The notion of
enlightenment means, “not bound”.
Not bound to what? Not bound to one’s own
mind in ordinary ways; not bound in confusion
to all the suffering that one’s mind
has produced and is
experiencing.
The notion of
enlightenment means, “not bound”.
Not bound to what? Not bound to one’s own
mind in ordinary ways; not bound in confusion
to all the suffering that one’s mind
has produced and is
experiencing.
Nonbeing gives
birth to the oneness.
The oneness gives birth to yin and
yang. Yin and yang give birth to heaven,
earth, and beings. Heaven, earth, and
beings give birth to everything
in existence.
Therefore everything
in existence carries within it both
yin and yang, and attains its harmony by
blending together these two
vital breaths.
Ordinary people
hate nothing more than to be
powerless, small, and unworthy.
Yet this is how superior people
describe themselves.
Gain is loss.
Loss is gain.
I repeat what others have said:
The strong and violent don’t die natural deaths.
This is the very essence of my teaching.
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Maintaining
quiet awareness from
moment to moment, you’ll see
that your enlightenment is not separate
from the ordinary world but one with it.
It doesn’t come from some distance to
get to you and it doesn’t go away
when you stop attending to it.
Make awareness continuous,
though, and it will
surround
you.
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A moment of
great influence is at hand.
Prepare wisely and act
accordingly.
The image of the hexagram Fêng is that of thunder and lightning filling the sky. It signifies a period of tremendous power which, like all such moments, only lasts for a time. Here we are instructed how to know when the moment is ripe, and what to do when it is not.
Our influence in the world naturally ebbs and flows. At one moment others are full of mistrust, and forward movement is impossible. In the next, by steadfastly clinging to what is true and good, we reawaken their receptivity and growth can take place. Only by carefully observing these cycles—the openings and closings of others to our influence—can we achieve greatness. To do this, we must cultivate an attitude of independent watchfulness. In this state of quiet observation we open our hearts to the aid of the Sage, who in turn opens our eyes to what is possible and what is not. This clarity enables us to move with strength and grace when the time is right, and in this we achieve abundance.
Fêng also advises us that influence cannot last forever; as the sun rises, so it must set. When receptivity gives way to mistrust and our influence begins to wane, we ought not struggle to fortify or prolong it. Modesty and detachment require that we accept the turning of the tide. By letting go of the passing moment and entering the next with a correct and balanced attitude, we save ourselves for a more beneficial time.
from The I Ching, or Book of Changes
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When we reach
the ultimate stillness, we
joyfully become aware that this mind
of ours is empty, without any things,
and extends infinitely in
all directions.