¹ you³, yi¹ yi⁴ mo⁴ shou³.

Ni wa itsu ni yotte ari, itsu mo mata mamoru koto nakare.

One being is the source of the two, however, do not even maintain the one.

47 一心不生　萬法無咎

I-hsin pu-sheng, wang-fa wu-chiu.

□□□正　□□□□

cheng

zheng¹

Yi¹xin¹ bu⁴sheng¹, wan⁴fa³ wu²jiu⁴.

Isshin shõzezareba, manpõ toga nashi.

With one mind there is no arising, then everything is without blame.

49 無咎無法　不生不心

Wu-chiu, wu-fa. Pu-sheng, pu-hsin.

Wu²jiu⁴, wu²fa³. Bu⁴sheng¹, bu⁴xin¹.

Toga nakereba hõ nashi. Shõzezareba shin narazu.

No blame, no things. No arising, no mind.

51 能隨境滅　境逐能沈

Neng sui ching mieh. Ching chu neng shen.

Neng² sui² jing⁴ mie⁴. Jing⁴ zhu² neng² shen³.

Nõ wa kyõ ni shitagatte messhi. Kyõ wa nõ o õte shizumu.

The subject follows when the object ceases. The object is expelled when the subject sinks.

53 境由能境　能由境能

Ching yu neng ching. Neng yu ching neng.

Jing⁴ you² neng² jing⁴. Neng² you² jing⁴ neng².

Kyõ wa nõ ni yotte kyõtari. Nõ wa kyõ no yotte nõtari.

The object is related to the subject. The subject is related to the object.

55 欲知兩段　元是一空

□□兩同　□□□像

liang t'ung

liang³ tong²

ryõdõ

Yü chih liang-tuan, yüen shih i-kung.

Yu⁴ zhi¹ liang³duan⁴, yuan² shi⁴ yi¹kong¹.

Ryõdan o shiran to hosseba, moto kore ikkû.

If you want to know these two, their origin is one emptiness.

57 一空同兩　齊含萬象

I-kung liang t'ung, ch'i han wan-hsiang.

Yi¹kong¹ liang³ tong², qi² han² wan⁴xiang⁴.

Ikkû ryõ ni onaji, hitoshiku banzõ o fukumu.

In one emptiness both are equal, evenly containing innumerable forms.

59 不見精麁　寧有偏黨

Pu-chien ching-ts'u, ning yu p'ien-tang.

Bu⁴jian⁴ jing¹cu¹, ning² you³ pian¹dang³.

Seiso o mizareba, izukunzo hentõ aran ya.

Do not differentiate coarse and fine, and you will not be for or against.

□□□粗　□□□□

61 大道體寛　無易無難

Ta-tao t'i-k'uan, wu-i, wu-nan.

□□□□　□難□易

wu-nan, wu-i

wu²nan², wu²yi⁴

nan naku i nashi

neither difficult nor easy

Da⁴ dao⁴ ti³kuan¹, wu²yi⁴, wu²nan².

□□□□　心□□□

hsin

xin¹

shin jaro ni iru

and the mind will go astray

Daidõ taikan nari, i naku nan nashi.

The great way is all‑embracing, neither easy nor difficult.

63 小見狐疑　轉急轉遲

Hsiao-chien hu-i, chuan chi, chuan ch'ih.

Xiao³jian⁴ hu²yi², zhuan³ ji², zhuan³ chi².

Shõken wa kogi su, utata kyû nareba, utata ososhi.

Small views are irresolute, full of doubt, now in haste, then too late.

65 執之失度　必入邪路

Chih chih shih tu, pi ru hsie-lu.

Zhi² zhi¹ shi¹ du⁴, bi⁴ ru⁴ xie²lu⁴.

Kore o shû sureba do o shisshi, kanarazu jaro ni iru.

Grasp beyond measure, and you will go astray.

67 放之自然　體無去住

Fang chih tzu-jan, t'i wu-ch'ü-chu.

□□□□　沈昏□□

shen-hun

shen³hun¹

chinkon

sinks, darkens and spoils

Fang⁴ zhi¹ zi⁴ran², ti³ wu²qu⁴zhu⁴.

Kore o hanateba jinen nari, tai kyojû nashi.

Letting go leads to spontaneity, essence neither goes nor abides.

69 任性合道　逍遙絶惱

Jen hsing ho tao, hsiao-yao chüeh nao.

Ren⁴ xing⁴ he² dao⁴, xiao¹yao² jue² nao³.

Shõ ni ninzureba dõ ni gassu, shõyõ to shite nõ o zessu.

Accord your nature with the way, and go free of troubles.

71 繋念乖眞　昏沈不好

Chi-nien kuai chen, hun-shen pu-hao.

Ji⁴nian⁴ guai¹ zhen¹, hun¹shen³ bu⁴hao³.

Kenen wa shin ni somuku, konchin wa fukõ nari.

Fettered thinking strays from the real, it darkens, sinks and spoils.

73 不好勞神　何用疏親

Pu-hao lao shen. Ho yung shu-ch'ing?

Bu⁴hao³ lao² shen². He² yong⁴ shu¹qing⁴?

Fukõ nareba shin o rõ su. Nanzo soshin o mochiin?

To weary the spirit is not good. Of what use are strange and familiar?

□神□□　□□□□

Liu-shen

Liu⁴shen²

□趣□□　□□□□

ts'u

cu⁴

Ichijõ ni omomukan to hosseba

In following the One vehicle

75 欲取一乘　勿惡六塵

Yü ch'u i-ch'eng, wu eh liu-ch'en.

Yu⁴ qu³ yi¹cheng², wu⁴ e⁴ liu⁴chen².

Ichijõ o toran to hosseba, rokujin o nikumu koto nakare.

In taking the One vehicle, do not dislike the six sense‑objects.

77 六塵不惡　還同正覺

Liu-ch'en pu-eh, hai t'ung cheng-chüeh.

Liu⁴chen² bu⁴e⁴, hai² tong² zheng⁴jue².

Rokujin nikumazareba kaette shõgaku ni onaji.

Not disliking the six sense‑objects turns out equal to perfect awakenness.

79 智者無爲　愚人自縛

Chih-che wu-wei. Yü-jen tzu fu.

Zhi⁴zhe³ wu² wei². Yu²ren² zi⁴ fu².

Chisha wa mui nari. Gunin wa jibaku su.

The wise performs through non‑action. The fool ties himself.

81 法無異法　妄自愛著

Fa wu-i fa, wang tzu ai-cho.

Fa³ wu²yi⁴ fa³, wang⁴ zi⁴ ai⁴-zhuo².

Hõ ni ihõ nashi, midari ni mizukara aijaku su.

Things are not different, ignorance leads to preference.

83 將心用心　豈非大錯

Chiang hsin yung hsin, ch'i fei ta ts'o?

Jiang¹ xin¹ yong⁴ xin¹, qi³ fei¹ da⁴ cuo⁴?

Shin o motte shin o mochiu, ani daijaku ni arazaran ya?

To use the mind to hold the mind, is it not a great mistake?

85 迷生寂亂　悟無好惡

Mi sheng chi-luan. Wu wu-hao-eh.

Mi² sheng¹ ji²luan⁴. Wu⁴ wu²hao³e⁴.

Mayoeba jakuran o shõji. Satoreba kõo nashi.

Out of confusion arise rest and disturbance. Awakening negates liking and disliking.

□□□□　妄自□□

wang tzu

wang⁴ zi⁴

midari ni mizukara shinshaku su

unreasonably lead to absurd consideration

87 一切二邊　良由斟酌

I-ch'ieh erh-pien liang yu chen-cho.

Yi¹qie¹ er⁴bian¹ liang² you² zhen¹zhuo².

Issai nihen makoto ni shinshaku ni yoru.

All opposite sides lead to absurd consideration.

□亂空□　□□□□

Meng-lan, kung-hua

Meng⁴-lan⁴, kong¹hua²

Muran, kûge.

Dreams, confusions, flowers in the air

89 夢幻虚華　何勞把捉

Meng-huan, hsü-hua. Ho lao pa-cho?

Meng⁴-huan⁴, xu¹hua². He² lao² ba³zhuo¹?

Muran, kûge. Nanzo hasoku o rõ sen.

Dreams, illusions, flowers in emptiness. Why strive to grasp them?

91 得失是非　一時放卻

□□□眠　□□□□

pu-mien

bu⁴mian²

Te-shih, shih-fei, i-shih fang-chüeh.

De²shi¹, shi⁴fei¹, yi¹shi² fang⁴que⁴.

Tokushitsu, zehi, ichiji ni hõkyaku seyo.

Profit and loss, right and wrong, away with this once for all.

□□□□　□□如一

ju i

ru² yi¹

manpõ ichi no gotoshi

all things are as one

93 眼若不睡　諸夢自除

Yan jo pu-shui, chu-meng tzu ch'u.

Yan³ ruo⁴ bu⁴shui⁴, zhu¹meng⁴ zi⁴ chu².

Manako moshi nemurazareba, shõmu onozukara nozoku.

If the eyes are not closed, all dreams stop by themselves.

□□□□　復歸□□

fu-kui

fu⁴gui¹

fukki jinen nari

95 心若不異　萬法一如

Hsin jo pu-i, wan-fa i-ju.

Xin¹ ruo⁴ bu⁴yi⁴, wan⁴fa³ yi¹ru².

Shin moshi inarazareba, manpõ ichinyo nari.

If the mind does not discriminate, all things are of one suchness.

97 一如體玄　兀爾忘縁

I-ju t'i-hsüan, wu-erh wang yüan.

Yi¹ru² ti³xuan², wu⁴er³ wang⁴ yuan².

Ichinyo taigen nareba, gotsuni to shite en o bõzu.

In the deep essence of one suchness, resolutely neglect conditions.

99 萬法齊觀　歸復自然

Wan-fa ch'i kuan, kui-fu tzu-jan.

Wan⁴fa³ qi² guan¹, gui¹fu⁴ zi⁴ran².

Manpõ hitoshiku kanzureba, kifuku jinen nari.

When all things are beheld as even, you return again to spontaneity.

101 泯其所以　不可方比

Ming ch'i so-i, pu-k'o fang-pi.

Ming³ qi² suo³yi³, bu⁴ke³ fang¹bi³.

Sono yuen o minseba, hõhi subekarazu.

Put an end to the cause, and nothing can be compared.

103 止動無動　動止無止

Chih tung wu-tung. Tung chih wu-chih.

Zhi³ dong⁴ wu²dong⁴. Dong⁴ zhi³ wu²zhi³.

Dõ o yamureba dõ naku, shi o dõzureba shi nashi.

Cease movement and no movement arises. Set rest in motion and there is no resting.

105 兩既不成　一何有爾

Liang-chi pu-ch'eng, i ho yu erh?

Liang³ ji⁴ bu⁴cheng², yi¹ he² you³ er³?

Ryõ sude ni narazu, itsu nanzo shika aran?

When both do not make a whole, how will one be for you?

107 究竟窮極　不存軌則

Chiu-ching ch'iung-chi, pu-ts'un kui-tse.

