The Unfathomable Use of Life
Practice begins with intention,
and the goal is to eliminate this intention,
and then return to the original state of life—using the unfathomable,
in walking, standing, sitting, lying down, seeing, hearing, feeling, and knowing, in everyday life.
What is the unfathomable use?
As the name implies, it requires no thought and has no dispute,
it is the natural inherent function,
which is the unfathomable use.
For example, walking,
you don’t need to think about how to lift your legs to walk,
this function of walking without thinking about how to lift your legs
is the unfathomable use of your feet;
likewise with breathing,
you can breathe without thinking about how to breathe,
this ability to breathe naturally without thought
is the unfathomable use of breathing;
again with free association,
thoughts or images arise without intentional thinking,
this ability to think naturally without intentional thought
is the unfathomable use of the mind.
All faculties of life are like this,
each has its own unfathomable and natural function.
Returning to a state where there’s no intentional arising of thoughts, where everything operates as usual,
is the unfathomable use of life.
The unfathomable use of life
is a state completely free from delusions and attachments;
when a person’s mind is like a clear mirror, completely devoid of delusions and attachments,
they naturally enter into this state of life’s unfathomable use.
The unfathomable use is the inherent and natural function of life;
Buddhas and Bodhisattvas exist in such a state in their daily lives,
they always exist in such a state.
Day and night, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas do not mix their minds;
it’s not that they don’t mix; there’s simply no mind to mix;
they are not confused, not deluded, do not enter into ignorance,
do not chase after thoughts; what could there be to mix their minds with?
Breathing is just breathing; there are no thoughts involved in breathing,
aside from pure breathing, nothing extra added;
Walking is just walking; there are no thoughts involved in walking,
aside from simply lifting legs; there are no additional tasks.
Sitting is just sitting; there are no thoughts involved in sitting,
aside from sitting under pure awareness light; there are no extra thoughts whatsoever;
Lying down is just lying down; there are no thoughts involved in lying down,
aside from lying under pure awareness light; there are no fabricated thoughts at all.
Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in their daily lives—seeing, hearing, feeling, knowing,
walking, standing, sitting, lying down—are all like this;
The unfathomable use is great utility; it’s fundamental utility—it’s the most effortless way to be used;
All Buddhas throughout time and space utilize their minds like this.
In other words, using a mind that has no intention means using it as an unfathomable tool;
The unfathomable use means using it without intention;
If someone uses everything as an unfathomable tool then they are using it without intention;
As long as one uses without intention then it becomes an unfathomable tool.
The unfathomable use comes directly from one’s true nature;
The mind does not get tangled up or tied up; its thoughts have neither duality nor trinity.;
The unfathomable use shines forth with wisdom light;
All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas bathe in wisdom light while acting without intention.
Returning to one’s original nature while performing one’s inherent functions
is the most effortless way to live happily;
The most effortless way that brings relaxation and joy
is living under wisdom light where life performs its unfathomable function.
Living under wisdom light where life performs its unfathomable function
means living as one originally was—living out one’s true self.;
Recognizing life’s wisdom light becomes familiar with life’s wondrous functions
and living out a Buddha-like state!
by – Taiwan Fearless Tathagata Ya Great Completion Zen Meditation Center