Let the mind be empty

 

“Most people allow their mind to be obstructed by the world and then try to escape from the world.  If they could only let their minds be empty, the world would be empty. Don’t misuse the mind.  If you want to be free of the world, you should forget the mind.  Once you forget the mind, the world becomes empty.  And when the world becomes empty, the mind disappears.  If you don’t forget the mind and only get rid of the world, you only succeed in becoming more confused.  Thus, it is said ‘all things are only mind.’ But the mind cannot be found.  When you can’t find a thing, you have reached the final goal.  Why bother running around looking for liberation? This is how you should control the mind.  Once you see your own nature, you won’t have any deluded thoughts.  Once you have no deluded thoughts, you have controlled your mind.”

— Huang-po, from Red Pine’s commentary on the Diamond Sutra.

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