"Echos of a Distant Valley"
the writings of Master Guangkuan
translated from the Chinese by Edward A. Burger
This book will lead you on your first steps toward understanding Buddhism. Of course I am just a wild-mountain monk. I’ve no power and no ability. No cultivation and can pay no witness. I am uneducated. And so like a firefly in the sun or a bit of silt in the sand, inside and out I’ve nothing to show for myself. I can’t make anyone happy. To tell you the truth I’m a bit of a fool. And it’s a rather laughable matter that I should dare to sit down today and write this book. But I see modern people lack faith and blessings, lack an upright understanding of interdependence in this world. They do not respect teachers or the path and wonder endlessly over what is right and what is wrong. They run around all day long, rising and falling with the tides, not knowing where to go. Even those that do follow the Buddha’s teachings are often unsure, come and go and flounder; unable to enter this gate. Hindrances make decision impossible. And in the end those of us who study this path in fact cannot calm our nature and set our minds to cultivating the Way. Time is running away. Months and days hasten us. Our hair is turning white. Life and death are upon us. Hurry! I had no choice but to pick up my pen and that’s how this book began. However I’m not very cultured or literate, and this is a heavy hindrance. My pen hovers over this notebook. A blank page. I don’t know what to say. I’m no intellectual. And I quiver before this task like a rabbit before a lion. I’m like a drop of water in the sea. So it has taken a long time to begin. For fear of being laughed at. Today my disciples urge me to begin writing. So I pick up my pen to write these most important words. I remember the words of Master Hongfa:
Master says: "Dharma from the start cannot be spoken. But unspoken, it cannot be expressed. The true nature of things is beautiful. Knowing this we are enlightened." If this mountain monk’s words offer even the slightest bit of guidance in your path to understanding the teachings and awakening to what is real, then I am truly put at ease!
...The Light of Great Wisdom says: it is of unlimited and boundless benefit. Generation after generation liberates their parents, grandparents, children and all sentient beings from suffering and misery! Even so, all must understand the law of cause and effect and practice the ten righteous actions and uphold the pure discipline. Otherwise, one will be fettered by the karmic chains of cause and effect… your true nature will gradually be lost and you will fall into a deep abyss. Not knowing the shore of liberation is near you fall into the long flowing river of the wheel of birth, death and rebirth. Countless generations wandering aimless. A truly frightening thought!
If I may offer a bit of advice: listen to the teachings now, practice hard, make no mistake, ascend the far shore together, attain Buddha-hood together, let it be so!
Those who wish to hear the teachings, hold steady your upright faith
Until Nirvana is attained, and upright wisdom is gained
Standing upon suchness, hindrances torn aside
In a moment of light the teachings are clear, wisdom sees through all things
With the eyes of the Dharma’s treasure-house, empty is this world
Seeing emptiness the Truth is known, with the eyes of the Dharma’s treasure-house
The nature of our mind has always been such, it doesn’t take a sage to get it
Holding to the Way of goodness, no wisdom and therefore nothing to attain
The Mind moves in a calm place, riding essence the origin of mind is found
Because there is nothing to attain, we don’t speak of it
Know your consciousness is essence-less, from the beginning there is not one thing
We don’t speak of it, knowing the True Heaven and Buddha
That there is nothing to attain, we call this the true something
We don’t speak of it, we don’t explain it in writing
If we write it down, it becomes our foe
Stay far from words, rely on meaning and essence of Mind
Adjust to zero-find a balance, get yourself an everyday mind
That’s to say return to what is original, the true body of all the Buddhas
The origin of all Buddhas, is the place of true refuge
A sentient being who takes refuge, has the body of a Buddha, the Dharma and Sangha
It is all in the essence of Mind, all in one thought received
It is difficult to have forms without essence, difficult to have essence without form
Form and essence are not two, Mind and Buddha have the same source
I publish this small book and offer it to virtuous monks, nuns, masters and laypeople. Please forgive my mistakes and correct my errors. May we be linked through the power of this sharing and enter together the Path to Buddhahood. This mountain monk has not the least bit of intentions to benefit from this. For fear that sentient beings be misled, and I commit the great sin of false teachings. I am a common being. If I speak recklessly, I welcome the criticism of righteous readers.
Zhongnan Mountain Monk
September 26 2006