"Mind operates to adapt to all situations; the locus of its operation is truly recondite. If you can recognize essential nature while going along with the flow, there is neither rejoicing nor sorrrow."
Thus a master teacher said, "In the womb, it is called a spirit; in the world, it is called a person. In the eyes it sees, in the ears it hears, in the nose it smells, in the mouth it talks, in the hand it grabs, in the feet it walks. It appears everywhere, encompassing the universe, yet it is concentrated in a single atom."
Yung-chia also said, "Mind is the sense, phenomena are the object; both are like flaws in a mirrorr. When the flaws and dirt are gone, only then does the light show; when the mind and phenomena are both forgotten, essential nature is real."
{Dream Conversations - Thomas Cleary}
In case there is some fear of the possible meaning of "essential nature" and the mysteriousness of the unknown aspects of Self as evidenced by mistrust of self and others associated with the transference of trauma in any one lifetime, and the resultant confusion of abuse inherent in our competative human world, these basic behavioral precepts of buddhism are valid for all walks of life... and though we need not apply them all -- to Be and love ourselves, they exist as they do in order to reveal unobstructed truth to those who are prepared to let go of their self-enforced delusions.
The Five Precepts
1. I undertake to abstain from harming living beings
2. I undertake to abstain from taking what is not given
3. I undertake to abstain from sexual misconduct
4. I undertake to abstain from false speech
5. I undertake to abstain from intoxicating drugs or drink
