{"id":4472,"date":"2023-10-28T18:30:34","date_gmt":"2023-10-28T18:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clearimaginations.com\/?p=4472"},"modified":"2023-10-29T17:28:46","modified_gmt":"2023-10-29T17:28:46","slug":"faith-in-mind-hsin-hsin-ming-translated-by-d-t-suzuki","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clearimaginations.com\/?p=4472","title":{"rendered":"Hsin Hsin Ming (Faith in Mind) translated by D.T. Suzuki"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Taoist
A depiction of the Taoist Yin-Yang symbol from Hsin Hsin Ming, highlighting balance and interconnectedness in Taoism.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“Hsin Hsin Ming,” also known as “Faith in Mind,” is attributed to the Third Chinese Ch’an (Zen) Patriarch Seng-ts’an. This revered Zen poem delves into the essence of nonduality and the nature of reality. “Hsin Hsin Ming” articulates the path to enlightenment by emphasizing the dissolution of dualistic perceptions and the deeper understanding of existence.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Below is a public domain translation of “Hsin Hsin Ming” by D.T. Suzuki, a pioneering figure in introducing Zen to the Western world. His rendition offers insight into the wisdom encapsulated in “Faith in Mind,” inviting contemplation and a deeper understanding<\/a> of Zen philosophy. Other translations of Hsin Hsin Ming may be titled “Verses of the Perfect Mind” or “The Great Way,” alluding to its Taoist influence.<\/p>\n

Hsin Hsin Ming (<\/strong>“<\/strong>Faith in Mind”) translated by D.T. Suzuki<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Great Way is not difficult
\nfor those who have no preferences.
\nWhen love and hate are both absent
\neverything becomes clear and undisguised.
\nMake the smallest distinction, however,
\nand heaven and earth are set infinitely apart.<\/p>\n

If you wish to see the truth
\nthen hold no opinions for or against anything.
\nTo set up what you like against what you dislike
\nis the disease of the mind.<\/p>\n

When the deep meaning of things is not understood,
\nthe mind’s essential peace is disturbed to no avail.<\/p>\n

The Way is perfect like vast space
\nwhere nothing is lacking and nothing is in excess.<\/p>\n

Indeed, it is due to our choosing to accept or reject
\nthat we do not see the true nature of things.<\/p>\n

Live neither in the entanglements of outer things,
\nnor in inner feelings of emptiness.
\nBe serene in the oneness of things
\nand such erroneous views will disappear by themselves.<\/p>\n

When you try to stop activity to achieve passivity,
\nyour very effort fills you with activity.<\/p>\n

As long as you remain in one extreme or the other,
\nyou will never know Oneness.<\/p>\n

Those who do not live in the single Way
\nfail in both activity and passivity,
\nassertion and denial.<\/p>\n

\"Serene
A tranquil lotus pond depicting mindfulness and a peaceful Zen atmosphere, created through AI art.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To deny the reality of things
\nis to miss their reality;
\nto assert the emptiness of things
\nis to miss their reality.<\/p>\n

The more you talk and think about it,
\nthe further you wander from the truth.
\nStop talking and thinking,
\nand there is nothing you will not be able to know.<\/p>\n

To return to the root is to find the meaning,
\nbut to pursue appearances is to miss the source.<\/p>\n

At the moment of inner enlightenment,
\nthere is a going beyond appearances and emptiness.<\/p>\n

The changes that appear to occur in the empty world
\nwe call real only because of our ignorance.<\/p>\n

Do not search for the truth;
\nonly cease to cherish opinions.<\/p>\n

Do not remain in the dualistic state;
\navoid such pursuits carefully.<\/p>\n

If there is even a trace of this and that,
\nof right and wrong,
\nthe mind-essence will be lost in confusion.<\/p>\n

Although all dualities come from the One,
\ndo not be attached even to this One.<\/p>\n

When the mind exists undisturbed in the Way,
\nnothing in the world can offend,
\nand when a thing can no longer offend,
\nit ceases to exist in the old way.<\/p>\n

When no discriminating thoughts arise,
\nthe old mind ceases to exist.<\/p>\n

When thought objects vanish,
\nthe thinking-subject vanishes,
\nas when the mind vanishes, objects vanish.<\/p>\n

Things are objects because of the subject (mind);
\nthe mind (subject) is such because of things (objects).<\/p>\n

Understand the relativity of these two
\nand the basic reality: the unity of emptiness.<\/p>\n

In this Emptiness, the two are indistinguishable
\nand each contains in itself the whole world.<\/p>\n

If you do not discriminate between coarse and fine,
\nyou will not be tempted to prejudice and opinion.<\/p>\n

To live in the Great Way is neither easy nor difficult,
\nbut those with limited views are fearful and irresolute:
\nthe faster they hurry, the slower they go,
\nand clinging cannot be limited;
\neven to be attached to the idea of enlightenment is to go astray.<\/p>\n

