The Sun and the Dark Cloud

Our "awakened nature" is like the sun;
our various ideas and conceptions are like dark clouds.
Every single day, the sun shines brightly.
The only difference from one moment to the next is
whether a dark cloud is there or not.
"No awareness" is like
when the sun is blocked by a dark cloud.
In actuality, the sun is still there.
The "awajebed nature" is never confused or unaware,
not even for a brief moment.
It can only be temporarily obscured and covered up
by our ideas and conceptions.
Through spiritual practice, our mind and heart slowly
become clear and brigh, capable of transcendence.
You will discover that the "awakened nature" is like
a sun shining on the earth,
a mountain spring,
a stone wall.
Its original nature is to shed light on all and everything,
without any distinction of good and bad.
None of this stuff can, or will, interfere with the sun.
So, our 'awakened nature" is never lost.
Everyone has it all originally.
Some day we may eventually discover
this very beautiful, very pure, and serene "awakened nature."

The Sun

When we are confused and bewildered,
when we are grasping and clinging,
when we are disturbed or depressed,
when we are attached and deluded,
we often end up losing our mind and heart.
However, through the contemplation of "prajna," wisdom
can reveal insigh into all of creation in the universe.
It is like the sun shining upoon every place on earth,
brightening our eyes and unlocking our wisdom,
enabling us to cut through the various traps and
entranglements of the world;
thus, ending all afflitions once and for all.
Our mind and heart are no longer confused and lost.
We can live wih greater freedom and ease.

Not Wearing Clothes

That which ca change or be transformed may not be
called the "Mysteriously Begotten" or the absolute reality.
The complete "Emptiness"
is the "Mysteriously Begotten," the absolute reality;
that which is not tied to any visible, changeable,
outer conditions or phenomena.
The "Mysteriously Begotten" is the complete "Emptiness"
of the mind and heart.
So, what sort of change occurs
when the mind and heart are empty?
Well, the mind and heart are not wearing any clothes.
What do we mean by "wearing clothes?"
We mean "making connections to all kinds of appearances,
and giving rise to every kind of inner state."
Without "Emptiness," you will not see the "Self."
"Emptiness" is not wearing the clothing o form,
appearance, sound, sensation, or feeling, etc.

Taking Off Clothes

What is our original face?
Our mid and heart, at the very present moment,
is our original face;
but we often mistake our unreal hysical bodies
as the origina face.
We take what is seen, and what is heard,
as the original face;
we take all of the outer stuff as our original face.
Thus, our mid and heart often run around with
phenomena, chasing after everything,
frequently mistaking the unreal as the real.
In reality, our true original face often appears with the
unreal stuff, making it impossible for us to distinguish or understand.
It is necessary to go through deep focussed meditation,
and insightful contemplation,
in order to look at our mind and heart
as apart from all phenomena.
Our original face is the mind and heart
from before we were born,
when we had not yet put on the clothes
of this physical body, and after we die,
when we have taken off the clothes of this physical body.
The true face is the mind and heart not limited
bya physical body or any outer phenomena.

Wearing Clothes

Are life and death scary?
We, who are pure spiritual consciousness,
become a human when wearing the clothes of a human;
become a dog when wearing the clothes of a dog;
become a fish when wearing the clothes of a fish;
become an insect when wearing the clothes of insect;
become bteria when wearing the clothes of bacteria.
So, we, who are pure spiritual consciousness,
may not be a human being, or some flying creature,
or a four-legged beast.
Now, which one are we? None of them!
when we incarnate as a human being,
we are called a human being;
when we incarnate as a bird, we are called a bird.
None of these are the solid, definite form of us;
none of these are the form of the "Self."
For this reason, we should not be attached,
and we should know the truth of "Selfessness."
the continuous stream of life is just like this.
We may generate many different forms of life,
but none of these life forms is who we are.
Our life is formless.
Our present form of life and body is borrowed,
and originates from karmic cause and effect.
So, nex time when someone is scolding you,
or criticizing you, do not take for granted that it is you!

Transformation of Bodies

What exactly is the true self?
You may be a human being in this life; but we don't know
what you will be in your next life.
We stay in this cyclic existence of birth and death and
rebirth, continuously reincarnating and transforming into
many different life forms, transforming and transforming.
But, what are you exactly? In reality, you are not any of
these defined forms.
Perphaps you are a human today, a horse tomorrow,
and you will become a bat the day after.
So, am I a horse or human, ultimately?
Am I a bat or a butterfly?
You have to become detached from unreal appearances
in order to know what is real.
This means that you should first comprehend the whole
truth of suffering, impermancence, and selflessness.
Slowly, you will become detached from the unreal,
and as a result the real will manifest.

