From http://www.bcs.edu.sg/forum/index.php?topic=306.0
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3. 当我明了它的æ£ä¹‰, 我看山还是山, 水还是水
誰会解�
(Question:
Before study and practise zen, I saw mountains as mountains, and
waters as waters.
When I arrived at a more intimate knowledge, I came to the point
where I saw that mountains are not mountains, and waters are not
waters.
But now that I have got its very substance I am at rest. For it's
just that I see mountains once again as mountains, and waters once
again as waters.
Can anybody explain above statements?)
Dear friends,
1. I saw mountains as mountains, and waters as waters.
This statement #1 is referring to what normal people (unenlightened) is seeing when they are looking at FORMS. FORMS are objects that have appearance, like mountain, trees, birds, cloud, cars, rivers, buildings, etc... Human in samsara has attachment to forms, thus they see FORM as FORM, mountain as mountain, water as water.
2. When I arrived at a more intimate knowledge, I came to the point where I saw that mountains are not mountains, and waters are not waters.
Statement #2 is when someone has understood the true nature of all phenomena and dharma as "emptiness", which is the nature of all forms. Example ice. Ice has form or appearance. When it melts into water, water also has form or appearance. But when water evaporates into water vapour, water vapour has no form or appearance (we cannot see water vapour) which is near to "emptiness". We all know in science that ice, water or vapour are the same i.e. they are a compound of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, though they are in different forms (solid, liquid, gas).
In Chemistry, we studied that atoms are still not the smallest particles. When atoms are divided, there are make up of protons, electrons, and neutrons. Scientist have also discovered that neutrons, electrons, and protons are make up of even smallest particles like quarks. Scientists believe that if quarks can be further divided, they might finally reach a stage of "emptiness" or pure energy (E=Mc square; E=energy , M=Mass or Form).
Thus, all forms has a nature of "emptiness". FORMS are manifestations while "emptiness" is their basic nature. In the "HEART SUTRA", it says : "forms is emptiness, emptiness is form; form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form".
The first statement "form is emptiness, emptiness is form" implies that the basic nature of form is emptiness, thus form is emptiness. Why Emptiness is Form ? If one says "Form is Emptiness" without saying "Emptiness is Form", many people, in turn, will attach to Emptiness. As we all know, Buddhism is Middle Path, without attachment to both extremes (Form & Emptiness). Second reason is that, emptiness is not "Nothingness", thus emptiness is also form.
Based on this statement alone, one might mistaken form and emptiness are two different thing. Therefore, the second statement "form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form" implies that form and emptiness are actually ONE (they do not differ from each other, they are the same and ONE); not two different things. Form is a manifestation (ice, water) while emptiness (water vapour or H-2-O) is its nature. I am using vapour to represent "emptiness" for easy understanding by everyone because water vapour is invisible and formless.
In addition, a mountain is seen as mountain from afar, but when one walk up on the mountain, the mountain is just accumulation of sands, mud, grass, etc... When all these sands, muds grass, etc... are removed, there is no such thing as mountain; it is only by name called "mountain". Thus, the mountain is "emptiness". Even the "name" - mountain is emptiness. (Pls note that emptiness does not mean nothingness or annihilation)
Thus, with true understanding of form and emptiness, one sees mountains as not mountains, waters as not waters.
This is a stage where one has no attachment to form.
3. But now that I have got its very substance I am at rest. For it's just that I see mountains once again as mountains, and waters once again as waters.
This last statement is when one has realised, enlightened or awakened to one's self nature. Some school called it Buddha nature, others called it, True Mind / Pure Mind / Bodhi Nature while some called it True Self / Real Self. These are just different names but they all mean the same thing.
One who has not realise his Buddha Nature is like one who is lost in the jungle not knowing where his "home" is. He is lost in the jungle of illusionary thoughts, fluttering emotions, likes and dislikes, etc...
When one has realised one's Buddha Nature, he is "at rest" like someone who has found and is resting at home. There is no more illusionary thoughts, emotions, greed, etc... He will then discover that all Mountains, River, Great Earth, water, clouds, birds, cars, trees, flowers that he sees are just manifestation of his Buddha Nature. Therefore he will "see mountains as mountains, and waters as waters again". One can compare this Buddha Nature to a mirror. If you place a flower in front of a mirror, the mirror will manifest the flower exactly as it is. If it is an apple, it will manifest the apple.
To elaborate in a scientific way, one is able to see an object because lights that falls on the object is reflected off due to color pigment on the object, and this reflected light is captured by our eyes. Our eyes do not actually see the object; our eyes only function as a tools to receive lights to assist in our seeing. Our eyes are like the Optical Lens of a Digital Video Camera.
