Southern Zen and Northern Buddhism From the anthologies of ancient Zen masters, it can be seen that when there are ** or visitors ask "what is Zen", those great monks often tell them: "Don't say, don't say." This is not because the Zen masters are playing tricks on the mysterious, nor is it for the sake of maintaining a sense of mystery, but because the essence of Zen is really difficult to fully express in words, and it is wrong to say it.
It is wrong to say it because words can only touch the surface of things, and the essence of Zen is often hidden beneath the surface, which is difficult to describe in simple words. The mystery of Zen lies in experience, not mere words. Every attempt to describe Zen in words risks losing its true meaning and distorting its essence.
There is a saying in the Diamond Sutra: "The mind should be born without dwelling." This phrase is one of the core teachings of Zen Buddhism. It describes a state in which the mind should not be attached to anything in order to give birth to true wisdom and insight. It should be pointed out that the phrase "the mind should be born without dwelling" itself cannot be fully expressed in words. If one simply stays at this sentence without truly experiencing and understanding the deep meaning behind it, one will miss the true meaning of Zen.
This experience and realization is indescribable because it transcends the boundaries of language. Even those great Zen masters can only use various metaphors, symbols, and practice methods to guide them to get closer to the true meaning of Zen. The final comprehension still needs to be experienced and felt by ourselves, rather than just listening to the explanations.
Thus, "speaking" and "not speaking" form a delicate balance here in Zen. Zen Buddhism believes that "speaking" is a last resort to guide people closer to the true meaning of Zen. However, "unspeakable" highlights the essence of Zen – transcending the boundaries of language and not being able to fully express it in words. This is why Zen Buddhism emphasizes "heart-to-heart", and only through inner experience and comprehension can we truly understand the true meaning of Zen.
Of course, we can also explore and experience the mysteries of Zen in a variety of ways, including listening, practicing, observing, and reflecting. Although these methods cannot fully reveal the truth of Zen, they can open a door to Zen, truly understand the deep meaning behind the "unspeakable", and gradually approach the wisdom of Zen.