Golden Rules

The two golden rules
of Ch'an tradition,
namely that one
whose insight
merely equals
that of the teacher
possesses
less than half
of the teacher's
inherent power,
and that only
one whose wisdom
surpasses
that of the teacher
is worthy
of receiving
the mind-to-mind
ratification
of true perception
and conferring it
upon others,
are the legacy
of Ch'an Master
Pai-chang Huai-hai
and his student,
Kuei-shan Ling-yu.
On all levels
of your own fateful
experiential journey,
diligently
seek teachers
whose insight
and wisdom
have demonstrably
increased
generation,
upon generation,
upon generation,
beyond ages past.
Then surpass them.

- A.T. Williams

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