啓□□□　□□□□

Ch'i-hsin

Qi³xin¹

Kaishin

Open your mind to Impartiality

Jiu⁴jing⁴ qiong²ji², bu⁴cun² gui³ze².

□□□□　□□所有

so yu

suo³ you³

itsu nanzo shõyû?

how will you have one?

Kukyõ kyûkyoku, kisoku o zon suru koto nakare.

Investigate to the end, and there is no principle or rule retained.

109 契心平等　所作倶息

Ch'i-hsin p'ing-teng, so-chuo chü hsi.

Qi⁴xin¹ ping²deng³, suo³zuo⁴ ju¹ xi².

Kaishin heitõ nareba, shosa tomo ni yamu.

Accord the mind with Impartiality, which stops every action.

111 狐疑盡淨　正信調直

Hu-i chin-ching, chen-hsin tiao-chih.

Hu²yi² jin⁴jing⁴, zheng⁴xin⁴ diao⁴zhi².

Kogi jõjin sureba, shõshin chõjiki nari.

All doubts are cleared, true faith is firm and harmonized.

113 一切不留　無可記憶

I-ch'ieh pu-liu, wu-k'o chi-i.

Yi¹qie¹ bu⁴liu², wu²ke³ ji⁴yi⁴.

Issai todomarazareba, kioku su beki nashi.

□□□然 or □□□性

tzu-jan              tzu-hsing

zi⁴-ran²             zi⁴xing⁴

jinen                 jishõ

spontaneous     Empty and enlighten

                        your self-nature

                  Nothing is detained, nothing to remember.

115 虚明自照　不勞心力

Hsü-ming, tzu-chao, pu-lao hsin-li.

Xu¹ming² zi⁴zhao⁴, bu⁴lao² xin¹li⁴.

Komei jishõ nareba, shinriki rõ sezu.

Vacuous, enlightened, self‑illumined, power of the mind is not exerted.

117 非思量處　識情難測

Fei-ssu-liang ch'u, shih-ch'ing nan ts'e.

Fei¹si¹liang⁴ chu³, shi⁴qing² nan² ce⁴.

Hishiryõ no sho, shikijõ hakari gatashi.

Thought is useless here, sense or feeling cannot fathom this.

119 眞如法界　無他無自

Chen-ju fa-chieh, wu-t'a, wu-tzu.

Zhen¹ru² fa³jie⁴, wu²ta¹, wu²zi⁴.

Shinnyo hokkai wa, ta naku, ji nashi.

In the real suchness of the thing‑realm, there is neither other nor self.

121 要急相應　唯言不二

Yao chi hsiang-ying, wei yen pu-erh.

Yao⁴ ji² xiang¹ying⁴, wei² yan² bu⁴er⁴.

Kyû ni sõõ sen to yõseba, tada funi to iu.

Swiftly to accord with that, only express non‑duality.

123 不二皆同　無不包容

Pu-erh chieh t'ung, wu pu-pao-jung.

Bu⁴er⁴ jie¹ tong², wu² bu⁴bao¹rong².

Funi nareba mina onaji, hõyõ sezu to iu koto nashi.

In non-duality all is equal, nothing is left out.

125 十方智者　皆入此宗

Shih-fang chih-che chieh ju tz'u tsung.

Shi²fang¹ zhi⁴zhe³ jie¹ ru⁴ ci³ zong¹.

Jippõ no chisha, mina kono shû ni iru.

The wise from all directions all belong to this teaching.

127 宗非促延　一念萬年

Tsung fei ts'u-yen, i-nien, wan-nien,

Zong¹ fei¹ cu⁴yan², yi¹nian⁴, wan⁴nian²,

Shû wa sokuen ni arazu, ichinen, bannen.

This teaching is not urgent, or extensive, beyond a moment, or an eon,

129 無在不在　十方目前

Wu tsai pu-tsai, shih-fang mu-ch'ien.

Wu² zai⁴ bu⁴ zai⁴, shi²fang¹ mu⁴qian².

Zai mo fuzai mo naku, jippõ mokuzen.

Not here, not there, everywhere in front of the eyes.

131 極小同大　忘絶境界

Chi-hsiao t'ung ta. Wang-chüeh ching-chieh,

Ji²xiao³ tong² da⁴. Wang²jue² jing⁴jie⁴,

Gokushõ wa dai ni onaji. Kyõgai o bõzetsu su.

Very small and large are equal. When boundaries are forgotten,

133 極大同小　不見邊表

Chi-ta t'ung hsiao, pu-chien pien-piao.

Ji²da⁴ tong² xiao³, bu⁴jian⁴ bian¹biao³.

Gokudai wa shõ ni onaji, henpyõ o mizu.

Very large and small are equal, the limits cannot be seen.

135 有即是無　無即是有

Yu chi shih wu. Wu chi shih yu.

You³ ji² shi⁴ wu². Wu² ji² shi⁴ you³.

U wa sunawachi kore mu. Mu wa sunawachi kore u.

With being there is nonbeing. With non‑being there is being.

□□□□　妄□□□

Wang-chüeh

Wang⁴jue²

mõzetsu su

When boundaries are irrelevant

137 若不如此　必不須守

Jo pu-ju tz'u – pi pu hsü shou.

□□□是　□□相□

mamoru koto o sõ sezu

Ruo⁴ bu⁴ru² ci³ – bi⁴ bu⁴ xu¹ shou³.

Moshi kaku no gotoku narazareba, kanarazu mamoru koto o mochiizare.

If not so – do not hold on to it.

139 一即一切　一切即一

I chi i-ch'ieh, i-ch'ieh chi i –

Yi¹ ji² yi¹qie¹, yi¹qie¹ ji² yi¹ –

Issoku issai, issai sokuitsu.

One is all, all is one –

141 但能如是　何慮不畢

Tan neng ju shih, ho lu pu-pi.

Dan⁴ neng² ru² shi⁴, he² lu⁴ bu⁴bi⁴.

Tada yoku kaku no gotoku nareba, nanzo fuhitsu o omonpakaran.

Merely with such ability, worry not for finality.

143 信心不二　不二信心

Hsin-hsin pu-erh. Pu-erh hsin-hsin.

Xin⁴xin¹ bu⁴er⁴. Bu⁴er⁴ xin⁴xin¹.

Shinjin funi. Funi shinjin.

□□□□　□古□□

ku

gu³

Faith in mind is non‑dual. Non‑duality is faith in mind.

145 言語道斷　非去來今

Yen-yü tao tuan – fei chu lai chin.

Yan²yu³ dao⁴ duan⁴ – fei¹qu⁴ lai² jin¹.

Gongo dõdan – koraikon ni arazu.

Discourse here stops – with no past, present, future.

An Analysis of the Hsin-hsin Ming

The following is an analysis of the Hsin-hsin Ming by Prof. Dusan Pajin of Belgrade University, Yugoslavia. The article is published in the following resources:

• "On Faith in Mind". Journal of Oriental Studies, Vol. XXVI, No. 2, Hong Kong 1988, pp. 270-288.

• "On Faith in Mind – Hsin Hsin Ming and Early Ch'an". Proceedings of the XXII International Congress for Asian and North African

Studies, Hamburg; in Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft, Supplement IX, Stuttgart 1992, p. 344

This article can be also viewed in the following sites:

https://dekart.f.bg.ac.yu/~dpajin (click on the link "Articles")

https://home.att.net/~paul.dowling/archive/zen/pajin.htm

This article can be downloaded in document (.doc) format from:

https://home.att.net/~paul.dowling/archive/zen/pajin.doc

(The article in the above sites do not contain Chinese characters. The Chinese characters in the footnotes are added for this web page.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

On Faith in Mind – Translation and Analysis of the Hsin-hsin Ming

By Prof. Dr. Dusan Pajin, Belgrade University, Yugoslavia

Since Leng‑chia Shih‑tzu Chi^a was discovered,¹ Seng‑ts'an's authorship of the Hsin‑hsin Ming has been doubted, because of the remark that Seng-ts'an did not put any writings into circulation. Ui ² proposed that Seng-ts'an, perhaps, only recited the text, otherwise written by someone else. Nishitani and Yanagida³ added some further arguments, considering that the text was written in the eighth century, two centuries after Seng‑ts'an. This was accepted as valid by other authors.⁴ [^a 楞伽師資記]

Contributions of the Hsin-hsin Ming

Dumoulin⁵ was among the first to recognize that in many passages the composition of Hsin‑hsin Ming is akin to the Avatamsaka Sutra, especially the closing stanzas (30‑36).

Actually, there is some resemblance between the concepts of one mind (stanza 123, oneness (stanzas 5,6,7) and one vehicle (stanza 19) in Hsin‑hsin Ming, and equivalent concepts developed in Hua‑yen^b. However, the obviously common subjects of Hsin‑hsin Ming and Hua‑yen are relativity and interpenetration of time and space dimensions (in stanzas 32‑33), equality of things (st. 33) and the famous "one is all, all is one"^c principle (st. 35), which are explained later in detail (in "Analysis of the Text" – related to sections VII and VIII of the Hsin-hsin Ming). On such grounds we can conclude that this text should be – at least partly – related also with the Hua‑yen tradition (i.e., not exclusively with Ch'an). [^b 華嚴 ^c 一即一切、一切即一]

We can outline two significant contributions of the Hsin‑hsin ming to the overall tradition of Chinese Buddhism.

a. The first is "faith in mind", which could be considered as a "Ch'anist" response to the Buddhism of faith (Pure Land^d), since the object of faith is not Amitabha^e, but mind as a means of awakening. [^d 浄土 ^e 阿弥陀]

b. The second contribution is the principle of oneness (i‑chung^f). It is particularly mentioned in stanzas 5, 6 and 7. Otherwise, it is the running idea of the whole text, continually warning against various dualities: liking‑disliking (stanzas 1, 19, 21), grasping‑rejecting (st. 3), conditions/form‑emptiness (st. 5, 14), motion‑rest (st. 6, 21, 26), truth‑views (st. 10), right‑wrong (st. It, 23), things/dharmas‑mind (st. 123, subject‑object (st. 133), coarse‑fine (st. 15), strange‑familiar (st. 18), sense‑objects/awakeness (st. 19), things/dharmas‑suchness (st. 24), profit-loss (st. 23) other‑self (st. 25, 30), moment‑eon (st. 32), here‑there (st. 32), small‑large (st. 33), one‑all (st. 35). These dualities should be refuted or transcended with the perspective of one mind – in emptiness and real suchness. [^f 一種]

Broadly speaking, Hsin‑hsin Ming is an elegant exposition of prajna (principles), and dhyana (practice). With approximation, we can say that sections I, V, and VI mostly deal with principles (oneness, one mind, emptiness, suchness), sections II. III, and IV mostly expose practice, while sections VII, and VIII describe the results of such practice, and applied principles.

