Jiaoan’s Sand in the Eye
Hidden Lamp p.90
Jaioan was the niece of a high official of the Song dynasty. When she was young, she decided not to marry or bear children and she set her heart on the way of Chan. She experienced a clear awakening at the words of Master Yuanwu Keqin as he spoke to the assembly.
Later Yuanwu said to her, “You should go on to erase your views –then you will finally be free.”
She answered in verse:
The pillar pulls out the bone sideways;
the void shows its claws and fangs;
even if one profoundly understands,
there is still sand in the eye.
To
set one's heart on the way is to sit at the entrance and admire it, or
to cling to the gate. Way-entering is devoid of clinging. Yuanwu could
see that she could let go, so told her directly to just do so. Life
gives us sandstorms. We squint, we hide behind buildings, we make
excuses. Forward is just forward. No point waiting for the sandstorm to
stop, eh?
Has my head been casting shadows inside as well as out? When I'm told to make an effort, I suddenly picture myself sitting and grunting, as if I might take in an elusive fact.It would be more the other way round if there were any direction for facts to go.
-- shonin