Blue Cliff Record, Case 86

Yun-men’s Bright Light

Yunmen gave instruction, saying, “Everyone has his own light. If you want to see it, you can’t. The darkness is dark, dark.  Now, what is your light?”

He himself answered, “The storeroom. The gate.”

Again he said, “It would be better to have nothing than something good.”

“If you want to see it, you can’t. The darkness is dark, dark.”

Eka stood in the snow, cut off his arm and said to Bodhidharma, “My mind has no peace as yet. I beg you master, please put it to rest.” Bodhidharma said, “Bring me your mind and I will put it to rest.” Eka said, “I have searched for my mind, but I cannot find it.”

“Now, what is your light?” He himself answered, “The storeroom. The gate.”

Can you paraphrase Unmon’s words? – Put yourself in the position of Unmon here now. What is your light?

The bird sound.

What else?

The candle, the cup.

Yes, That is your light.

“It would be better to have nothing than something good.”  What is that?  What’s he talking about?

I don’t know!

Achaan Cha said: Don't try to get anywhere in the practise. Desire to be free or enlightened will be the very desire that prevents your freedom. Try as hard as you wish, practise ardently, night and day, but if it is still with the desire to achieve in mind, you will never find peace. The energy from this desire will be the cause for doubt and restlessness. No matter how long and hard you practise, wisdom will not arise from desire. So, simply let go. Watch the mind and body mindfully? But don't try to achieve anything. Stop. What's the mind and body mindfully, but don't try to achieve anything. Don't cling even to the practise or to enlightenment.