Problems of Translating

In translating ancient religious and philosophical texts, one of the major problems is to decide – in case it is not a terminus technicus per se – whether a certain word (in our case, a Chinese character) is used colloquially, or as a terminus technicus. On such a decision sometimes depends not only the appropriate translation of a particular word, but the proper understanding of the whole passage, as well. To decide, we should know the tradition of the text and have in mind the context, as well as previous commentaries, if such exist (nevertheless, these can also be misleading, since in many cases they are comments, not for the sake of interpreting, but in order to give support and authority of the tradition to the thoughts of their respective authors).

The second problem is that the translator uses a language the words of which have the same ambiguity (colloquial‑technical) as the original language, or a vocabulary which (itself) lacks the necessary technical terms. This can be solved by using capitals, italics, etc. Also, one of the solutions for translating Chinese Buddhist texts was to use the Sanskrit terms as technical, in the same manner as in European philosophy one would use Greek or Latin, instead of native words, in order to convey the technical meaning and avoid ambiguity.

Meaning is developed through use. For example, for "awakening" or "enlightenment" no one uses capitals; through lengthy use it is supposed that these will not be misunderstood (that they will be understood as technical terms in a Buddhist context, and not in colloquial meaning). But some terms (One, Way, Void, Suchness) are still written with capitals. For translations from Chinese it is still customary to use Sanskrit equivalents to pinpoint the meaning, or when the terms from European languages are not good enough. For example, Chinese fa^g is better translated with Sanskrit dharma, than with "things" (as was done in this translation – but, to use "dharma" supposes that the reader is more familiar with Sanskrit, than with the Chinese, which, for the average person is not the case). [^g 法]

Wing‑tsit Chan remarked that "Without adequate tools to help them, many translators have rendered technical terms in their popular meanings".⁶ Fortunately, some sixty years ago, Soothill and Hodous,⁷ filled the gap for Chinese Buddhist terms with their dictionary. However, their dictionary was possible thanks to the work done some 1500 years ago, by generations of Chinese Buddhists, who translated Sanskrit Buddhist texts into Chinese, using and standardizing certain Chinese characters as technical terms (equivalents) for Sanskrit terms.

In order to proceed with the analysis of the Hsin‑hsin Ming, and its general meaning in the context of Chinese Buddhism, particularly Ch'an, we propose a new translation. Originally, the text, as presented in Taisho (Taisho shinshu daizokyo^h) No. 2010, was not divided in stanzas. The translators, excepting Suzuki, were faithful to this form. In the second version of his translation Suzuki has added numbers to the stanzas, in which he grouped the lines of the poem (his first translation, let it be remarked, omits four verses of stanza 6).¹⁰ In order to make possible easy reference for the analysis we have also divided the poem in stanzas, but this "versification" differs from Suzuki's version. However, in the right hand row we have given the numbers of his stanzas in brackets (for those who want to compare the translations). For easy reference we also suggest a division of the text into eight (principal) parts, notated with Roman numerals (I-VIII). [^h 大正新修大藏經大正新修大蔵経]

Analysis of the Text

Now we shall proceed with the analysis of the text, section by section (I‑VIII), explaining technical terms, their meaning in the context of Chinese Buddhism, and the main ideas of the text. When necessary we shall also reach for the wider context of Indian Buddhism, in order to explain the history of certain concepts.

Hsin‑hsin Ming mentions faith (hsinⁱ) in its title and in the concluding stanza (36). We know that faith (Skt. sraddha) in Buddhism is one of the five qualities for making progress on the path (Skt. marga). Various texts speak of faith in Buddha (Tathagata^j), the Buddhist doctrine (Dharma^k), as well as Buddhist community, or assembly (Sangha^l). In certain Mahayanic texts (Sukhavativyuha, Mahayanasraddhotpada, Amitayurdhyana) faith has been promoted as a principal quality, and an agent of salvation. K.N. Jayatilleke¹¹ has indicated three aspects of faith in early Buddhism: affective, conative and cognitive. In later Buddhism a theistic aspect of faith is introduced, and faith is redefined. Sakyamuni as a historical person is enveloped by a deified transhistorical Buddha. The faith that Sakyamuni attained at awakening, (which is – under certain conditions and precepts – repeatable for other Buddhists), has been transformed into a faith (related to worship and reverence) that salvation is based on a transcendental, omnipotent, transhistorical principle (Adi-Buddha), and bestowed to the faithful, with compassion, as grace from his emanations (other Buddhas, and bodhisattvas). [ⁱ 信 ^j 如來 ^k 法 ^l 僧伽]

With this background, "faith in mind"^m is an original contribution of Hsin‑hsin Ming. It introduces the meditative aspect of faith, based on mind-doctrine affirmed in Ch'an. To have "faith in mind" means to have faith that awakening will follow when the mind "returns to the root (or source)"ⁿ and stops discriminating (realizes one-ness). It is based on a common denominator present in all sects of Ch'an tradition: "Mind is the root of the myriad phenomena... If you can completely comprehend mind, the myriad practices are completed".¹² [^m 信心 ⁿ 歸根]

In the first stanza of Hsin‑hsin Ming we encounter the refutation of dualities. Perhaps, the author—whoever he was—was aware of the paradox, rather common in Taoism and Ch'an, when he said that the best way is not difficult, under the condition which is most difficult for humans: to stop loving and hating, picking and choosing.

The first four stanzas bear a definitely Taoist influence (compare Lao‑tzu, I). They banish feelings and duality, connecting the way with vacuity (hsu^o) and deep meaning (hsuan chih^p). In relation to vacuity (hsu) we should emphasize the difference in meaning between this character in Taoism and the meaning of emptiness (k'ung^q) in Buddhism. Lao‑tzu (Ch. II) proposes the ideal of a "vacuous" (hsu) heart for man, that is, of peace and purity of mind, freedom from worry and egoism. To maintain this vacuity (according to Lao‑tzu, Ch. 15‑16) is to be open for the tao and its way, "open and broad, like a valley". It means to keep the receptive, feminine aspect of mind, in order to be able to accord with the tao. Emptiness (k'ung) will be explained later in relation to stanzas 5, 7, 9 and 14. [^o 虚 ^p 玄旨 ^q 空]

In the first line (st. 1) we decided to translate chih‑tao^r as "the best way". Blyth¹³ has suggested "great way" which is not wrong per se, but since in stanza 15 we already have ta tao^s, which must be "great tao", it was unreasonable to use the same word for different characters. In this translation we have been—as far as possible—faithful to the principle that the same character should be translated with the same word and vice versa – a different character with a different word. Other translators decided to use "perfect way" as equivalent for chih‑tao. This is not wrong, but "perfect" also denotes something that has been brought to the end, finished. However, speaking of the way, we have something that has yet to be threaded. That is why we made an option for the "best way". On the other hand we have reserved "perfect" as equivalent for cheng^t, which appears in stanza 19. We understand that the "way" (which is spoken of in the first four stanzas) is not the Taoist tao, but the way of Buddhism (Skt. marga). With stanza 4 we leave the Taoist meanings, since the "great vacuity"^u, which is a Taoist expression, is related to a peculiarly Buddhist term ("suchness"). In the fourth line of stanza 4 Waley missed the meaning of ju^v. He takes the colloquial meaning (so), instead of the technical, Buddhist meaning – suchness, thatness (Skt. tathata). [^r 至道 ^s 大道 ^t 正 ^u 太虚 ^v 如]

Stanza 5, and the last two lines of stanza 4 are important because they introduce several terms and ideas of overall importance for the whole text. First is grasping (ch'u^w, Skt. upadana).¹⁴ With grasping and rejecting suchness cannot appear. The same goes for the duality of "following conditions"^x and "dwelling in emptiness"^y. Conditions (yüan^z, Skt. pratyaya), or conditioning factors, are mental activity and external objects. Not to dwell in emptiness means that practice of meditation can become one‑sided if attachment is developed for emptiness, peace and purity of meditative absorption. This is a recurrent warning, in all schools of Ch'an. That is why our text puts an accent on oneness (i‑chung^aa), which is also the main subject in stanzas 6 and 7. [^w 取 ^x 有縁 ^y 住空忍 ^z 縁 ^aa 一種]

Stanzas 5 and 7 (in contrast to stanzas 9 and 14) speak about emptiness (k'ung^ab) in practice of meditation, which can become a pitfall. In stanzas 9 and 14 emptiness is considered from the prajna‑perspective, as an essential trait of the world and connecting principle of all opposites, all dualities. On the other hand, one should not dwell and abide in emptiness during meditation (stanza 5). "When working on Zen, the worst thing is to become attached to quietness, because this will unknowingly cause you to be engrossed in dead stillness. Then you will develop an inordinate fondness for quietness and at the same time an aversion for activity of any kind''.¹⁵ Stanza 6 accentuates the overcoming of duality between rest and motion which is a subtle obstacle. "If one abandons deconcentration in order to seek concentration, what he will attain is the deconcentration but not concentration. If one turns back on impurity in order to get purity, he will get impurity but not purity".¹⁶ It is interesting to note the fourth line of stanza 7, which expresses that emptiness (in prajna‑sense) is definitely out of reach from the dhyana‑perspective. This has to do with the dynamics of meditation. If one seeks emptiness trying to reach rest, he always seems one step behind, until he realizes that emptiness is the common and connecting principle of rest and motion, being and nothingness. [^ab 空]

In Hsin‑hsin Ming there is no explicit mentioning of meditation. However, sections II and III can be considered as "meditation sections". They contain admonitions on correct meditation practice, its possible mistakes and pitfalls. Stanzas 8 and 10 speak of stopping the internal monologue and the related thinking. Returning to the root and turning inward are related with such stoppage – otherwise they would just be an introversion.

III

The first two lines of stanza 10 introduce two important technical characters: chen^ac (which also appears in stanza 18), meaning true, real, and chien^ad, meaning view (Skt. drsti). The course toward awakening is not related with a mind in search of new truths. Such a search only multiplies (dual) views, leading to a road without end. That is why the admonition "abstain from views" is given as one of the main principles of the meditative via negativa. [^ac 眞 ^ad 見]

Stanzas 11‑14 return to the themes of oneness and duality. The first line of stanza 12 focuses oneness of mind, or one‑mind (i‑hsin^ae, Skt. eka‑citta). We find that eka‑citta is mentioned back at the time of Asanga, who speaks about it in the context of the fifth perfection (dhyana‑paramita) of the paramita‑yana.¹⁷ [^ae 一心]

One Mind is also mentioned in the Surangama as a doctrine which enables one to overcome dualities, understand senses as a part of bodhi, and attain imperturbability (acala).¹⁸In Chinese Buddhism the one‑mind concept is exposed by Hui‑ssu^af (sixth century) in "The Method of Concentration and Insight", which belongs to the T'ien‑t'ai^ag school: "...All dharmas are but one mind. Therefore there is no differentiation in itself, for differentiation is the one mind. As the mind involves all functions, the one mind is differentiation. They are always the same and always different".¹⁹ [^af 慧思 ^ag 天台]

The one mind doctrine was especially elaborated in the Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana.²⁰ Here, one mind appears as suchness (tathata), in its pure form, and as samsara when it falls under conditions. Fa‑tsang^ah has written a commentary on the Awakening of Faith. For him, one mind is the unchanging, undifferentiated, non‑dual basis of all experience: deluded and awakened. [^ah 法藏]

In Hsin‑hsin Ming one mind is considered in a meditative context (rather than as a metaphysical concept). It is a state of mind free of duality.

