“The name of Nirvana is One-mind. One-mind is the Womb of Tathagata”

– The Lankavatara Sutra

“Observe the empty monarch of mind; mysterious, subtle, unfathomable, it has not shape or form, yet it has great spiritual power, able to extinguish a thousand troubles and perfect ten thousand virtues. Although its essence is empty, it can provide guidance. When you look at it, it has no form; call it, and it has a voice.”

– Layman Fu Shan-hui (487–569) in Cleary, Teachings of Zen

“Nirvana has innumerable names. It is impossible to give them in detail; I will list only a few. Nirvana is called extinction of passions, the uncreated, peaceful happiness, eternal bliss, true reality, dharma-body, dharma-nature, suchness, oneness, and Buddha-nature. Buddha-nature is none other than Tathagata [Amida Buddha]. This Tathagata pervades the countless worlds; it fills the hearts and minds of the ocean of all beings. Thus, plants, trees, and land all attain Buddhahood.”

– Shinran, Commentaries on Notes on the Essentials of Faith Alone

“If you touch the phenomenal realm deeply, you touch the ultimate realm which is the realm of no birth and no death. The ultimate is nirvana, it is God, and it is available to us twenty four hours a day.”

– Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh

“Having searched for myself in all myriad things

True Self (Juingong) appeared right before my eyes

Ha! Ha! Meeting it now, there is no doubt

Brilliant hues of udumbara flowers spill over the whole world”

– Seon Master Gyeongbong Jeongseok (1892 – 1982)

“You can call Juingong one thing or inherent nature. You can call Juingong the thing that does not have anything, or you can call it Amida Buddha, or the main Buddha. You can call it God or my love because it is the fundamental place. Juingong can never be fixed because it can become anything. Juingong is the parent as well as the child, the highest person as well as the lowest. Juingong is the true self that leads you, no matter what name is used.”

– Seon Master Daehaeng Sunim, ‘No River to Cross’

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Links:

– Thank you so much to Joseph for the great photo.

– More from me on True Self at this post, here.