When You Stop Thinking of Good and Evil, You Will Naturally See Buddha Nature

There was National Master Huichong. As a National Master – the king’s teacher – he held the highest position possible for a monk. However, we shouldn’t understand him merely as someone of high social status. He was a great Zen master of his time who had attained enlightenment himself and expressed it in ways that were penetrating, clear, and vibrant.

The state of Buddha, the state of no-mind – everyone has this within themselves. Therefore, everyone can become Buddha. This is why the National Master answered as he did:

‘If you let go of both Buddha and sentient beings simultaneously, you can attain instant liberation. That is, the world of hope you seek enlightenment in, and the world of suffering you’re in now – if you let go of both simultaneously, you can achieve liberation right on the spot.’

The scholarly monk asked again:

‘How can one achieve instant liberation as you say? How can one let go of both simultaneously?’

‘When you cease thinking of good and evil, you will naturally attain Buddha nature.’

When you don’t become trapped in either the world you seek or your own world of seeking, you naturally attain Buddha nature.

You live on Earth. Because you live on Earth, you cannot see Earth. Because you’re attached to living on Earth, you cannot see it. If you decide you must see Earth and search here and there for it, you will not be able to see it.

To see the world you live in at a glance, you must step outside of it. You cannot see it before stepping out. Those living on Earth must leave Earth to see it. Those living on Mars must leave Mars to see it. The traveler from before must embark on a new journey. They cannot see the world through the same kind of travel as before. They cannot reach it through such horizontal travel. They must board a satellite and ascend vertically. Only when they have completely left their world can they see it. Then Earth reveals itself at a glance.

The wind is blowing. If you chase the wind holding a pinwheel, you cannot see the wind. If you search here and there asking where the wind is blowing, you cannot catch it. Because the wind blows from here and passes to there. You’re too busy chasing it. The wind cannot be caught in your pinwheel. You cannot seek liberation this way. If you distinguish between good and evil and wander searching for goodness, you cannot find liberation from good and evil. You cannot attain Buddha nature while being trapped in the world you seek.

This is why the National Master answered:

‘When you cease thinking of good and evil, you will naturally see Buddha nature.’