Selections from Zhongfeng Dharma Talks in Zhongfeng Record B

Abstract Translation 10 consists of seventeen selected dharma talks. Students bring paper and ask Zhongfeng for an instruction—he proceeds to write one out. Fifteen of the recipients are monks; two are laymen (both Japanese). There is also a Korean Sŏn monk. A very common theme is raising the huatou to awareness and producing the sensation of uncertainty about this huatou. Uncertainty is nothing other than the single great matter of samsara. There are numerous warnings not to be caught up in intellectual knowledge. The ancients awakened by having uncertainty about samsara; present-day Chan people awaken by having uncertainty about the huatou. Both awaken to the same Way. Practicing Chan involves no upāyas. Never produce any thought that serves as “backup” to the huatou. A person doing practice-work is like a thief. Huatous mentioned include wu, to where does the One return, and my original face.