HIDDEN SAGE REVEALED
SANSUI KYŌ | 山水經
PART ELEVEN
From the distant past to the distant present, mountains have been the dwelling place of the great sages. Wise men and sages have all made the mountains their own chambers, their own body and mind. And through these wise men and sages the mountains have appeared. However many great sages and wise men we suppose have assembled in the mountains, ever since they entered the mountains no one has met a single one of them. There is only the expression of the mountain way of life; not a single trace of their having entered remains. The “crown and eyes” [of the mountains] are completely different when we are in the world gazing off at the mountains and when we are in the mountains meeting the mountains. Our concept of not-flowing and our understanding of not- flowing should not be the same as the dragon’s understanding. Humans and gods reside in their own worlds, and other beings may have their doubts [about this], or then again, they may not.
Therefore, without giving way to our surprise and doubt, we should study the words “mountains flow” with the buddhas and ancestors. Taking up one [view], there is flowing; taking up another, there is not-flowing. At one turn, there is flowing; at another, not- flowing. If our study is not like this, it is not “the true Dharma wheel of the Thus Come One.”
We now appreciate the profound relationship between mountains and the great sages throughout time. Mountains have served as the cherished abodes of these wise beings, who have intimately merged with the mountain's essence, becoming one with their majesty. Through the presence of these sages, given to their true nature, the mountains themselves come alive.
Notice that despite numerous great sages and wise individuals inhabiting these mountains over the ages, not a single one of them has been met by ordinary individuals who venture into the mountains! What do they see? When we stand outside the mountains, gazing at them from a distance, we perceive them with a particular set of eyes—the "crown and eyes" of our conditioned thoughts. Only when we are actualized by the mountains do we meet them. This cannot be seen from the outside - it must be recognized directly.
Thus, the idea of "not-flowing" and our understanding of it should not be constrained by the limited perspective of a dragon, a hero, or a villain of any other realm. In the small mind, humans and gods each inhabit their distinct worlds. So, these karmic beings naturally cling to their unique perspectives. But when we look directly at this way of being, the One dissolves and quickens it.
Delve into the teaching that "mountains flow" by looking through the eyes of the Buddhas and ancestors. They are always right at hand if you look past picking and choosing and your fickle judgments. Through these eyes, the flowing nature of mountains is appreciated directly. This fluidity, adaptability, and spontaneity are the essence of "the true Dharma wheel of the Thus Come One." Remain open to your lived experience, embracing the totality of what presents itself. Come on in; the water is fine!
