86. Understanding Cannot Help You

This cold night bamboos stir,
Their sound – now harsh, now soft –
Sweeps through the lattice window.
Though ear’s no match for mind,
What need, by lamplight,
Of a single scripture leaf?

Chan Master Kido (1185-1269)

This poem reminds me of Zen Master Seung Sahn’s reverberating teaching
phrase “Understanding cannot help you.”

Similarly, the famous 9th century Zen Master Huang Po taught us in this way:

Regarding this Zen Doctrine of ours, since it was first transmitted, it has never
taught that we should seek learning or form concepts. “Studying the way” is just a
figure of speech. It is a device used initially to arouse people’s interest in actual
practice. Know this, the way cannot be studied. Study only leads to the retention
of ideas and concepts. Doing so diminishes our original nature taking us away
from the precision and intelligence that is each moment. Mind cannot be found
outside, inside or somewhere in the middle. Truly it is not locatable anywhere.

When we can just be simple and direct in our everyday encounters without
following deluded thoughts, we are already expressing Buddha nature. “When the
mind does not abide in things, the way flows freely.” Hui Neng – Platform Sutra

There is no need to rid yourself of wandering thoughts. The key is to be more
interested in what you are doing right now – at any given time throughout your day.
Should you be somehow annoyed by wandering thoughts, you will inevitably drift
away and lose your focus. This is a repetitive process that invites even more
wandering thoughts. Conversely, staying present to your meditation method over
time will translate into an ability to conduct our lives in a precise, simple, and
focused manner. Life becomes easier and transformation is then possible.