1 00:00:00,420 --> 00:00:01,338 Xuanzang takes the lock apart 2 00:00:01,659 --> 00:00:02,499 Huineng pushes the door open 3 00:00:02,819 --> 00:00:03,619 Whom should you follow 4 00:00:04,299 --> 00:00:06,078 A viewer left a comment 5 00:00:06,179 --> 00:00:07,998 Just two four character phrases 6 00:00:08,140 --> 00:00:09,319 Contemplating suchness 7 00:00:09,500 --> 00:00:10,538 Contemplating mind and consciousness 8 00:00:11,060 --> 00:00:12,239 You might look into them 9 00:00:12,900 --> 00:00:13,659 A brief remark 10 00:00:14,019 --> 00:00:14,698 With no elaboration 11 00:00:14,980 --> 00:00:15,958 And no explanation 12 00:00:16,260 --> 00:00:18,359 But following that lead 13 00:00:18,579 --> 00:00:20,039 I found it pointed to 14 00:00:20,140 --> 00:00:23,678 A fundamental fork in Buddhist practice 15 00:00:23,980 --> 00:00:25,638 A choice you encounter 16 00:00:25,820 --> 00:00:27,721 Sooner or later along the path 17 00:00:27,902 --> 00:00:28,221 Hello 18 00:00:28,543 --> 00:00:29,021 Everyone 19 00:00:29,303 --> 00:00:30,282 I am Leo Wang 20 00:00:30,543 --> 00:00:32,542 Today through two life stories 21 00:00:32,543 --> 00:00:34,641 Let us explore that fork 22 00:00:35,222 --> 00:00:37,521 First what do these concepts mean 23 00:00:38,022 --> 00:00:40,122 Contemplating suchness and contemplating mind and consciousness 24 00:00:40,143 --> 00:00:42,061 Come from the Sutra on Divining Good and Evil Karmic Results 25 00:00:42,702 --> 00:00:44,362 In it Kshitigarbha Bodhisattva says 26 00:00:44,543 --> 00:00:47,482 To practice toward the realm of one reality 27 00:00:47,503 --> 00:00:48,762 There are two contemplations 28 00:00:48,982 --> 00:00:51,002 The first contemplates mind and consciousness 29 00:00:51,063 --> 00:00:53,042 The second contemplates suchness 30 00:00:53,307 --> 00:00:54,106 Contemplating mind and consciousness 31 00:00:54,428 --> 00:00:56,787 Simply means using analysis 32 00:00:56,788 --> 00:01:00,367 To unpack how consciousness works layer by layer 33 00:01:00,748 --> 00:01:03,507 You observe how each thought arises 34 00:01:03,508 --> 00:01:05,967 How each emotion is triggered 35 00:01:05,988 --> 00:01:08,926 What assumptions underlie each judgment 36 00:01:09,188 --> 00:01:11,286 You examine your mind through a microscope 37 00:01:11,587 --> 00:01:12,467 Once you see clearly 38 00:01:12,708 --> 00:01:14,107 You naturally understand 39 00:01:14,107 --> 00:01:16,527 That everything manifests through consciousness 40 00:01:17,188 --> 00:01:18,107 And contemplating suchness 41 00:01:18,628 --> 00:01:19,527 You stop taking things apart 42 00:01:19,947 --> 00:01:20,767 And look directly 43 00:01:21,107 --> 00:01:21,626 Look at what 44 00:01:22,148 --> 00:01:24,327 The original nature of all phenomena 45 00:01:24,867 --> 00:01:27,527 Without first figuring out the eight consciousnesses 46 00:01:27,708 --> 00:01:30,566 Without first analyzing how seeds become active 47 00:01:30,708 --> 00:01:32,547 You skip every intermediate step 48 00:01:32,947 --> 00:01:34,369 And see directly 49 00:01:34,750 --> 00:01:35,609 Here is an analogy 50 00:01:36,029 --> 00:01:37,568 There is a clock before you 51 00:01:38,069 --> 00:01:40,408 Contemplating mind means taking it apart 52 00:01:40,589 --> 00:01:43,488 Gears springs dial and hands 53 00:01:43,589 --> 00:01:44,509 Studying them one by one 54 00:01:44,869 --> 00:01:46,568 To understand why it runs 55 00:01:47,190 --> 00:01:48,268 Contemplating suchness means 56 00:01:48,550 --> 00:01:49,669 You glance up 57 00:01:49,669 --> 00:01:49,869 Oh 58 00:01:50,149 --> 00:01:51,048 It is three oclock 59 00:01:51,190 --> 00:01:53,148 You need not know how the gears mesh 60 00:01:53,149 --> 00:01:54,529 You simply know 61 00:01:54,669 --> 00:01:56,988 Contemplating suchness sounds much easier right 62 00:01:57,550 --> 00:01:57,908 Hold on 63 00:01:58,149 --> 00:01:59,328 The story is not over 64 00:02:00,328 --> 00:02:00,967 Our first