Chapter 15

Someone asked: "What is the state in which the four
[elements and four phases] are formless?"

The Master said: "An instant of doubt in your mind and you're obstructed by earth; an instant of lust in your mind and you're obstructed by water; an instant of anger in your mind and you're scorched by fire; an instant of joy in your mind and you're blown about by wind. Gain such discernment as this, and you are not turned this way and that by circumstances: making use of circumstances everywhere you spring up in the east and sink down in the west, spring up in the south and sink down in the north, spring up in the center and sink down at the border, spring up at the border and sink down in the center, walk on the water as on land and walk on the land as on water.

"How is this possible? Because you have realized that the four elements are like dreams, like illusions. Followers of the Way, the you who right now is listening to my discourse is not your four elements; this you makes use of your four elements. If you can fully understand this, you are free to go or to stay [as you please].

"From my point of view, there is not a thing to be disliked. If you love the 'sacred,' what is sacred is no more than the name 'sacred.'

"There're a bunch of students who seek Manjusri on Wut'ai-shan. Wrong from the start! There's no Manjusri on Wut'ai-shan. Do you want to know Manjusri? Your activity right now, never changing, nowhere faltering - this is the living Manjusri. Your single thought's non-differentiating light - this indeed is the true Samantabhadra. Your single thought that of itself frees from bondage and brings emancipation everywhere - this is the Avalokitesavara-samadhi. Since these [three] alternately take the position of master and attendants, when they appear they appear at one and the same time. The one is the three, the three are the one. Gain understanding such as this, and then you can read the sutras.