Chapter 14 don't worry about obsession

Zen Master Han Shan, an eminent monk in the Tang Dynasty, once wrote a poem "Steaming sand to make rice": Steam sand for cooking, and dig a well when I am thirsty. Grind the brick hard, and it will be a mirror. The Buddha said that all things are equal, and there is always truth. But self-examination and consideration, there is no need to compete. Later generations often use the phrase "grinding bricks to make a mirror" to describe those stupid behaviors that are obsessed with hopeless things.In the first four sentences of Chan Master Han Shan’s poem, he used the metaphors of steaming sand for cooking and digging a well when he was thirsty, and grinding bricks to make a mirror, all pointing out that if you can’t find a way to practice Zen, even if you have the spirit of persistence, you will inevitably go in the opposite direction and achieve nothing. .

Monk Shenzan originally studied at Dazhong Temple in Fuzhou. Later, when he went out to visit, he met Zen Master Baizhang and became enlightened, and then returned to the original monastery. His master asked: What have you learned during the time you went out? God praised: no.Then, as before, serve the master and do some chores. Once when Master was taking a bath, Shenzan rubbed his back and said: It is a great Buddhist temple, but unfortunately the Buddha statues in it are not holy enough.Seeing Master looking back at him, Shen Zan said: Although the Buddha statue is not sacred, it can shine!

Another day when Master was reading Buddhist scriptures, a fly kept hitting the paper window, trying to fly out from there.Seeing this scene, Shen Zan couldn't help but write a verse: "The Buddhist door refuses to come out, and it's too stupid to cast a window. It's been a hundred years of old paper. When will it come out?" His master put down the Buddhist scriptures in his hand and asked: What kind of expert did you meet when you went out to study abroad? Why is there such a big difference in your views before and after the study visit? Shen Zan had no choice but to admit: Thanks to the guidance of Monk Baizhang, I have learned something, and now I am coming back to repay your kindness, Master.

Shenzan saw that Master was troubled by the text of the book, so he was embarrassed to point it out directly, so he had to use the plight of the fly to point out Master's shortcomings.Words and languages ​​are all tools for a moment and a place. If things have changed and you cling to words, you will always hit the wall like that confused fly. ★Life is delicious★ If a person can let go of the attachments in his heart and get rid of the stubborn thoughts in his mind, he will have fewer troubles and more success in his life.On the contrary, if we are too obsessed with things that we should not be obsessed with, we will lose more of our lives.