一念萬年去
1. Sok Sahn's "Seven Go Straights"
A long time ago in China, there was a famous Zen Master named Sok Sahn who died without giving transmission. After his funeral ceremony, somebody had to give a formal Dharma speech, so many people asked the Head Monk. As he was about to begin speaking from the high rostrum, Sok Sahn's attendant, a fifteen-year-old boy named Ku Bong, came forward and said, "Our teacher always taught about the seven kinds of going straight:
1. Go straight, resting.
2. Go straight, put it all down.
3. Go straight, the cold, clear water of autumn.
4. Go straight, one mind for 10,000 years.
5. Go straight, cold ashes under a rotten log.
6. Go straight, incense burner in an old temple (very heavy, never moving).
7. Go straight, one line of incense smoke rising in the still air.
If you understand the true meaning of the seven kinds of going straight, then you can give the Dharma speech. If you don't, you cannot."
"One color, different function," the Head Monk replied.
"I cannot believe that."
"If you don't believe me, I'llshow you." The Head Monk then lit a stick of incense, placed it in the burner, and quietly watched it burn down. Then he died.
Many people exclaimed, "Ah, this great monk has also died!"
But the attendant only patted the Head Monk's back slowly three times, saying, "Sitting, die. Standing, die. Either way, no hindrance. But Sok Sahn's seven go straights' true meaning cannot be gotten, even in a dream."
1. What do Sok Sahn's seven go
straights mean?
2. What did the Head Monk's death mean?
3. The attendant said, "Sitting, die.
Standing, die. Either way, no hindrance.
But Sok Sahn's seven go straights'
true meaning cannot be gotten, even in
a dream." What does this mean?
COMMENTARY: Seven doors into the same room. Each door has a different style and function. If you are attached to style and function you cannot enter the room. Only go straight through, take seven steps. Then you can see your true master and say, "How are you today?" "Fine, and you?" "very good, thank you.? Do you understand that? If you do, then you can pass Sok Sahn's seven go straights.