Water Flowing into the Ocean

When we are confronted with big and small problems,
or troublesome situations, we should exercise forbearance,
acceptance, and tolerance.
Be like the ocean, which receives hundreds or rivers.
Without making exceptions, the ocean accepts water from
the rivers, the streams, or the sewers, and converts the
water into a single taste - salty.
The ocean contains many different kinds of water.
The practice of Buddha Dharma requires exactly the same
kind of inner capacity;
a mind and heart that is
capable of accepting everything,
capable of dissolving and transforming everything,
and ultimately experiencing and realizing the taste of "Emptiness."

Like Sugar in Water

When we encounter obstacles in daily life,
we should learn acceptance and tolerance
if we want to transform the obstacles into a surge of power.
Use the wisdom of "Emptiness" to transform and dissolve the obstacles.
Let the mind and heart always remain in the condition of
"Emptiness"; wherein anything added into the "Emptiness"
will not affect the "Emptiness."
Thus, let whatever tasks or problems come to us,
be like the situation of dropping sugar into water.
The sugar dissolves, and the problem is gone.

Temple of the Body

Our body is like a temple.
The mind lives inside the temple.
It is Buddha; it is also a demon. How come?
Right knowledge, right understanding is called "Buddha,"
and wrong knowledge, wrong understanding
is called a "demon."
Both Buddha and demon are functions of the mind.
If the mind is bright, clear and awakened,
the whole temple will be bright, clear and glorious as a result.
If the mind is not bright, clear and awakened,
this temple of the body will become
dark, dreary, and without light.

Food

Question: Usually it is said that the "prajna"
method is the most difficult to transmit
Master: It is not diffucult.
Question: But, it is supposed to be the hardest method to teach, and impossible to grasp. Furthermore, "Emptiness" and "Existence" may cause conflict.
Master: Not true.
Polarization of "Emptiness" and "Existence" is the cause of confict.
Actually, "Existence" is the food of "Emptiness."
How could there be conflict?
This would be like saying that
"Bodhi (enlightenment) is affliction."
Affliction is the food of "Bodhi."

Window of the Heart

A house without a window can not let in the warm light of sunshine;
nor can the fresh air circulated freely in such a house.
We people are in a similar condition.
If the window of the mind and heart is not open,
we will feel stuffy inside.
Open up the inner window, so that
your mind and heart can be unrestricted and expansive,
and your inner vision can be clear and sharp.
Once the window has opened up, the inner space of
mind and heart will suddenly be enlightened.
You will be able to see many things in a clearer light.
After this, you will have a better understanding of the
truth about "Emptiness,"
and will better digest all "existing" afflictions.

Masks Of The Five Aggregates

The so-called "five aggregates" are:
Material Form (phenomena)
Feeling (sensations and feelings)
Thinking (conceptions of perceptions)
Volition or Mental Formation (the driving force of change and transformation)
Consciousness (discrimination and differentiation)
These "five aggregates" make up all outer,
impermanent, and changing conditions.
To find your "Buddha Nature," it is necessary to
relinquish all attachment to the "five aggregates."
Whether perceiving the "Emptiness" of the aggregates,
or relinquishing attachment to the aggregates, either one will do.
Complete "Emptiness" of the "five aggregates"
allows you to know how to recognize and experience
your inner nature - the true nature of the mind and heart.
If is just like when other people are wearing masks,
you can only recognize the masks,
but not the people themselves.
Detachment from the "five aggregates"
allows you to truly identify and experience the real face
behind the mask, your true nature.

Pursuit of Wealth

Question: For a businessman,
making money is the primary goal.
How does one contemplate and reflect on this
in order to gain true insight?
Will one fall into the trap of becoming too attached to
making money?

Master: No, you won't.
Because making money is "Emptiness,"
and not making money is also "Emptines."
So, it is okay to make money;
it is also okay not to make money.
When you need to make money,
it is not necessary to hesitate too much.
When you don't need to, then just leave it alone.

Question: Is it okay for a Buddhist practitioner to pursue wealth?

Master: Pursuit of wealth is "Emptiness."
Whether you pursue it or not,
there is not much of a difference.

Asking for Directions

If you desire liberation,
recognize the nature of "Emptiness"
and you will attain liberation.
If you desire no more reincarnation,
recognize the nature of "Emptiness,"
and there will be no more reincarnation.
Beside this, you should also recognize the "Self."
You have to first recognize the "Self,"
then you will be able to keep yourself under control.
How does one do this? Through inquiry/
If you don't know, you should inquire.
For example, when we are driving toward a destination,
if we shoudl ask someone for directions.
Sometimes, you even have to ask more than once.
You have accomplished the task only when you have
arrived at the destination.