figure 65 00:02:01,288 --> 00:02:02,027 Xuanzang 66 00:02:02,288 --> 00:02:03,667 In the year 629 67 00:02:03,807 --> 00:02:07,506 A young monk in his twenties secretly crossed the Tang border 68 00:02:07,928 --> 00:02:11,346 He crossed the vast Moheyan desert alone 69 00:02:11,408 --> 00:02:12,767 Traveling over ten thousand kilometers 70 00:02:12,767 --> 00:02:13,826 To reach India 71 00:02:14,047 --> 00:02:15,427 At Nalanda Monastery 72 00:02:15,447 --> 00:02:17,886 He studied under the foremost 73 00:02:17,887 --> 00:02:20,747 Yogacara master in India Shilabhadra 74 00:02:21,207 --> 00:02:23,987 His entire journey west lasted seventeen years 75 00:02:24,327 --> 00:02:25,006 After returning 76 00:02:25,288 --> 00:02:27,307 He translated seventy five Buddhist works 77 00:02:27,368 --> 00:02:28,826 In over thirteen hundred scrolls 78 00:02:29,207 --> 00:02:30,687 At the heart of that achievement 79 00:02:31,007 --> 00:02:32,577 Was Yogacara 80 00:02:32,958 --> 00:02:35,737 We previously devoted an episode to Yogacara 81 00:02:35,917 --> 00:02:38,536 The eight consciousnesses seeds and three transformations 82 00:02:38,598 --> 00:02:41,737 Four aspects three natures and transforming consciousness into wisdom 83 00:02:41,838 --> 00:02:43,596 Together these concepts form 84 00:02:43,598 --> 00:02:47,376 An extraordinarily precise system for analyzing consciousness 85 00:02:47,558 --> 00:02:49,457 It is like an MRI scanner 86 00:02:49,477 --> 00:02:53,263 Imaging every cross section of conscious activity 87 00:02:53,405 --> 00:02:54,344 For example 88 00:02:54,685 --> 00:02:55,983 You see a flower 89 00:02:56,524 --> 00:02:58,864 Most people think that is just a glance 90 00:02:59,204 --> 00:03:00,983 But Yogacara tells you 91 00:03:01,005 --> 00:03:04,543 That glance involves at least five or six processing layers 92 00:03:04,924 --> 00:03:07,584 Photons reach the eye and trigger visual consciousness 93 00:03:07,804 --> 00:03:09,684 Visual consciousness sends the raw data 94 00:03:09,685 --> 00:03:12,624 To the sixth consciousness for classification and judgment 95 00:03:12,965 --> 00:03:13,684 While that judgment happens 96 00:03:14,005 --> 00:03:15,684 The seventh consciousness manas 97 00:03:15,685 --> 00:03:18,464 Quietly attaches a label at every step 98 00:03:18,685 --> 00:03:20,263 I am the one seeing this 99 00:03:20,604 --> 00:03:22,003 All these streams of data 100 00:03:22,005 --> 00:03:25,184 Ultimately arise from seeds in the eighth consciousness alayavijnana 101 00:03:25,245 --> 00:03:26,883 Under particular causes and conditions 102 00:03:27,204 --> 00:03:28,464 Becoming active 103 00:03:29,005 --> 00:03:29,564 One flower 104 00:03:29,965 --> 00:03:31,823 You thought you merely glanced at it 105 00:03:32,005 --> 00:03:35,643 Yet consciousness did all that in an instant 106 00:03:36,064 --> 00:03:38,523 That is how contemplating mind and consciousness works 107 00:03:38,783 --> 00:03:40,043 You take a microscope 108 00:03:40,064 --> 00:03:42,002 And dismantle one gear after another 109 00:03:42,184 --> 00:03:43,643 Until you finally understand 110 00:03:43,703 --> 00:03:45,882 That every part of this clock 111 00:03:45,904 --> 00:03:48,203 Was constructed by your own mind 112 00:03:48,464 --> 00:03:50,243 The work of a lifetime for Xuanzang 113 00:03:50,263 --> 00:03:52,882 Was giving Chinese people this microscope 114 00:03:53,103 --> 00:03:54,523 The Yogacara school he founded 115 00:03:54,584 --> 00:03:57,923 Has the highest academic threshold among the eight major Buddhist schools 116 00:03:58,024 --> 00:03:58,942 How high 117 00:03:59,344 --> 00:04:00,983 Within a few generations after his death 118 00:04:00,983 --> 00:04:03,722 Its transmission in China had nearly died out 119 00:04:03,904 --> 00:04:04,743 For a simple reason 120 00:04:05,064 --> 00:04:06,043 It was too difficult 121 00:04:06,184 --> 00:04:10,423 People who fully grasp the eight consciousnesses