334 Self and the Phenomenon of Life
b2726 Self and the Phenomenon of Life: A Biologist Examines Life from Molecules to Humanity “9x6”- All elements in the universe except hydrogen are spontaneous fusion
products of the stars, but this process, which is exothermic (giving out
energy), goes up to the formation of iron only; elements heavier than
iron need energy input (endothermic) to form, which can occur only in a
supernova explosion. - This famous statement is a Chan classic attributed to Qingyuan Weixin
(青原惟信) of Song dynasty (not Tang as reported by some authors). From:
Jiatai Pudeng lu 《嘉泰普燈录》 CBETA, X79, No. 1559, p. 327, a24-b4.
The original Chinese text is: “老僧三十年前未参禅时, 见山是山, 见水是
水。及至后来, 亲见知识, 有个入处, 见山不是山, 见水不是水。而今得个
休歇处, 依前见山只是山, 见水只是水。” The literal translation is: “Before I
had studied Chan for thirty years, I saw mountains as mountains, and waters as
waters. When I arrived at a more intimate knowledge, I came to the point where
I saw that mountains are not mountains, and waters are not waters. But now
that I have got its very substance I am at rest. For it’s just that I see mountains
once again as mountains, and rivers once again as rivers.” See: Watts A. (1989)
The Way of Zen, Vintage Books, New York, p. 126. This statement appears
in slightly different forms in D.T. Suzuki’s writings. See Suzuki DT. (1949)
Essays in Zen Buddhism. First Series, Rider & Co. London, 1926, p. 22;
Grove Press, New York, 1949, p. 24. Also see: Suzuki DT. (1955) Studies in
Zen. Dell Publishing Co. New York, p. 187.