With deepest gratitude to Yan Ome, for this marvellous post. So simply yet so direct, in its pointing at the mirror like quality of our non grasping real nature. The true nature of mind is mirror-like awareness, always just reflecting what’s happening, whether we notice this or not. It never shuts off or stops functioning, even when we’re completely engrossed in conceptual thinking or strong emotions. A mirror just receives whatever object is placed before it, neutrally and naturally. It has no opinions about the object. The mirror doesnt prefer red over blue, it doesnt discriminate among these things, and yet it doesnt block them out, reject them, or alter them in any way. It is just open receptivity, without adding any commentary. The reflections on the mirror don’t stick to the mirror, and the mirror doesnt have any lag time – when something is put in front of it and then taken away, the image doesnt stay there for a minute and then slowly leave. The mirror just immediately and spontaneously responds, effortlessly reflecting the next image without hesitation. It doesnt try to manipulate the situation, thinking, “Can we have just a little bit longer with that blue colour?” When we look at a clear mirror directly, all we see are the reflections on its surface, which appear quite real. If there’s a smudge or dust on the mirror, then maybe we can see a bit of the surface where the reflection lies, but a clear mirror can’t itself be seen. If our eyes try to behold it, all they behold is the image on its surface, just a reflection, an illusory appearance. All these qualities of the mirror are also qualities of the nature of mind, the naturally present open awareness of Buddha-Nature. This mirror awareness doesnt just reflect visual objects – when sounds come, it reflects those sounds. Smells, tastes, physical sensations, thoughts, emotions, and all kinds of mental activity are also reflected clearly on the surface of the mirror, without sticking to the mirror. Thoughts and emotions, which are reflected in mirror awareness, much more than sensory objects, really pull our attention away from noticing the mirror. We get so caught up in the reflections, the experience happening on the surface, that we forget the background awareness. One of the most wonderful qualities of mirror awareness, that a glass mirror doesn’t have, is compassion. Buddha-Nature is naturally and effortlessly compassionate, openly receiving suffering without turning away in aversion. When we’re practising zazen, whatever our specific practice might be – whether it’s following the breath, mindfulness of the body or feelings, attention to thoughts arising, no thoughts arising – mirror awareness is always present, simply reflecting what’s happening, including the object of meditation, such as the breath, and also the sense of ourselves as the mediator. A spacious, background awareness just observes, just receives what’s happening. During zazen we can open to this receptive mirror awareness. If we try to look directly at it, try to grasp the mirror, we won’t be able to; we will only get to see our ideas of it reflected in it. Therefore the practice is, rather than trying to see the mirror, simply to be the mirror. If we try to be the mirror and also try to figure out what the mirror is, then such figuring is simply reflections on the mirror. It seems quite challenging to just reflect like a mirror, since we are so accustomed to discriminating, preferring, assessing, and getting caught up in the objects placed before us. Though it is challenging, it is also very simple, almost too simple for us to accept. One of the wonderful things about this mirror is that it isn’t just functioning during zazen while we are on our cushion. We take the mirror wherever we go, we can’t leave home without it. It’s always available, even in the busiest, most chaotic situations. We always have the opportunity to step back, turn around and recognize the mirror in the background. Sometimes when we are really anxious, that moment might be what reminds us to look. And when we look, it’s not that we’re seeing the mirror exactly, because it’s not something that can be seen, but we can appreciate and embody that compassionate, spacious awareness that’s holding our little anxious experience. - from: Mirror awareness, the true host, Kokyo Henkel , Sweeping Zen
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 12:13:14 +0000
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