In the second line²¹ in stanza 17 we encounter the character t'i^ai (essence, substance) which is usually paired with yung^aj (function, application). It is an important concept in Buddhism, and other schools of Chinese philosophy. The character yung appears also in our text (in Stanzas 18 and 21), but the context suggests a colloquial rendering: "to use". Peculiar for our text is that (in stanza 12) it focuses blame (chin^ak) as a factor that binds mind to things and arising (cheng^al). This relatedness of the subject and object is underlined in verse 13. [^ai 體 ^aj 用 ^ak 咎 ^al 正]

In order to avoid duality, Hsin‑hsin Ming once more (in stanza 14) focuses emptiness as origin of both. Now comes the second stage of cultivating the mind: it consists in applying (yung) which is now changed through this "meeting" with t'i. This means that yung itself would be different after its "meeting" with t'i (the "meeting" is expressed by the "one‑mind"). That is, yung is changed when mind understands its relation with things (fa^am – Skt. dharma) – how is it influenced by things, and how it influences things. Then the mind is free from things, as well as from its previous yung (function, application); it now functions in the world, but is not influenced and affected by the world. The new functioning in the world is exposed in part IV (stanzas 15‑18) of the Hsin‑hsin Ming; there we find what is, and what is not peculiar to such free functioning. [^am 法]

In the third line of stanza 17 we encounter a Taoist maxim of according with tao, but we should give it a Buddhist reading: accord your nature with the way (tao), i.e. accord with the Buddhist path (Skt. marga).

The fifth part opens introducing the One‑vehicle (i‑ch'eng^an, Skt. eka‑yana).²² [^an 一乘]

In China we encounter the subject of One vehicle (i‑ch'eng) in the Hua‑yen^ao school. As in other teachings in that school, it calls upon the authority of the Avatamsaka Sutra. However, here we have an interpretation differing from Mahayana. In Fa‑tsang's Treatise on the Golden Lion we find an exposition of various schools and Buddhist doctrines in a five‑level gradation. The Hinayana doctrine includes all Theravada schools, the initial doctrine of Mahayana includes Madhyamaka and Yogacara, the final doctrine of Mahayana is given by the T'ien‑t'ai^ap school, the Mahayana doctrine of sudden awakening is given by Ch'an, and the Yuan (rounded, complete, all‑inclusive) doctrine (yuan chiao^aq) of the One vehicle is given by the Hua‑yen school. What is this all‑inclusive teaching of the One vehicle? "When the feelings have been eliminated and true substance (t'i^ar) revealed, all becomes an undifferentiated mass. Great functions (yung^as) arise in abundance, and whatever it does is real (or absolute, chen^at). The myriad manifestations, despite their variety, interfuse without disarray. The all is the one, for both are similar, being empty in nature. And the one is the all for cause and effect clearly take course. In their power and functions each implies the other. They spread out and roll up freely. This is called the all‑inclusive doctrine of the One vehicle" (compare slight variations in translations of this passage—because of its importance it was quoted by various authors).²³ [^ao 華嚴 ^ap 天台 ^aq 圓教 ^ar 體 ^as 用 ^at 眞]

Now, how does this Hua‑yen understanding of the One vehicle stand in relation to Hsin‑hsin Ming?

We find this "one is all, all is one"^au principle, and the Hua‑yen teaching of mutual penetration and identity, in stanzas 33, 34, and 35. Therefore, the One vehicle in Hsin‑hsin Ming is open toward six sense‑objects (lu chan^av, Skt. sad guna), six qualities (or "six dusts"), that appear in the conjunction of objects and sense organs, including reason. Perhaps, it is the "dust" which was supposed to be wiped from the "bright mirror of the mind" in the verse by Shen‑hsiu^aw (composed in competition for the successor of the fifth patriarch of the Ch'an school), while Hui‑neng^ax said that Buddha‑nature is forever pure and cannot be defiled by "dust". [^au 一即一切、一切即一 ^av 六塵 ^aw 神秀 ^ax 慧能]

The integrative, monistic standpoint—similar to Hua‑yen—is obvious from the third and fourth lines of stanza 19. This is where the One vehicle and the one mind doctrine meet, because one mind has two aspects: one is suchness (seen in perfect awakeness), the other is origination and cessation with six sense‑objects.

Stanza 21 speaks of possible mistakes related with meditative practice. One can find similar instructions in earlier texts, as in the Surangama Sutra. Surangama and Hsin‑hsin Ming are cautious and give warnings against the possible misuse of meditative process. With the first two lines of stanza 21 compare two lines from Surangama:

If mind be set on searching for the mind, that which

At heart is not illusion, becomes illusory.²⁴

This subtle obstacle was a matter of special attention in Buddhism, especially Ch'an. For example, a text with a similar title (Hsin Ming), attributed to Fa-jung^ay,²⁵ besides other points in common with the Hsin‑hsin Ming, has an admonition similar to stanza 21. [^ay 法融、心銘]

If you wish to attain purity of mind,

then make effort (in the context of) no‑mind (...)

To maintain tranquillity with the mind is

still not to transcend the illness (of ignorance)".²⁶

It is worth mentioning that in Hsin‑hsin Ming we do not find one of the common technical terms of Ch'an—especially of the Southern school—namely, wu‑hsin^az (no-mind). The author of our text had much more affinity for one‑mind (i-hsin^ba), and wu‑wei^bb (non‑action – in stanza 20), which is part of the Taoist legacy ("no mind", which is found in stanza 12, is actually pu‑hsin^bc). With respect to the Taoist legacy we should say that besides the general influence felt in part I of the poem, it is also present in using the typical Taoist term: non‑action (wu‑wei^bb). We also find tzu‑jan^bd (spontaneity) in stanza 17 (which has a completely Taoist meaning), and in stanza 25. This is in line with the Ch'an principle, developed under the Taoist influence – to stress spontaneity, at the expense of rules, or discipline. [^az 無心 ^ba 一心 ^bb 無爲 ^bc 不心 ^bd 自然]

In Hsin‑hsin Ming we cannot find any trace of the debate between the concepts of gradual and sudden awakening. We know that the concept of sudden awakening was already present in Indian Buddhism – "one-moment" (eka-kshana) awakening. However it seems that this concept was not concurrent, or opposed, to the idea of gradualness in Indian Buddhism.²⁷ In China the debate lasted several centuries – from the beginning of the fifth, until the end of the eighth century, with certain lapses. It started before Ch'an was recognized as a separate school but was most fervently pursued in Ch'an, especially after the division between the Northern and the Southern schools.

The first person in Ch'an who confronted sudden with gradual awakening, was Tao‑sheng^be (ca. 360‑434).²⁸ This aroused the opposition of Hui‑kuan^bf, who, like Tao‑sheng, was also a disciple of Kumarajiva. The debate continued through the fifth century. We will skip over the fine arguments of this debate and pay attention to only one remark, relevant for our inquiry. That is the difference between faith and understanding, in terms of "gradual" and "sudden". One of the arguments in favor of the doctrine of sudden awakening was as follows: "Enlightenment (ming^bg) is not to be gradually reached, whereas faith (hsin^bh) arises (gradually) from instruction. What do I mean by this? Faith arises and is strengthened in daily progress, but enlightenment is not gradual" (The Discussion of Essentials).²⁹ [^be 道生 ^bf 慧觀 ^bg 明 ^bh 信]

The fundamental and obvious argument in favor of suddenness is that the awakening is one: non‑dual and non‑divisible. This would mean that faith‑in‑mind (hsin‑hsin^bi), appearing in stanza 36 as non‑dual, is not the same as divisible (and gradual) faith mentioned in this debate (the character hsin is the same). Hsin‑hsin Ming mentions neither sudden awakening (tun‑wu^bj), nor gradual awakening (chien‑wu^bk), which were already in use at the time of Tao‑sheng (i.e. three centuries before the supposed time of Hsin‑hsin Ming). Its author deemed as unnecessary to specify (in terms of gradual or sudden) complete awakenness (cheng‑chüeh^bl), and awakening (wu^bm). [^bi 信心 ^bj 頓悟 ^bk 漸悟 ^bl 正覺 ^bm 悟]

The sixth century was an intermezzo. In the seventh century the debate between the doctrines of gradual and sudden awakening burst with new strength in an encounter between Shen‑hsiu^bn and Hui‑neng^bo, and in the division of Ch'an (into Northern and Southern sects). [^bn 神秀 ^bo 慧能]

By the end of the eighth century, in 794 A.D., there was also a recorded debate on the international level (held in Tibet), between Kamalasila from India, who was representing the orthodox gradual doctrine, and the exponents of Ch'an from China, who argued in favor of the doctrine of sudden enlightenment.³⁰

It should be noted that in Hsin‑hsin Ming we find altogether two terms related with awakening – cheng-chüeh^bp (stanza 19) and wu^bq (stanza 21). In Chinese Buddhism ming^br (enlightenment) was used at least from the time of Tao‑sheng (c. 400 A.D.), as a synonym for wu. This means that during the Indian history of Buddhism the basic term was "awakening" (Skt. bodhi), and that Chinese Buddhism introduced the term "enlightenment" (ming^br)³¹ into Buddhism (one should not be confused with the fact that, for separate reasons, in western writings the term "enlightenment" was used more often – it is more popular – then "awakening"). We also encounter this character (ming^br) in Hsin‑hsin Ming, although not in a noun‑sense (enlightenment). In stanza 1 (fourth line) it is used as a verb (enlighten), and in stanza 29 as an attribute (enlightened) – "ming"^bs appearing in the tittle of the text is a different character, which means "inscription." [^bp 正覺 ^bq 悟 ^br 明 ^bs 銘]

Chüeh^bt means "to awaken," "completely understand", or "awakenness" as a permanent accomplishment, while wu^bu means "awakening". It is obvious that these two were used as technical terms – cheng‑chüeh^bv meaning "perfect awakenness" (Skt. sambodhi), and wu, meaning "awakening" (bodhi). Concerning these matters, Garma C.C. Chang remarks that wu "as shown in the Zen tradition, to denote the inner experience of the awakening to the prajna‑truth (the truth realized through transcendental wisdom), is not the same as that of cheng‑teng‑chüeh^bw (Skt. samyaksambodhi), which is the final and perfect Enlightenment of Buddhahood. Ch'an Buddhists seldom talk of cheng‑chüeh (sambodhi), or speak of their Ch'an experience as chüeh (bodhi). Although chüeh and wu are very close, a difference still exists between them. Wu refers more to the awakening experience in its immediate sense, while chüeh denotes permanent and complete Enlightenment (...). However, these experiences are different only in degree of profundity, not in essence, or in basic principle".³² [^bt 覺 ^bu 悟 ^bv 正覺 ^bw 正等覺]

