A Heart Sutra Journey | Part Ten

"SO IN EMPTINESS THERE IS NO FORM, NO SENSATION, CONCEPTION, DISCRIMINATION, AWARENESS; "

Now Avalokitesvara gently changes our landscape and asks us to gaze upon the skandhas with her from the perspective of in emptiness. From here, as there is nothing separate or self-existent, there is no form, no sensation, no conception, no discrimination, and no awareness. When you remove the concept of form, there is just form. When you remove the concept of awareness, there is just awareness. Whatever construct you make of it - that is not it. Before any concept of form or mental construct emerges, what is it? Just this!

There is a koan in the Mumonkan that reads:

"The wind was flapping a temple flag, and two monks were having an argument about it. One said, 'The flag is moving.' The other said, 'The wind is moving.' They argued back and forth but could not reach the truth. The sixth patriarch said, 'It is not the wind that moves. It is not the flag that moves. It is your mind that moves.' The two monks were struck with awe."

I think this demonstrates the spirit well. But, upon reflection, maybe the sixth patriarch said a little too much?

See the full text of the Heart Sutra at: https://oneriverzen.org/heart-sutra