Great Throughts Treasury
This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Sosan Zenji, aka Chien-chih Seng-Tsan or Ch'an Seng-ts'an
Chinese Third Zen Patriarch, Poet who wrote Classic Zen Scripture “Hsin Hsin Ming” - "Verses on the Faith-Mind" - "The Book of Nothing", he initiated Tao-hsin (Dõshin) into the profound doctrines of zen
"To deny the reality of things is to miss their reality; to assert the emptiness of things is to miss their reality."
"To live in this faith is the road to non-duality. Because the non-dual is one with the trusting mind."
"To return to the root is to find the meaning but to pursue appearance is to miss the source."
"To seek Mind with the (discriminating) mind is the greatest of all mistakes."
"To set-up what you like against what you dislike is the disease of the mind."
"To understand the mystery of this One essence is to be released from all entanglements."
"To live in this realization is to be without anxiety about non-perfection."
"What benefit can be derived from distinctions and separations?"
"Understand the relativity of these two and the basic reality: the unity of emptiness. In this Emptiness the two are indistinguishable and each contains in itself the whole world."
"When no discriminating thoughts arise the old mind ceases to exist."
"When all things are seen equally the timeless Self-essence is reached. No comparisons or analogies are possible in this causeless, relationless state."
"When love and hate are both absent everything becomes clear and undisguised."
"When the mind exists undisturbed in the Way nothing in the world can offend."
"When you try to stop activity to achieve passivity your very effort fills you with activity."
"When thought objects vanish, the thinking subject vanishes as when the mind vanishes, objects vanish."
"When the deep meaning of things is not understood the mind's essential peace is disturbed to no avail."
"When thought is in bondage the truth is hidden for everything is murky and unclear. And the burdensome practice of judging brings annoyance and weariness."