Heart Sutra/Prajnaparamita
Loving kindness, maitri, is the wish to establish all beings in happiness. Karuna, compassion, is the wish to relieve all beings of suffering. Prajna, wisdom, allows us to develop the skill to actually fulfill the previous wishes.
The Heart Sutra (so called because it points directly to the heart of Buddha's teachings as well as the heart of His great spiritual Truth) directs us to seek wisdom and then apply it actively in order to awaken fully.
In this case the mantra, Tayata Om gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi shava is like a finger pointing at the moon. It is imploring us to use the power of perception, investigation, critical analytical thinking and reason to explore the true nature of reality. The mantra itself is like a cheer or chant encouraging us: Go, go, go beyond! Go entirely beyond! Awakening, at last!
Where are we going and what are we going beyond? We are leaving our everyday perception and habitually learned experience of reality to dive into a deeper exploration of what the true nature of existence is grounded in. By pointing at the moon, Buddha is telling us to see impermanence in its mysterious cycles of new, waxing and waning. He is also sharing a lesson on interdependence: its light is not its own. It is a reflection which emerges and is possible only in connection and relationship.
We are like that in the sense that our person and our lives are reflections of a hidden but obvious Truth. There is a clear light shining all the time, but we tend to hone in on the impermanent distractions and appearances of the dance of life and change as it is constantly moving across the screen. The clear light mind is like the screen that allows all of these events to appear on. Yet we often miss that because of attraction and attachment to the images and emotions on display.
We are like that in the sense that our person and our lives are reflections of a hidden but obvious Truth. There is a clear light shining all the time, but we tend to hone in on the impermanent distractions and appearances of the dance of life and change as it is constantly moving across the screen. The clear light mind is like the screen that allows all of these events to appear on. Yet we often miss that because of attraction and attachment to the images and emotions on display.
In meditation, we try to move beyond the images, sensations, feelings, perceptions and cognitions into an awareness of the nature of what is allowing and mediating these experiences. Into an expansiveness that is beyond conceptions and labels and limits.
This can be difficult, at best. But if we are patient, kind, curious and determined, we will take on the encouragement to go. Then we feel confident to go a bit further. Then even going beyond that...little by little, until we arrive at the final cheer of bodhi svaha!
Feel inspired by loving kindness, curiosity and perseverance. And most of all, remember to use wisdom and compassion as your greatest assets in this undertaking. Apply a critical lens into your investigation, but do not become critical. Become compassionate as you dive in and discover all the reasons to grown softer and more open.
When you do this with a steady dedication you will certainly come upon the most precious of treasures: ultimate bodhicitta.
When you do this with a steady dedication you will certainly come upon the most precious of treasures: ultimate bodhicitta.
Go Love,
Lisa
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