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The Third Door of Liberation

Thich Nhat Hanh · May 1, 1998 · Plum Village, France
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Śūnyatā (emptiness), alakṣaṇa (signlessness), and apranihita (aimlessness) are the three doors of liberation (the three gates of liberation). Among them, aimlessness (apranihita) means that there is nothing you need to do, no goal to attain, no object to pursue—you are already what you want to become.

To practice aimlessness is to stop all the running, to cease all seeking, to come home and dwell peacefully in the present moment in order to touch the nirvana that is already available within us. A wave is made of water; it does not need to go in search of water. A flower is simply present in order to be present. When we see this clearly, restlessness dissolves, giving rise to sudden enlightenment (đốn ngộ) and non-attainment (vô đắc), and happiness and peace are available right away.

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