Great Throughts Treasury

"The Way is perfect like vast space where nothing is lacking and nothing is in excess. Indeed, it is due to our choosing to accept or reject that we do not see the true nature of things. Live neither in the entanglements of outer things, nor in the inner feeling of emptiness. Be serene in the oneness of things, nor in the inner feeling of emptiness. Be serene in the oneness of things and such erroneous views will disappear by themselves. When you try to stop activity to achieve passivity your very efforts fills you with activity. As long as you remain in one extreme or the other, you will never know Oneness."

"Do not remain in the dualistic state; avoid such pursuits carefully. If there is even a trace of this and that, of right and wrong, the Mind-essence will be lost in confusion. Although all dualities come from the One, do not be attached even to this One. When the mind exists undisturbed in the Way, nothing in the world can offend, and when a thing can no longer offend, it ceases to exist in the old way."

"When no discriminating thoughts arise, the old mind ceases to exist. When thought objects vanish, the thinking-subject vanishes, as when the mind vanishes, objects vanish. Things are objects because there is a subject or mind; and the mind is a subject because there are objects. Understand the relativity of these two and the basic reality; the unity of emptiness. In this Emptiness the two are indistinguishable and each contains in itself the whole world. If you do not discriminate between coarse and fine you will not be tempted to prejudice and opinion."

"Those who do not live in the single Way fail in both activity and in passivity, assertion and denial. To deny the reality of things is to miss their reality; to assert the emptiness of things is to miss their reality. The more you talk and think about it, the further astray you wander from the truth. Stop talking and thinking and there is nothing you will not be able to know. To return to the root is to find the meaning, but to pursue appearances is to miss the source. At the moment of inner enlightenment, there is a going beyond appearance and emptiness. The changes that appear to occur in the empty world we call real only because of our ignorance. Do not search for the truth; only cease to cherish opinions."

"Obey the nature of things and you will walk freely and undisturbed. When thought is in bondage the truth is hidden, for everything is murky and unclear. The burdensome practice of judging brings annoyance and weariness. What benefit can be derived from distinctions and separations?"

"To live in the Great Way is neither easy nor difficult. But those with limited views are fearful and irresolute: the faster they hurry, the slower they go. clinging cannot be limited; even to be attached to the idea of enlightenment is to go astray. Just let things be in their own way and there will be neither coming nor going."

"If you wish to move in the One Way do not dislike even the world of senses and ideas. Indeed, to accept them fully is identical with full Enlightenment. The wise man strives to no goals but the foolish man fetters himself. There is one Dharma [Truth, Universal Law, elements of existence], not many; distinctions arise from the clinging needs of the ignorant. To seek Mind with discriminating mind is the greatest of all mistakes."

"If the eye never sleeps, all dreams will naturally cease. If the mind makes no discriminations, then ten thousand things are as they are, of single essence. to understand the mystery of this One-essence is to be released from all entanglements. When all things are seen equally the timeless Self-essence is reached. No comparisons or analogies are possible in this causeless, relationless state."

"Rest and unrest derive from illusion; with enlightenment there is no liking and disliking. All dualities come from ignorant inference. They are like dreams of flowers in air: foolish to try to grasp them. Gain and loss, right and wrong: such thoughts must finally be abolished at once."

"Consider motion in stillness and stillness in motion, both movement and stillness disappear. When such dualities cease to exist Oneness itself cannot exist. To this ultimate finality no law or description applies."

"To come directly into harmony with this reality just simply say when doubt arises, “Not two.” In this “not two” nothing is separate, nothing is excluded. No matter when or where, enlightenment means entering this truth. And this truth is beyond extension or diminution in time or space; in it a single thought is ten thousand years."

"For the unified mind in accord with the Way all self-centered striving ceases. Doubts and irresolutions vanish and life in true faith is possible. With a single stroke we are freed from bondage; nothing clings to us and we hold nothing. All is empty, clear, self-illuminating, with no exertion of the mind’s power. Here thought, feeling, knowledge, and imagination are of no value. In this world of Suchness there is neither self nor other-than-self."

"Emptiness here, Emptiness thee, but the infinite universe stands always before your eyes. Infinitely large and infinitely small; no difference, for definitions have vanished and no boundaries are seen. So too with Being and Non-Being. Don’t waste time in doubts and arguments that have nothing to do with this."

