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Buddhahood Is Our True Mind

A CERTAIN Wu Yeh of Fengchou was a devoted Buddhist who read through a great many Buddhist scriptures. When he first met Ch'an master Ma Tsu, the celebrated master scoffed, looking at his fine figure and hearing his resounding voice. Using an image, the master said:

The external facade is like a high temple;

In whose interior, even a small statue of Buddha is completely absent.

Hearing this, Wu Yeh knelt before the master and said, "I searched the Three Vehicles of Buddhism and successfully came to an understanding on my own. But as for the Ch'an principle Buddhahood is our True Mind, this is something that I cannot understand through the mind."

"Listen," said the master, "I want you to realize that only such a mind, through which one cannot understand, is the very Buddha-mind you talk about and nothing else."

On this occasion, Wu Yeh didn't see the point. He was a bit dumbfounded and couldn't find anything to say. At last, summoning up his will, he asked, "What is the meaning of the patriarch coming from the west?"

Ma Tsu merely stared at him. Then he exclaimed, "Oh, my dear successor! Enough of this folly! Go away and then come back again!"

At the moment Wu Yeh intended to leave the master, a sudden cry was heard, "Oh, successor!"

Wu Yeh turned his head to look back, while the master exclaimed "What?!"

Realizing the Truth of this, Wu Yeh knelt respectfully before the master, expressing his thanks.

Commentary: The True Mind is not the one that discriminates between or reasons about the myriad things around us. The True Mind transcends all tangible existence, yet manifests itself in all existence. Even the most ordinary things are full of the subtleties of Buddhahood. A simple cry of "What?!" made Wu Yeh realize spontaneously that one cannot find Buddhahood that is everywhere, outside of one's mind. It was his True Mind which answered the master's "What?!" instantly. Thus, Wu Yeh entered the True Mind.