How Could He Make Up His Mind

The Fireplace Records, Chapter 13

The student asked, "One question that keeps cropping up in the Zen Buddhist koan literature is "What is the Buddha?"

I've read that Baso said, "This very mind is the Buddha." (GG 30, Sekida)
Nansen said, "Ordinary mind is the Way." (GG 19)
Baso said, "No mind, no Buddha." (GG 33)
Nansen said, "It is not mind; it is not Buddha; it is not things." (GG 27)
I've read that Nansen said: "Ordinary Mind is Buddha."
Pan Shan said, "There is nothing in the Triple World,
where can mind be found." (BCR 37)
Yun Men said, "Food in the bowl, water in the bucket." (BCR 50)."

"I am impressed by the catchy phrases, uplifted in spirit, but I am still a bit confused."

The teacher replied, "Don't agree with or believe in some of what you read. Don't concern yourself to much with what so and so said so in so. Some confusion can be productive around complex issues and concepts.  Don't make up your mind right away about important Dharma matters. Mind your mind."  

The teacher continued, "The Buddha is explained and expressed and symbolized in our ordinary lives through attentiveness, insight, dedication, compassion, gratitude, wisdom, enlightenment, being down to earth, following a spiritual path and practice, following the Precepts, seeing clearly, supporting others, etc.   So, yes, I do oftentimes hear the Buddha Dharma revealed within our ordinary minds, ordinary deeds, and our ordinary words."

The student smiled.  

The Student's Considerations:

A teacher is not necessarily a Master.
Mind my mind: Observe, Judge, Control-Act.
Don't let the mind get too closed.
Being open minded is sometimes temporary impartiality.
"Mind", mind you, is hard to define, comprehend, explain.
Act, when needed, quickly; otherwise deliberate first.    

Related Links, Resources, References

GG, Hekiganroku: Gateless Gate, Translated by Katsuki Sekida, Cases 19, 27, 30, 33. 
BCR, Blue Cliff Record, Translated by Katsuki Sekida, Cases 37, 50 

Refer to my Cloud Hands Blog Posts on the topic of Koans/Dialogues.

The Daodejing by Laozi    Best? 

Pulling Onions  Over 1,043 One-line Sayings by Mike Garofalo

Chinese Chan Buddhist and Taoist Stories and Koans

Taoism

Buddhism

Fireplaces, Stoves, Campfires, Kitchens, Pots, Firewood

Chinese Art

Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong

Meditation Methods

Zen Koan Books I Use

Koan Database Project

Sparks: Brief Spiritual Stories, Dialogues, and Encounters
Matches to Start the Kindling of Insight
May the Light from Your Inner Fireplace Help All Beings
Zen Buddhist Koan Collections
Catching Phrases, Inspiring Verses, Hard Questions
Bibliography, Indexing, Quotations, Notes, Resources
Research by Michael P. Garofalo

The Fireplace Records
By Michael P. Garofalo