The sound of a single palm

The sound of a single palm

Text/nature

In this world, we are used to applause.

Applause, that came from the combined striking of both hands.

We gave a speech and applauded. We jumped high and applauded. We completed a calligraphy work, and we applauded.

Applause gives us hope, encouragement, honor, affirmation, admiration, and dignity.

Of course, there are also applause. This, exception.

Once our life and career lack applause, or the applause is not intense, we will feel that something is missing or that something is wrong. Even, disappointment, frustration, discouragement, distress, loss of courage, lack of confidence.

In fact, in Buddhism, applause is nothing. It is important to see: whether the cause is pure, whether the process is correct, and whether the result is correct. There are some things, without a little applause, but good results are stringed together. There are other things, although the applause is thunderous, but the consequences are numerous. When Hitler, Mussolini, and Hideki Tojo were popular, there were enough applause, but what was the result?

Buddhism emphasizes and praises: the sound of a single palm.

Some people say that one palm is silent. That's because they don't listen seriously, or in other words, they don't have understanding - they are deaf and can listen with their hearts.

At that time, Zen Master Nan Li asked Master Murray to teach him Zen. Murray said he was too young to teach him. But Zen Master Nanli begged bitterly. For this reason——

Master Murray: You can hear the sound of two palms clapping, and now, I want you to hear the sound of one palm and tell me how the sound of one palm is.

Since then, Zen Master Nanli has been in the Zen hall every day to see the moon and moon, trying to understand the sound of a single palm. During this period, he thought of the sound of the piano, the sound of dripping water, the sound of the wind, the sound of cicadas, and even the cry of an owl. But, are these the sounds of a single palm?

In Japan, Zen Master Baiyin used the "sound of a single palm" as a famous koan: "There will be a sound when the hands clapping each other, what sound will there be in one hand?", In fact, the sound of a single palm is only a convenient method for Zen masters, where does Zen come from? What is the sound? What do you need to palm? It doesn't matter if you have one or two hands.

The conclusion of Buddhism is: Zen, no writing; Zen, the words are broken; Zen is silent; Zen is silent over sound. As the old saying goes: elephants are invisible, and their voices are sparse. If it is said to have a voice, it is the voice of the heart.

For this reason, Zen practitioners, why do they need the sound of two palms everywhere, and it should be the sound of one palm. If there is a heartbeat, it is even better. There is a saying: A silence is like thunder.