three transformations and four aspects 122 00:04:10,424 --> 00:04:11,483 Are one in a hundred 123 00:04:12,184 --> 00:04:15,363 Asking a newcomer to study Yogacara 124 00:04:15,503 --> 00:04:18,683 Is like giving a primary school child a quantum mechanics textbook 125 00:04:18,903 --> 00:04:20,083 Sound in theory 126 00:04:20,104 --> 00:04:22,242 But in practice they give up after two pages 127 00:04:22,424 --> 00:04:24,523 So contemplating mind and consciousness 128 00:04:24,583 --> 00:04:26,742 Is precise rigorous and profound 129 00:04:26,744 --> 00:04:28,548 But extremely demanding 130 00:04:28,810 --> 00:04:29,608 You might ask 131 00:04:29,930 --> 00:04:31,009 What about ordinary people 132 00:04:31,618 --> 00:04:32,418 As it happens 133 00:04:32,649 --> 00:04:34,329 At almost the same time 134 00:04:34,329 --> 00:04:36,509 Another spiritual genius emerged in China 135 00:04:36,849 --> 00:04:39,469 Offering a completely opposite approach 136 00:04:39,690 --> 00:04:40,288 Our second figure 137 00:04:40,649 --> 00:04:41,416 Huineng 138 00:04:41,676 --> 00:04:42,755 In the year 638 139 00:04:43,036 --> 00:04:44,976 Huineng was born in Xinzhou Guangdong 140 00:04:45,036 --> 00:04:46,375 To a poor family 141 00:04:46,637 --> 00:04:47,556 He had no schooling 142 00:04:47,996 --> 00:04:48,815 And could not read 143 00:04:49,236 --> 00:04:51,056 One day while selling firewood 144 00:04:51,116 --> 00:04:52,875 He heard someone reciting the Diamond Sutra 145 00:04:53,356 --> 00:04:57,096 At the line let the mind arise without abiding anywhere 146 00:04:57,157 --> 00:04:58,216 He stopped in his tracks 147 00:04:58,436 --> 00:04:59,455 Just that one line 148 00:04:59,796 --> 00:05:01,935 He did not know what alayavijnana meant 149 00:05:02,197 --> 00:05:03,895 He had never heard of the three natures 150 00:05:04,077 --> 00:05:06,775 He did not even know who had taught this sutra 151 00:05:07,036 --> 00:05:08,695 But in that instant 152 00:05:08,796 --> 00:05:11,684 Something within him was stirred 153 00:05:11,985 --> 00:05:13,444 Then he traveled north 154 00:05:13,506 --> 00:05:16,165 To find the Fifth Patriarch Hongren in Huangmei Hubei 155 00:05:16,425 --> 00:05:18,644 Hongren sent him to pound rice 156 00:05:18,865 --> 00:05:19,905 He did that for eight months 157 00:05:20,266 --> 00:05:22,124 Tying a stone around his waist to work the treadle 158 00:05:22,305 --> 00:05:23,704 Because he was too light 159 00:05:23,906 --> 00:05:25,324 Without it he could not press it down 160 00:05:26,026 --> 00:05:26,985 Eight months later 161 00:05:26,985 --> 00:05:30,764 The Fifth Patriarch asked everyone to write a verse revealing their understanding 162 00:05:30,985 --> 00:05:33,725 His senior disciple Shenxiu wrote the famous verse 163 00:05:33,826 --> 00:05:35,285 The body is the Bodhi tree 164 00:05:35,425 --> 00:05:36,845 The mind a bright mirror stand 165 00:05:36,985 --> 00:05:38,144 Polish it diligently at all times 166 00:05:38,506 --> 00:05:39,965 And let no dust settle 167 00:05:40,425 --> 00:05:41,305 Huineng could not write 168 00:05:41,586 --> 00:05:43,405 So he asked someone to write on the wall 169 00:05:43,626 --> 00:05:44,744 Bodhi has no tree 170 00:05:45,105 --> 00:05:46,564 The bright mirror has no stand 171 00:05:46,706 --> 00:05:47,785 Originally there is not a single thing 172 00:05:48,105 --> 00:05:49,479 Where could dust settle 173 00:05:49,900 --> 00:05:52,439 Now think back on those two verses 174 00:05:52,619 --> 00:05:54,958 Through the framework we are using today 175 00:05:55,259 --> 00:05:56,338 What was Shenxiu saying 176 00:05:56,819 --> 00:05:58,679 He followed the logic of contemplating mind and consciousness 177 00:05:58,939 --> 00:06:00,379 Your mind is a mirror 178 00:06:00,580 --> 00:06:01,578 It gathers dust 179 00:06:01,580 --> 00:06:03,119 So you must constantly polish it 180 00:06:03,580 --> 00:06:05,559 In Yogacara terms 181 00:06:05,580 --> 00:06:08,078 