Month: May 2021

Hear now the mantra that awakens
this deep one mind:
Take the path that’s no fixed path,
leave no traces behind,
hurry, hurry, and become free.
We all become free together.

이에, 깊은 한마음을 깨닫는 주문을 설하노니
발 없는 발로 길 없는 길을 어서어서 벗어나세,
우리 함께 벗어나세.

This verse has two lines that are some of the hardest to succinctly translate: 발 없는 발로 길 없는 길을, which literally would be “with feet that don’t have feet, on the path that doesn’t have a path.” The Korean is very poetic, with a very nice rhythm, but as you can see, the English is a bit… clunky, lol. In my opinion, (which should in no way be taken as all-knowing!), it seems that “path that doesn’t have a path” 길 없는 길을, means that there is no fixed path. There is no magic method that you just follow, such as “step 1, step 2, step 3,” to say nothing of some place where the mystic energy will somehow lift you beyond yourself.
You have to go forward entrusting everything to this empty place, where no fixed ideas can stick, where there’s nothing you can grab onto (intellectually or physically) and say “This is it!” For whatever you think you know, you have to let go of that as well. Unless you are completely and utterly enlightened, what you are perceiving and thinking is almost certainly contaminated with dualistic habits and views.
Even if they are good things, such as “help all other beings,” there’s likely some accidently dualistic views in there (besides the obvious), so you have to let go of even that again and again.

The first phase that was translated “Leave no traces behind” 발 없는 발로 , could also perhaps mean just “on feet that aren’t feet,” that is, this path we take isn’t a physical path, and so we travel it through mind, not through the body. Although I must have approved of this English version when this was first translated, I think it could also be expressed as:
Take the path that’s no fixed path,
traveling through mind, not the body,

I’m not sure. The second one is definitely more obvious, perhaps too much so. In the normal expression of spiritual practice, “leave no traces behind” means no trace of “I,” or “I did,” “I am,” “I deserved” “He/she/they did ___ to me,” and so on. This meaning might be the more useful one here.

Know that this sutra of one mind
is true beyond all doubt
and will free you from all suffering.

이 깊은 미지의 주문은 진실하여
허망치 않음을 알라.
일체 고난에서 벗어나리라.

You must know this:
one mind,
with deep and limitless wisdom,
is the most profound,
the most bright
the most high
the most upright,
the unsurpassed level.

마땅히 알라
깊은 미지의 지혜로운 한마음이야말로
가장 신비하고, 가장 밝고, 가장 높고,
가장 당당한 위없는 심경이므로

These words aren’t some kind of bragging – the point is that everything you’d ever hope to find, everything that might help you, grow you, or lead you forward can be found within your one mind.

All Buddhas
of the past,
present,
and future
awaken to this one mind,
obtain the highest and brightest
wisdom,
overcome birth and death,
and attain the state of freely
manifesting throughout all realms.

과거, 현재, 그리고 미래의 모든 부처님들도
이 마음자리를 깨달아
가장 높고 밝은 지혜를 얻어
생사를 초월하고
자유자재의 경지를 성취하셨나니

Because this mind has no hindrances,
there is no fear.
Upside-down pointless dreams are
left behind,
and inherent,
eternally bright
supreme enlightenment
is attained.

마음에 걸림이 없는 고로 두려움이 없으며
뒤바뀐 헛된 꿈 같은 생각을 떠나서
본래부터 영원한 밝음의 구경에 이르렀나니라.

I love the expression, “leaving behind upside-down, pointless dreams”! That’s so vivid! Again, it’s not necessary to understand all aspects of these verses, just try to recite them a few times every days whenever you remember.

The goal here is to input these within you. As you do this, it’s like teaching the lives within you, and even though “you” don’t fully understand something, other parts of you will absorb the different nuances and be pointed in the right direction. Also, later when you are ready or really need this guidance, the words of the verse will pop into your consciousness.

The one mind of a free person
circulates deep in the realm of nothingness,
free of all hindrances.

자유인의 한마음은
깊은 무無의 세계에 회전하며
일체 걸림이 없느니라.

I’m not sure what really needs to be said about this verse. In truth, it reminds me a bit of a similar verse from “Faith in Mind,” although there are likely issues of depth:

The Great Way is not difficult
for those who do not pick and choose.
When preferences are cast aside,
the Way stands clear and undisguised.

That said, getting caught up in such comparisons probably isn’t *quite* in tune with the spirit of either, lol. But, to put it another way, when you entrust everything to your foundation, you are free, or have at least started down that path. True freedom would also involve the ability to respond as needed, but freedom from being twisted about and shaken by the events and mental states of life would sure be a great start!

Could you squeeze a mountain into a 150cm container? No. But because we often don’t know better, we look at that container and think that’s all there is, that everything is inside there.

There is nothing to attain
because nothing is fixed and unchanging.
In every instant
all things are ceaselessly
changing and manifesting.

없는 까닭은
일체 고정된 것이 없이
화化하여 찰나찰나 나투는 까닭이니라.

The key phrase here is “attain,” because among other things, it means adding something. The problem is not just the idea that something was lacking, but that there were two separate states or things existing apart from each other. (Tomorrow’s verse will clarify this a bit.)

Nor is there wisdom
or enlightenment to attain.

지혜도, 깨달음도 얻을 바가 없으니

Nor exist the causes of suffering,
or even methods to escape from suffering.

온갖 괴로움의 원인과
괴로움을 벗어나는 방법까지도 없으므로

Happy Buddha’s Birthday! I hope you are all having a great day. Here’s a Dharma talk given by Daehaeng Kun Sunim several years ago on Buddha’s Birthday. It’s fairly deep, so take your time and let it soak in. Just take one piece that clicks with you and work at diligently applying that. Seriously. Application of only one small part will lead to the other parts opening up, but understanding without application will only fade. So focus on just one thing and put that into practice!

Dharma talk on Buddha’s Birthday

The Buddha’s mind is so vast and vast, so deep and deep,
through its blossoming, through its fragrance,
it’s given us everything.

This flower of mind is unimaginably subtle and profound
And can cover the entire universe.
For this flower is the flower of your Buddha-nature.
Your Buddha-nature exists throughout the world, in every part of the world,
this foundation is your true nature, One Mind.
In this Dharma net, where everything is connected to each other thing,
if we firmly grip the light of our true nature, the one that’s doing everything,
then as we go through life, we give light to all the beings around us,
and can know the mind of all.

An entire country is just one family living under the same roof.
All people in the world are living together in the same barrel,
sharing the same fate.
In essence, all beings are sharing the same mind and the same body.
Don’t get caught up in thinking that some things are large and important,
and others small and trivial.
In front of your foundation, Juingong, they are exactly the same,
both are equally responsive to the thoughts we entrust to our foundation.

Thus, it’s possible to take care of any of the problems that are arising in the world,
they can all be controlled and managed.
This practice that allows us to change things for the better
is precisely what the Buddha taught.
Even in unseen realms, there is consciousness and life,
in seen realms as well, there is consciousness and life,
so thoroughly know both sides and spend each day brightly.
Through this eternal, ever-present brightness,
beings of this middle realm have to raise themselves to higher realms.
Do not allow yourself to slip into lower realms.
The lanterns we’re lighting here today don’t give light for just this one day.
If we can keep the light within us bright,
then today becomes not just celebration of the Buddha’s birthday,
today becomes eternal.