Random Reflections on Seeing Through and Letting Go

1. A person's attachments are always seen through and let go of in the process of repeated setbacks.

2. Be grateful to those who bring us to understanding, and to those who bring us to awakening; whether or not the name of teacher and disciple exists, they are the ones who lead us onto the great path of liberation.

3. The Buddha said: It is hard to see the good and not crave it. When good fortune arrives, it is even harder to see the good and not cling to it. The Book of Songs says, "A graceful, modest maiden is a fine match for the gentleman," and again, "Now that I have seen my lord, how could I not be glad?" Between a man and a woman, love at first sight, sinking deeply in—this is the hardest thing to pull oneself out of. Only after being hurt several times can one truly fathom how profound is the Buddha's words: "No lust surpasses sensual desire; of desire, none is greater. It is already enough that there is this one. Were there two such, no one on earth could walk the Path."

4. The Buddha said: A person who harbors love and desire cannot see the Way, like clear water into which a hand is stirred—though many gather around, none can see their reflection. Because a person is entangled by love and desire, turbidity rises in the heart, and so he cannot see the Way. You ascetics should abandon love and desire; when the defilement of love and desire is exhausted, the Way will be seen. What torments people, after all, is love and desire. If love is cut off and desire gone, with nothing at all to cling to within the heart, the squalid scrambling of the mortal world probably loses all meaning. Then the sea is broad enough for fish to leap and the sky high enough for birds to fly—that is true, great liberation.

5. All things become the Dharma; all appearances are illusory. It is in the world that a person is tempered into an otherworldly state of mind. The Dharma is the supramundane truth; only by seeing through all mundane things can one behold the true supramundane Dharma. Everything in the world, every cause and condition a person encounters, is the Dharma. Therefore, living in the world, viewing the world with the Buddha's eye, one naturally tastes the flavor of "entering a blazing fire yet finding the gate of coolness." Whether one leaves the home life or not has not the least to do with whether one is liberated.

6. Lay down the butcher's knife and immediately become a Buddha—that is only one side. On the other hand, lay down the sutras and immediately become a murderer. The great affliction of human beings is that they have a body. Call it a stinking sack or a shell of form, this physical body must eat and dress. To eat and dress is inevitably to take something from the outside world, so complete and absolute desirelessness is extremely hard to achieve. "Broad in scope yet refined in detail, lofty yet walking the middle way"—having seen through and let go, in the end one must still walk the middle path through this life. To be honest, supporting oneself by the labor of one's own two hands is more freeing than enjoying the offerings of the ten directions.

7. The true is also illusion; illusion is also true; true and illusion are one. Let the thought turn, and the true may become illusion, illusion may become true. Whether true or illusory, regard it as empty, and both true and illusory cease.

8. At all times, walking the right path is vitally important. If a person does not choose the straight and right path, he is bound to carry a little karma and suffer a few setbacks. When a person reaches a certain age and has taken enough falls, he knows to stop raising evil thoughts and believing wrong views; then he sets for himself many commandments that must not be transgressed. Precept, samadhi, and wisdom are one: if the heart gives rise to no precept, samadhi and wisdom are hard to arise; if the heart gives rise to precept, samadhi and wisdom arise of themselves. Outside the heart there is no precept; the precept arises from the heart. The receiving and transmitting of precepts is mere form; if you wish to discipline yourself, why be formally ordained? If you cannot discipline yourself, what use is ordination?

9. Fame and gain are neither a good thing nor a bad thing. Fame and gain that come by karma have their reason for existing, but fame and gain seized by every kind of scheme surely carry enormous hidden peril. Even fame and gain that come by karma, do not be too attached to. When advancing, always think of retreating; only thus can one not be burdened by external things.

10. Excessive joy begets sorrow; excessive sorrow begets joy. Heaven and hell differ by a single thought. Let the thought turn, and suffering may turn to joy. All arises from conditions and is empty by nature; originally there was not a single thing—whence comes sorrow?

11. Small kindness is the thief of great kindness. The illness of the world's body and mind is certainly pitiable, but in treating disease one seeks the root; the cause may be that this person's heavy karma cannot be uprooted without bitter repentance. A good physician who saves people should think of removing the root; do not let small kindness spoil great compassion. A good statesman who aids the world should realize that the root lies in the people themselves; unless he enlightens their minds and awakens their will to save themselves, he cannot save the world.

12. Every person has human nature, beastly nature, and ghostly nature. Human nature is easily confused and lost; beastly nature is hard to tame and transform; ghostly nature appears and disappears. How to harmonize these natures? Only by subduing one's own mind. How to subdue one's own mind? Only by cutting off desire and abandoning love.

13. All conditioned things are impermanent; all dharmas are without self; nirvana is serene. Seeking nothing without, attaining nothing within, the heart is bound neither to the Way nor to forming karma. Born empty, dying empty-handed. Coming is empty, going is empty. When conditions arrive, respond; when conditions end, cease. Love, hate, passion, and enmity—what worth have they?

14. Do not think of the past, do not fear the future, do not neglect the present. Once a thing is done, it cannot be undone; the past is irreversible, and thinking of it is useless. If there is a fault, correct it; if there is wrong, repent it. The future is hard to foretell, and thinking of it is useless. Only the present is worth cherishing.