Hsin Shin Ming: “17. To return to the root is to find the essence, but to pursue appearances is to miss the Source.”

Hsin Shin Ming: “17. To return to the root is to find the essence, but to pursue appearances is to miss the Source.”

‘To return to the root’ means to realise who or what makes your body think, or talk, when you think or talk. It also means to see and hear beyond the names of things when you see or hear things. ‘To find the essence’ means to find the true-Self.

‘To pursue appearances’ implies to follow the names and forms of things, or imaginary lines. To see your body as the essence of your being and be attached to it is a typical example of pursuing appearance. ‘To miss the Source’ means to miss the true-Self, which is to be deluded by illusions.

To conclude, to realise what or who makes your body read this writing is to find the true-Self, or attain enlightenment. To see your body as the essence of your being is to miss the true-Self, or be deluded by illusions. In brief, to realise who or what drives your body when you do something is to find the essence, or attain enlightenment.

Student: “What is the Source?”
Master: “Pardon?”
Student: “What is the Source?”
Master: “That’s it.”

©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway http://ow.ly/i/Ap3qv