You continually observe how consciousness operates 182 00:06:08,179 --> 00:06:11,679 Identify and remove the narrative overlays of imagined nature 183 00:06:11,900 --> 00:06:14,439 And keep subtracting through analysis 184 00:06:14,660 --> 00:06:18,038 It is diligent practice one step at a time 185 00:06:18,777 --> 00:06:19,856 What was Huineng saying 186 00:06:20,498 --> 00:06:22,476 He pointed directly to suchness 187 00:06:22,938 --> 00:06:24,296 There is no Bodhi tree to begin with 188 00:06:24,577 --> 00:06:25,957 And no mirror stand 189 00:06:26,378 --> 00:06:27,296 What are you polishing 190 00:06:27,858 --> 00:06:29,556 There was never anything there 191 00:06:29,866 --> 00:06:30,666 Pay attention 192 00:06:30,777 --> 00:06:34,476 Huineng was not saying everything is empty and nothing exists 193 00:06:34,738 --> 00:06:36,556 Originally is the key word 194 00:06:36,977 --> 00:06:39,517 He saw the original nature of things 195 00:06:39,738 --> 00:06:41,097 Within that original nature 196 00:06:41,097 --> 00:06:43,556 No mirror is needed to reflect anything 197 00:06:43,577 --> 00:06:45,916 No tree is needed to support anything 198 00:06:46,138 --> 00:06:48,717 Why first assume there is dust on a mirror 199 00:06:48,818 --> 00:06:50,097 Then struggle to wipe it away 200 00:06:50,738 --> 00:06:52,397 That is contemplating suchness 201 00:06:52,858 --> 00:06:54,397 You need not dismantle the clock 202 00:06:54,698 --> 00:06:55,537 You simply look up 203 00:06:55,858 --> 00:06:56,757 It is three oclock 204 00:06:57,017 --> 00:06:58,491 Perfectly clear 205 00:06:58,672 --> 00:06:59,311 At this point 206 00:06:59,472 --> 00:07:00,571 You may be thinking 207 00:07:00,672 --> 00:07:03,290 Surely contemplating suchness is more advanced 208 00:07:03,711 --> 00:07:05,230 Why study mind and consciousness at all 209 00:07:05,912 --> 00:07:07,470 Why not simply follow Huineng 210 00:07:08,032 --> 00:07:08,710 Get there in one step 211 00:07:09,032 --> 00:07:09,931 How satisfying 212 00:07:10,352 --> 00:07:11,150 If that is what you think 213 00:07:11,391 --> 00:07:12,251 Congratulations 214 00:07:12,271 --> 00:07:14,730 You have fallen into one of the biggest traps in practice 215 00:07:15,152 --> 00:07:17,085 Let me explain the problem 216 00:07:17,426 --> 00:07:20,364 There is an easily overlooked detail in the story of Huineng 217 00:07:20,705 --> 00:07:23,145 Hearing the Diamond Sutra in the street 218 00:07:23,145 --> 00:07:24,645 Did not bring immediate full awakening 219 00:07:24,946 --> 00:07:26,684 After that line struck him 220 00:07:26,746 --> 00:07:29,044 He traveled thousands of li to find the Fifth Patriarch 221 00:07:29,225 --> 00:07:31,525 And worked quietly in the monastery for eight months 222 00:07:31,986 --> 00:07:35,005 Then late one night the Fifth Patriarch 223 00:07:35,025 --> 00:07:36,945 Explained the Diamond Sutra to him in private 224 00:07:37,626 --> 00:07:40,445 At let the mind arise without abiding anywhere 225 00:07:40,546 --> 00:07:42,525 Huineng finally awakened completely 226 00:07:42,946 --> 00:07:44,265 Do you know what that means 227 00:07:44,986 --> 00:07:48,364 His direct seeing did not appear from nowhere 228 00:07:48,585 --> 00:07:49,984 In Buddhist terms 229 00:07:49,986 --> 00:07:53,205 He had accumulated deep seeds of wisdom in previous lives 230 00:07:53,905 --> 00:07:55,345 Within his storehouse consciousness 231 00:07:55,345 --> 00:07:57,484 There were enough pure seeds 232 00:07:57,626 --> 00:08:00,885 For one sentence to trigger a transformation of the whole system 233 00:08:01,145 --> 00:08:03,684 He was already standing on the roof 234 00:08:03,825 --> 00:08:06,285 Someone only needed to say look up 235 00:08:06,386 --> 00:08:08,667 And he saw the sky 236 00:08:08,929 --> 00:08:09,527 But what about you 237 00:08:09,958 --> 00:08:10,448 And me 238 00:08:10,969 --> 00:08:13,167 What fills our storehouse consciousness 239 00:08:13,809 --> 