Mirror

[Guest guest]

>"the mirror

>requires no dusting." (Hui-neng, 6th Zen Patriarch)

NS

 

Dear NS

 

Am I reading you (and the Zen masters) correctly? Or should it be "The

mirror requires dusting "?

 

If Jnana (Self-knowledge) is compared to a mirror which is covered with the

dust of wordly desires, dusting would be required to make Self Knowledge

shine.

As Gita says,

dhoomenÀvriyate vahnir yathÀdarsho malena cha |

yatholbenÀvRto garbhas tathÀ tenedam ÀvRtam ||3-38||

 

As fire is covered with smoke, as a mirror is covered with dust, as a foetus

is covered with amnion, similarly is THIS (Self-knowledge of wise people)

covered with that (Kama, worldly desires)

 

Your brother

RS

(Ravi Shivde)

[Guest guest]

Hello Ravi,

No, the 'mirror' is bright and clear all along, and requires NO

dusting whatsoever. It's very nature is Brightness and Clearness.

What else would you assume to be the case for Consciousness?

 

Ravi: As Gita says,

> As fire is covered with smoke, as a mirror is covered with dust, as

a foetus

> is covered with amnion, similarly is THIS (Self-knowledge of wise

people)covered with that (Kama, worldly desires)

 

NS: The key word here is "covered." If I cover a clear mirror with a

cloth, has the mirror itself lost any of its inherent brightness?

You might say that it appears less bright now that it is covered from

your sight while you sit away from it. But, I say, You are that

mirror, and there is nothing, no cloth or dust, that can come between

you and your Self. This is not, 'some Consciousness over there.'

You are That! (Tat Tvum Asi)

Thank you for your insight, my Bright brother,

NS

 

 

 

 

Hui Neng says, "There is no attainment, and therefore to busy

oneself about seeking a "way" to attainment is pure self-deception.

Zen is not "attained" by mirror-wiping meditation, but by

self-forgetfulness here and now."

 

 

 

 

 

advaitin, Ravi Shivde <shivde@s...> wrote:

> >"the mirror

> >requires no dusting." (Hui-neng, 6th Zen Patriarch)

> NS

>

> Dear NS

>

> Am I reading you (and the Zen masters) correctly? Or should it

be "The

> mirror requires dusting "?

>

> If Jnana (Self-knowledge) is compared to a mirror which is covered

with the

> dust of wordly desires, dusting would be required to make Self

Knowledge

> shine.

>

> Your brother

> RS

> (Ravi Shivde)