The Principle of Changes

Natural disasters are happening more frequently than ever. The magnitude of the earthquake only increases. We are completely caught off guard by these accidents. We can become refugees overnight. How do we deal with constant changes or impermanence? Our lives are conditioned by time, a constant variable. We take birth at one time, yet, we lose our lives in the span of time. Bit by bit, this karmically formed body of human being ages and distinguishes at last.

What are the advantages of Dharma practice? What's the point of it? It is to recognize our spirituality or suchness. It is something free from death and afflictions. Where is this deathless and unafflicted thing exactly? It is a treasure beyond living and dying that is hidden in our compounded body. 

Did we take some time to uncover it? To find it? Since birth until now, we’ve only been exploring the world for fun, study, romance, career, and so forth. External temptations have gotten a hold of us that we are unaware of such treasure. It is an innate source of bliss that is devoid of worries, unchangingness, and unceasing. It is our original face. Such a deathless and blissful nature is what the Buddha inspires us to seek. Nonetheless, we look for money, love, suffering, and other tangible pursuits. However, they are compounded with arising and ceasing. In other words, they don’t last forever. We are bound in impermanence and troubled by it. 

What is our mind like? A mirror. As you’re reading this teaching of mine, you’re a mirror reflecting the content. As you’re seeing my articles, you’re reflecting like a mirror. Recognizing this relationship, you’d come to the understanding of our mirror-like mind that is clear and luminous. The mirror cannot become the surrounding environment and vice versa. These two should not be mixed together. If we want to attain liberation, we must recognize our mirror-like mind that reflects clearly everything. Yet, the mirror remains as a mirror while the surrounding objects remain as they are. Do not confuse the perceiver and the perceived as one thing.

Everything that's happening outside has nothing to do with our nature of mind. That's how our spirituality is independent. Having an independent spirituality, one could attain liberation. If our spirituality relies on extraneous conditions, we're caught in suffering, emptiness, and impermanence. Consequently, we are troubled, afflicted, and restricted. There's no freedom at all.

The reason that we roam in cyclic existence is not recognizing ourselves. We are not with ourselves. Hence, we feel insecure and stripped from freedom. Should we hope to attain Buddhahood, we need to understand the qualities of the Buddha. Yet, the Buddha is none other than our nature of mind. How do we uncover our nature then? Chan practice is the way. Through sitting meditation, we are with our minds. We'd find stabilization. The longer we sit, the more secured and stabilized we'd be. Like a solid mountain, we'll find that treasure that is always reliable.