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Lesson
4
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Knowing
the Mind:
No-mind, No-form |
3 of
3 |
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Realizing no-mind and no-form
Carefully
observe, but see no dharmas (phenomena), see no body,
and see no mind. For the mind is nameless, the body
is empty, and the dharmas are a dream.
Master Sheng Yen |
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To realize no-mind and no-form truly,
as opposed to just intellectually, one must cultivate
a stable mind through practice. A confused mind cannot distinguish
between forms in the phenomenal world, much less realize the
formless nature of phenomena. Mere intellectual knowledge of
Dharma—of emptiness, no-mind, and no-self—is of limited
use. One must practice towards actual realization.
Because most people start out the practice more or less confused
and unsure, Bodhidharma, Huineng, the other patriarchs and masters
have given us the methods of Chan to calm and clear our minds,
so that we can experience the true emptiness of forms and realize
the formless Dharma. But it all begins with practicing how to
know our own mind so that it ultimately does not abide anywhere.
From ancient times up to the
present, all teaching have established no-thought
(or no-mind) as the main doctrine, no-form as the
substance, and non-abiding as the basis. No-form
is to be separated from form even when associated
with form. No-thought is not to think even when involved
in thought. No-abiding is the original nature of
humankind.
Huineng |
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The Heart Sutra epitomizes the
teaching on form and emptiness. >>> |
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