Legend has it that there was a Buddhist ancestor who, when teaching The Tao, did not use words to teach it, but there was another way, which was enlightenment. This ancestor believed that words are just as superficial as the skin, and if you can't understand it in your heart, no matter how many words you have, you won't be able to understand a single [Buddha] word.
This ancestor was the famous dharma master who came after that.
When Dharma Guru was about to die, he once gave his disciples a problem. It's not that Dharma Guru deliberately embarrassed them, but sometimes, it is necessary to see if he can really leave with confidence.
Dharma Guru took all four of his disciples to his bedside and said, "I can feel that I am running out of time and that I am leaving." I have no regrets in the world, and now I am going to Elysium, and I am also calm and fearless. But when I call you today, I am worried that you will be able to get my essence. Let's talk about what you've gained from your recent practice. ”
The four disciples lined up in front of Dharma Guru's bed, and none of them spoke first. Looking at Dharma Guru's somewhat emaciated face, the four disciples lowered their heads one after another, and none of them made a sound.
When Dharma Guru saw this, he smiled slightly and said, "Nothing, I am also the perfect path of righteousness, and there is no need to worry or worry." Senior disciple, let's first talk about what you've gained from your recent practice. ”
Hearing the teacher's roll call, the eldest disciple did not shrink behind, stood up and said: "In the face of words, we should choose, we can't give up all, and we shouldn't listen to them all." Words should be used as a tool for us to take the path, so that we can be convenient and smoother on the right path. “
After hearing this, Master Dharma didn't say anything, moved his gaze to the second disciple and said, "Second disciple, you can talk about it." ”
The second disciple said, "I have different views from Master Brother, and I think that words are not desirable, and even whether words are desirable or not is entirely up to us. Just as an enlightened person can no longer see the troubles of the world, words can also be invisible. ”
After Dharma listened, the face on his face changed slightly, but the magnitude of the change was not very large, and it was impossible to find it without looking carefully.
Dharma Guru turned his head, looked at the three disciples, and said, "Do you think what they said before is correct?" ”
The third disciple shook his head and said, "No, I think this world is like mountains, rivers, winds, forests, waters and fires, all visible, but not heard." If you want to see something, you can't just explain it through the surface or words, but the most important thing is to rely on your inner feelings. ”
After listening to what the three disciples said, Master Dharma smiled rarely and continued to ask the four disciples. He said, "What do you think your three brothers said?" ”
The fourth disciple did not speak, but performed a ritual in the same place and stood there all the time.
Seeing the four disciples like this, Dharma finally laughed out loud and said, "Yes, you have obtained my essence." The other three brothers only got the skin, flesh and bone. ”
The last disciple of Dharma Guru was the later second ancestor of Zen Buddhism, Master Huike.
In fact, whether the words are really or not does not matter, for a person, the understanding in the heart is the root of all things. One heart, one person.