The World of Shih & Li
1. The world of Shih (events)
Particularity
in Universality Subjectivity
Universality
in particularity Objectivity
When
one stays in the centre of the market and is ready to engage in all kinds of
work at any time, he is entitled to receive thirty blows, because he neglects
the cultivation of li, or reality, or non-action. (Wan-Ju T’ung-Che)
2. The world of Li (reality)
Enlightenment
emerging from universality
Non-action
(from which action emerges)
When
one stays on top of the solitary peak and gazes at the sky, he may swallow all
the Buddhas, past, present and future, in one gulp,
but he will neglect the all-sentient beings.
He should also be given thirty blows because he neglects shi, or
action. (Wan-Ju
T’ung-Che)
3. The world of Li and Shih perfectly interfused
Enlightenment
emerging from particularity
Interfusion
of action and non-action
One
stays on top of the solitary peak gazing at the sky, yet he is in the centre of
the market engaged in all kinds of work.
One is in the center of the market engaged in
all kinds of work and yet he stays on top of the solitary peak, gazing at the
sky. If these two men come to me I will
have nothing to offer them. (Wan-Ju T’ung-Che)
4. The world of perfect mutual solutuion between Shih and Shih
Enlightenment
achieved between universality and particularity
Absolute
freedom from both action and non-action
Do
you understand where I shall be? Holding
a staff and sitting front of the door.
When a lion or an elephant or a fox or a wolf comes, every one of the
will receive my blows in like manner. (Wan-Ju T’ung-Che)
Original Teachings of Ch’An
Buddhism Chang Chung-Yuan Vintage Books 1971
ISBN 0-394-71333-8
(p. 53)