The Instant You Open Your Mouth You’re Already Way Off

Abstract

In my last talk I discussed how Linji responded to the lecture-master’s notion that the Three Vehicles’ twelve divisions of teachings reveal Buddha-nature. Confronting the standpoint of doctrinal study, Linji pointed to the source from which those teachings emerge. Yet the lecture-master could not enter directly into that source, so he ended up stuck in silence. Linji broke off their mondō by asking him to take his interest in trivialities and leave so that those with questions about the fundamental matter could step forward and ask their questions.