It is also worth noting that in Hsuan‑tsang's^bx doctrine of Mere Ideation (seventh century), in Fa‑tsang's Hua‑yen, and in T'ien‑t'ai we find chüeh rather than wu.³³ [^bx 玄奘]

In stanza 24 we encounter two important terms—one suchness (i‑ju^by) and conditions (yüan^bz). We have already mentioned the second term, which is also found in stanza 5 with the same meaning (Skt. pratyaya; Pali, paccaya — root‑conditions: greed, hate, delusion, etc.). Concerning suchness, we find altogether three variations of this term in Hsin‑hsin Ming. In stanza 4 we find "suchness" (ju^ca), in stanza 24 "one suchness", and in stanza 30 "real suchness" (chen‑ju^cb – Skt. bhutatathata). The first and the third are well known in Mahayana tradition, but the second seems to be an innovation of the author of Hsin‑hsin Ming. [^by 一如 ^bz 縁 ^ca 如 ^cb 眞如]

VII

Stanzas 28‑29 can be compared with Seng‑chao: "Sage harbors (no desires, his mind is like an) empty hole: there are no perceptions nor thoughts. Indeed, though living in the midst of our ever‑changing world, he remains completely detached..."³⁴

In the first line of stanza 30 we find two technical terms: real suchness (chen‑ju^cc), and thing‑realm, or totality of dharmas, fa chieh^cd (Skt. dharma-dhatu). These concepts have been used in Mahayana, and also in the Mind‑only school, T'ien‑t'ai, and Hua‑yen. In Ch'eng Wei‑shih Lun Hsuan‑tsang gives the following definitions. "Chen^ce means genuine and real. It indicates that it is not baseless and false. Ju^cf means constantly thus. The meaning is that this genuine reality remains, under all conditions, constantly thus in its nature".³⁵ [^cc 眞如 ^cd 法界 ^ce 眞 ^cf 如]

The T'ien‑t'ai school gives a slightly different meaning: "Further as to chen‑ju: it is that of all things which, being genuinely and really thus, consists of the single mind only. This single mind is therefore called chen‑ju (genuinely thus). Anything external to it is neither genuine nor thus,: but consists only of false and: diverse appearances".³⁶ [^cg 眞如]

In stanza 30 and the first two lines of stanza 31, we find the relation between real suchness (chen‑ju^ch), non‑duality (pu‑erh^ci), equality (t'ung^cj),³⁷ and totality (nothing is left out) of the thing (dharma^ck) realm (fa chieh^cl). The connecting experience between the "meditative" (dhyana) and "wisdom" (prajna) aspects is the negation of the difference between "other" (t'a^cm) and "self" (tzu^cn). In meditation this is the experience of non‑obstruction between ego and non‑ego, when "all is free of marks" – and therefore, "not-different" (in a Buddhist context it would not be consistent to say that the ego has become all‑inclusive with the falling off of the ego boundaries, because ego is also without marks). In the "wisdom" sense this means that in real suchness it is not possible to make any distinction – therefore, the realm of things (fa chieh^cl), where nothing is left out, is experienced as non‑distinctive totality, or oneness. This can remind someone of postmodern debate on "difference", and "other", but this is a different context, and should not be meddled with postmodern debate. [^ch 眞如 ^ci 不二 ^cj 同 ^ck 法 ^cl 法界 ^cm 他 ^cn 自]

Stanza 32 expands (makes explicit) this experience with interpenetration (and transcendence) of time (urgent, moment, eon) and space dimensions (extensive, here, there, nowhere, everywhere). This has also been explained by Fa‑tsang in Hua‑yen Yi‑hai Pai‑men^co: "Since a single moment has no substance of its own it becomes interchangeable with the great eons. Because the great eons have no substance they also embrace the single moment".³⁸ [^co 華嚴經義海百門]

Non‑duality (pu‑erh^cp) deserves separate comment. We find it in several stanzas (30, 31 and 36). It is also related to oneness (i‑chung^cq—one kind), in stanzas 5, 6 and 7. Non‑duality (Skt. advaya, advaita) was the favorite principle in many schools of Indian philosophy, including Buddhism. In Buddhism this has been exposed in various texts, mostly of Mahayanic origin. [^cp 不二 ^cq 一種]

In Ashtasahasrika-prajnaparamita (Ch. XVI) it is said that the "suchness of the Tathagata and of all dharmas is one suchness, non‑dual (advaya), not divided (advaidhikara)".

In Abhisamayalamkara (Ch. VII) we find the: "momentary intuition of non‑duality". The commentary says: "This form of momentary intuition represents the state when the bodhisattva, having during a long period of time made it his habit to negate the double aspect of the elements (as subjective and objective), has this double representation completely removed".³⁹

In Gandavyuha, when Sudhana reaches Maitreya, he is introduced to a dwelling place of those who delight in emptiness and in experiencing: the interpenetration of all the ages of the universe; the entrance (anupravesa) of one into all, and all into one; the non‑obstruction (anavarana) of all phenomena; the non‑duality (advaya) of all Buddhas.

At the climax of Vimalikirtinirdesa Sutra, thirty‑two bodhisattvas explain in words the principle of non‑duality, each one setting forth the solution of a pair of opposites ("coming" and "going", purity and impurity, samsara and nirvana). Finally, Manjusri states that non‑duality can be entered only by abstaining from words and thoughts, and the same advice is given in Hsin-hsin Ming, in stanza 8.

VIII

Stanza 33 extends the principle of non‑duality to large and small. On this subject Fa‑tsang says in Hua‑yen Huan‑yüan Kuan: "When we see, for example, the height and width of a mountain, it is mind that manifests this largeness; there is no largeness apart (from mind). Or when we see the utter tinynes of a particle of matter (guna), here again it is mind that manifests this tinyness..." ⁴⁰

With regards to influences between Hua‑yen and Ch'an, Suzuki has long ago remarked: "While scholars of the Avatamsaka school (Hua‑yen, D.P.) were making use of the intuitions of Zen in their own way, the Zen masters were drawn towards the philosophy of Identity and Interpenetration, advocated by the Avatamsaka, and attempted to incorporate it into their own discourses. (...) The influence of Avatamsaka philosophy on Zen masters grew more and more pronounced as time went on, and reached its climax in the tenth century after the passing of Tsung‑mi^cr, the fifth patriarch of the Avatamsaka school in China".⁴¹ [^cr 宗密]

In Hsin‑hsin Ming we can also find traces of this syncretism, especially in the last seven stanzas. The relationship between Hua‑yen and Ch'an has been sensed by contemporary authors like Gimello, who remarks: "One frequently encounters in Hua‑yen thought difficult issues which might better be understood if only one knew their true relationship to meditative cultivation".⁴² The same remark stands for many stanzas in the Hsin‑hsin Ming. In our opinion, the following stanzas are especially related to meditative cultivation: 6, 8, 10, 12; 13, 19, 21, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 33, 35.

In Ta‑ch'eng Chih‑kuan Fa‑men^cs of the T'ien‑t'ai school we can find similar ideas on large and small as in stanza 33. "The mind, being single, has neither largeness nor smallness. The hair‑pore and the city both embody the single total mind as their substance. From this we should realize that the hair‑pore and the city are integrated in substance and everywhere the same. For this reason the small admits of the large; thus there is nothing large that is not small. The large integrates the small: thus there is nothing small that is not large. Because there is nothing small that is not large, the large may enter the small, yet is not diminished. Because there is nothing large that is not small, the small may contain the large, yet is not increased".⁴³ [^cs 大乘止觀法門]

However, the idea of relativity of small and large has been introduced to the context of Chinese philosophy some thousand years before, by Chuang‑tzu^ct and Hui‑shih^cu. Chuang‑tzu (in ch. XVII, "Autumn Floods"^cv) observes that "From the point of view of differences, if we regard a thing as big because there is a bigness to it, then among all the ten thousand things there are none that are not big. If we regard a thing as small because there is a certain smallness to it, then among the ten thousand things there are none that are not small".⁴⁴ [^ct 莊子 ^cu 惠施 ^cv 秋水]

The other concept that connects Hsin‑hsin Ming and Chuang‑tzu is equality (t'ung^cw). Chuang‑tzu speaks of equality of things in ch. II: "Whether you point to a little stalk or a great pillar, a leper or the beautiful Hsi‑shih, things ribald and shady, or things grotesque and strange, the Way makes them all into one. Their dividedness is their completeness, their completeness is their impairment. No thing is either complete or impaired, but all are made into one again".⁴⁵ And then he adds: "There is nothing in the world bigger than the tip of an autumn hair, and Mount T'ai is tiny. No one has lived longer than a dead child, and P'eng‑tsu died young".⁴⁶ [^cw 同]

Nevertheless, we should note the difference between Chuang‑tzu and Hsin‑hsin Ming. For Chuang‑tzu everything is equal, because: (a) tao is the equalizer of everything, and (b) everything is appropriate in relation to its kind, environment and context. In Hsin‑hsin Ming everything is equal because of emptiness and suchness.

In stanzas 34 and 35 Hsin‑hsin Ming exposes the interpenetration of being (yu^cx) and non‑being (wu^cy),⁴⁷ of one (i^cx) and all (i‑chien^cz). [^cx 一 ^cy 有 ^cz 無 ^da 一切]

With stanza 36 the discourse is brought to the end, because the subject is pronounced as beyond time (past, present, or future 去來今).

Notes

1. Leng‑chia Shih-tzu Chi^db is one of the Tun Huang^dc manuscripts (Pelliot 3436, and Stein 2054). It was discovered in 1926, and later included in Taisho, 85. 1283-1290. Seizan Yanagida has published a critically edited version with a Japanese translation in Shoki no Zenshi I, Zen no Goroku, 2 (Tokyo, 1971) pp. 49‑326. [^db 楞伽師資記 ^dc 敦煌]

2. H. Ui, Zenshushi Kenkyu, I (Tokyo, 1939), p. 71.

3. Keiji Nishitani and Seizan Yanagida, Zenke Goroku, II (Tokyo: Chikuma Shobo, 1974), pp. 105‑112.

4. David W. Chappell, "The Teachings of the Fourth Ch'an Patriarch Tao-hsin (580‑651)", in Early Ch'an in China and Tibet ed. by W. Lai and L.R Lancaster (Berkeley: Berkeley Buddhist Studies Series, 1983), p. 89.

5. Heinrich Dumoulin, A History of Zen Buddhism (London: Faber and Faber, 1963). p. 76.

6. Wing‑tsit Chan, A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1972), p. XI.

7. William W. Soothill and Lewis Hodous, A Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms (Delhi: M. Banarsidass, 1977). First edition: London, 1937.

8. To our knowledge, there already exist five translations of the Hsin‑hsin Ming in English. The first translator, D.T. Suzuki, has published two versions of his translation—one in D.T. Suzuki, Essays in Zen Buddhism, First series (London: Rider, 1970), pp. 196‑201, and the other in Buddhist Scriptures, trans. and ed. by Edward Conze (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1969), pp. 171‑175. His first translation was published in 1949. The second translation was done by A. Waley, in Buddhist Texts Through the Ages (Oxford: Bruno Cassirer, 1954), pp. 295‑8. The third is by R. H. Blyth, Zen and Zen Classics, Vol. I, (Tokyo: The Hokuseido Press, 1960), pp. 5~99. The fourth is by Lu K'uan Yu, Practical Buddhism (London: Rider, 1971), pp. 34‑8. The fifth, anonymous translation, can be found in a manual, Daily Chants (Rochester: Zen Center, 1985).

