Baofu’s Blocking of the Eyes, Ears, and Mind
Dizang asked a monastic from Baofu Monastery, “How does your master teach the true-Self?” The monastic said, “Once Master Baofu told the assembly, ‘I cover your eyes to let you see what is not seen. I cover your ears to let you hear what is not heard. I restrain your mind to let you give up thinking.’” Dizang said to the monastic, “Let me ask you, ‘When I don’t cover your eyes, what do you see? When I don’t cover your ears, what do you hear? When I don’t restrain your mind, what do you discern?’” Upon hearing these words, the monastic had realisation.
Student: “Why did Master Baofu cover the monk’s eyes and ears?”
Master: “In order to enable him to see and hear what can’t be seen and heard when they are not covered.”
Student: “Why didn’t Dizang cover the monk’s eyes and ears?”
Master: “In order to enable him to see and hear what can’t be seen and heard when they are covered.”
Commentary:
Covering your eyes and ears, you can’t see and hear what is seen when they are not covered.
Not covering your eyes and ears, you can’t see and hear what is seen and heard when they are covered.
What you should see and hear is what is seen and heard both when your eyes and ears are open and when they are closed.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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