' Buddha Mind '...

This Zen master, Fu Ta-Shih, was Bodhidharma’s contemporary. He was born in 497 a.d. This is part of one of the earliest Zen texts recorded. It refers to the Buddha Mind as the “Mind King”, reminding us of the “All Creating King” and “Rigpa King” as described in the Dzogchen Kunje Gyalpo tantra..

Mind-King Inscription

Attributed to Fu Ta-Shih (Mahasattva Fu)
Translated by Jess Row

(The word ming literally means “inscription,” as an engraving on stone, or figuratively something that should be preserved in one's heart/mind)

1..

To perceive the mind of the Buddha, the king of emptiness,
is subtle, mysterious and difficult.

Without shape, without any distinguishing characteristics,
Still it has the strength of a great spirit.

It can extinguish a thousand calamities,
And bring about ten thousand attainments.

Although its essential nature is empty,
It reveals all aspects of the dharma.

Look for it and there’s nothing to see,
Call out: you’ll just hear the sound of your own voice.

It is the greatest leader of the dharma,
Its moral strength transmits the teachings.

If water tastes salty,
Only the mind-king can perceive its underlying clarity.

We can see that it exists
Even though we can’t see it in front of us.

The mind-king is exactly like this.

The mind-king stays within the body, unmoving,
and faces the gates of perception, where things come and go.

It adapts to the capabilities of all beings, following every necessity,
Remaining completely at ease, with no obstruction.

But remember: what the mind-king does, anyone can do.

2.

The mind that understands our root consciousness—
That same conscious mind sees the Buddha.

Mind is, so Buddha is.
Buddha is, so mind is.

Every moment possessing Buddha mind—
Buddha mind thinking “Buddha.”


-Jackson Peterson