At first it seemed that we could use one of these as the basis for a new analysis of the poem, but after closer scrutiny it was obvious that none of the existing translations were adequate for the purpose. The fifth translation is a rather free rendering made for immediate purposes in a Zen Center. Of the other four, some are inconsistent in translating Buddhist technical terms (translations by Blyth and Yu, while Suzuki's translation occasionally introduces terms which seem to be part of a technical vocabulary (Absolute Reason), but actually belong to Hegelian philosophy, rather than Chinese Buddhism. Waley's translation is faithful except in technical terms. Perhaps he lacked the knowledge of Buddhist tradition and therefore translated technical terms as quasi‑technical (in stanza 19, True Perception, instead of perfect awakeness; in stanza 21, Wisdom instead of awakening).

9. Buddhist Scriptures, pp. 171‑5.

10. Essays in Zen Buddhism, r, p. 197.

11. K N. Jayatilleke, Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge (London: Allen and Unwin, 1963), p. 389.

12. Zen Dawn, Early Texts from Tun Huang; trans. by J.C. Cleary (Boston and London: Shambhala, 1986), p. 81.

13. Blyth, Zen, 1, p. 53.

14. Ch'u^dd is a technical term for grasping, clinging or attachment; which is understood as a more intensive form of thirst, or craving (Skt. tanha). [^dd 取]

15. Po Shan, in Garma C.C. Chang, The Practice of Zen (New York: Harper and Row, 1970), p. 95.

16. Jan Yun‑hua, "Seng‑ch'ou Method of Dhyana", in Early Ch'an in China and Tibet, Lai and Lancaster, eds. p.57.

17. D.T. Suzuki, Outlines of Mahayana Buddhism (New York: Schoken, 1970), p. 70.

18. The Surangama Sutra, trans. by Lu K'uan Yu (London: Rider, 1969), p. 54 and 125.

19. Chan, A Source Book, p. 403.

20. Ta‑ch'eng ch'i‑hsin, Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana, trans. by D.T. Suzuki, "Chicago: Open Court, 1900).

21. In the second line of stanza 17 we also find the character chu, which is a technical term for stages (Skt. bhumi) on the bodhisattva path. If we read it in this sense it would mean that the essence is not related to stages, and that is in accordance with the concept of awakening which refutes stages. However, since Hsin‑hsin Ming gives no special attention to sudden awakening, we have chosen a colloquial reading to abide, dwell. Blyth (Zen p. 79) has misunderstood the second line of stanza 17, translating t'i as activity.

22. One vehicle has an interesting history in Indian Mahayana, which has been lately exposed by D.S. Ruegg in "The gotra, ekayana and tathagatagarbha theories of the Prajnaparamita according to Dharmamitra and Abhyakaragupta", and A. Kunst in "Some Aspects of the Ekayana" – both papers published in Prajnaparamita and Related Systems, ed. by L. Lancaster (Berkeley Buddhist Studies Series), 1977.

In various Mahayana texts the subject of One vehicle is interpreted differently. In Sri‑Mala (The Lion's Roar of Queen Srimala), trans. by Wayman, A. and H., (New York: Columbia University Press, 1974), and the Lotus Sutra, Ekayana is identified with Mahayana as a vehicle (yana) that incorporates all vehicles. It also takes tathagatagarbha as an explanation for the thesis of One vehicle: an embryo of the Tathagata is present in every sentient being, and (potentially) they are all Buddhas, which means that tathagatagarbha is the basis of only one vehicle—the vehicle of the tathagatas. Finally, samyaksambodhi is one, not various, or different, in relation to various vehicles – yana-s.

The gist of the interpretation in various sutras or their commentaries is that the three yanas, pertaining to sravakas, pratyekabuddhas and bodhisattvas is fundamentally Eka‑yana pertaining to Buddhahood. The basis for this is that all‑aspiring Buddhists are of one gotra (lineage), and all have tathagatagarbha (embryo of tathagatha). "No system postulating (different) vehicles indeed exists (in a certain meaning): I teach that the vehicle is one (ultimately). [But] in order to attract the childish I speak of different vehicles" (Lankavatara Sutra, cf. Ruegg, in Lancaster, Prajnaparamita, p. 295).

One vehicle doctrine in the context of Japanese Buddhist thought was reviewed by M. Kiyota, "The presupposition to the understanding of Japanese Buddhist thought", Monumenta Nipponica vol. X~11, no. 34 pp. 251‑9, 1967.

23. Fung Yu‑Lan, A History of Chinese Philosophy, 11 (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1983), p. 347; Chan, A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, p. 410; Chang, The Practice of Zen, p. 227.

24. Surangama, p. 117.

25. For John R McRae, Hsin Ming is falsely attributed to Fa-jung. See his article, "The Ox‑head School of Chinese Ch'an Buddhism", eds., R. N. Gimello and P.N. Gregory, Studies in Ch'an and Hua‑yen (Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1986), p. 208. On the other hand, Henrik H. Sorensen, commenting on the authorship and contents of the Hsin Ming, says: "All in all, we must conclude that there are a number of important points such as style, and contents which clearly allow us to associate the text with Fa-jung and the Niu‑t'ou School... Interestingly, the 'Hsin‑hsin Ming'... has many points in common with the 'Hsin‑ming', both as regards contents and style", H.H. Sorensen, "The 'Hsin‑ming' attributed to Niu‑t'ou Fa-jung", Journal of Chinese Philosophy, 13: 105 (1986).

26. Sorensen, "The 'Hsin‑ming' attributed to Niu‑t'ou Fa-jung", p. 106.

27. We know that Indian Buddhism has elaborated a broad spectrum of ideas on these matters. We find altogether some six Sanskrit terms related to this subject.

(a) Bodhi‑citta designates the cognition of the necessity to step on the path (marga) and the decision/will to tread it. It is the power needed to tread the path, whether it is defined in terms of an arhat or a bodhisattva. However, these are supposed to differ—the first one is bent on attaining an awakening for himself, while the other is supposed to attain it in order to lead others to the path, and awakening.

(b) Bodhi is awakening. It means the full understanding (what was previously an aspiration) of the Buddhist truths (whether in Theravada, Mahayana or Tantrayana tradition), inner transformation of cognitive, emotional and volitional faculties, and a transition to unconditioned (not bound by karma) existence. It is sometimes described as "reaching the other shore", or "turning about in the deepest seat of consciousness", or "breaking through" the bondage of ignorance and karma. Bodhi is derived from the root budh, which means to awake; therefore it is correct to translate it as awakening, and less correct as enlightenment. However, light is related with awakening in some sutras and tantras, principally in two forms. First is the light of the all‑powerful! Buddha, which enlightens and awakes sentient beings. Second is the individual, inner light of the mind. Under delusion it appears as false thinking, but after awakening it turns into the true light, radiant wisdom.

(d) Samyak‑sambodhi is "right complete awakening".

(e) Anuttara‑samyak‑sambodhi is "ultimate right complete awakening".

However, these terms were not used consistently. For example, (b) and (c) were sometimes used as synonyms, as well as (d) and (e). Perhaps we can better understand this from the point of actual practice of meditation. There existed a practical need for terms which would designate experiences of various quality. Besides, it was supposed that the awakening of a Buddha is somewhat different in relation to the awakening of aspirants (Arahants, Bodhisattvas). For example, samyak‑sambodhi (Pali, samma‑sambodhi) was in Theravada a designation for the awakening of a Buddha; later it was anuttara‑samyak‑sambodhi. In Mahayana there was a tendency to use different terms for awakening of a Sravaka, Pratyekabuddha, Bodhisattva and Buddha, in order to underline the supposed difference in kind and quality.

However, divisions of the path, meditation, insight and of awakening, provoked a reaction, which derived its reasons partly from theory, and partly from practice. From the theoretical standpoint it was considered that awakening – after all – must be "in one piece", apart from the preceding "not yet complete" forms; otherwise, it would fall under ordinary undertakings, which are conditioned, relative, and a matter of accumulation. From the practical point it seemed that the practicing Buddhist is lost in a complex maze of an endless accumulation of merits, insights, wisdoms, samadhis and awakenings. One could expect a reaction to this in order to put things back in pristine simplicity and proclaim that there is, after all, an only One vehicle (Eka‑yana), one germ of the thus‑come (tathagata‑garbha), one nirvana, and one awakening, which is spontaneous, instant and sudden. As Lankavatara puts it: "It is reached suddenly and intuitively as the 'turning about' in the deepest seat of consciousness; it neither enters, nor goes out—it is like moon seen in water".

Thus, sudden awakening, that caused so much turbulence in Ch'an, was already at stake in Indian Buddhism (see: L.O. Gomez, "Indian Materials on the Doctrine of Sudden Enlightenment," in Lai and Lancaster, Early Ch'an in China and Tibet). The Sanskrit term, introduced in Abhisamayalamkara, was eka‑ksana‑abhisambodha – "complete‑awakening‑in‑one‑moment", a final removal of even the subtlest defilement and ignorance, attained in a thunderbolt‑like (vajropama) samadhi (E. Obermiller, "The Doctrine of Prajnaparamita as Exposed in the Abhisamayalamkara of Maitreya", Acta Orientalia, XI, 1933, p. 44). This momentary intuition is said to be the end of the bodhisattva path. It is an intuition of ultimate non‑duality (advaya). It is supposed to be the end of a progressive (gradual) process of intuition (anupurva‑abhisamaya). In such a context "gradualness" and "suddenness" were not concurrent, but compatible parts of the same (and one) process. The final realization is a matter of moment, but this moment and suddenness have to be prepared through a gradual building up. This can be seen even in Ch'an of the Southern school. Sometimes, decades of training were necessary for "sudden attainment", and integrating t'i (essence) with yung (function) – which followed "sudden attainment" in everyday life and experience – was (for the most part) a gradual process.

28. That is one of the reasons for Fung Yu‑Lan to say: "Ideologically speaking, the origin of the Ch'an school goes back to Tao‑sheng" – A History of Chinese Philosophy, II, 388.

29. Compare the translation of this passage from Pieh Tsung Lun in Walter Liebenthal, The Book of Chao – Peking: The Catholic University 1948 p. 187; also, Fung Yu‑Lan, A History of Chinese Philosophy, II, p. 278.

30. L.O. Gomez, "Indian Materials on the Doctrine of Sudden Enlightenment", pp. 393-405.

31. This character (ming) has a long history in Chinese philosophy. It was introduced back at the time of Lao tzu: "All things, howsoever they flourish, return to their root. This return to the root is called quiescence, which is called the invariable. To know this invariable is called enlightenment (ming)" – Tao Te Ching, XVI.

