Changing and Unchanging

Once, one disciple asked me "Grand Master, is the Buddha Nature ever changing or unchanging?"

That was a tough question and so I maintained my silence and did not answer him.

He then asked "Does Grand Master know or not know the answer?"

I replied, " I would like you to read a Zen riddle between Zen Master San Zang and Zen Master Hui Hai. Your answer lies within their dialogue."

The dialogue is as follows?

Zen Master San Zang asked Zen Master Hui Hai, "Please tell me if the Buddha Nature changes."

Zen Master Hui Hai replied, "It changes."

Zen Master San Zang said, "You are wrong, the Buddha Nature never changes."

"I am not wrong, it is just that you do not have the Buddha Nature in you."  Zen Master Hui Hai retorted.

"Who said that I do not have the Buddha Nature in me?  Every sentient being has the Buddha Nature in him."  Zen Master San Zang said, perplexed.

Zen Master Hui Hai replied, "If the Buddha Nature never changed , how could  we transform  greed,  hatred and ignorance into abstinence,  meditation  and wisdom, from the Six Consciousnesses to the Six Transcental Powers, from the anxiety to the Budhi, and from ignorance to prajna  wisdom? ,  If the Buddha Nature never changed, all these would not be possible, wouldn't it"

Zen Master San Zang was speechless and replied, "It seems that the Buddha Nature is forever changing then."

At this point, Zen Master Hui Hai turned around and said "The Buddha Nature does not change. If it does change, that would not be the Nature of the Buddha."

Zen Master San Zang was frustrated with this and blurted out, "You have just said it is ever changing and now you say that it is not.  How can you explain this?"

Zen Master Hui Hai replied, "When a person is enlightened and attains the Buddha Nature , he will realize the relationship between  Buddha Nature and all phenomenas. Whether it changes or not, it is all the Buddha Nature. Vice versa, if one does not attain the Buddha Nature , it is incorrect to say that it changes or it never changes."

After much thought, Zen Master San Zang was surprised with his revelation.

When we broach the subject "changing" and "unchanging", three questions come to my mind.

A monk once asked me, "As monks living in the Rey Tseng temple, everyday we tend the yards, attend to visitors and prepare meals. We work hard everyday and have little or no time to meditate, is that proper conduct for a monk?"

Another monk said, "Look at this Master at the Rey Tseng temple, he spends the entire day sitting in his room meditating, he does not tend the yards, does not chant or pray. He does nothing, not even when others ask him to do something. He says that he is meditating and does not want to be disturbed by others. Such a master does nothing but eat and meditate, is that proper conduct for a monk?"

Other monks deliberate over whether a recluse should live in the mountains or in the city. They pondered over whether to live among people and help save those in this world or to live outside of this world, away from all earthly things.

I truthfully tell everybody that these questions are a problem of the "heart". A person whose heart is liberated and carefree will approach all affairs with much objectivity and insight,  and his conduct would be always proper no matter what he does and what situation he is in.

Conversely, a person whose heart is incarcerated and constrained will always find obstacles along his path and constantly be troubled. Such a person will not be able to change and adapt as he has not attained the Buddha Nature ."

I would like to tell everyone that the nagging doubt, the problems about changing or unchanging, motion and stillness?all these answers rest within you. Is your heart liberated? Is your heart detached from the chains of this world? The heart rules over everything, all the ways in which we conduct our lives are all conjured from our hearts.

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