Asian Sages

Lao Tsu:

"My words are easy to understand and easy to perform, Yet no man under heaven knows them or practices them. "

"My words have ancient beginnings. My actions are disciplined. Because men do not understand, they have no knowledge of me.

Those that know me are few; Those that abuse me are honored. Therefore the sage wears rough clothing and holds the jewel in his heart."

-- Tao Te Ching

The Third Patriarch of Zen:

"Make the smallest distinction, however, and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart. If you wish to see the truth, then hold no opinions for or against anyone. The Way is perfect, like vast space, where nothing is lacking and nothing is in excess. Indeed, it is due to our choosing to accept or reject that we do not see the true nature of things. Live neither in the entanglement of outer things nor in the inner feelings of emptiness. Be serene in the oneness of things and such erroneous views will disappear by themselves. Those who do not live in the single way fail in both activity and passivity, assertion and denial. The changes that occur in the nothing world we call real are only because of our ignorance.

Do not search for the truth. Only cease to cherish opinion. In the chase of this and that the mind essence will be lost in confusion. Although all dualism comes from the One, do not be attached even to this One. When the mind exists undisturbed in the Way, nothing in the world can offend. And when a thing can no longer offend, it ceases to exist in the old way. When no discriminating thoughts arise, the old mind ceases to exist. When thought objects vanish, the thinking subject vanishes, as when the mind vanishes, objects vanish.

Things are objects because of the subject mind. The mind subject is such because of things object. Understand the relativity of these two and the basic reality, the unity of emptiness. In this emptiness the two are indistinghuisable, and each contains in itself the whole world. If you do not discriminate between coarse and fine, you will not be tempted to prejudice and opinion.

To live in the great Way is neither easy nor difficult. It is only different. But those with limited views are fearful and irresolute. The faster they hurry, the slower they go. And clinging cannot be limited at all. Even to be attached to the idea of enlightenment is to go astray. Just let things be in their own way, and they will be neither coming nor going. Obey the nature of things and you will walk freely and undisturbed. When thought is in bondage the truth is hidden, for everything is murky and unclear. And the burdensome practice of judging brings annoyance and weariness. What benefit can be derived from distinctions and separations? If you wish to move in the one Way, listen. The wise man strives to no goals, but the foolish man fetters himself. There is one dharma, not many. Distinctions, separations arise from the possession or clinging needs of the ignorant. To seek mind with the discriminating conceptual mind is the greatest of all mistakes.