when the dust is polished off a mirror

clayton cubitt

 

When the illusory body

is extinguished, the illusory mind is

also extinguished. When the illusory mind

is extinguished, the illusory sense objects are

also extinguished. When the illusory sense

objects are extinguished, the illusory

extinguishing is also

extinguished.

 

When the illusory

extinguishing is extinguished, that

which is not illusory is not extinguished.

It is similar to how, when the dust

is polished off a mirror, the

brightness appears.

 

Virtuous one,

you should know that body

and mind are both illusory dust.

When the form of this dust is wiped

away, purity pervades

the universe.

 

The Sutra of Complete Enlightenment

from Dialogues in a Dream

by Musō Soseki

 

this is the pure buddha-land

within purity

 

There is no dharma

that can be explained, no mind that

can be spoken of: inherent reality-nature is empty.

Going back to the fundamental basis is the Path. The real

identity of the Path is empty and boundless, vast and pure.

With its stillness and solitude, it obliterates the cosmos.

It pervades ancient and modern, but its nature

is pure. It is perfect from top to bottom

and everywhere pure. This is the

pure buddha-land.

 

The Path

of enlightenment

cannot be charted or measured:

highest of the high, vast beyond limit,

deepest of the deep, profound beyond

fathoming, big enough to contain

heaven and earth, small enough

to enter an infinitesimal

point—thus it is called

the Path.

 

Records of the Teachers and Students of the Lanka

full text here

 

within purity, grasping does not exist

a very simple affair

 

Repeatedly

undergoing birth and death

is just due to grasping at objects.

When we reflect back on the mind that

grasps at objects, we see that the real identity

of mind is originally pure. Within this purity, grasping

mind does not exist. Within nirvana, fundamentally

there are no thoughts moving; the movement

is ever still. Being still, there is

no seeking.

 

Records of the Teachers and Students of the Lanka

full text here

 

grasping at objects

all be gone tomorrow

 

Repeatedly undergoing

birth and death is just due to grasping

at objects. When we reflect back on the mind that

grasps at objects, we see that the real identity of mind

is originally pure. Within this purity, grasping mind

does not exist. Within nirvana, fundamentally

there are no thoughts moving; the

movement is ever still. Being

still, there is no

seeking.

 

Records of the Lanka