This last few pictures will be long posts. I try to make it shorter but it requires more explanation. Take your time reading it, no need to rush.

We have arrived at picture 8. This is a very common symbol in the more "trendier" world of mindfulness. But it actually represents a very sacred and serious attainment in Zen practice. It is the recognition of reality. It is the knowing of things as they truly are. It is relating to the world in a non-dualistic way. One way to think about this picture would be just as picture 6 relates to embodiment and picture 7 relates to the unification of mind; picture 8 relates to knowing reality. Not the reality we want, but reality itself.

This is the symbol of a perfect circle. No beginning - no end. It is just suchness. It represents vast emptiness and completeness. [Note: I don't know what the writing means.] The title "Forget Both the Self and the Ox" represents a stage of practice beyond just unification of mind, but a complete acceptance of reality. Only a unified mind can accept reality without resistance. When we are no longer split between our expectations and preferences, and are instead embodied in the direct experience, we can accept reality as it truly is.

When we live with the acceptance of reality, the world looks completely different. We let go of conditioned happiness, meaning we don't need the conditions in our lives to be perfect, pleasing, good... in order to be happy. Joy exists in us even when conditions are unsatisfactory or painful. We let go of labels and distinctions about existence. At this stage of practice emptiness means something different than what our ordinary minds can conceive. Emptiness doesn't mean the lack of anything nor is anything lesser, greater or equal to anything else. Existence just is the suchness that it is and we relate to it appropriately. We respond skillfully in a non-harming way rather than react unskillfully causing additional harm.

This verse points out in the beginning that our discipline/practice, our personage, and our Buddha nature/true self have merged into one existence. This is the non-duality that Buddha was speaking of. There's no distinction between your practice, you, or your actions (mental, physical and verbal). Your actions become practice, your practice is you, and you are the practice. In this stage, every moment of your direct experience, every movement of your body, and the entirety of your speech is practice. I think the reference to "no message can stain it" refers to thinking. Your thoughts no longer have dominion over your actions . Your thoughts and old habits are like snowflakes in the fire of your intimate engagement with life.

This is not the stage for the faint at heart. Practitioners that reach this level of realization have given over their entire existence to the Dhamma. They are without fear and extremely sensitive to the presence of harm. This level of sensitivity is not about complaining about harm. Many practitioners become sensitive to harm and push against reality because they don't like the harm. They want the harm to go away. At this level of attainment we have the ability to accept harm as a lawful condition arising out of greed, hatred and delusion. We don't need to push against it. We instead use skillful means to respond to harm without greed, hatred or delusion. Oftentimes this response is more effective at eliminating harm than an aversive or desirous response would be.

Finally, "the footprints of the ancestors" points to the truth of this stage. Many practitioners reach this stage of attainment. In fact the great Zen master, Yamada Mumon said that every practitioner should strive to reach this stage of practice at least once in their lifetime. I myself have known practitioners on long retreats who I believe have reached this stage. They have not sustained it after the retreat, but this is only because it takes time to learn how to sustain this level of consciousness.

Think of picture 8 as inspiration to stay on the path for as long as it takes to clear away the thick fog of delusion.

With a deep bow,

Tuere