Pure and Simple Not Easy

Yutang Lin

 

Zheng Ban Qiao of Qing Dynasty said, ″muddled-headed rare″. Having been polished for long time in worldly affairs, only then could one gradually comprehend that keen in haggling over minor details need not bring benefits, while overlooking here and there might prove a smoother and passable approach in dealing with matters. In other words, people who overlook some details need not be foolish but could be displaying wisdom born of accumulated experiences in worldly matters.

As to Dharma practices, Dharma practitioners all know well the fundamental principles of ″impermanence″, ″no attachment″, and ″returning to original purity″. Nevertheless, in actual practices and deeds Dharma practitioners often are confined by the scope of Dharma as they comprehend it to be; consequently, they are merely preoccupied with ″building a cart indoors″ (a Chinese proverb, meaning to do things according to one’s imagination without taking into consideration conditions in reality) without realizing that their behaviors are already far off from ″impermanence, no attachment, and returning to original purity″.

This kind of ″difficult to self-extract from″ predicament, is mainly due to the fact that people′s minds are accustomed to being complicated; not only can they not let go of grasping but also, they keep on weaving notions incessantly. Hence, I indicate that ″Pure and Simple not easy″, with the hope that this motto could remind Dharma practitioners that only being pure and simple in mind and actions is in accord with fundamental principles of Dharma; don′t be confined by your habitual complicated ways!

 

Written in Chinese and translated into English on February 8, 2018
El Cerrito, California