Just let things be in their own way
\nand there will be neither coming nor going.
\nObey the nature of things (your own nature)
\nand you will walk freely and undisturbed.<\/p>\n

\"Hsin
An image representation of Hsin Hsin Ming, showcasing the essence of the Great Way in Taoist philosophy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When the thought is in bondage, the truth is hidden,
\nfor everything is murky and unclear.<\/p>\n

And the burdensome practice of judging
\nbrings annoyance and weariness.<\/p>\n

What benefit can be derived
\nfrom distinctions and separations?<\/p>\n

If you wish to move in the One Way,
\ndo not dislike even the world of senses and ideas.<\/p>\n

Indeed, to accept them fully
\nis identical with true enlightenment.<\/p>\n

The wise person attaches to no goals
\nbut the foolish person fetters themselves.<\/p>\n

There is one Dharma, without differentiation.
\nDistinctions arise from the clinging needs of the ignorant.<\/p>\n

To seek Mind with the (discriminating) mind
\nis the greatest of all mistakes.<\/p>\n

Rest and unrest derive from illusion;
\nwith enlightenment, there is no liking and disliking.<\/p>\n

All dualities come from ignorant inference.
\nThey are like dreams or flowers in air \u2013
\nfoolish to try to grasp them.<\/p>\n

Gain and loss, right and wrong:
\nsuch thoughts must finally be abolished at once.<\/p>\n

If the eye never sleeps,
\nall dreams will naturally cease.<\/p>\n

If the mind makes no discriminations,
\nthe ten thousand things are as they are, of single essence.<\/p>\n

To understand the mystery of this One-essence
\nis to be released from all entanglements.<\/p>\n

When all things are seen equally
\nthe timeless Self-essence is reached.<\/p>\n

No comparisons or analogies are possible
\nin this causeless, relationless state.<\/p>\n

Consider movement stationary
\nand the stationary in motion,
\nboth movement and rest disappear.<\/p>\n

When such dualities cease to exist
\noneness itself cannot exist.<\/p>\n

To this ultimate finality no law or description applies.<\/p>\n

For the unified mind in accord with the Way
\nall self-centered striving ceases.
\nDoubts and irresolutions vanish
\nand life in true faith is possible.<\/p>\n

With a single stroke, we are freed from bondage;
\nnothing clings to us and we hold to nothing.<\/p>\n

All is empty, clear, self-illuminating,
\nwith no exertion of the mind\u2019s power.<\/p>\n

Here, thought, feeling, knowledge, and imagination are of no value.<\/p>\n

In this world of Suchness
\nthere is neither self nor other-than-self.<\/p>\n

\"Spiral
An artistic representation of spirituality and infinity in a spiral by AI-generated artwork.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To come directly into harmony with this reality,
\njust say when doubt rises, “Not two.”<\/p>\n

In this “not two” nothing is separate,
\nnothing is excluded.<\/p>\n

No matter when or where,
\nenlightenment means entering this truth.<\/p>\n

And this truth is beyond extension or diminution in time or space;
\nin it a single thought is ten thousand years.<\/p>\n

Emptiness here, emptiness there,
\nbut the infinite universe stands always before your eyes.<\/p>\n

Infinitely large and infinitely small;
\nno difference, for definitions have vanished and no boundaries are seen.<\/p>\n

So, too, with Being and non-Being.<\/p>\n

Don’t waste time in doubts and arguments
\nthat have nothing to do with this.<\/p>\n

One thing, all things:
\nmove among and intermingle, without distinction.<\/p>\n

To live in this realization
\nis to be without anxiety about non-perfection.<\/p>\n

To live in this faith is the road to non-duality,
\nbecause the non-dual is one with the trusting mind.<\/p>\n

Words! The Way is beyond language,
\nfor in it there is no yesterday,
\nno tomorrow, no today.<\/p>\n

This version, translated by D.T. Suzuki, is a public domain translation and offers a glimpse into the wisdom conveyed in the “Hsin Hsin Ming.” See also the full text of Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“Hsin Hsin Ming,” also known as “Faith in Mind,” is attributed to the Third Chinese Ch’an (Zen) Patriarch Seng-ts’an. This revered Zen poem delves into the essence of nonduality and the nature of reality. “Hsin Hsin Ming” articulates the path to enlightenment by emphasizing the dissolution of dualistic perceptions and the deeper understanding of existence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[147],"tags":[141,140,139,182],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/clearimaginations.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4472"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/clearimaginations.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/clearimaginations.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clearimaginations.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clearimaginations.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4472"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/clearimaginations.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4472\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/clearimaginations.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4472"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clearimaginations.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4472"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clearimaginations.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4472"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}