Buddhism has been familiar since childhood. Dad was abandoned by his biological parents in infancy because of the double pressure of illness and many children at home. After moving to three or four families, he was adopted by a foster father who raised milk, because his parents lost most of their property because of smoking. Dad grew up in a pawnshop, where he later raised his father and bought milk. My father's health and longevity are due to the friendship between the younger brother of the monk who raised milk and the nun sister who raised grandpa, so in my impression, it seems that the incense at home has been constantly burning.
At first, I just knew nothing about Buddhism and couldn't understand its meaning. Now, after reading the Biography of Six Ancestors Huineng, I have a deeper understanding of Buddhism and Zen, and even moved.
In fact, no matter Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism, they are basically connected, but all roads lead to the same goal. Just Zen in Buddhism moved me to tears. This is the profound feeling brought to me by The Biography of Six Ancestors Huineng. The book mainly expounds the different fates of four people with different personalities.
First, the five ancestors are tolerant.
A Zen master who knows people well and is kind to others, in order to prevent other disciples from hurting Six Ancestors because of jealousy, reluctantly made Six Ancestors do the most bitter and tiring handyman, and taught Six Ancestors according to the situation, which made Six Ancestors deeply understand Zen through the continuous teaching of the master and eventually became the inheritor of his mantle.
Wu Zu is also an eye-catching Bole. He didn't ignore Shen Xiu's noble character because of his age, nor did he bury his talent because of his "ugly" burned face.
The words of the five ancestors made me more enlightened: "The so-called Buddha nature and the so-called complete enlightenment are just the original intentions of people who are not bothered or delusional. This heart, like this teacup, is used by the Buddha and the Yellow Emperor to eat tea, and it will never raise a happy heart; Insects, birds, cats and dogs use it to drink water, and it will not be angry and dissatisfied. Gold, silver and precious stones are not greedy for love when they are full, and they are not disgusting when they are used to hold urine. In this way, the original heart is not moved by all things, and it is not served by all things. On the contrary, it serves everything and everything seems to be in my heart. This is great freedom and true liberation. "
I then understood the true meaning of "the environment is born of the mind".
Second, the gods show their seats.
An extremely modest and broad-minded seat. When I first met Six Ancestors, many disciples rejected Six Ancestors because of their vulgar appearance, short stature and illiteracy, so Shen Xiu severely criticized disciples for not judging a book by its cover.
Be his son: he is a bodhi tree and his heart is a mirror. Wipe frequently, and don't create dust. When he was replaced by the sixth ancestor, he not only did not hate him, but even worshipped him more, and even taught his disciples to learn from them.
When the sixth ancestor inherited the mantle of the fifth ancestor, instead of being jealous, he felt that the decision of the fifth ancestor was reasonable. In order not to cause infighting, he wandered away from home silently and founded "Northern Zen".
The most commendable thing is that he not only recommended his favorite disciples to the Six Ancestors, but also actively publicized the Six Ancestors, making their "Southern Zen" resound throughout the country.
After reading it, I was in tears. I deeply understand that worshipping Buddha is not worshipping Buddha statues, but sincere.
Third, shadows are hidden.
Yingying is a jealous and narrow-minded person. When I first met Six Ancestors, I mocked Six Ancestors. When Six Ancestors inherited the mantle of Five Ancestors and went south, he led people to kill Six Ancestors, resulting in their anonymity 15 years. In a chase, he almost burned six ancestors to death. In the later days, he remained anonymous, and with the help of his injured face, he lurked beside his sixth ancestor as a "sanitation worker." The driver killed six ancestors. At first, I hated this man.
Unexpectedly, in the process of spreading a plague, he laid down his life to bury those frightening sick bodies, and eventually he got sick himself. In order not to infect others, he jumped into the fire. At the last moment of his life, he burst into tears and revealed the reason for his anonymity: he was moved by the meditation of his six ancestors. In the end, he didn't kill six ancestors. At that moment, I also burst into tears. I feel the power of Zen, which can not only make people see nature clearly, but even change a person's original intention.
Then, I understood the profound meaning of "the times are changeable and full of variables. When it is time to let go, we should let go and think of the world".
Fourth, the sixth ancestor Huineng.
Six ancestors are the embodiment of wisdom and strength.
He can retreat from the arrogant tiger in meditation, or he can be indifferent to the pain when he is beaten. He can go up the mountain to cut wood as a woodcutter or as a cook. He can make Huiming, who is after him, "put down his butcher's knife and become a Buddha", or he can turn the shadowy devil who is after him into an angel. He is like a rubber band, stretching freely. With his wisdom and strength, he turned evil into justice.
"The true Buddha nature is trouble without chaos, meditation without emptiness. It does not increase or decrease, does not come or go, does not live or die, stays still, will not be cut off or will never change, and its phenomenon is as real as its essence. " Six ancestors' great sleep made my heart clear.
"As long as the heart is not persistent in everything in the world, it doesn't matter if you go, and it doesn't matter if you give up, then you can see the essence and become a Buddha." Yes, a person's mind before birth is the quietest, clearest and most spotless. As for learning to be wet behind the ears, there are all kinds of temptations around. If you don't concentrate enough, you will be confused by appearances, tempted by sound, light, color and taste, you will lose your id and mind, and then troubles and diseases will flock to you. As a result, there are joys and sorrows.
The "meditation" of the six ancestors is not only an explanation of various branches of Buddhism, but also a guide to life and a colorful life.
Zen, an unfathomable knowledge, teaches people to be quiet, bright and spotless. Although I have a new understanding of him, if I want to reach a certain level, I still need to practice and worship!