SEAnews 2014-06-27 ArtNo.45145

【Review】Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32) Jesus wants us to return to the Word, which was with God, and was God in the beginning (John 1:1), and to remain on it. Doing so, the truth comes into our field of vision by itself and release us from all of bitter grief in this world. This exactly is the pith of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
○Who can be baptized with the Holy Spirit?
　However, when John the Baptist learned of what Jesus had embarked on the baptism of the Holy Spirit, he commented, "He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful."(John 3:32-33) It means that only one who can set his seal that God is true to God, in other words, who can realize oneness with God, can be baptized with the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ.
○Robbing function
　Xuefengsi (Snow Peak Temple), which had been set up by Xuefeng Yicun (822-908) on the Xuefeng Mountain in Fujian Province during the later period of the Tang Dynasty and the five dynasties and ten kingdoms period (907-960) in China, flourished, always accommodating about 1,500 learned priests.
　Chan (Zen) Buddhists practice and meditate in their temple in 90 days of summer season, which is referred to as "Xiaanju" in Chinese or "Geango" in Japanese. On the last day of "Xiaanju", Cuiyan-Lingcan, one of Xuefeng's disciple, who had been in charge of the instructor for the summer course, asked the monks, saying, "All through the summer I have preached to you. Look, are my eyebrows still there?" In the Lotus Sutra, it is written that the eyebrows of the one who slanders or distorts the Dharma will fall out.
　Meanwhile, besides Cuiyan, there were many prominent disciples in Xuefeng's school, such as Baofu Congzhan (860?-928), Changqing Huiling (854–932); Yunmen Wenyan (864-949) and so on. For Cuiyan's above question, Baofu replied, "The robber's heart is terrified." Changqing said, "They are there." Yunmen roared, "Guan (Barrier)."
○Messiah's way
　The one who is from the earth speaks as one from the earth (John 3:31), the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God (John3:34). Thus one speaks of heavenly things on the earth even using parables and meshalim, after all no one accepts his testimony.
　Moreover, if the one, who returns to the Word, which was with God and was God in the beginning (John 1:1) and know the truth (John 8:32), tries to testify to what he has seen and heard on the earth, the words come from his mouth are not absolute truth anymore. A today's truth will become a tomorrow's deception in this world. As a result, he will slander and distort the Dharma (the Holy Spirit). However, the one, who decide to strive for messiah's way following Jesus as a role model, has to testify that God is truthful even being accused of a master Villain. Jesus says, "I will build my church on this rock, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.(Mat 16:18)" Although Cuiyan too had decided as such and preached to the congregation, he might somewhat have had a sense of guilt. Baofu, seeing through Cuiyan's such hesitation of mind, said, "Don't be scared. Play as the Villain of the piece." Changqing comforted Cuiyan, saying, "Calm down. Your eyebrows are proper now. It's useless to be afraid of tomorrow." However, Yunmen roared, "You are facing the gate between Hades and Heaven."
[Reference]

○The Blue Cliff Record Case 8 Cuiyan's Eyebrows
　At the end of the summer retreat (practice-period), Cuiyan spoke to the assembly, saying, "All through the summer I have preached to you, brothers. Look, are Cuiyan's eyebrows still there?"
　Baofu said, "The robber's heart is terrified."
　Changqing said, "They are there."
　Yunmen said, "Guan (Barrier)."
○Review：The baptism of the Holy Spirit (Jesus is a role model)

○Xuefengsi (Snow Peak Temple)
　Located in Fujian Province, Minhu Town, on the south slope of Xuefeng Mountain, 77 km up the Min River from Fuzhou. First constructed in 870 of the Tang Dynasty.

Please check the contents that have been updated in this article on"The Origin of Christianity", an e-book, which is being updated from time to time.

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