The Awakening Before and After
What is the difference between the awakening before and after?
A drop of water looks at the ocean, and the ocean looks at a drop of water.
Regarding self-perception,
Before awakening, you are a drop of water looking at the ocean;
After awakening, you are the ocean looking at a drop of water.
A drop of water looking at the ocean,
you are vague, chaotic, opaque, unclear,
unable to escape your own limitations.
The ocean looking at a drop of water,
you become transparent, clear, comfortable, happy, free,
completely transcending yourself.
A drop of water looking at the ocean,
is like standing in Lushan and looking at Lushan;
The ocean looking at a drop of water,
is like stepping out of Lushan to admire Lushan.
A drop of water looking at the ocean,
is like a stone looking at the universe;
The ocean looking at a drop of water,
is like the universe looking at a stone.
A drop of water looking at the ocean,
is like perceiving heaven and earth as a sentient being;
The ocean looking at a drop of water,
is like heaven and earth perceiving sentient beings.
Observing the mind with small thoughts,
and with a vast, clear, stable mind examining those thoughts,
that is the difference between before and after awakening.
Standing in perception to see the mind,
and standing on the mind to see perception,
that is the difference between before and after awakening.
Observing the mind with intellect,
and using the mind to observe intellect,
that is the difference between before and after awakening.
In summary,
Before awakening, you live in a dualistic or pluralistic world;
After awakening, you live in a world of singularity or oneness.
Before awakening, you live in dreams;
After awakening, dreams live within you.
Awakening is not something special;
it simply means
wisdom returns to its original position to see you or all things.
by – Taiwan Wu Yi Nirvana Meditation Center