Wake Up and Laugh!

Are you remembering to recite these out loud? 🙂
How do we change? This is quite a serious question, because growing and evolving is really our purpose. Yet, how do we move in a direction we haven’t seen? How do we head towards things we haven’t experienced? If we stick to what we know, what we’ve already experienced, how could that take us anywhere other than where we are right now? That’s what got us here, not necessary what will take us forward.

We could just go by trial and error, eventually figuring out which things cause us pain and trying to not go that way, but that path takes a long time. And it kind of hurts!

That’s where Daehaeng Sunim’s The Thousand Hands Sutra is so precious, in my opinion. It’s a view of life and the world from the perspective of the deeply enlightened. It shows us how they view the world, how they respond to things, and in so doing, shows us how to live at that level. How we can bring our behavior and thinking into tune with that level of awareness. It’s like a free guide to higher levels of evolution. And more than just avoiding painful and pointless dead ends, we can discover deep connections and a sense of real worth.

Believing in my one mind
and following its profound truth,
I will become free from all attachments
and able to use the infinite ability within me.

내 한마음 믿으오며 한마음의 진실한 뜻 따른다면, 자유 자재하리이다.

Knowing that the wisdom and enlightenment of all Buddhas
is my one mind,
I fully trust my one mind
and follow its compassionate guidance.

일체제불 마음이 곧 내 한마음인 것인 줄 알았으니,
내 한마음 지극하게 믿으오며 한마음의 진실한 뜻 따르오리다.

One mind is the foundation,
so just as it is,
it is truth and fully present throughout my life.

한마음이 근본이니, 그대로가 생활이며 법이도다.

Inherently there is no path to find,
nor obstacles to overcome.

본래부터 마음에는 문이 없어 넘어들 것 없으므로 넘어갈 것 또한 없어

It’s easy to think that we communicate with words, but how we really communicate is through our foundation, our one mind, our inherent light. When we’re speaking and listening from that, then this ‘signal’ goes from heart to heart, and we have such a better understanding of each other. Try this yourself and see what results. If both of you are speaking and listening from this place, that’s the best! But, even if it’s only you, you’ll still have a much better understanding and connection.

Letting go of all things to my foundation
fills my heart with light.

근본에다 몰락 놔서 밝은 마음 이루리다

My one mind is the root of all things.
All things arise from it,
so all things I completely entrust to it.

내 한마음 온갖 것의 근본 되니,
근본에서 나온 것을 근본에다 몰락 놔서

my one mind manifests every instant
illuminating the path for all beings,
both those with life and without.

찰나찰나 나투면서 일체 모든 유생 무생의 길을 밝게 인도하도다.

The foundation of the universe is my one mind,

우주의 근본은 내 한마음이 근본이니

All minds are one mind,
it manifests every moment
and shows me the path.

일체심이 곧 일심이니, 찰나찰나 나투며 길을 밝히도다.

As the political system gathers speed in the US, we see people placing there hope in the idea that the right leader will help people behave correctly. While there’s some truth buried in that, the real thing that will change our world is each of us working at brightening our minds.

When we bring ourselves back into harmony with the way things truly are, then, it’s as if we give off a light, or an incense fragrance, that helps others move in tune with this as well. Without us doing anything else, it helps the people around us feel their connection to others a bit more, and helps them approach the world a bit more harmoniously.

If you want to see the world improve, work on returning everything back to your foundation. The light that gives off will help guide all beings, both living and dead.

Reciting these verses from the Thousand Hands Sutra out loud helps because in so doing, we are teaching ourselves these principles, both our conscious mind as well as all the lives that make up our bodies.

The source of the entire universe is our one mind;
it guides every single thing
in this interconnected world.

온 우주의 근본도 내 한마음이 근본이니,
둘이 아닌 세상을 똑바로 지도하도다.