The Old Monk Beyond Understanding

Zhao Zhou gave this teaching: Reaching the ultimate Way is not difficult; the only problem is discrimination. As soon as there is language, there is discrimination, there is comprehension. This old monk is not within this comprehension. The first two lines are the teaching of the Third Patriarch of Chan, meaning that realizing the great Way is not difficult; the only fear is mistaking the conscious mind—capable of thinking, choosing, analyzing, judging, reasoning, recognizing, and other mental activities—for the great Way itself. That would be counterproductive. Taking these mental activities as the great Way contradicts the Way itself. These mental activities are not in accord with the fundamental awareness of the great Way. The fundamental self-nature does not discriminate, does not take charge, does not analyze, does not judge, and has no thought. The eighth consciousness, fundamental awareness, does not engage in these mental activities. If such activities exist, they must be the work of the conscious mind, not fundamental awareness.

Zhao Zhou provided this commentary: As soon as language, written words, or internal thoughts arise, this is discrimination, this is comprehension. This old monk is fundamentally not within this understanding. Zhao Zhou meant that the fundamental awareness, the eighth consciousness, has no language, does not speak, does not engage in thought, analysis, or judgment, does not discriminate anything, and does not comprehend or know any of the six dust realms. This faculty of comprehension and knowing belongs to the conscious mind; it is not the true self of Zhao Zhou.