00:08:15,388 Twenty years of exam focused education 240 00:08:15,448 --> 00:08:17,027 Thirty years of social conditioning 241 00:08:17,169 --> 00:08:19,628 Hours of short videos and social feeds every day 242 00:08:19,969 --> 00:08:22,748 Our prior beliefs carry enormous weight 243 00:08:23,008 --> 00:08:26,467 Imagined nature wraps us in layer after layer 244 00:08:26,849 --> 00:08:28,768 Ask us to see our original nature directly 245 00:08:29,528 --> 00:08:32,839 And we do not even know where to look 246 00:08:33,140 --> 00:08:33,940 After Huineng 247 00:08:34,221 --> 00:08:36,479 Chan spread explosively across China 248 00:08:36,901 --> 00:08:39,680 But as it spread a serious problem emerged 249 00:08:39,820 --> 00:08:40,999 Empty Zen talk 250 00:08:41,501 --> 00:08:43,900 Many people learned a few lines about originally having nothing 251 00:08:43,901 --> 00:08:45,020 Read a few koans 252 00:08:45,021 --> 00:08:46,440 And thought they were awakened 253 00:08:46,621 --> 00:08:47,739 They spoke of letting go 254 00:08:48,021 --> 00:08:49,599 While letting go of nothing inside 255 00:08:49,700 --> 00:08:51,440 They said analysis was unnecessary 256 00:08:51,501 --> 00:08:53,599 Without even knowing what needed analyzing 257 00:08:53,820 --> 00:08:55,719 They were not seeing directly 258 00:08:55,741 --> 00:08:58,320 They were imitating the posture of direct seeing 259 00:08:58,580 --> 00:08:59,800 Worse still 260 00:08:59,820 --> 00:09:02,999 Because Chan speaks of transmission beyond words and scriptures 261 00:09:03,141 --> 00:09:04,479 These people thought 262 00:09:04,501 --> 00:09:07,040 They needed neither scriptures nor theory 263 00:09:07,180 --> 00:09:09,800 As though learning nothing were the highest attainment 264 00:09:10,541 --> 00:09:12,839 They overlooked that although Huineng could not read 265 00:09:12,860 --> 00:09:16,079 His wisdom had accumulated over many lifetimes 266 00:09:16,301 --> 00:09:17,420 You skip that accumulation 267 00:09:17,700 --> 00:09:19,440 And imitate his conclusions 268 00:09:19,501 --> 00:09:20,540 That is not sudden awakening 269 00:09:20,940 --> 00:09:22,167 It is self deception 270 00:09:22,509 --> 00:09:24,087 It is like hearing 271 00:09:24,148 --> 00:09:26,508 That a swimming champion swims so fast 272 00:09:26,509 --> 00:09:27,768 Because he relaxes his body 273 00:09:27,869 --> 00:09:30,488 So you jump in and relax too 274 00:09:30,629 --> 00:09:32,167 Then sink 275 00:09:32,668 --> 00:09:34,228 The champion can relax 276 00:09:34,229 --> 00:09:36,288 Because he has trained the fundamentals for ten years 277 00:09:36,308 --> 00:09:39,008 Every muscle knows how to move in water 278 00:09:39,389 --> 00:09:40,427 You cannot even float 279 00:09:40,629 --> 00:09:41,467 What exactly are you relaxing 280 00:09:42,308 --> 00:09:43,128 This problem 281 00:09:43,308 --> 00:09:46,207 Was perfectly clear to the great Chan masters themselves 282 00:09:46,548 --> 00:09:49,408 So later masters developed inquiry into critical phrases 283 00:09:49,428 --> 00:09:50,567 Shouts and blows 284 00:09:50,589 --> 00:09:52,327 And many other skillful means 285 00:09:52,668 --> 00:09:54,187 What did these methods really do 286 00:09:54,668 --> 00:09:57,547 For ordinary people unable to receive direct pointing to the mind 287 00:09:57,548 --> 00:09:59,488 They provided a transitional step 288 00:09:59,908 --> 00:10:00,667 Do you see 289 00:10:01,589 --> 00:10:03,067 These two modes of contemplation 290 00:10:03,068 --> 00:10:05,865 Are not simply options you choose at will 291 00:10:06,126 --> 00:10:07,906 Contemplating mind and consciousness lays the foundation 292 00:10:08,366 --> 00:10:11,145 First understand how consciousness operates 293 00:10:11,527 --> 00:10:13,426 First see how imagined nature 294 00:10:13,567 --> 00:10:15,786 Takes the data stream of dependent nature 295 00:10:15,966 --> 00:10:17,306 And adds narratives to it 296 00:10:17,567 --> 00:10:20,345 