Instructions to the Assembly from Zhongfeng Talks in Zhongfeng Record B

Abstract Translation 11 is a talk (“instructions to the assembly”) delivered before a ninety-day summer retreat period. The Head Seat and Rector come to Zhongfeng and explain that heavy rains are interfering with the approaching summer-retreat period. They suggest that Zhongfeng invite monks to have tea with him and deliver a warning whip, a short talk. Instead, he chooses to write out the talk. Zhongfeng states that, in ultimate terms, the summer retreat begins as soon as the practitioner first arouses the aspiration for awakening. The content of this written dharma talk exhorts the participants to constantly keep an eye on the huatou that has no meaning or taste: separating from the huatou is furtive mind. Zhongfeng says he has written this dharma talk as a substitute for the face-to-face meeting of a tea party.