There was a Zen Master Dongshan Liangjie from the Tang dynasty in China. He established the Caodong school of Zen Buddhism, one of the five major schools which originated in the Tang dynasty. Master Dongshan Liangjie spent a large portion of his early life, wandering between different Zen masters as he tried to grasp the essence of Buddha’s teaching.
As he was crossing a stream one day, he caught a glimpse of his reflection on the water and attained complete enlightenment instantly. He composed a stanza, “ 切忌从他觅，迢迢与我疏；我今独自往，处处得逢渠；渠今正是我，我今不是渠。应须恁么会，方得契如如。”
“Do not search extrinsically and wander further away from who I am;
I am travelling alone now, seeing my reflections everywhere;
This reflection on the water is a manifestation of who I am, but I am not this reflection on the water;
One should maintain such awareness in order to experience reality and stillness constantly.”
When we look at ourselves in the mirror, what do we see?
Do we have a visual experience?
Do we sense a subtle presence, which enable us to know this visual experience?
Do we sense this subtle presence, which enable us to be mindful of this visual experience?
Do we sense this subtle presence, which enable us to be fully aware this visual experience?
It is not the regular subject-object experience; it is not a conscious observer observing a separate object. It is the subject turning its attention and focus around, introspectively towards its source to explore and experience its deepest self.
This must not be mistaken with mental striving; very often the mind tends to direct its focus and attention outwards, and fail to direct this focus and attention back upon its source. In fact, the mind needs to stop stirring and observe the silence within us in order for one to experience his deepest self, the subtle presence.
This presence, the pure awareness or pure consciousness which watch the thinking mind, is not the thinking mind. When this presence is awakened to its own presence, life will be transformed.
Sense this subtle presence. We are this subtle presence, the pure consciousness which enable us to be conscious, the knowing which enable us to know and the pure awareness which enable us to be aware. All sensations, perceptions, feelings and thoughts arise and subside within this subtle presence. All creative sparks, virtues and inherent goodness flow from this subtle presence. This subtle presence is the root of all phenomena in the universe.
Be in touch with this subtle presence, be in touch with our deepest self to be at peace and at ease.
~ Anonymous ~