"Words! The Way is beyond language for in it there is no yesterday, no tomorrow, no today."

"One thing, all things: move along and intermingle, without distinction. To live in this realization is to be without anxiety about nonperfection. To live in this faith is the road to nonduality, because the nondual is one with the trusting mind."

"The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences When love and hate are both absent everything becomes clear and undisguised Make the smallest distinction however and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart If you wish to see the truth then hold no opinions for or against anything To set-up what you like against what you dislike is the disease of the mind When the deep meaning of things is not understood the mind's essential peace is disturbed to no avail The Way is perfect like vast space where nothing is lacking and nothing is in excess Indeed, it is due to our choosing to accept or reject that we do not see the true nature of things Live neither in the entanglements of outer things nor in the inner feelings of emptiness Be serene in the Oneness of things and such erroneous views will disappear by themselves When you try to stop activity to acheive passivity your very effort fills you with activity As long as you remain in one extreme or the other you will never know Oneness Those who do not live in the single Way fail in both activity and passivity, assertion and denial To deny the reality of things is to miss their reality; to assert the emptiness of things is to miss their reality The more you talk and think about it the further astray you wander from the truth Stop talking and thinking and there is nothing you will not be able to know To return to the root is to find the meaning but to pursue appearance is to miss the source At the moment of inner enlightenment there is a going beyond appearance and emptiness The changes that appear to occur in the empty world we call real only because of our ignorance Do not search for the truth only cease to cherish opinions Do not remain in a dualistic state avoid such pursuits carefully If there is even a trace of this and that, of right and wrong, the Mind-essence will be lost in confusion Although all dualities come from the One do not be attached even to the One When the mind exists undisturbed in the Way nothing in the world can offend And when things can no longer offend it ceases to exist in the old way When no discriminating thoughts arise the old mind ceases to exist When thought objects vanish, the thinking subject vanishes as when the mind vanishes, objects vanish Things are objects because of the subject (mind) the mind (subject) is such because of things (object) Understand the relativity of these two and the basic reality: the unity of emptiness In this Emptiness the two are indistinguishable and each contains in itself the whole world If you do not discriminate between coarse and fine you will not be tempted to prejudice and opinion To live in the Great Way is neither easy nor difficult But those with limited views are fearful and irresolute The faster they hurry, the slower they go and clinging (attachment) cannot be limited Even to be attached to the idea of enlightenment is to go astray Just let things be in their own way and there will be neither coming nor going Obey the nature of things (your own nature) and you will walk freely and undisturbed When thought is in bondage the truth is hidden for everything is murky and unclear And the burdensome practise of judging brings annoyance and weariness What benefit can be derived from distinctions and separations? If you wish to move in the One Way, do not dislike even the world of senses and ideas Indeed, to accept them fully is identical with true Enlightenment The wise man strives to no goals but the foolish man fetters himself There is one Dharma, not many; distinctions arise from the clinging needs of the ignorant To seek Mind with the (discriminating) mind is the greatest of all mistakes Rest and unrest derive from passion, with enlightenment there is no liking or disliking All dualities come from ignorant inference they are like dreams or flowers in the air Foolish to try to grasp them Gain and loss, right and wrong, such thoughts must finally be abolished at once If the eye never sleeps all dreams will naturally cease If the mind makes no discriminations the ten thousand things are as they are - of single essence To understand the mystery of this One essence is to be released from all entanglements When all things are seen equally the timeless Self-essence is reached No comparisons or analogies are possible in this causeless, relationless state Consider movement stationary, and the stationary in motion Both movement and rest disappear when such dualities cease to exist Oneness itself cannot exist, to this ultimate finality no law or description applies For the unified mind in accord with the Way all self-centered striving ceases Doubts and irresolutions vanish and life in true faith is possible With a single stroke we are free from bondage nothing clings to us and we hold to nothing All is empty, clear, self-illumination with no exertion of the mind's power Here thought, feeling, knowledge and imagination are of no value in this world of Suchness there is neither self nor other than self To come directly into harmony with this reality just simply say when doubt arises: "Not two" In this "not two" nothing is separate, nothing is excluded no matter when or where, enlightenment means entering this truth And this truth is beyond extension or diminution in time or space in it a single thought is ten thousand years Emptiness here, Emptiness there... but the infinite universe stands always before your eyes Infinitely large and infinitely small, no difference for definitions have vanished and no boundaries are seen So too with Being and non-Being Don't waste time in doubts and arguments that have nothing to do with this One thing, all things: move along and intermingle without distinction To live in this realization is to be without anxiety about non-perfection To live in this faith is the road to non-duality Because the non-dual is one with the trusting mind Words ! The Way is beyond language For in it there is no yesterday no tommorrow no today"

