Clearing all the stories of your life
Q: How can the profound insights of Mahayana Buddhism be integrated with the practice of observing the body and mind as they truly are?
In fact, all insights in Buddhism are the “conclusions” reached by practitioners who observe their own body and mind and all things as they truly are. Observation comes first, followed by insight; it is not the other way around. As long as we can observe our body and mind and all things as they truly are, those insights will naturally become apparent without much effort.
The reason we find it difficult to perceive the insights of Buddhist teachings now is that our observations cannot be “true.” The reason for this inability to observe truthfully is that our minds have not been cleared. We observe through our own biases, influenced by our pre-existing notions, which prevents us from seeing the views of all Buddhas.
The entire process of understanding Buddhist teachings is essentially a process of clearing away our old views. Observing the world without any stories in our minds makes it easy to attain the views of all Buddhas. Observing oneself without stories leads to personal liberation; observing all things without stories leads to liberation through Dharma.
What binds us and prevents our freedom is our stories; what obscures our ability to see the true nature of phenomena is also our stories; what causes us suffering in life and death is still our stories. Therefore, our entire practice is fundamentally a process of clearing away our old stories.
If we completely clear away old stories, we will thoroughly see the views of Buddha; if old stories are not fully cleared away—if we retain any amount or type of story—we will be obstructed, bound, and unfree by those very stories. Thus, ultimately, “stories” are key.
Humans live within their stories, die within their stories, find joy within their stories, and suffer within their stories; only Buddhas and Bodhisattvas transcend these narratives—they exist within them yet remain unaffected by them. Hence, they are free beings, joyful beings—experiencing freedom without stories and happiness devoid of narratives.
If we wish to experience the freedom and joy of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, we must also break free from these narratives, transcend them, and live in a mental world devoid of stories. Observing heaven without a story, observing earth without a story, observing all things without a story, observing ourselves and others without a story—in this way, pure lands and blissful worlds will manifest before us.
When observing body and mind, there’s no need to concern ourselves with any Mahayana insights; let go of all narrative insights—just observe as it truly is. One observation at a time for one thing observed; two observations for two things observed. Do not observe with an attitude of “I know,” but rather with an attitude of “I do not know.” With prolonged observation like this, one will surely come to personally witness or verify those Mahayana insights.
Simply by deeply observing one’s own body and mind can one comprehensively validate all Mahayana insights. Why can sages confine themselves in small rooms yet understand truths throughout the world? Because there is no distinction between body-mind and all things; thus understanding oneself allows one to know everything else. Observing one’s own body-mind can lead to complete liberation and ultimate realization of truth. Observing one’s own body-mind…
by – Taiwan Fearless Tathagata Ya Great Perfection Zen Meditation Center
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