Straightforward Mind

Yutang Lin

Straightforward Mind is suitable for cultivating enlightenment
　　　　 So goes a famous Chan saying
Is "Straightforward Mind" simply to act spontaneously as one will

Free from thinking, discriminating and comparing
Born of all sincerity
Only then can it be in accord with original purity
And only such Straightforward Mind
Can grow and advance on the enlightenment path
And be deemed "suitable for cultivating enlightenment"

Ordinary people are full of layers over layers of partial grasping
Acting spontaneously as one will
Simply enhances and demonstrates such grasping
This kind of "Straightforward Mind"
How could it be suitable for cultivating enlightenment

Do not misunderstand the famous Chan saying that
　　　　 Straightforward Mind is suitable for cultivating enlightenment
And in confusion
Mistake "acting freely without any considerations to consequences"
As the same as
Those spontaneous responses in the state of enlightenment

Written in Chinese and translated on July 28, 2009
El Cerrito, California

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