We Betray an Unsound Mind

By amending our mistakes, we get wisdom.
By defending our faults, we betray an unsound mind.

-The Sutra of Hui Neng

"Amend our mistakes" refers to repentance for violating the five precepts for laypeople. This requires developing a sense of shame.

"Wisdom" refers to the ability to choose wisely, based on amending past mistakes.

"Defending our faults" refers to how an unskillful person acts when his mistakes are highlighted.

"Unsound mind" refers to the ordinary Monkey Mind, committing mistakes that hide Buddha Nature. Recovering Buddha Nature, the mind encounters the brightness of the Bodhi Mind.

With repentance, we desire to amend our mistakes.

Afterwards, wisdom helps us to helps us to learn from our mistakes by reminding us about those amended mistakes.

When a person defends her faults, she shows signs of an unsound mind.

When a person admits to her fault, it is possible to amend her mistakes.

This is known as "getting wisdom."

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Originally posted: Feb 11, 2006 2240H
Update posted: March 8, 2013 2057H

Ordinary Mind, Original Nature and Self Nature True Mind

What is ordinary mind?
Ordinary mind is the mind
you were born with, subject
to cause and effect, which
is called Monkey Mind,
due to it swinging from
thought to thought mindlessly.

What is original nature?
The basic goodness everyone is
born with, yet is hidden
by the action of Monkey Mind.
Original nature is Self Nature,
which can be uncovered through
meditation and Buddha Remembrance.

What is Self Nature True Mind?
Self Nature is original nature,
and True Mind is buddha-mind.
Thus True Mind is awakened
to its original nature.

Mind, Mentality and Consciousness

Just as a monkey roaming through the forest grabs hold of one branch, lets that go and grabs another, then lets go and grabs still another, so too that which is called "mind" and "mentality" and "consciousness" arises as one thing and ceases as another by day and by night.

-Buddha, "The Connected Discourses of the Buddha"


Here's the quote in context of the source:

So here is the original translation by Master Thanissaro: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/samyutta/sn-12-061-tb0.html

"Just as a monkey, swinging through a forest wilderness, grabs a branch. Letting go of it, it grabs another branch. Letting go of that, it grabs another one. Letting go of that, it grabs another one. In the same way, what's called 'mind,' 'intellect,' or 'consciousness' by day and by night arises as one thing and ceases as another."

Commentary:

The purpose of this quote is to show that "mind", "mentality" or "intellect", and "consciousness" are just conventional objects.

They are temporary objects of thought, and do not exist outside of the context of worldliness.

Thus, the sutra from which this quote is taken describes the nature of consciousness and the mind.

Boundless Way, Boundless Truth

The Zen master Yun-feng wrote:

The way is the perennial Way,
the truth is the perennial Truth:
don't misapply body and mind
chasing after sayings.
This is why it is said that
"even the slightest object is dust;
as soon as you arouse intent,
you’re confused by hallucination."

To which I humbly reply:

The boundless Way leads
to the boundless Truth!
For the well-applied body-mind
follows the Buddha,
not the sayings of heroes.

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Originally posted: February 18, 2005 1747H
Update posted: March 6, 2013 0033H

Reference:

Yun-feng quote:

http://www.beliefnet.com/Quotes/Buddhist/General/Y/Yun-Feng/The-Way-Is-The-Perennial-Way-The-Truth-Is-The-Per.aspx