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a buddha.
Nivedano...
(Drumbeat)
Come back, but come back as a buddha
with a samadhi,
with a feel of the nectar.
Sit down for a few moments,
just to recollect the experience
of where you have been,
what you have been.
Every day it has to become deeper and deeper.
Okay, Maneesha?
Yes, Beloved Master.
Can we celebrate the buddhas?
Yes, Beloved Master.
Ma Tzu: The Empty Mirror
Chapter #3
Chapter title: Ripe plum
18 September 1988 pm in Gautam the Buddha Auditorium
Archive code: 8809185
ShortTitle: MATZU03
Audio: Yes
Video: Yes
Length: 85 mins
OUR BELOVED MASTER,
ONE DAY, WHEN MA TZU WAS ON HIS WAY HOME FROM CHIANG-SI, HE STOPPED TO VISIT HIS OLD MASTER, NANGAKU. WHEN MA TZU HAD BURNED INCENSE AND MADE BOWS TO NANGAKU, NANGAKU GAVE HIM THIS VERSE:
"I ADVISE YOU NOT TO GO HOME.
IF YOU DO, THE TAO IS IMMOVABLE.
AND AN OLD WOMAN
NEXT DOOR TO YOU
WILL TALK OF YOUR INFANT NAME."
MA TZU RESPECTFULLY ACCEPTED IT AND SWORE TO HIMSELF NEVER TO GO HOME, HOWEVER OFTEN HE MIGHT BE REBORN. STAYING ONLY IN CHIANG-SI, HE HAD DISCIPLES COME TO HIM FROM ALL PARTS OF CHINA.
ONE DAY A MONK CALLED TA-MEI JOINED A TRAINING ASSEMBLY OF MA TZU. TA-MEI ASKED THE MASTER: "WHAT IS BUDDHA?"
MA TZU REPLIED: "IT IS THE PRESENT MIND."
ON HEARING THIS, TA-MEI ATTAINED HIS FULL ENLIGHTENMENT. HE TOOK HIMSELF OFF INTO THE MOUNTAINS, AND OVER THE YEARS HARDLY NOTICED THE PASSING OF TIME; HE ONLY SAW THE MOUNTAINS AROUND HIM TURN GREEN OR YELLOW.
ONE DAY, MA TZU SENT A MONK ESPECIALLY TO TEST HIM. THE MONK ASKED TA-MEI, "WHEN YOU ONCE SAW MA TZU, BY WHAT WORD DID YOU BECOME ENLIGHTENED?"
TA-MEI REPLIED, "BY MA TZU'S SAYING, `THE PRESENT MIND IS THE BUDDHA.'"
"NOW HIS WAY IS ANOTHER," THE MONK TOLD TA-MEI.
"WHAT IS IT THEN?" ASKED TA-MEI.
"MA TZU NOW SAYS THAT THIS VERY MIND WHICH IS BUDDHA IS NEITHER MIND NOR BUDDHA," REPLIED THE MONK.
"THAT OLD FELLOW!" SAID TA-MEI. "WHEN WILL HE CEASE TO CONFUSE THE MINDS
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