Teachings From Ancient Vietnamese Zen Masters – 84
35 Originally Emptiness
The four snakes hiding in your luggage are originally emptiness. The
five aggregates forming this high mountain are also void.
See the true nature illuminating unhinderedly,
and don’t mind about the Nirvana and birth and death.
DAI XA (1120 – 1180)
(COMMENT: Observe your body and mind, and see the emptiness
nature of the four snakes and five aggregates. The four snakes
symbolize the four elements of which all things are made: earth, or
characteristic of solidity; water, or fluidity; fire, or heating; and air, or
motion. The four snakes are working in your body. Treat them carefully;
otherwise, they would make you sick. The five aggregates symbolize
the five groups making up a human being: form, feeling, perception,
volition, and consciousness. The high mountain means your body and
mind – all things you believe you are.
Just see the true nature of ‘this high mountain’ for all times, day and
night, and don’t mind anything else. What is the true nature of ‘this
high mountain’? It is void, it is originally emptiness. To see that, you
don’t need to do any ritual. Everything is changing instantly, everything
empties itself instantly, everything is empty in nature.
The Buddha once told his son, Rahula, that all things forming the body
and mind should be seen with right discernment as “This is not mine,
this is not me, this is not my self.”
Reading up to this page, you may get confused by so many meditation
techniques we have discussed. If so, just remember only what Buddha
taught Rahula here.)
