Ignore what your ears hear, follow what your mind hears

From this month’s first Zen maxim in Japanese site of Rinzai-Obaku Zen.

In the night without any winds after a heavy snow, you might be able to hear the sounds of bamboos spring back from the snow’s weight. Illustrating that you need to silence what your ears hear to follow what your mind hears.

寒夜無風竹有声 耳聞不似心聞好 (かんやかぜなくたけにこえあり にもんはしかずにしんもんのよきに)

臨黄ネットの今月の最初の禅語から。

雪が降った後の風のない夜に、竹が雪の重みを跳ね返す音が聞こえる。耳に聞こえる音や声にばかりに捉われていると、従うべき心の声は聞こえてきません。

Kaua e rongo mā ōu taringa, rongo mai mā tōu manawa.

Hei tā te kōrero tuatahi o te marama i te wāhanga Hapani o te Rinzai-Obaku Zen.

Ka whakamutu te hau, ka rangona te kōhumuhumu o te ngahere mākoha. Kaua e rongo mā ōu taringa, rongo mai mā tōu manawa.