HOME Korean BuddhismBuddhist Tenets

Buddhist Tenets

Verses on the Mind of Faith (신심명)

Pages Information

Writer Jogye Date17 Aug 2015 Read8,622 Comment0

Content


Verses on the Mind of Faith (信心銘; Xinxin ming)
신심명 

Written by the Third Patriarch, Sengcan, Verses on the Mind of Faith is fondly recited at Seon temples. It is a rather short text, consisting of 148 phrases and 592 characters with four characters in each phrase. However, it is said to contain all the essentials of both the Seon and Doctrinal Schools. Verses on the Mind of Faith also espouses the Middle Way, a basic concept of Buddhism. As such it is recognized as one of the greatest records of Seon School, along with the Platform Sutra.

The heart of Verses on the Mind of Faith is the “Middle Way which is free from the two extremes.” It is a terse representation of the Middle Way and devoid of the relative concepts sentient beings hold in their daily lives; concepts such as love and hate, right and wrong, or like and dislike. Ven. Seongcheol referred to Xinxin ming as a “comprehensive exposition on the Middle Way” and praised the text by saying, “I marveled at how it expressed the Middle Way so simply and with such beautiful language, a concept the Buddha taught all his life.” Following is an excerpt from Xinxin ming

The Supreme Way is not difficult
If only you do not discriminate.
When love and hate are both bereft,
You will clearly understand.
Make the smallest distinction,
And you are as far apart as heaven from earth.
If you wish to see the truth,
Hold no opinions for or against anything.

- excerpt from Buddhist English (Intermediate 2) published in 2014 by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism​  

 

Comment List

No comments.

Buddhist Tenets List

Total 33. 1 page
Buddhist Tenets List
No Subject / Topic Writer Date Read
33 Diamond Sutra (금강경) 인기글 Jogye 17 Aug 2015 25,090
32 Heart Sutra(반야심경) 인기글 Jogye 17 Aug 2015 12,001
31 Five Aggregates (오온) 인기글 Jogye 17 Aug 2015 10,423
30 Mahayana Buddhism (대승불교) 인기글 Jogye 17 Aug 2015 10,261
29 Theravada Buddhism (상좌부불교) 인기글 Jogye 17 Aug 2015 10,194
28 Song of Enlightenment (증도가) 인기글 Jogye 17 Aug 2015 10,051
27 Noble Eightfold Path (팔정도) 인기글 Jogye 17 Aug 2015 9,664
26 Mirror of Seon (선가귀감) 인기글 Jogye 17 Aug 2015 9,633
25 Four Noble Truths (사성제) 인기글 Jogye 17 Aug 2015 9,360
24 Four Immeasurable Minds (사무량심) 인기글 Jogye 17 Aug 2015 9,022
23 Samsara (육도윤회) 인기글 Jogye 13 Aug 2015 8,973
22 Impermanence (무상) 인기글 Jogye 17 Aug 2015 8,894
21 Twelve Links of Dependent Arising (12연기) 인기글 Jogye 17 Aug 2015 8,663
>> Verses on the Mind of Faith (신심명) 인기글 Jogye 17 Aug 2015 8,623
19 Non-Self (무아) 인기글 Jogye 17 Aug 2015 8,621
1 2 3
Search
컨텐츠 상단으로 이동