Richard Hunn Played in a Local Kyoto Band!
The point is to realise the empty mind ground – here and now – and not be distracted by other thoughts that would divert the practitioner away from this vital objective. On the one hand, there is the cycle of the external world, which quite often requires a type of timed ritualistic behaviour, and then there is the imminant need to focus the attention firmly within, and directly perceive the all-embracing empty mind ground. Which is it to be, outer convention or inner revolution? For Ch’an, the direction is clear – nothing else matters other than the realisation of the empty mind ground. This is the caee despite all living Ch’an Masters occupying a living body that inhabits the material world. The facilitator of the empty mind ground must live by eating, wearing clothes, living within a building, and earning a living, etc. All these things, which includes social, cultural, and political interactions, turn-out to be vitally important on the one-hand – and completely pointless on the other. And yet some type of anchorage in the material world must be established if Ch’an is to be effectively taught.
This is a paradox that possesses no single answer. There is no blue-print or set manner in response to this need. How a Ch’an teacher manifests – is how they manifest – and that all depends on the personal situation of the teacher in question. A homeless monk, for instance, can effectively teach, as can an ordinary person, or a person in a high position. Status does not matter. That is merely a necessary window-dressing. What is important is that those who are searching for the empty mind ground must also understand that the expedient circumstances of an effective teacher are irrelevant – if the student can effectively grasp the huatou and decisively “look within”. The reason externality does not matter at this point is that to be overly concerned with externality is to fall into the trap of “attachment” as taught by the Buddha. Attachment to externality is to be ensnared in the distraction of a sideways thinking that diverts from “looking within”. Non-attachment dissolves part of the habitual power of delusion and assists in the clearing of many barriers to achieving inner awareness and profound insight. Of course, once the empty mind ground is fully realised – and the form and void integrated – then the state and function of the external world can be altered for the better using “wisdom” – if such an alteration is required.
By 2004, I was discussing with Richard Hunn about the possibility of him relocating back to the UK and living in Sutton – in the same street as my family. At that time, things were very good in the UK, and this idea was a very real possibility. Richard Hunn had lived in Japan since 1991, and had achieved every one of his primary (academic) research objectives. Furthermore, after 13-years in Japan – Richard was beginning to yearn for a return to his native English culture. Not only this, but he very much appreciated the Anglo-Chinese set-up we had going in the Sutton area. The perfect integration of English and Hong Kong culture. Richard Hunn had been teaching English in Kyoto whilst researching the roots of Chinese Ch’an in Japan. This research had been more or less completed by 2004. Richard wanted a return to tea, fish and chips, and Chinese cooking! The problem was that he started to experience alarming health episodes which started off as apparently minor, but got steadily worse - until the terrible diagnosis of terminal cancer during late 2005. Richard opted to stay in Japan and adjust himself to circumstance. This he did until his final breath - taken during October 1st, 2006, whilst sat-up meditating in a Kyoto hospital bed.
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