About the Heart Sutra
November 21, 1974
Dear Soen-sa-nim,
I have some questions concerning the Heart Sutra:
1. The Sutra says that in Nirvana there is "no-attainment, with nothing to attain." But then it says, "All Buddhas of past, present, and future depend on Prajna Paramita and attain Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi." Why is Nirvana not attained, but complete enlightenment, Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi, is attained?
2. What is the difference between Nirvana and Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi-between 180° and "like this"-such that 180° is not attained and 360° is attained?
3. When the mind disappears at 180°, doesn't the "like this" mind automatically appear?
4. The first part of the Sutra says, "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form." But the second part says, "In emptiness there is no form." One sentence says they are identical, one sentence says they are not. I think I understand, but can you say something about this?
Sincerely,
Ed
November 29, 1974
Dear Ed,
Thank you for your letter. How are you doing lately? Is it good or bad?
In answer to your questions:
1. "Why is Nirvana not attained?"-I hit you.
"Why is Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi attained?"-The sky is blue, the grass is green.
Do you understand my answers? Then you understand no-attainment and attainment.
2. You ask about the difference between Nirvana and Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi. Nirvana is like an empty mirror-no good, no bad, no color, no form, no anything. But when yellow comes, the mirror reflects yellow; when red comes, the mirror becomes red. To dwell in Nirvana for a long time is to be attached to emptiness. This is no good, because then you can't save all people. In Nirvana there are no people, no Buddhas, no suffering, no happiness-only quiet. So it is being attached to this serenity, being attached to your own peace. But past 180°, you arrive at 360°. Then everything is clear. Happiness is happiness; suffering is suffering. So when you meet people who are suffering, you save them from their suffering. When you meet people who are happy, you are happy together. You must teach the true way. The true way is the great Bodhisattva way. If you find the great Bodhisattva way, this is 360°.
3. You ask, "When the mind disappears at 180°, doesn't the 'like this' mind automatically appear?" 180° is only true empty mind. "Like this" mind is the mind that neither appears nor disappears. But what is true empty mind? What is the mind that neither appears nor disappears? It is very necessary not to be attached to name and form. 180° and "like this" are only teaching words. Don't be attached to words.
4. "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form."-This is 90°.
"No form, no emptiness."-This is 180°.
But if you are not attached to words, these two are the same. So we divide: form is emptiness, emptiness is form; no form, no emptiness. Next, gatē gatē paragatē parasamgatē bodhi swaha. This means that form is form, emptiness is emptiness. You must understand these three kinds. But of these three, which one is correct?
If you say that any are correct, I will hit you thirty times. But if you say that none are correct, I will still hit you thirty times.
So what is the true meaning of the Heart Sutra?
Here is a poem for you:
After so much suffering in Nirvanic castles,
what a joy to sink into this world!
People wearing silk clothes,
Buddhas dressed in rags,
a wooden man walking in the evening,
a stone woman with a bonnet-
for the first time you will see,
when you can cup your hands
and pick up the moon as it floats
on the still surface of a pond.
Sincerely yours,
S.S.
