What is Mind?

The universe is not only in the universe but also out of the universe.
Who can guess how large it is?
As the mind, however, has the universe in it,
How large the mind named mind is! 

Nothing is larger than this.
However,
It is not only the largest but also the smallest. 

The true form of mind is shapeless!
It flows according to its karma.
It never stops changing its shape at any moment.
Its flow reveals its moving shape according to its karma.
Every change contains the universe in it,
And so does the mind.

The mind we call mind!
We should know not only the inside but also the outside of it clearly.
How curious it is
That we don’t know it even while seeing it!
It is both the nearest and the farthest from us.
However, we don’t know what it is,
Because something is blocking us.
I’m going to open the mind for a moment so that you may see it.
Let go of your deluded mind.

I’ll give you an example.
[raising his right hand]
“What is mind? Do you know?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Then, what is it that moves my hand?
It’s neither my hand nor my mind.”
“I still don’t know.”
“Study and figure out who doesn’t know it
keep on questioning who doesn’t know it
And you will hit upon the answer all of a sudden.
Why don’t you hurry up?
There is no time to lose.

A carp that can go thousands of miles a day without stopping
Is confronted with a waterfall to swim up.
It can neither swim up nor give up.
It’s in a dilemma.
Once it has overcome the waterfall after all sorts of hardships and privations.
White clouds meet it.

 

Written by Master Subul Sunim of Ahnkook Zen Center
Translated by Boo Ahm (Song Soo-kyong)

Monthly Magazine SEOUL(January 2008)