32. Chang, The Practice of Zen, p. 162‑3.

33. See Fung Yu‑Lan, A History of Chinese Philosophy, II, pp. 337, 356 and 381. In time, Chinese Buddhism developed the whole specter of technical equivalents for Sanskrit terms (either in meaning, or as transliterations). For example, for bodhi, beside wu, and chüeh, we find a transliteration p'u-t'i^de. For sambodhi, beside cheng‑chüeh, we find a transliteration san-p'u-t'i^df. For samyak‑sambodhi we find teng cheng‑chüeh^dg, and for anuttara‑samyak‑sambodhi, there is cheng-teng cheng‑chüeh^dh. [^de 菩提 ^df 三菩提 ^dg 等正覺 ^dh 正等正覺]

34. The Book of Chao, p. 109.

35. Fung yu‑Lan, A History of Chinese Philosophy, II, p. 331.

36. Ibid. p. 361.

37. Equality, or sameness (t'ung – Skt. samata), of all things is one of the favorite subjects in Hsin‑hsin Ming. Some authors observed that equality of things was attained in Indian Buddhism primarily by reducing all things to the common level of insignificance, and in Hua‑yen by raising all things to the common level of supreme value. We cannot say that Hsin‑hsin Ming applies either of these standpoints. In stanza 14 we see that dualities are equal on the basis of emptiness, which is their common "ground". In stanzas 30-31 equality is based on suchness and non‑duality. In stanza 33 equality appears when boundaries and limits are seen as conventions. Thus, equality is here neither equality in insignificance, nor in value.

38. Garma C.C. Chang, The Buddhist Teaching of Totality (London: Allen and Unwin, 1972), p. 160.

39. Obermiller, "The Doctrine of Prajnaparamita as Exposed in the Abhisamayalamkara of Maitreya", p. 83.

40. Fung Yu‑Lan, A History of Chinese Philosophy, II, p. 348.

41. Suzuki, Essays in Zen Buddhism, Third Series, pp. 19‑20.

42. R. M. Gimmello, "Early Hua‑yen, Meditation, and Early Ch'an: Some Preliminary Remarks", Early Ch'an in China and Tibet, p. 155.

43. Fung Yu‑Lan, A History of Chinese Philosophy, II, p. 372.

44. The Complete Works of Chuang Tzu, trans. by Burton Watson (New York: Columbia University Press, 1968).

45. Ibid. pp. 40‑1.

46. Ibid. p. 43

47. Compare Hsin Ming^di: "If one puts an end to the two extremes (of being and not being), then one will be both bright and clear"^dj (Sorensen, "The 'Hsin‑ming'...", p. 107). [^di 心銘 ^dj 雙泯對治湛然明淨]

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Two Mainstream Translations of the Hsin-hsin Ming

Two popular translations of the Hsin-hsin Ming are presented here. D.T. Suzuki has two translations published in his Essays in Zen Buddhism and Manual of Zen Buddhism, respectively. The translations are presented side by side; only the variant lines of the second translation are given, the identical lines are omitted. The other translation is that of Richard B. Clarke.

On Believing in MindI

Except that it refuses to make preferences;I

If you wish to see it before your own eyes,I

Have no fixed thoughts either for or against it.I

Peace of mind is disturbed to no purpose.I

Be serene in the oneness of things,I

And [dualism] vanishes by itself.I

The denying of reality is the asserting of it,I

And the asserting of emptiness is the denying of it.I

Inscribed On the Believing Mind

Translated by Daisetsu Teitarõ Suzuki

至道無難 The Perfect Way knows no difficulties

唯嫌揀擇 Except that it refuses to make preference:

但莫憎愛 Only when freed from hate and love,

洞然明白 It reveals itself fully and without disguise.

毫釐有差 A tenth of an inch's difference,

天地懸隔 And heaven and earth are set apart:

欲得現前 If you want to see it manifest,

莫存順逆 Take no thought either for or against it.

違順相爭 To set up what you like against what you dislike –

是爲心病 This is the disease of the mind:

不識玄旨 When the deep meaning [of the Way] is not understood

徒勞念靜 Peace of mind is disturbed and nothing is gained.

圓同太虚 [The Way is] perfect like unto vast space,

無欠無餘 With nothing wanting, nothing superfluous:

良由取捨 It is indeed due to making choice

所以不如 That its suchness is lost sight of.

莫逐有縁 Pursue not the outer entanglements,

勿住空忍 Dwell not in the inner void;

一種平懷 When the mind rests serene in the oneness of things,

泯然自盡 The dualism vanishes by itself.

止動歸止 When you strive to gain quiescence by stopping motion,

止更彌動 The quiescence thus gained is ever in motion;

唯滯兩邊 As long as you tarry in the dualism,

寧知一種 How can you realize oneness?

一種不通 And when oneness is not thoroughly understood,

兩處失功 In two ways loss is sustained –

遣有沒有 The denial of reality may lead to its absolute negation,

從空背空 While the upholding of the void may result in contradicting itself.

多言多慮 Wordiness and intellection –

轉不相應 The more with them the further astray we go;

絶言絶慮 Away therefore with wordiness and intellection,

無處不通 And there is no place where we cannot pass freely.

歸根得旨 When we return to the root, we gain the meaning;

隨照失宗 When we pursue external objects, we lose the reason.

須臾返照 The moment we are enlightened within,

Abide not with dualism,I

Confusion ensues, and Mind is lost.I

The two exist because of the One,I

But hold not even to this One;I

When a mind is not disturbed,I

No offence offered, and no ten thousand things;I

No disturbance going, and no mind set up to work:I

The subject is quieted when the object ceases,I

The object ceases when the subject is quieted.I

The subject is a subject for the object:I

Rests ultimately on one Emptiness.I

In one Emptiness the two are not distinguished,I

And each contains in itself all the ten thousand thingsI

The Great Way is calm and large-hearted,I

For it, nothing is easy, nothing is hard;I

Clinging is never kept within bounds,I---

Quit it, and things follow their own courses,I

While the Essence neither departs nor abides.I

勝卻前空 We go beyond the voidness of a world confronting us.

前空轉變 Transformations going on in an empty world which confronts us,

皆由妄見 Appear real all because of Ignorance:

不用求眞 Try not to seek after the true,

唯須息見 Only cease to cherish opinions.

二見不住 Tarry not with dualism,

慎莫追尋 Carefully avoid pursuing it;

纔有是非 As soon as you have right and wrong,

紛然失心 Confusion ensues, and mind is lost.

二由一有 The two exist because of the one,

一亦莫守 But hold not even to this one;

一心不生 When the one mind is not disturbed,

萬法無咎 The ten thousand things offer no offence.

無咎無法 When no offence is offered by them, they are as if not existing;

不生不心 When the mind is not disturbed, it is as if there is no mind.

能隨境滅 The subject is quieted as the object ceases,

境逐能沈 The object ceases as the subject is quieted.

境由能境 The object is an object for the subject,

能由境能 The subject is a subject for an object:

欲知兩段 Know that the relativity of the two

元是一空 Rests ultimately on the oneness of the void.

一空同兩 In the oneness of the void the two are one,

齊含萬象 And each of the two contains in itself all the ten thousand things:

不見精麁 When no discrimination is made between this and that,

寧有偏黨 How can a one-sided and prejudiced view arise?

大道體寛 The Great Way is calm and large-minded,

無易無難 Nothing is easy, nothing is hard:

小見狐疑 Small views are irresolute,

轉急轉遲 The more in haste the tardier they go.

執之失度 Clinging never keeps itself within bounds,

必入邪路 It is sure to go the wrong way:

放之自然 Let go loose, and things are as they may be,

體無去住 While the essence neither departs nor abides.

任性合道 Obey the nature of things, and you are in concord with the Way,

逍遙絶惱 Calm and easy and free from annoyance;

繋念乖眞 But when your thoughts are tied, you turn away from the truth,

昏沈不好 They grow heavier and duller and are not at all sound.

When they are not sound, the spirit is troubled;I

You are then one with the Enlightenment;I

Is this not the greatest of all self-contradictions?I

The ignorant cherish the idea of rest and unrest,I

Are contrived by the ignorant themselves.I

If the Mind retains its absoluteness,I

The ten thousand things are of one Suchness.I

When the deep mystery of one Suchness is fathomed,I

We return to the origin and remain where we ever have been.I

Movement stopped and there is no movement,I

Rest set in motion and there is no rest;I

Oneness itself abides not.I

In the Mind harmonious [with the Way] we have the principle ofI

In which we find all strivings quieted;I

不好勞神 When they are not sound, the soul is troubled;

何用疏親 What is the use of being partial and one-sided then?

欲取一乘 If you want to walk the course of the One Vehicle,

勿惡六塵 Be not prejudiced against the six sense-objects.

六塵不惡 When you are not prejudiced against the six sense-objects,

還同正覺 You in turn identify yourself with Enlightenment;

智者無爲 The wise are non-active,

愚人自縛 While the ignorant bind themselves up;

法無異法 While in the Dharma itself there is no individuation,

妄自愛著 They ignorantly attach themselves to particular objects.

將心用心 It is their own mind that creates illusions –

豈非大錯 Is this not the greatest of self-contradictions?

迷生寂亂 Ignorance begets the dualism of rest and unrest,

悟無好惡 The enlightened have no likes and dislikes:

一切二邊 All forms of dualism

妄自斟酌 Are ignorantly contrived by the mind itself.

夢幻虚華 They are like unto visions and flowers in the air:

何勞把捉 Why should we trouble ourselves to take hold of them?

得失是非 Gain and loss, right and wrong –

一時放卻 Away with them once for all!

眼若不睡 If an eye never falls asleep,

諸夢自除 All dreams will by themselves cease:

心若不異 If the mind retains its oneness,

萬法一如 The ten thousand things are of one suchness.

一如體玄 When the deep mystery of one suchness is fathomed,

兀爾忘虚 All of a sudden we forget the external entanglements:

萬法齊觀 When the ten thousand things are viewed in their oneness,

歸復自然 We return to the origin and remain what we are.

泯其所以 Forget the wherefore of things,

不可方比 And we attain to a state beyond analogy:

止動無動 Movement stopped is no movement,

動止無止 And rest set in motion is no rest.

兩既不成 When dualism does no more obtain,

一何有爾 Even oneness itself remains not as such.

究竟窮極 The ultimate end of things where they cannot go any further,

不存軌則 Is not bound by rules and measures:

契心平等 The mind in harmony [with the Way] is the principle of identity identity

所作倶息 In which we find all doings in a quiescent state;

Doubts and irresolutions are completely done away with,I

And the right faith is straightened;I

There is nothing left behind,I

There is nothing retained,I

There is no exertion, no waste of energyI

In the higher realm of true SuchnessI

There is neither "self" nor "other":I

When direct identification is sought,I

In being "not two" all is the same,I

They all enter into this Absolute Reason.I

This Absolute Reason is beyond quickening [time] and extending [space],I

For it one instant is ten thousand years;I

Whether we see it or not,I

It is manifest everywhere in all the ten quarters.I

Infinitely small things are as large as large things can be,I

For here no external conditions obtain;I

Infinitely large things are as small as small things can be,I

For objective limits are here of no consideration.I

What is is the same as what is not,I

What is not is the same as what is:I

Indeed, no tarrying there.I

One in All,I

All in One –I

Where Mind and each believing mind are not divided,I

And undivided are each believing mind and Mind,I

For it is not of the past, present, and future.I

狐疑盡淨 Irresolutions are completely done away with,

正信調直 And the right faith is restored to its native straightness;

一切不留 Nothing is retained now,

無可記憶 Nothing is to be memorized,

虚明自照 All is void, lucid, and self-illuminating,

不勞心力 There is no stain, no exertion, no wasting of energy –

非思量處 This is where thinking never attains,

識情難測 This is where the imagination fails to measure.

