Ordinary mind is the Tao

A glimpse of uncontrived intimacy is congealed as a mental reflection into a something or a something more. That then becomes the very thing that seemingly obscures it. You cannot glimpse this; there’s no way in or out. You cannot glimpse this; there is no this. You cannot glimpse this; there is no you. There’s no ‘no you’ either. Being, having, and knowing, and not being, not having, and not knowing are the same: grasping at what cannot be grasped, fixating what cannot be fixated, determinations of what cannot be determined. Shitou says, “If you say this is it, you miss it. This and not this are both way off." Sengcan says, “If you wish to see the truth then hold no opinions for or against anything.” What about ‘not holding opinions for or against anything’? Another pit to fall into.

“Zhaozhou asked Nanchuan, “What is the Tao?”

What is the way of liberation?

Nanchuan said, “Ordinary mind is the Tao.”

It’s really nothing special.

Zhaozhou asked, “Should I direct myself toward it?”

How should I approach it?

Nanchuan said, “If you try to direct yourself, you betray your own practice.”

It cannot be approached.

Zhaozhou asked, “How can I know the Way if I don’t direct myself?”

Then how the fuck will I get there?

Nanchuan said, “The Way is not subject to knowing or not knowing. Knowing is delusion; not knowing is blankness.

No arrival. No departure. “This and not this are both way off.” If you truly reach the genuine Tao, you will find it as vast and boundless as space. How can this be discussed at the level of affirmation and negation?”

Or confirmation and doubt. It is vast and boundless; it has no inside or outside. Then how are you searching for it? Who could be lost and who would find their way home? With these words, Zhaozhou had sudden realization.”

With these words. These are the words. Is it the words “these words” or these words? Which words are not reality and thus directly pointing? It can seem like this is a very special problem that requires a special experience, a special kind of guide with a special insight and clear expression to resolve, but all a teacher can do in terms of transmission that these words or a dead leaf or a blade of grass can’t do is compromise. Its expression is clear at all times without interruption and in all places without any gaps and the teacher is not apart from just this sight, this sound, this step, this breath. It’s like this: When you understand, you understand; When you don’t understand, you don’t understand. The clear reality of seeing is not illuminated; The clear reality of not seeing is not obscured. The one who doesn’t see this will never see this. The one who sees this can never not see this. Not seeing sees this. It doesn't depend on a position or no position. Take a perch or don't. If you do, even so, there's nowhere to land. If you don't, even so, you can't fall off.