First understand how seeds are activated 297 00:10:20,846 --> 00:10:22,706 First establish clear right view 298 00:10:23,086 --> 00:10:24,406 This process is slow 299 00:10:24,767 --> 00:10:25,706 And tedious 300 00:10:25,887 --> 00:10:29,306 Sometimes like reading a manual you barely understand 301 00:10:29,726 --> 00:10:31,586 But without that manual 302 00:10:31,647 --> 00:10:34,786 You do not even know what has trapped you 303 00:10:35,287 --> 00:10:38,826 That answers the first half of the question Huahua asked in the comments 304 00:10:39,246 --> 00:10:39,605 She asked 305 00:10:40,086 --> 00:10:41,666 For most people 306 00:10:41,767 --> 00:10:45,245 Is establishing clear right view itself necessary medicine 307 00:10:46,007 --> 00:10:46,406 Yes 308 00:10:46,606 --> 00:10:48,092 It is medicine 309 00:10:48,513 --> 00:10:50,592 But once you have taken enough you must stop 310 00:10:50,592 --> 00:10:52,572 That is the second half of her question 311 00:10:52,633 --> 00:10:54,491 And its sharpest edge 312 00:10:54,752 --> 00:10:55,111 She asked 313 00:10:55,553 --> 00:10:57,572 Should there come a moment 314 00:10:57,592 --> 00:11:00,351 When we release even concepts like emptiness and dependent origination 315 00:11:00,992 --> 00:11:01,552 The answer is 316 00:11:01,913 --> 00:11:03,011 We must release them 317 00:11:03,313 --> 00:11:06,491 Because contemplating mind and consciousness has a built in ceiling 318 00:11:06,673 --> 00:11:09,052 You observe consciousness through analysis 319 00:11:09,112 --> 00:11:10,672 The more precise your analysis 320 00:11:10,673 --> 00:11:13,572 The more you depend on the act of analyzing 321 00:11:13,872 --> 00:11:15,471 You dismantle concepts using concepts 322 00:11:15,752 --> 00:11:16,771 And in the end 323 00:11:16,832 --> 00:11:19,092 What remains in your hands is still concepts 324 00:11:19,352 --> 00:11:21,891 You dismantle the clock into ten thousand parts 325 00:11:21,952 --> 00:11:23,332 Covering an entire table 326 00:11:23,433 --> 00:11:26,559 Yet you are less able to tell the time 327 00:11:26,981 --> 00:11:28,199 In our earlier episode 328 00:11:28,260 --> 00:11:30,799 On concepts I had explained incorrectly we hit that ceiling 329 00:11:31,180 --> 00:11:33,760 I explained Yogacara concepts fluently 330 00:11:34,020 --> 00:11:37,120 Perfected nature cognitive obscurations and nonconceptual wisdom 331 00:11:37,221 --> 00:11:38,880 With an elegant explanation for each 332 00:11:39,101 --> 00:11:42,079 Then a single comment from Lay Buddhist Huang woke me up 333 00:11:42,260 --> 00:11:42,579 She said 334 00:11:43,180 --> 00:11:43,860 Who is doing the analyzing 335 00:11:44,420 --> 00:11:47,679 The thought that wants to bypass manas and alter the parameters 336 00:11:47,701 --> 00:11:49,720 Is itself manas at work 337 00:11:50,101 --> 00:11:51,520 You think you are practicing 338 00:11:51,621 --> 00:11:53,880 But you are actually giving manas a massage 339 00:11:54,420 --> 00:11:55,919 Shisan put it more directly 340 00:11:56,260 --> 00:12:00,000 Awakening is not gaining admin access to rewrite consciousness 341 00:12:00,341 --> 00:12:02,640 It is relaxing until nothing stands in the way 342 00:12:02,741 --> 00:12:04,120 Then you see for yourself 343 00:12:04,660 --> 00:12:05,819 What they pointed to 344 00:12:05,821 --> 00:12:10,159 Was the turning point from contemplating consciousness to contemplating suchness 345 00:12:10,420 --> 00:12:12,220 Through analysis you build a ladder 346 00:12:12,420 --> 00:12:13,480 And climb onto the roof 347 00:12:13,701 --> 00:12:16,240 But for that final step from roof to sky 348 00:12:16,341 --> 00:12:17,840 You must throw away the ladder 349 00:12:18,221 --> 00:12:19,880 You cannot fly while carrying it 350 00:12:20,341 --> 00:12:21,220 Then you might ask 351 00:12:21,660 --> 00:12:23,260 If it must be thrown away eventually 352 00:12:23,260 --> 00:12:24,539 Why build a ladder at all 353 