Theos-Talk Archives (May 2009 Message tt00754)

Well, I find this story a little bit problematic.
This story belongs to another time, another race and therefor another 
mindset.
Obviously the story wants to say that you cannot find outside what is not 
inside.
Goethe f.e. said the same.

But from an isolated view the story could mislead people to the believe that 
he can find the occult truths without a teacher.
Purucker f.e. states that no one can understand the teachings without a 
teacher.
Purucker's claim is supported by the fact that the Theosophical Movement has 
made no progess since he went home in 1942.

Frank


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Bill Meredith
To: theos-l@yahoogroups.com ; theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, May 25, 2009 2:12 PM
Subject: Theos-World seeking the buddha's teaching






When Hui-hai came to Zen Master Ma-tsu, Ma-tsu asked him,

"What have you come here for?"
Hu-hai said, "I have come seeking the Buddha's teaching."
"What a fool you are!" Ma-tsu said. "You have the greatest
treasure in the world inside you, and yet you go around asking
other people for help. What good is this? I have nothing to
give you."
Hu-hai bowed and said, "Please, tell me what this treasure
is."
Ma-tsu said, "Where is your question coming from? This is
your treasure. It is precisely what is asking the question at this
very moment, Everything is stored in this precious treasure-
house of yours. It is there at your disposal, you can use it as
you wish, nothing is lacking. You are the master of everything.
Why then are you running away from yourself and seeking for
things outside?"

Upon hearing these words, Hui-hai realized his own mind.

Once, the great Ma-tsu said to me, "Your own treasure-
house already contains everything you need. Why don't you
use it freely, instead of chasing after something outside your-
self?" From that day on, I stopped looking elsewhere. Just make
use of your own treasure-house according to your needs, and
you will be happy men. There isn't a single thing that can be
grasped or rejected.
When you stop thinking that things have a past or future,
and that they come or go, then in the whole universe there
won't be a single atom that is not your own treasure. All you
have to do is look into your own mind; then the marvelous
reality will manifest itself at all times.

--Hui-hai, quoted in THE ESSENCE OF WISDOM,
edited by Stephen Mitchell, Broadway Books, 1998, p26-27

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