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Tune Beyond the Clouds ZEN TEACHINGS FROM OLD CHINA A TUNE BEYOND THE CLOUDS Translated and Edited by J. C. Cleary The solitary flute sounds A tune beyond the clouds Apart from those who know its voice Who else recognizes it? BOOKS BY J. C. CLEARY The Blue Cliff Record (three volumes, with Thomas Cleary), 1977. Swampland Flowers, 1977. Zen Lore from the Source Mirror, 1979. Zen Dawn, 1986. A Buddha from Korea, 1988. Z/£o: Itfj* Great Zen Master of China, 1989.* Recorded Sayings of Linji, forthcoming. Wumen’s Barrier, forthcoming. Worldly Wisdom: Confucian Teachings from the Ming Dynasty, 1991. Mind, forthcoming, 1991. Meditating With Koans, forthcoming^ * Published by Asian Humanities Press, f Forthcoming from Asian Humanities Press. A Tune Beyond the Clouds Zen Teachings From Old China Translated and Edited by J. C. Cleary Asian Humanities Press Berkeley, California ASIAN HUMANITIES PRESS Asian Humanities Press offers to the specialist and the general reader alike the best in new translations of major works and significant original contributions to enhance our understanding of Asian religions, cultures and thought. Copyright © 1990 by J. C. Cleary. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of Asian Humanities Press, except for brief passages quoted in a review. ISBN 0-89581-901-5 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 91-70001 Printed in the United States of America Contents Preface........................................................................................................................xi Introduction I. "A Tune Beyond the Clouds”.........................................................................1 II. A Slice of Zen H istory....................................................................................2 1. Buddhism in China ................................................................................2 2. The Zen Schools ....................................................................................5 3. Zen Influences.........................................................................................6 4. The Process of Buddhist History.........................................................7 5. Zen in the Time of Stone R iver........................................................9 6. The Barbarian Conquests of C hina..................................................11 7. The Worldly and the World-Transcending..................................17 8. Quality in Buddhism ...........................................................................22 III. A Map of Zen M ind......................................................................................24 1. Buddha Mind and the Human Mind...............................................24 2. Analyzing the Human Mind.............................................................25 3. From Theory to Practice....................................................................28 4. Transforming Consciousness into Wisdom ..................................33 5. Yogacara Buddhist Theory and Z en ............................................... 35 Teachings of Zen Master Shiqi Xinyue "Stone River” 1. The Ready-Made Case.........................................................................37 2. Zen Lore..................................................................................................38 3. How to Serve Buddha.........................................................................39 4. Impact ....................................................................................................40 5. It’s All Here N ow ...............................................................................42 6. Thought & N o-Thought....................................................................42 7. There is No Other R oad....................................................................43 8. How to Learn Z e n ...............................................................................44 9. W orker-M onks....................................................................................46 10. Zen Travels.......................................................................................... 46 11. W ill.......................................................................................................... 47 12. The 1 nexhaustible Treasury...............................................................48 13. The Lineage of Z en .............................................................................50 14. Why Wait?.............................................................................................51 15. Ready-Made Samadhi.........................................................................52 16. The Village of Dreams......................................................................53 17. The Transmission of Z en ..................................................................54 18. Stopping..................................................................................................55 19. Centered..................................................................................................57 20. Before and A fte r..................................................................................57 21. Today and Forever................................................................................58 22. On the Anniversary of the Death of his Teacher.........................58 23. The Teacher’s Method.........................................................................59 24. The Family S ty le..................................................................................59 25. A Visit from an Old Friend...............................................................60 26. Beyond Affirmation and Denial......................................................60 27. Putting a Roof on the Dharma-Hall...............................................60 28. See for Yourself....................................................................................60 29. An Imperial Invitation ......................................................................61 30. Farewell to the Assembly at Tiger Hill.......................................... 62 31. Entry into Lingyin Zen Temple......................................................63 32. A Challenge...........................................................................................64 33. Forming Associations........................................................................66 34. Accept Your Lot....................................................................................67 35. Bluegreen Mountains, White Clouds .............................................68 36. The Dharma on New Year’s Day....................................................69 37. The Staff..................................................................................................69 38. The Dharma Cannot be Sought........................................................70 39. A Turning W o rd ..................................................................................70 40. A Disciple’s Gratitude and Resentment........................................71 41. Always Secure......................................................................................71 42. Break the Golden Chains....................................................................72 43. This Dharma.........................................................................................72 44. Smelted in a Great Furnace...............................................................73 45. Who Can Sing an Answering Refrain?...................................... 73 46. Ancient and Modern...........................................................................74 47. How Can We Escape?....................................................... 74 48. Still Lacking...........................................................................................75 49. Buddha’s Body......................................................................................76 50. The Net is Cast Over Y ou..................................................................76 51. Inside an Atom of D ust......................................................................77 vii 52. Abiding N ow here................................................................................77 53. Greetings to the Assembly at Jingshan...........................................77 54. A Thousand Mouths to Feed.............................................................78 55. The H arvest...........................................................................................78 56. Do Not Pass the Time in V ain .........................................................79 57. Grandpa B uddha..................................................................................79 58. Raise Your Level of Insight................................................................80 59. The Same as Always...........................................................................80 60. The Bequest of Enlightenment.........................................................81 61. Then and Now .......................................................................................82 62. Come in out of the Rain...................................................................... 83 63. True Basis or Misguided Understanding......................................83 64. Buddha Ocean .....................................................................................
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