Praise:
Traveling on foot and transcending the world,
He is talented at both.
Earnest and diligent,
He is likened to the moon's reflection on water.
As the water and moon intersect,
A clear light surges from each of the four directions.
Illumining the sentient ones,
He never ceases to benefit the world.
Commentary:
Traveling on foot and transcending the world. To travel on foot means that he visits everywhere. To transcend the world means that he is an abbot. He is talented at both. He is excellent at both. While traveling, he had never been hit and had never beaten anyone. He had probably never hit anybody as an abbot either. Therefore, he is excellent at both. Earnest and diligent. He isn't lazy. He is likened to the moon's reflection on water. This is similar to the way that the reflection of the moon in the middle of the sky sits at the bottom of the pool.
As the water and moon intersect. The water and the moon shine upon one another. The water reflects the moon. The moon's reflection is in the water. Although the moonlight shine on water, but both remain still. A clear light surges from each of the four directions. His radiance shoots out and lights up the surrounding four sides. This means that he is very diligent and prudent in his cultivation. Amidst the average gathering, he shines and emits a brilliance throughout the four directions the way that the water and the moon interpenetrate and reflect one another.
Illumining the sentient ones. The sentient beings are likened to water, while he is likened to moonlight that shines upon sentient beings. He never ceases to benefit the world. To benefit means to perfect and help this world, the human race, sentient beings without cease. It never ends.
Another verse:
At birth, Guyan may never have been hungry.
At the age of nine, he followed his father to pay respects to Putimi.
At twelve, he received a koan to investigate the substance.
At twenty-one, several blows made him puncture his doubt.
With steadfast perseverance, he drew near Good Advisors
And distanced himself from harmful friends and frivolous pursuits.
He was diligent and earnest in the giving of the Great Teaching:
It's no wonder that he was this way in thought after thought.
Commentary:
At birth, Guyan may never have been hungry. The monk Guyan was probably used to fasting in his past lives, so he wasn't afraid of hunger. He could still tolerate hunger pangs after he was born. That's why he didn't drink any milk. His mother couldn't stand it, however; she burned incense and made a vow: "If my son starts eating, he'll be a vegetarian." His mother was very superstitious. As a result, the boy became a vegetarian. Since he was a vegetarian, his father thought, "Say, that's right, he should be a monk," and took him to join the monastic life. The couple fought over this though; one said, "I can't give up that child; why did you give him away?" "Well, you'll probably have other children. Don't be so attached." So, the child became a monk. Things turned out that way by chance. Don't think it's any big deal.
At the age of nine, he followed his father to pay respects to Putimi. His dad told him, "Come with me, let's go and find a master for you." He paid respects and bowed to the Venerable Putimi as his Master.
At twelve, he received a koan to investigate the substance. He was eager to try. He didn't care to be lonely, so he wanted to try and investigate a Chan topic just like everyone else. He was given a koan to investigate the fundamental substance, one's original face.
At twenty-one, several blows made him puncture his doubt. Either at twenty-one years of age or within twenty-one days, he was struck constantly so that he penetrated his question. He had no more doubt. With steadfast perseverance, he drew near Good Advisors. Travelling everywhere, he drew near Good Advisors. "With steadfast perseverance" means that he never retreated no matter how he suffered or was wronged. He continued to visit and learn.
And distanced himself from harmful friends and frivolous pursuits. He distanced himself from those people who are unlawful and petty, or who violate the precepts. Harmful friends are the kind of people who discuss romance and love. He didn't get close to them. Since he didn't draw near them, he kept his distance from harmful friends. What are harmful friends? Those who cannot help him cultivate the Way. What are frivolous pursuits? Harmful friends would tell him to visit and tour famous sites, taking a look at Disneyland or other such places. "Have you been to Disneyland?" This is to want to look at famous sites everywhere. If you tell a young monk there are good things to see, he'll say, "Oh, great! Fantastic!" And he'll go.
This monk was different though; he didn't go and look.
He was diligent and earnest in the giving of the Great Teaching. He continued to be diligent and earnest, never indolent. He constantly gave the Dharma and propagated Buddhism. He bestowed the most orthodox Buddhism.
It's no wonder that he was this way in thought after thought.
He never forgot to propagate the Buddhadharma, and it's no wonder, given his background. That was what he had always done; that was why he walked this path. That was what he enjoyed. He never forgot that type of work at any time. He wasn't afraid of any hardship and was never weary.
(The End)
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