Let go of discriminations between this world and the next, hurry and become free.
이승 저승 없는 마음 어서어서 벗어나세.
This is one of the more surprising lines in Daehaeng Kun Sunim’s translation of the Heart Sutra. Literally, it is “With the mind that has no discriminations between the world of the living and the world of the dead, hurry and become free.” I honestly can’t say I have a firm grasp on why this was included. Was it more for Koreans who tend to think more about the dead? Maybeee, but I’d be hesitant to say Kun Sunim included something because it was unique to a particular culture. Looking at the text again, it includes “this realm” and “that realm”, which would also include time, I think, because we tend to think of the dead as existing in the past. Maybe this just simply means that all beings, living and dead, visible and invisible, past and present, exist at this moment(?) we call Buddha-nature or true-nature or mind. Know this state, and from there, make yourself free. Maybe that’s what’s being said.
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.
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.
Even though the celebrations had to be scaled down, there were still lanterns for the Buddha’s Birthday!
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.
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.)
Wake Up and Laugh! 