A. An illusion is to the true-self as wind is to air. We divide air into many kinds of winds such as breeze, gale, waft, gust and so on. No matter how many kinds of winds there may be, the essence of them is the same, air. In the same way, we divide the true-self, emptiness into many forms by drawing imaginary lines or through labelling, and the forms are referred to as illusions. However many forms there may be, the essence of them is the true-self, emptiness. Therefore, it means that all illusions are true-self, just as all winds are air.
Student: “What is the true-self?”
Master: “An illusion is.”
Student: “What is an illusion?”
Master: “The true-self is.”
Student: “What is the difference between them?”
Master: “The difference is not between them at all but only in your view because they are one.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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