Revolution as an Act of Mind

The psychological and the material are inherently linked at source, with one influencing the other, but with human intention (as structured and directed thought) having the decisive factor for modern human beings. This is despite the fact that during the millions of years of human evolution it has been physical change that has had the upper hand. This change, premised entirely upon environmental pressure and the need to survive, has created the physical structure of the brain that eventually became aware of its own existence.

Master Xu Yun: On the Relationship Between Ch’an & Pure Land Buddhism

Then Mahakasyapa transmitted to him the Tathagata’s Mind Seal, making him the second Indian Patriarch. The transmission was handed down to following generations, and after the Patriarchs Asvaghosa and Nagarjuna, Chan Master Hui-wen of Tian-tai Mountain in the Bei-qi Dynasty (550-78) after reading (Nagarjuna’s) Madhyamika Shastra, succeeded in realizing his own mind and founded the Tian-tai School.269 At the time, our Chan Sect was very flourishing.

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