The Sun Rises in the Evening
Discourses
Table of Contents
Always at Ease, Unmoved
Always at Ease, Unmoved. 'The wise man is always at ease, unmoved. He does not get rid of illusion, nor seek for truth. Ignorance is intrinsically the Buddha nature.' Always at ease, unmoved: not because he controls himself but because there's nothing to move. The sun rises in the evening: awakening seems to come late but it was always there.
Waiting, Just Waiting
Waiting, Just Waiting. 'A pebble falling into water ripples the far shore.' Waiting, just waiting: not passive waiting but alert waiting. The master waits—not for something to happen but for the disciple to be ready. Don't rush—wait. The far shore is rippled by the pebble—everything is connected.
Cutting off the Root
Cutting off the Root. 'Cutting off the root directly—this is the mark of buddhahood. If you go on plucking leaves, I can do nothing for you.' Cutting off the root: don't trim symptoms—cut the root. The root is the ego, the root is desire. Plucking leaves (creeds, principles) is endless. One cut of the root and the tree falls.
Learn to Breathe this Air
Learn to Breathe this Air. 'What if there are only mirrors reflecting mirrors?' That IS how it is—all is consciousness. Learn to breathe this air: the air of awareness. Mirrors reflecting mirrors—consciousness reflecting consciousness. There's nothing behind the mirrors. Don't look for something else—breathe this, be this.
When we Attain to Reality...
When we Attain to Reality. 'The moon reflected in the stream, the wind blowing through the pines—what is it for? When we attain reality, it is neither personal nor impersonal.' When we attain to reality: the question 'what is it for?' dissolves. Reality has no purpose—it IS. The moon and wind are not for anything—they are everything.
This is How it Comes
This is How it Comes. 'How do I find my way?' There is no way to be found and no one to find it. This is how it comes: the way is not a path but a realization that you're already there. Don't look for the way—look at where you are. The sun rises in the evening: you see it when you stop looking.
The Essence is at Ease...
The Essence is at Ease. 'He always walks by himself, saunters by himself. From the time I recognized the road, I realized I had nothing to do with birth and death. Walking is Zen, sitting is Zen.' The essence is at ease: when you find your essence, everything is Zen. Walking, sitting, talking, silent—all the same.
Enough of the Trips
Enough of the Trips. 'Help me to be happy, to be ordinary. All my upsets come from desiring to be special.' You ARE extraordinary—trying to be what you already are fails. Enough of the trips: the trip to be special, the trip to be ordinary—both are trips. Drop the trip. You're already unique—just be natural.
It never leaves this place
It never leaves this place. 'All principles are no principles. It never leaves this place.' It never leaves this place: truth is here, always here. Don't go anywhere—don't even go to truth. Truth comes to you because it never left. The principles point here—don't follow the pointing, look at what's pointed at.
It is not too Late
It is not too Late. 'Will the West give birth to Buddhas by itself or is communion with the East needed?' Buddha-consciousness is neither Eastern nor Western. It is not too late: it's never too late. The sky is neither East nor West—pure consciousness is the sky. The sun rises in the evening: even late, the awakening comes.