A. Master: “Because both are from the same source.
Commentary:
Sea-fish don’t think that seawater is salty, and freshwater fish don’t think that river-water is sweet.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
Tag: sea
Q237. Student: “All forms return to emptiness. Where does emptiness return to?”
A. Master: “Waves never leave the sea.”
Commentary:
Winds never return to air because they never leave air.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
Q172. Is mind different from thoughts?
A. Thoughts are to mind what winds are to the air and waves are to the sea. In other words, thoughts are the actions of mind, and thoughts are temporary but mind is permanent. In brief, mind is the root of all thoughts, and is called true-self as well in Buddhism.
When we can see mind, the root of thoughts clearly, we can control thoughts, but most people are controlled by them because they cannot see mind for thoughts. After all, we become enslaved by the thoughts produced by us. Zen meditation is a practice to see mind.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
Q76. How different is an illusion from the final goal, the truth?
A. In fact both are not different from each other, but they are one, just as sea and waves are not separate. There is nothing but the truth. If, regarding illusions as different from the truth, we try to remove illusions and reach the final goal, it is like trying to remove waves in order to see the sea. We should keep in mind that to eliminate illusions doesn’t mean to put the illusions away to another place, but means to change our viewpoint and realise that all illusions including us, are the truth itself we are looking for. ©Boo Ahm 
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway.
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