When our eyes has received the lights reflected from the object of seeing, our buddha nature manifest the image of the object, like the display screen of the Digital Video Camera. Thus, what we are actually seeing is the image of the object manifested by our buddha nature caused by the reflected lights from the object which is captured by our eyes, and NOT the actual object itself. The image of the object manifested by your buddha nature is one with the object. Why? All objects with form are in basic nature "emptiness", formed by atoms and molecules dued to causes and conditions. If the object contains RED pigments, red light will be reflected from the pigments into our eyes. Thus we see RED object. If all the color pigment on the object is removed, the object will be transparent. One very good sample of object without color pigment is transparent glass. Those who wear spectacles can fully appreciate what it means by FORM IS EMPTINESS, EMPTINESS IS FORM. One can see through the glass lens without any slightest distortions, because the basic nature of the glass lens of the spectacle is emptiness. If the lens is not emptiness in nature, we cannot see through the lens. If the whole world is removed of its color pigments, the world will be seen transparent. You will then truely understand that our planet Earth in nature is emptiness. Our Earth is form from "emptiness" (space) due to crystalization of gases trillions years ago, just like water vapour crystalizes into solid ice due to conditions of lowing the temperature. Although they have crystalized into form, but their basic nature are still "emptiness". Form and Emptiness are ONE, not separated.
In addition, when we see stars in the clear sky, do you know that some of the stars no longer exist. If one have study astrology or the universe, we learn that some stars are located so far (eons of light years) from our planet Earth such that when the lights from these stars reaches us, they (these stars) are already destroyed. Although these stars were already destroyed, we still can see them at night. Why? And How? Do you think you are still seeing the actual stars ? Think about it.
In conclusions, all things that we see in this world are just images manifested by our buddha nature, like a huge mirror manifesting all the images of the objects we are seeing. Thus, ALL (the world) is ONE (buddha nature), and ONE is ALL.
Not only FORM is emptiness, feeling, thoughts, taste, consciousness are also emptiness. (pls read The Heart Sutra) All these are also manifestations of our buddha nature. For example feelings, when one is happy or joyful, can one show me the thing happiness or joy. Cannot, why? Because their nature are emptiness. They do not have any trace. They are just manifestations. Their arising and ceasing are illusive and emptiness. Do not react to them or get carried away by them. Those that are illusive has arising and ceasing, but the one that is REAL and TRUE has NO arising and NO Ceasing, which is our TRUE MIND.
In Vajra Sutra, it states :
"Subhuti, what do you think, is it possible to see the Thus Come One in his physical appearances?" "No World Honored One, it is not possible to see Thus Come One in his physical appearances. Why? Because the physical appearances mentioned by the Thus Come One are not physical appearances." The Buddha said to Subhuti, "All appearances are empty and false. If one sees all appearances as no appearances, then one sees the Thus Come One."
At this stage one has NO attachment to form or emptiness, self-ego (clinging to a self), thoughts and dharma, including the practice of "no attachment". You are what you are because you have realised who you really are. ALL is ONE and ONE is ALL.
In Vajra Sutra, it said :
"If they cling to appearances of dharmas, that would be attachment to a self, others, living beings and a life. Why? If they cling to the appearances of non-dharmas, that would be attachment to a self, others, living beings and a life. Therefore, you should not cling to dharmas; you should not cling to non-dharmas. Because of this principle the Thus Come One always says, 'Bhikshus, you should all know that the Dharma I speak is like a raft. You must let go of dharmas. Even more so let go of non-dharmas.'"
And
"Subhuti, suppose someone were to fill measureless asamkhyeyas of world systems with the seven precious jewels and give them as an offering. Further, if a good man or good woman who has resolved his mind on Bodhi were to receive, uphold, read or recite and extensively explain for others as little as four lines of verse from this Sutra, the latter person's blessings would surpass those of the former person. "How should this Sutra be explained for others? By not grasping at appearances and being in unmoving thusness. Why? All conditioned dharmas Are like a dream, an illusion, a bubble or a shadow, Like dew or like lightning flash. Contemplate them thus."
Also
At that time the World Honored One spoke a verse saying, One who looks for me in forms, Or seeks me in sounds, practices a deviant path and will never see the Thus Come One.
The external world and those six consciousness are anatta; not your TRUE MIND. But the TRUE MIND / Buddha Nature is what you really are. This TRUE MIND or Buddha Nature is also emptiness, that is why it is able to manifest everything as it is.
Another simile is sea and waves. Buddha Nature is like the sea of water and waves are manifestations like our emotions, illusionary thoughts, sounds, taste, all dharma that we experience.
Mark Cheong (Jiang LiYang)
Singapore
Amitabha
http://home.pacific.net.sg/~netintl
*** Anyone can translate these message into chinese are welcome.