The Xin Ming, or "Mind Inscription" (Chinese: 心銘), is a Chan Buddhist text attributed to Niutou Farong (牛頭法融; 594–657), whom the Oxhead School regarded as its founder.
It is not to be confused with the famous Xinxin Ming, or "Faith-Mind Inscription" (also found in chapter thirty of the Jingde chuandeng lu), which is a related but separate text.
Although attributed to Niutou Farong (牛頭法融; 594–657), the Xin Ming can be grouped together with a number of early Chan texts which were probably composed sometime during the eighth or ninth century.
[8] For instance, the notion of "maintaining" or "preserving" (守, shou) is rejected in the following passage:Bodhi exists originallyIt has no need of being preservedAfflictions have no intrinsic existenceThey do not need to be eradicatedNuminous knowing is self-illuminatedThe myriad dharmas return to ThusnessThere is no return, no receivingCut off contemplation, forget preservation[9] Henrik Sorensen likewise observes that the Xin Ming contains references to, and rejections of, the Northern School practice of shouxin (守心).
[12][note 1] For instance:Enjoying the Dao is calmingWandering at ease in the truly realNothing to do (無為, wuwei), nothing to attainRelying on nothing, appearing naturally[16] And also:Without unifying, without dispersingNeither quick nor slowBright, peaceful and naturally so (自然, ziran)It cannot be reached by words[17][note 2]The Xin Ming has been translated into English by Henrik H. Sorensen in the Journal of Chinese Philosophy Vol.13, 1986, pp.