"To set up what you like against what you dislike is the dis-ease of the mind. When the deep meaning of things is not understood, the mind's essential peace is disturbed to no avail."

"The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences When love and hate are both absent everything becomes clear and undisguised Make the smallest distinction however and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart If you wish to see the truth then hold no opinions for or against anything To set-up what you like against what you dislike is the disease of the mind When the deep meaning of things is not understood the mind's essential peace is disturbed to no avail The Way is perfect like vast space where nothing is lacking and nothing is in excess Indeed, it is due to our choosing to accept or reject that we do not see the true nature of things."

"The Ultimate Path has no difficulties - Just avoid picking and choosing. Don't hate or love, and you'll be lucid and clear. When there's the slightest distinction it's as far apart as heaven and earth. If you want it to appear before you, don't keep to going with or going against."

"If there is even a trace of this and that, of right and wrong, the Mind-essence will be lost in confusion."

"The Way is perfect like vast space."

"All dualities come from ignorant inference they are like dreams or flowers in the air. Foolish to try to grasp them."

"At the moment of inner enlightenment there is a going beyond appearance and emptiness. The changes that appear to occur in the empty world we call real only because of our ignorance."

"Be serene in the Oneness of things and such erroneous views will disappear by themselves."

"Consider movement stationary, and the stationary in motion. Both movement and rest disappear when such dualities cease to exist."

"Do not search for the truth only cease to cherish opinions. Do not remain in a dualistic state, avoid such pursuits carefully. If there is even a trace of this and that, of right and wrong, the Mind-essence will be lost in confusion."

"All is empty, clear, self-illumination with no exertion of the mind's power. Here thought, feeling, knowledge and imagination are of no value in this world of Suchness there is neither self nor other than self."

"Although all dualities come from the One do not be attached even to the One."

"As long as you remain in one extreme or the other you will never know Oneness."

"And when things can no longer offend it ceases to exist in the old way."

"Don't waste time in doubts and arguments that have nothing to do with this"

"Even to be attached to the idea of enlightenment is to go astray."

"If the eye never sleeps all dreams will naturally cease."

"If you do not discriminate between coarse and fine you will not be tempted to prejudice and opinion."

"Indeed, it is due to our choosing to accept or reject that we do not see the true nature of things."

"If you ignore its profundity, you can never practice stillness. Like the Great Void, it is Perfect and lacks nothing, nor has any excess. If you discriminate, you will miss its suchness. Cling not to external causes, nor stay in the Void. Differentiation ceases if you can be impartial. Stillness comes when all disturbances are stopped, clinging to stillness is also a mistake. If you cling to opposites, how will you know the One?"

"Gain and loss, right and wrong, such thoughts must finally be abolished at once."

"If the mind makes no discriminations the ten thousand things are as they are - of single essence."

"If you wish to see the truth then hold no opinions for or against anything."

"Just let things be in their own way and there will be neither coming nor going."

"Make the smallest distinction however and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart."

"Live neither in the entanglements of outer things nor in the inner feelings of emptiness."

"Oneness itself cannot exist, to this ultimate finality no law or description applies."

"One thing, all things: move along and intermingle without distinction."

"There is one Dharma, not many; distinctions arise from the clinging needs of the ignorant."

"The more you talk and think about it the further astray you wander from the truth. Stop talking and thinking and there is nothing you will not be able to know."

"Rest and unrest derive from passion, with enlightenment there is no liking or disliking."

"The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences."

"The wise man strives to no goals but the foolish man fetters himself."

"Things are objects because of the subject (mind) the mind (subject) is such because of things (object)."