If not one thought arises, you will at once climb up the tree of enlightenment, have the supernatural powers to transform yourselves at will in the Three Worlds, have the joy of the Dharma and the bliss of Zen. Your whole body will shine by itself. When you think of robes — you are clothed in a thousand layers of brocade; when you think of food — a sumptuous meal of a hundred flavours is served; and you will never encounter unexpected accident or illness. Enlightenment has no local abode, and so there is nothing to obtain.
Commentary:
‘If not one thought arises’ means ‘if you are not deluded by even a single illusion’. ‘Have the supernatural powers to transform yourselves at will in the Three Worlds’ means that you feel identical, or feel oneness with the entire universe. ‘Your whole body will shine by itself’ implies that you feel the function of your whole body as that of the true-Self. ‘You are clothed in a thousand layers of brocade’ means that when you are oneness with the true-Self, the whole universe, perfection can be your robe. ‘You will never encounter unexpected accident or illness’ means that you have transcended birth and death. ‘Enlightenment has no local abode, and so there is nothing to obtain’ implies that since enlightenment is just to see things as they are, not a thing with a certain shape, we should not think that it can be attained in the way we obtain something precious, which is to be deluded by the illusion of enlightenment.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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