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Nan Huaijin's Last Words

Nan Huaijin clarifies that he has never considered himself enlightened or a teacher of Buddhism. He states that everything he knows comes from books and encourages people to read the classics themselves rather than rely on him as a person. Nan Huaijin notes that he is 90 years old and tired, with no energy to deal with many people. He established a college for research purposes only and does not accept new students. Nan Huaijin warns against psychological blackmail and superstition, saying true cultivation comes from changing one's own psychology and habits through meditation and living according to reason and morality.

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170 views2 pages

Nan Huaijin's Last Words

Nan Huaijin clarifies that he has never considered himself enlightened or a teacher of Buddhism. He states that everything he knows comes from books and encourages people to read the classics themselves rather than rely on him as a person. Nan Huaijin notes that he is 90 years old and tired, with no energy to deal with many people. He established a college for research purposes only and does not accept new students. Nan Huaijin warns against psychological blackmail and superstition, saying true cultivation comes from changing one's own psychology and habits through meditation and living according to reason and morality.

Uploaded by

omran97
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Nan Huaijin’s Last words:

1. I've read your letters. You guys want to learn from me. I've never said I was enlightened. I've
never believed I was spreading Buddhism. Furthermore, I've never had any sect or students. It's
been like this for more than a few decades. Everything I know are the in the books. If you read
into it and get any funny ideas about me and what I said, it's you who are responsible for being
duped and tricked.

2. There is saying, "rely on the law but not on people. rely on wisdom, not knowledge." If you
have questions, go read the classics. Why do you have to find a person to worship and rely on?
I'm 90 years. I'm tired. I have no energy to deal with so many people.

3. The college I setup is to investigate some knowledge and to do research together. We do not
take any more new students. The students that we have are just to do research together, and
they were selected with some basic criteria and good serendipity. Anyone who says they have
taken classes and learned here -- well, those are their words, not mine.

4. You guys have read too many novels and fanciful stories. Breaking your arm to learn
Buddhism? Jumping in the ice river or off the top floor when I don't meet you? Kneeling until I
meet you? That is psychological blackmail. Is this reasonable to common sense? Are you really
learning Buddhism? Why do you use such threatening measures? It's self deception. I'm a 90
year old man. Why do you have to threaten an old man to learn the Tao? You guys are
cultivated intellectuals, how can you do something like this?

5. I've never wanted to be a master. I never wanted to take students. I have no organization
called Nan sect. I opposed sects and religions my entire life. That's the business of society.

6. You think that once you have a teacher you will become a Buddha? If you experience the
esoteric knowledge in person you will reach the Tao? That's ridiculous. You guys always talk
about saving others and building merit. Your own life is a mess! Start from becoming a normal
person. Get a real job. Be plain and simple and do things by the rules. Don't blame heaven or
people. Only using self-reflection and living a honest life is the foundation of merit. Otherwise
you will just become a slacker with fanciful dreams and a burden to society. Cultivation begins
with changing your psychology and habits, with meditation as mere support. Merit is the
beginning of wisdom.
7. You want to become a buddha after learning from me? I'm 90 already, and I still haven't seen
a real Buddha or immortal yet. Stop being superstitious. All the books I wrote are only book
knowledge and intellectual. Don't get tricked by those books. Lwen Yu Summary is my main
effort. There are many places to learn Zen. Go over there to meditate. I've never promoted
Buddhism. When I did have Zen classes, those were just organized by colleges, and the people
were screened vigorously. We just did some research together. Afterwards, everyone still had to
go back to live normal lives, to rub against the difficulties of life to strengthen their heart, and to
improve their habits. Everyone must walk their own paths.

You want help from other people? Help yourself! If you really believe in cause and effect, start
by using proper motivation and personal inspection is the intelligent way to begin. This is
cultivation's heart. Your eyes are always looking outward, blaming heaven and earth, relying on
gurus and saints and teachers to worship. This is self-deception and playing a joke on the world.

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