February 16th, 2019
Han-Shan Te-Ch'ing (1546-1623)
Buddhas and Patriarchs are of the same Mind; scriptual studies and Ch'an are ultimately identical. The special non-scriptual or non verbal transmission of the Ch'an school is not tramission of some teaching other than the Mind. It only seeks to teach people to transcend language and to realize the truth beyond words. Today, many Ch'an students know only how to condemn scriptural studies, and do not know that the Mind expounded in the scriptures is the foundation of Ch'an teaching.