Zen cannot be spoken of


Yaoshan Weiyan had not given dharma talks for a long time. One day, the head monk requested him to give discourses.

monk: We disciples would very much like to listen to master's discourses.

Yaoshan: Very well. Sound the bell to summon everyone to the hall.

The master came to the hall. All the monks had gathered because for many days he had not spoken. But when the gathering was complete, when everybody had come, the master returned to his room without saying a word.

monk: Master, why did you leave without saying a word?

Yaoshan: There are sutra teachers to talk about the sutras. There are also shastra masters to talk about the commentaries. I am a Zen teacher, and yet Zen cannot be expressed in words. Even if I talk about it, that serves no purpose.


commentary:
Zen is beyond time - past, present, and future.  It has always been so, and words cannot convey Zen.



药山禅师很久没有升座说法了,弟子们都去请他说法。
弟子: 弟子似都很希望能听师父的示诲。
药山: 好吧! 去打钟叫大家到大殿听法。
可是当大家都坐好了,禅师却连一句话也没说就返回房间。
弟子: 师父,你为什么一句话也没说就走了呢?
药山: 讲经有讲经的法师,说戒有说戒的律师,我是禅师,而禅却是不能讲的,讲了也没有用。

评注:
「禅」不属于过去、现在、未来。它是本来如此,是言语所不能表达的。



蔡志忠动画禅说禅不可说- 视频- 酷6视频


Related:
Fingers pointing at the moon.

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