眞如法界 In the higher realm of True Suchness

無他無自 There is neither 'other' nor self':

要急相應 When a direct identification is asked for,

唯言不二 We can only say, 'Not two.'

不二皆同 In being not two all is the same,

無不包容 All that is is comprehended in it:

十方智者 The wise in the ten quarters,

皆入此宗 They all enter into this absolute faith.

宗非促延 This absolute faith is beyond quickening [time] and extension [space].

一念萬年 One instant is ten thousand years;

無在不在 No matter how things are conditioned, whether with 'to be' or 'not to be',

十方目前 It is manifest everywhere before you

極小同大 The infinitely small is as large as large can be,

忘絶境界 When external conditions are forgotten;

極大同小 The infinitely large is as small as small can be,

不見邊表 When objective limits are put out of sight.

有即是無 What is is the same with what is not,

無即是有 What is not is the same with what is:

若不如此 Where this state of things fails to obtain,

必不相守 Be sure not to tarry.

一即一切 One in all,

一切即一 All in one –

但能如是 If only this is realized;

何慮不畢 No more worry about your not being perfect!

信心不二 The believing mind is not divided,

不二信心 And undivided is the believing mind –

言語道斷 This is where words fail,

非去來今 For it is not of the past, future, or present.

(Manual of Zen Buddhism 91-7)I

(Essays in Zen Buddhism – First Series 196-201)

Verses On the Faith Mind

Translated by Richard B. Clarke

至道無難 The Great Way is not difficult

唯嫌揀擇 for those who have no preferences.

但莫憎愛 When love and hate are both absent

洞然明白 everything becomes clear and undisguised.

毫釐有差 Make the smallest distinction, however

天地懸隔 and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart.

欲得現前 If you wish to see the truth

莫存順逆 then hold no opinions for or against anything.

違順相爭 To set up what you like against what you dislike

是爲心病 is the disease of the mind.

不識玄旨 When the deep meaning of things is not understood

徒勞念靜 the mind's essential peace is disturbed to no avail.

圓同太虚 The Way is perfect like vast space

無欠無餘 where nothing is lacking and nothing is in excess.

良由取捨 Indeed, it is due to our choosing to accept or reject

所以不如 that we do not see the true nature of things.

莫逐有縁 Live neither in the entanglements of outer things,

勿住空忍 nor in inner feelings of emptiness.

一種平懷 Be serene in the oneness of things

泯然自盡 and such erroneous views will disappear by themselves.

止動歸止 When you try to stop activity to achieve passivity

止更彌動 your very effort fills you with activity.

唯滯兩邊 As long as you remain in one extreme or the other

寧知一種 you will never know Oneness.

一種不通 Those who do not live in the single Way

兩處失功 fail in both activity and passivity,

遣有沒有 assertion and denial. To deny the reality of things

從空背空 to assert the emptiness of things is to miss their reality.

多言多慮 The more you talk and think about it,

轉不相應 the further astray you wander from the truth.

絶言絶慮 Stop talking and thinking,

無處不通 and there is nothing you will not be able to know.

歸根得旨 To return to the root is to find the meaning,

隨照失宗 but to pursue appearances is to miss the source.

須臾返照 At the moment of inner enlightenment

勝卻前空 there is a going beyond appearance and emptiness.

前空轉變 The changes that appear to occur in the empty world

皆由妄見 we call real only because of our ignorance.

不用求眞 Do not search for the truth;

唯須息見 only cease to cherish opinions.

二見不住 Do not remain in the dualistic state

慎莫追尋 avoid such pursuits carefully.

纔有是非 If there is even a trace of this and that, of right and wrong,

紛然失心 the Mind-essence will be lost in confusion.

二由一有 Although all dualities come from the One,

一亦莫守 do not be attached even to this One.

一心不生 When the mind exists undisturbed in the Way,

萬法無咎 nothing in the world can offend,

無咎無法 and when a thing can no longer offend, it ceases to exist in the old way.

不生不心 When no discriminating thoughts arise, the old mind ceases to exist.

能隨境滅 When thought objects vanish, the thinking-subject vanishes,

境逐能沈 as when the mind vanishes, objects vanish.

境由能境 Things are objects because of the subject (mind);

能由境能 the mind (subject) is such because of things (object).

欲知兩段 Understand the relativity of these two

元是一空 and the basic reality: the unity of emptiness.

一空同兩 In this Emptiness the two are indistinguishable

齊含萬象 and each contains in itself the whole world.

不見精麁 If you do not discriminate between coarse and fine

寧有偏黨 you will not be tempted to prejudice and opinion.

大道體寛 To live in the Great Way

無易無難 is neither easy nor difficult,

小見狐疑 but those with limited views

轉急轉遲 and fearful and irresolute: the faster they hurry, the slower they go,

執之失度 and clinging (attachment) cannot be limited;

必入邪路 even to be attached to the idea of enlightenment is to go astray.

放之自然 Just let things be in their own way

體無去住 and there will be neither coming nor going.

任性合道 Obey the nature of things (your own nature),

逍遙絶惱 and you will walk freely and undisturbed.

繋念乖眞 When thought is in bondage the truth is hidden,

昏沈不好 for everything is murky and unclear,

不好勞神 and the burdensome practice of judging brings annoyance and weariness.

何用疏親 What benefit can be derived from distinctions and separations?

欲取一乘 If you wish to move in the One Way

勿惡六塵 do not dislike even the world of senses and ideas.

六塵不惡 Indeed, to accept them fully

還同正覺 is identical with true Enlightenment.

智者無爲 The wise man strives to no goals

愚人自縛 but the foolish man fetters himself.

法無異法 This is one Dharma, not many: distinctions arise

妄自愛著 from the clinging needs of the ignorant.

將心用心 To seek Mind with the (discriminating) mind

豈非大錯 is the greatest of all mistakes.

迷生寂亂 Rest and unrest derive from illusion;

悟無好惡 with enlightenment there is no liking and disliking.

一切二邊 All dualities come from

妄自斟酌 ignorant inference.

夢幻虚華 They are like dreams of flowers in the air:

何勞把捉 foolish to try to grasp them.

得失是非 Gain and loss, right and wrong:

一時放卻 such thoughts must finally be abolished at once.

眼若不睡 If the eye never sleeps,

諸夢自除 all dreams will naturally cease.

心若不異 If the mind makes no discriminations,

萬法一如 the ten thousand things are as they are, of single essence.

一如體玄 To understand the mystery of this One-essence

兀爾忘虚 is to be release from all entanglements.

萬法齊觀 When all things are seen equally

歸復自然 the timeless Self-essence is reached.

泯其所以 No comparisons or analogies are possible

不可方比 in this causeless, relationless state.

止動無動 Consider movement stationary and the stationary in motion,

動止無止 both movement and rest disappear.

兩既不成 When such dualities cease to exist

一何有爾 Oneness itself cannot exist.

究竟窮極 To this ultimate finality

不存軌則 no law or description applies.

契心平等 For the unified mind in accord with the Way

所作倶息 all self-centered straining ceases.

狐疑盡淨 Doubts and irresolution's vanish

正信調直 and life in true faith is possible.

一切不留 With a single stroke we are freed from bondage;

無可記憶 nothing clings to us and we hold to nothing.

虚明自照 All is empty , clear, self-illuminating,

不勞心力 with no exertion of the mind's power.

非思量處 Here thought, feeling, knowledge, and imagination

識情難測 are of no value.

眞如法界 In this world of Suchness

無他無自 there is neither self nor other-than-self

要急相應 To come directly into harmony with this reality

唯言不二 just simply say when doubt arises, 'Not two.'

不二皆同 In this 'no two' nothing is separate,

無不包容 nothing excluded.

十方智者 No matter when or where,

皆入此宗 enlightenment means entering this truth.

宗非促延 And this truth is beyond extension or diminution in time or space;

一念萬年 in it a single thought is ten thousand years.

無在不在 Emptiness here, Emptiness there,

十方目前 but the infinite universe stands always before your eyes.

極小同大 Infinitely large and infinitely small;

忘絶境界 no difference, for definitions have vanished

極大同小

不見邊表 and no boundaries are seen.

有即是無 So too with Being

無即是有 and non-Being.

若不如此 Don't waste time in doubts and arguments

必不相守 that have nothing to do with this.

一即一切 One thing, all things:

一切即一 move among and intermingle, without distinction.

但能如是 To live in this realization

何慮不畢 is to be without anxiety about non-perfection.

信心不二 To live in this faith is the road to non-duality,

不二信心 Because the non-dual is one with the trusting mind.

言語道斷 Words! The Way is beyond language,

非去來今 for in it there is

no yesterday

no tomorrow

no today.

Another Verse Attributed to Chien-chih Seng-ts'an

Another poetical composition attributed to Chien-chih Seng-ts'an is found in The Masters and Disciples of the Lanka (Leng‑chia Shih-tzu Chi, Ryõga Shijiki). This is a poem on "The Mysterious."

One Reality only –

How deep and far-reaching!

The ten thousand things –

How confusingly multifarious!

The true and the conventional are indeed intermingling,

But essentially of the same substance they are.

The wise and the unenlightened are indeed distinguishable,

But in the Way they are united as one.

Desirest thou to find its limits?

How broadly expanding! It is limitless!

How vaguely it vanishes away! Its ends are never reached!

It originates in beginningless time, it terminates in endless time.

Translated by D.T. Suzuki (Manual of Zen Buddhism)

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A Note on the Chinese Characters Used in the Texts

Three Chinese ideograms used in the article are incorrect. Due to problems with encoding systems, they are replaced with similar ideograms. The correct forms are given here using both traditional Chinese encoding system (Big-5, Unicode) and pictures. The text in The Original Text section is entirely correct, there are no false or replacement characters.

1. Stanza 13 line 1 ideogram 8 correct ideogram 沉

能隨境滅、境逐能沈

The subject follows when the object ceases, the object is expelled when the subject sinks.

2. Stanza 15 line 1 ideogram 4 correct ideogram 麤

不見精麁、寧有偏黨

Do not differentiate coarse and fine, and you will not be for or against.

3. Stanza 18 line 1 ideogram 5 correct ideogram 沉

ideogram 1 correct ideogram 繫

繋念乖眞、昏沈不好

Fettered thinking strays from the real, it darkens, sinks and spoils.

4. "Ts'an" of Seng-ts'an ideogram 璨

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