00:12:25,260 --> 00:12:27,559 Because if you have never climbed onto the roof 354 00:12:27,620 --> 00:12:29,559 You do not know what the sky looks like 355 00:12:29,941 --> 00:12:32,360 From the ground you crane your neck 356 00:12:32,540 --> 00:12:35,480 And think the sky is that little patch of blue above you 357 00:12:35,900 --> 00:12:37,519 You must climb onto the roof 358 00:12:37,540 --> 00:12:40,039 To see that the sky is boundless 359 00:12:40,341 --> 00:12:42,240 Only then might you understand 360 00:12:42,300 --> 00:12:44,039 Why the ladder must go 361 00:12:44,380 --> 00:12:46,640 Contemplating suchness does not skip analysis 362 00:12:47,020 --> 00:12:49,159 It passes through analysis 363 00:12:49,900 --> 00:12:52,220 You must travel the whole path of contemplating consciousness 364 00:12:52,221 --> 00:12:53,480 Right to its end 365 00:12:53,660 --> 00:12:55,439 Until you personally experience 366 00:12:55,461 --> 00:12:58,360 The moment when analysis itself becomes an attachment 367 00:12:58,500 --> 00:13:01,723 Only then can contemplating suchness arise naturally 368 00:13:02,064 --> 00:13:04,042 It is not something you make happen 369 00:13:04,424 --> 00:13:06,662 Once you have dismantled all that needs dismantling 370 00:13:06,664 --> 00:13:08,262 Seen through all that needs seeing through 371 00:13:08,263 --> 00:13:10,162 And released all that needs releasing 372 00:13:10,263 --> 00:13:12,042 Suchness reveals itself 373 00:13:12,184 --> 00:13:13,363 Like a pool of water 374 00:13:13,464 --> 00:13:16,203 You do not drain it to see the stones below 375 00:13:16,263 --> 00:13:17,542 You simply stop stirring 376 00:13:17,903 --> 00:13:19,522 The sediment settles by itself 377 00:13:19,544 --> 00:13:21,083 And the water becomes clear 378 00:13:21,223 --> 00:13:22,103 You have done nothing 379 00:13:22,424 --> 00:13:24,134 Clarity is simply there 380 00:13:24,195 --> 00:13:26,195 That is why Nagarjuna in the Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way 381 00:13:26,636 --> 00:13:28,435 First uses the most rigorous logic 382 00:13:28,436 --> 00:13:30,494 To show that all phenomena lack inherent nature 383 00:13:30,636 --> 00:13:32,894 Then says thought and speech fall silent 384 00:13:33,315 --> 00:13:35,014 He is not saying logic is useless 385 00:13:35,235 --> 00:13:37,695 He is saying logic helps up to this point 386 00:13:37,796 --> 00:13:38,874 Beyond that point 387 00:13:38,876 --> 00:13:40,655 You need another way 388 00:13:41,276 --> 00:13:43,335 Logic is that ladder 389 00:13:43,796 --> 00:13:46,094 That is also why the Diamond Sutra repeatedly says 390 00:13:46,276 --> 00:13:47,575 The teaching spoken by the Tathagata 391 00:13:47,595 --> 00:13:48,394 Cannot be grasped 392 00:13:48,715 --> 00:13:49,575 Or expressed 393 00:13:50,156 --> 00:13:53,455 The Buddha was not denying forty nine years of teaching 394 00:13:53,835 --> 00:13:55,035 He was reminding you 395 00:13:55,396 --> 00:13:57,014 I am giving you a raft 396 00:13:57,036 --> 00:13:58,014 Not the other shore 397 00:13:58,235 --> 00:14:01,535 If you keep carrying the raft after crossing the river 398 00:14:01,556 --> 00:14:03,498 That becomes a new attachment 399 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:04,559 At this point 400 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:06,778 I want to return to the comment from Huahua 401 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:08,119 Her essential question was 402 00:14:08,560 --> 00:14:09,459 Whether the Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way itself 403 00:14:09,680 --> 00:14:11,018 Is also a kind of 404 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:13,398 Expedient means using concepts to undo concepts 405 00:14:14,119 --> 00:14:15,018 Of course it is 406 00:14:15,560 --> 00:14:18,099 But that answer carries real weight 407 00:14:18,359 --> 00:14:20,498 You must actually use this tool 408 00:14:20,639 --> 00:14:22,059 Take it to its limit 409 00:14:22,279 --> 00:14:26,138 To the threshold where it dissolves itself 410 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:30,339 You cannot conceptually plan when to release concepts 411 00:14:30,759 --> 00:14:33,138 Just as you cannot plan the moment you fall asleep 412 00:14:33,599 --> 00:14:34,959 You make all the preparations 413 00:14:35,239 --> 00:14:36,059 Lie down 414 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:36,638 Relax 415 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:39,562 And sleep happens by itself 416 00:14:39,902 --> 00:14:42,921 Contemplating consciousness prepares you through analysis 417 00:14:43,223 --> 00:14:46,001 You see every layer of how consciousness operates 418 00:14:46,303 --> 00:14:47,442 Then at some point 419 00:14:47,463 --> 00:14:51,362 You discover even the act of seeing is unnecessary 420 00:14:51,742 --> 00:14:53,001 The seeing disappears 421 00:14:53,183 --> 00:14:56,761 Yet what you see is clearer than ever 422 00:14:57,223 --> 00:14:58,362 This is not a contradiction 423 00:14:58,742 --> 00:15:00,521 It is contemplating suchness 424 00:15:00,943 --> 00:15:02,602 You are not observing suchness 425 00:15:02,902 --> 00:15:04,962 Suchness reveals itself 426 00:15:05,303 --> 00:15:07,702 Because all the concepts blocking it 427 00:15:07,703 --> 00:15:10,749 Have been removed layer by layer 428 00:15:10,930 --> 00:15:12,589 Throughout this series 429 00:15:12,690 --> 00:15:15,589 We have been contemplating mind and consciousness 430 00:15:15,889 --> 00:15:17,989 Using predictive coding to unpack the brain 431 00:15:18,009 --> 00:15:20,028 Using Yogacara to unpack consciousness 432 00:15:20,050 --> 00:15:22,709 Using modern science to unpack ancient scriptures 433 00:15:23,050 --> 00:15:24,589 Analyzing episode after episode 434 00:15:24,649 --> 00:15:26,628 Dismantling concept after concept 435 00:15:27,009 --> 00:15:28,189 This is necessary 436 00:15:28,529 --> 00:15:31,066 And I will keep doing it 437 00:15:31,647 --> 00:15:34,105 But today I want to say honestly 438 00:15:34,527 --> 00:15:36,706 I am probably still standing on that roof 439 00:15:37,086 --> 00:15:38,346 I have built quite a few ladders 440 00:15:38,527 --> 00:15:41,226 And the view from the roof has astonished me 441 00:15:41,447 --> 00:15:43,666 But what the sky is really like 442 00:15:43,767 --> 00:15:45,745 I have not yet seen for myself 443 00:15:46,086 --> 00:15:47,285 I know it is there 444 00:15:47,647 --> 00:15:49,306 I can describe its direction 445 00:15:49,486 --> 00:15:52,666 But I cannot tell you what it feels like 446 00:15:53,167 --> 00:15:54,926 So when you see people in the comments 447 00:15:55,287 --> 00:15:56,645 Like Shisan 448 00:15:56,647 --> 00:15:58,206 Sharing experiences of actual practice 449 00:15:58,687 --> 00:15:59,785 Please read them carefully 450 00:16:00,086 --> 00:16:01,846 Their descriptions are not concepts 451 00:16:02,126 --> 00:16:03,066 They are landscapes 452 00:16:03,287 --> 00:16:04,946 They are not expounding theories 453 00:16:05,006 --> 00:16:08,265 They are telling you what they saw from the summit 454 00:16:08,567 --> 00:16:10,565 Which key are you holding now 455 00:16:11,046 --> 00:16:13,326 Have you reached the moment to change hands 456 00:16:13,886 --> 00:16:15,765 Or have you yet to grasp even the first key 457 00:16:16,366 --> 00:16:18,866 Only you know the answer 458 00:16:19,006 --> 00:16:20,486 But at least now you know 459 00:16:20,766 --> 00:16:22,065 There are two keys 460 00:16:22,126 --> 00:16:23,206 One takes the lock apart 461 00:16:23,487 --> 00:16:24,826 The other pushes the door open 462 00:16:25,207 --> 00:16:28,866 Keep dismantling until you discover the door was never locked 463 00:16:29,046 --> 00:16:31,825 Then give it a gentle push 464 00:16:32,333 --> 00:16:32,977 I am Leo Wang 465 00:16:33,236 --> 00:16:34,090 See you next time