If you want to
pass through easily and directly
right now, just let your body and mind become
thoroughly empty, so it is vacant and silent yet aware
and luminous. Inwardly, forget all your conceptions of self,
and outwardly, cut off all sensory defilements.
When inside and outside are clear all the
way through, there is just
one true reality.
You have many
choices about the way you live
and work and change and survive.
Say you fall into an ocean. You may give up
and sink, or you may try to swim to
shore. Salvation is your
decision.
Your pride in
yourself and your wanting,
these steal your energy
along the road.
If you can
kill these robbers and
become the servant of everyone,
you’ll meet the Lord in meditation and see
what you used to protect as just
a pile of ashes.
The work of learning
the Way requires greater intimacy
with each passing day, greater intimacy with
each passing hour. Eventually you develop
spontaneous familiarity and
unite with the Way.
Yantou said,
“Abandoning things is superior,
pursuing things is inferior.” If your own state
is empty and tranquil, perfectly illuminated and silently
shining, then you will be able to confront whatever circumstances
impinge on you with the indestructible sword of wisdom and cut
everything off — everything from the myriad entangling objects
to the verbal teachings of the past and present. Then your
awesome, chilling spirit cuts off everything, and
everything retreats of itself without having
to be pushed away. Isn’t this what it
means to be well endowed and
have plenty to spare?
…The Ultimate Path is
simple and easy — it is just a matter of
whether you abandon things or pursue them.
Those who would experience the Path
should think deeply
on this.