Polishing a Brick to Make a Mirror

Long ago, when Patriarch Mazu Daoyi was still learning the Buddhist path, he believed that Buddhahood could only be achieved through seated meditation alone. He did not understand that attaining Buddhahood results from the union of meditative concentration (samadhi) and wisdom (prajna), and that only when concentration and wisdom are perfectly integrated can one transform both body and mind and the world. When Chan Master Huairang, seeking outstanding talents for Buddhism, encountered Mazu Daoyi, he saw Mazu constantly sitting in deep meditation. Observing Mazu's extraordinary appearance, dignified and imposing bearing, and the exceptional spirit of a patriarch, Huairang wished to guide him to become a great vessel of the Dharma, a "dragon-elephant" of Buddhism. Chan Master Huairang then sat opposite Mazu Daoyi and began vigorously grinding a tile. This attracted Mazu's attention, and Huairang explained, "I am grinding this tile to make a mirror." Mazu shook his head, saying, "Grinding a tile cannot make a mirror." Chan Master Huairang replied, "Sitting in meditation cannot make you a Buddha either."

Thereupon, Mazu Daoyi humbly asked how one could then attain Buddhahood. Huairang then explained the principle and path to Buddhahood to Mazu Daoyi. To attain Buddhahood, one must first understand the fundamental Buddha-nature. Only after realizing the mind and seeing one's true nature (mingxin jianxing) can one become a Buddha. How does one realize the mind and see one's true nature? Through Chan practice (canchan). Of course, Chan practice involves not only concentration (ding) but also wisdom (hui). Concentration and wisdom must be held in equipoise (dinghui dengchi), without bias or imbalance, to open great wisdom, realize the mind and see one's true nature, and ultimately attain Buddhahood. On the path of cultivation, one must perfectly integrate and fully embody all dharmas (yuanrong juzu yiqie fa), without any deviation, to achieve Buddhahood. Lacking wisdom and merely cultivating concentration single-mindedly will not open wisdom. Conversely, without meditative concentration, merely engaging in intellectual reasoning and conceptual understanding (tuili qingsi yijie) likewise cannot open great wisdom. Only the combination of both concentration and wisdom allows one to fully possess all wisdom and perfectly attain Buddhahood. After comprehending the principle of attaining Buddhahood, Mazu Daoyi diligently practiced day and night, finally realizing the mind and seeing his true nature, becoming a great patriarch of his generation.