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From No-Mind to Enlightenment: The Journey of Meditation Practice
Tuệ Trung Thượng Sĩ affirmed that the Way is not found in questions, and questions are not found in the Way; one cannot seek the Way through words, concepts, or affirmation/negation. Fundamentally, there is neither mind nor Way; if there is a Way, how can there be no mind? Mind and Way are intrinsically empty, silent, and still—not concepts or words, like a banana or an orange truly existing but not making any noise. Playing with words or reversing scriptures only helps to break the tracks of seeking terms, so that we may return directly to the practice of mindfulness; no-mind means not giving rise to delusive thoughts, naturally in accord with the Way.
Practicing reflection in the Sangha is to look at oneself through the “mirror” of six true friends, letting go of deluded ideas about oneself, not allowing flattery or discrimination to create boundaries of suffering. Washing away worldly conditions, dissolving worldly conditions, completely letting go of attachments and notions of pride—the victory flag must eventually fall. Practicing merit and wisdom together, diligently polishing the mind (energy), sweeping away delusive thoughts, overcoming the Eight Basic Notions so that the mind is always at ease and clear.
- The six true friends reflect our own image
- The four steps of the Lotus Sutra: opening, showing, realizing, entering
- The Eight Basic Notions: non-birth, non-death; non-permanence, non-interruption; non-coming, non-going; not one, not different
- Practicing both merit and wisdom—merit brings joy to living beings, wisdom brings deep understanding
- Washing away and dissolving worldly conditions—letting go of the dust and bonds of life
- Diligently polishing the mind (energy) and “sifting sand to find gold”—patiently filtering out delusive thoughts, keeping the mind soft and refined