Like plants, so men also grow, some in the light, others in the shadows. 
There are many who need the shadows and not the light.
Tag: Prayer
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Red Book 9
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42. The Girl Comes Out from Meditation
In the time of Buddha Shakyamuni, Manjusri went to the assemblage of the Buddhas. When he arrived there, the conference was over and each Buddha had returned to his own Buddha-land. Only one girl was yet unmoved in deep meditation. Manjusri asked Buddha Shakyamuni how it was possible for this girl to reach this state, one which even he could not attain. “Bring her out from Samadhi and ask her yourself,” said the Buddha. Manjusri walked around the girl three times and snapped his fingers. She still remained in meditation. So by his miracle power he transported her to a high heaven and tried his best to call her, but in vain. Buddha Shakyamuni said: “Even a hundred thousand Manjusris could not disturb her, but below this place, past twelve hundred million countries, is a Bodhisattva, Mo-myo, seed of delusion. If he comes here, she will awaken.” No sooner had the Buddha spoken than that Bodhisattva sprang up from the earth and bowed and paid homage to the Buddha. Buddha directed him to arouse the girl. The Bodhisattva went in front of the girl and snapped his fingers, and in that instant the girl came out from her deep meditation.
Mumon’s comment: Old Shakyamuni set a very poor stage. I want to ask you monks: If Manjusri, who is supposed to have been the teacher of seven Buddhas, could not bring this girl out of meditation, how then could a Bodhisattva who was a mere beginner? If you understand this intimately, you yourself can enter the great meditation while you are living in the world of delusion. One could not awaken her, the other could. Neither are good actors. One wears the mask of god, one a devil’s mask. Had both failed, the drama still would be a comedy.
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[SPEX10]
Tenth Annotation.
The tenth: When he who is giving the Exercises perceives that he who is receiving them is assaulted and tempted under the appearance of good, then it is proper to instruct him about the Rules of the Second Week already mentioned.
For, ordinarily, the enemy of human nature tempts under the appearance of good rather when the person is exercising himself in the Illuminative Life, which corresponds to the Exercises of the Second Week, and not so much in the Purgative Life, which corresponds to those of the First.
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Red Book 8
The shadow is nonsense.
It lacks force and has no continued existence through itself.
But nonsense is the inseparable and undying brother of the supreme meaning.
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41. Bodhidharma Pacifies the Mind
Bodhidharma sits facing the wall. His future successor stands in the snow and presents his severed arm to Bodhidharma. He cries: “My mind is not pacified. Master, pacify my mind.” Bodhidharma says: “If you bring me that mind, I will pacify it for you.” The successor says: “When I search my mind I cannot hold it.” Bodhidharma says: “Then your mind is pacified already.”
Mumon’s comment: That broken-toothed old Hindu, Bodhidharma, came thousands of miles over the sea from India to China as if he had something wonderful. He is like raising waves without wind. After he remained years in China he had only one disciple and that one lost his arm and was deformed. Alas, ever since he has had brainless disciples.
Why did Bodhidharma come to China? For years monks have discussed this. All the troubles that have followed since Came from that teacher and disciple.
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[SPEX9]
Ninth Annotation.
The ninth is to notice, when he who is exercising himself is in the Exercises of the First Week, if he is a person who has not been versed in spiritual things, and is tempted grossly and openly — having, for example, suggested to him obstacles to going on in the service of God our Lord, such as labors, shame and fear for the honor of the world — let him who is giving the Exercises not explain to him the Rules of the Second Week for the discernment of spirits.
Because, as much as those of the First Week will be helpful, those of the Second will be harmful to him, as being matter too subtle and too high for him to understand.
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[SPEX8]
Eighth Annotation.
The eighth: If he who is giving the Exercises sees that he who is receiving them is in need of instruction about the desolations and wiles of the enemy —
and the same of consolations —
he may explain to him,
as far as he needs them,
the Rules of the First and Second Weeks for recognising different spirits.
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[SPEX7]
Seventh Annotation.
The seventh: If he who is giving the
Exercises sees that he who is receiving them is in desolation and tempted,
let him not be hard or dissatisfied with him,
but gentle and indulgent,
giving him courage and strength for the future,
and laying bare to him the wiles of the enemy of human nature,
and getting him to prepare and dispose himself for the consolation coming.
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Red Book 6
The other Gods died of their temporality,
yet the supreme meaning never dies,
it turns into meaning and then into absurdity,
and out of the fire and blood of their collision the supreme meaning rises up rejuvenated anew.
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39. Ummon’s Sidetrack
A Zen student told Ummon: “Brilliancy of Buddha illuminates the whole universe.”Before he finished the phrase Ummon asked: “You are reciting another’s poem, are you not?”“Yes,” answered the student.“You are sidetracked,” said Ummon.Afterwards another teacher, Shishin, asked his pupils: “At what point did that student go off the track?”
Mumon’s comment: If anyone perceives Ummon’s particular skillfulness, he will know at what point the student was off the track, and he will be a teacher of man and Devas. If not, he cannot even perceive himself.
If he is too greedy, he will be caught.
When his mouth opens
His life already is lost.
David Given Schwarm 