Guys,
I have found a wonderful text by the 6th Zen Patriarch Hui Neng
regarding my topic.
Here's it, chapter 5 of Platform Sutra: http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Clubs/buddhism/huineng/huineng5.html
Chapter V. Dhyana
The Patriarch (one day) preached to the assembly as
follows:--
In our system of meditation, we neither dwell upon the mind (in
contradistinction to the Essence of Mind) nor upon purity. Nor do
we approve of non-activity. As to dwelling upon the mind,
the mind is primarily delusive; and when we realize that it is only
a phantasm there is no need to dwell on it. As to dwelling upon
purity, our nature is intrinsically pure; and so far as we get rid
of all delusive 'idea' there will be nothing but purity in our
nature, for it is the delusive idea that obscures Tathata
(Suchness). If we direct
our mind to dwell upon purity we are only creating another
delusion, the delusion of purity. Since delusion has no abiding
place, it is delusive to dwell upon it. Purity has neither shape nor form; but some people go
so far as to invent the 'Form of Purity', and treat it as a problem
for solution. Holding such an opinion, these people are
purity-ridden, and their Essence of Mind is thereby
obscured.
Learned Audience, those who train themselves for 'imperturbability'
should, in their contact with all types of men, ignore the faults
of others. They should be indifferent to others' merit or demerit,
good or evil, for such an attitude accords with the
'imperturbability of the Essence of Mind'. Learned Audience, a man
unenlightened may be unperturbed physically, but as soon as he
opens his mouth he criticizes others and talks about their merits
or demerits, ability or weakness, good or evil; thus he deviates
from the right course. On the other hand, to dwell upon our own
mind or upon purity is also a stumbling-block in the Path.
The Patriarch on another occasion preached to the assembly as
follows:--
Learned Audience,
what is sitting for meditation? In our School, to sit means to gain
absolute freedom and to be mentally unperturbed in all outward
circumstances, be they good or otherwise. To meditate means to
realize inwardly the imperturbability of the Essence of
Mind.
Learned Audience, what are Dhyana and Samadhi? Dhyana means to be
free from attachment to all outer objects, and Samadhi means to
attain inner peace. If we are attached to outer objects, our inner
mind will be perturbed. When we are free from attachment to all
outer objects, the mind will be in peace. Our Essence of
Mind is intrinsically pure, and the reason why we are perturbed is
because we allow ourselves to be carried away by the circumstances
we are in. He who is able
to keep his mind unperturbed, irrespective of circumstances, has
attained Samadhi.
To be free from attachment to all outer objects is Dhyana, and to
attain inner peace is Samadhi. When we are in a position to deal
with Dhyana and to keep our inner mind in Samadhi, then we are said
to have attained Dhyana and Samadhi. The Bodhisattva Sila Sutra
says, "Our Essence of Mind is intrinsically pure." Learned
Audience, let us realize this for ourselves at all times. Let us
train ourselves, practice it by ourselves, and attain Buddhahood by
our own effort.
