Guishan’s Book of Admonition: Timeless Warnings for the Modern Practitioner

Have you ever wondered what a great Zen master like Guishan would write if he stepped into our world today? His admonitions would likely go beyond simply saying that life is suffering and we should practice. He might warn us about the smartphone, that seventh thief sneaking into our hearts, startling us even in moments of supposed stillness.

### The Fire Within the Ashes: A Lesson on Enlightenment

In his dharma talk on Guishan’s Book of Admonition, Venerable Thich Chan Quang recounts the famous story between Master Guishan and his teacher, Baizhang. Once, looking at a pile of extinguished firewood, Baizhang asked, "Is there any fire left?" Guishan picked up a stick and blew on it repeatedly. His teacher shook his head, saying Guishan did not truly understand. Later, when asked the same question, Guishan replied, "The fire is gone." Baizhang then dug through the ashes, pulled out a glowing red ember, and asked, "You say the fire is gone; what is this?" At that moment, Guishan attained enlightenment.

Zen lies precisely in that realization. Blowing on the wood was merely an intellectual display. Such conceptual understanding is criticized by masters because it is like a worm boring holes in tree bark—creating squiggly lines that form no words and hold no meaning.

The lesson here is not about cleverness, but about the sudden breakthrough of the mind when seeing true nature within the ashes. Nothing is truly lost; it only changes form. Similarly, practitioners cannot just cling to views. We must live fully in each moment, like the warm ember hidden within the cold ash.

### When Everything Is Zen

Venerable Thich Chan Quang shares a memorable anecdote about a monk from Soc Trang who practiced Pure Land Buddhism yet deeply understood Zen. This monk taught, "A practitioner who does not know Zen cannot be called a true practitioner." He added that within the Buddha's teachings (Dharma), every practitioner must always possess the essence of Zen; it cannot be otherwise.

He emphasized that if one practices correctly, the realization is the same for everyone. Although there are eighty-four thousand Dharma gates, practicing morality, meditative concentration, and wisdom leads to the same result. Zen is not limited to sitting meditation. It is the attitude of mindfulness in every breath, word, and action. Whether you recite the Buddha's name, chant mantras, or investigate koans, a mind that does not cling and remains unmoved by worldly conditions is truly practicing Zen.

### The Seventh Thief: Smartphones and Modern Temptations

Guishan originally admonished those who chattered idly after meals and lived carelessly. However, Venerable Thich Chan Quang notes that if Guishan were alive today, his text would be ten times longer. Why? Because new temptations have emerged: smartphones, social media, and the Internet.

"We have six sense organs, which are already considered the six thieves. But the smartphone naturally creates a seventh sense organ. If the six thieves are already deadly, adding a seventh thief means we are completely ruined."

Yet, we cannot abandon the smartphone due to its utility. The teacher reminds us that practitioners must use it with intention, refusing to become its slave. If you find yourself glued to the screen all day, it is time to ask yourself: Am I living, or am I dying inside an illusion?

### Timeless Warnings

The core of Guishan’s Book of Admonition rests on simple truths: life is suffering (dukkha), time passes swiftly, and death can come at any moment. Why do we live so casually and emptily? Guishan asks in his text, "Why wait idly, letting time slip away like the wind?"

Life is full of suffering and moves quickly. Death is uncertain. Therefore, we must earnestly practice and refuse to live empty lives. Each day, we get lost in work and worries, only to realize we have passed many years without truly being present. These admonitions are not meant to be read, but to wake us from our long dreams.

### Teaching Disciples in a New Era

At the end of the talk, Venerable Thich Chan Quang emphasizes that we learn today not just for ourselves, but to teach future generations. Each of us is a teacher, at least of our own mind. Issues like smartphones, the Internet, and social media must become topics for sharing within the Buddha's teachings (Dharma); they should not be ignored.

"How can we teach these ancient words so that our disciples become genuine practitioners of high virtue?"

Bring Guishan’s warnings into modern life. Every time you open your phone, ensure it is a tool, not a goal. With every alarm bell, remember impermanence (anicca). With every breath, inhale with mindfulness and exhale with letting go.

Let Guishan’s admonitions cease to be old texts and become a lamp in our hearts, illuminating our path and the paths of others walking beside us. We need not travel far. We only need to return to this body, this heart, and begin a morning of true presence.