Bubbles of Dream like illusion

All things and phenomena are but
bubbles and images of dreamlike illusion.
Everything that happened is like a dream, or like a dewdrop.
Whatever you see in front to our eyes is illusory,
dreamlike, and nothing other than "Emptiness."
So, is it really true that we have so much sorrow and sufering?
Or is it just that our mind and heart are not "letting go?"
Or is it that we have not sufficiently
developed the habit of "letting go" of the mind?
Chan meditation practice is learning to
let go of your mind and heart;
learning to release and relieve yourself.

Mirror and Circumstances

What is meant by,
"The sight of the environment gives rise to the inner state?"
Suppose we are watching a movie
and our mood follows the scenario of the story,
sometimes happy, sometimes sad.
Although the story has nothing to do with us,
we unwittingly go along with the scenario,
which gives rise to lots of non-liberated,
disturbing, and senselsess tensions.
If our mind and heart can be like a mirror
that is not affected by "circumstantial conditions,"
our life will be peaceful and serene.
So, what are we learning from the Buddha Dharma?
We are learning about a mind and heart of serenity.
What is a mind and heart of serenity?
It is like a mirror.
The mirror reflects everything,
but itself does not have this or that kind of feelings or sensations.
The mirror is simply a mirror.
The image of the circumstances is simply
the image of the circumstances.

What is the Rider on the Donkey Looking For?

What does the Buddha Dharma teach us?
It teaches us about our "awakened nature."
Where is the 'awakened nature?"
We are just like a rider on a donkey, looking for the
donkey, or a rider on a horse, looking for the horse,
unaware of the fact that we are riding on the back of the
donkey or the horse.
We keep on searching and searching.
What we are searching for is the feeling and experience
of the present moment.
What is this feeling and experience?
It is the consciousness within you.
It is not anything outside;
because anything outside is simply not you.
Hence the saying,
"Dharma cannot be attained outside the mind and heart."
Anything found outside the mind and heart is not yours.

How to Bath Together

Erotic Pointers for bathing.
written by Shan & Claude

Ask:
I would like to give my lover a bathing experience. I have always wanted to give him a bath but could use some erotic pointers. I've got the candles and the lotions but I also need some advice on how to make this experience unforgettable.

Reply:
This bath idea sounds exciting! You are on the right track and we are not sure what we can add to your fantasy. It seems you want some more romantic pointers on what could build excitement and anticipation and set the tone/mood of the bath is that right? We would recommend music that he enjoys. Maybe some bubbles (be careful thought they cause yeast infections in some people if you end up joining him)? Food is never a bad idea especially when you can wash it off easily in the bath! We are sure you can come up with lots of great ideas to physically set the mood, but we would like to suggest that you focus on your arousal. Things and objects can make a nice environment, but you could have a really hot experience in a dirty bathroom stall if you have a hot mindset. Your attitude and your libido will add a lot to the situation. If you fee hot and sexy he will most likely feel that more than he notices how many candles are in the room.

Think attitude that you are hot and that he is hot and sexy! If you examine and adjust your mindset you can make it as romantic or filthy as you like!

My Princess

Lee Seol was an orphan, she was adopted when she was 5, since then, she had to work hard to make it into university, where she fell in love with one of her lecturer. This lecturer will later find out that she is actually a Princess. Park Hae young is diplomat in charge of teaching Lee Seol what a princess has to know. He's the heir of a big company CEO and graduated from Ivy League University; he's considered as a modern prince. He's nice to Lee Seol when other people are around and changes his behavior as soon as they're alone. Yet, somehow moved by this simple girl, who wants to talk to the citizens with her heart and more concerned about saving archeological treasures than learning how to dance. Park Hae Young is surprise when he's rich grandfather decides to give all the money he has earned to the community. Does it make sense? What are his reasons for doing this?

Birds in the Heart - Sowing Seeds

Studying Buddha Dharma enables us to spread the seeds
of "awakening" in the minds and hearts of everyone.
With it, we keep on expanding and spreading
out the seeds of "awakening" in the infinite field of life.
This is the way of the Bodhisattva.
In the process of reincarnation, life after life,
we are likely to get ourselves confused and lost.
Generating "Bodhicitta" (the enlightened mind)
and sowing the Bodhi seeds of enlightenment can pave
the way for our own realization.
At the same time, we are facilitating realization for others.
As each and every karmic connection is "awakened,"
the mind and heart will no longer be confused,
lost, or corrupted;
thus, ending the cycle of birth,
death, and reincarnation.