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The wise man strives to no goals

If you wish to move in the One Way
do not dislike even the world of senses and ideas.
Indeed, to accept them fully
is identical with true Enlightenment.
The wise man strives to no goals
but the foolish man fetters himself.
There is one Dharma, not many;
distinctions arise
from the clinging needs of the ignorant.
To seek Mind with the [discriminating] mind
is the greatest of all mistakes.

-Seng-tsan, "Verses on the Faith Mind"

To seek Mind with the Faith Mind, one accepts fully the world of senses and ideas.

Yet the diligent Buddhist detaches herself from the five senses and does not cling mindlessly to ideas due to mindful practice.

Regarding goals, only a fool would be fettered to many goals, lest the goal that leads to the One Way be lost. For the wise man who strives to no goals knows that samsara is Nirvana. Because his life is not determined by goals, he follows the One Way.

Although it seems that there are many paths to Enlightenment as there are grains of sand on the beach, there is only the One Way, the Dharma Path to Enlightenment.

Originally published: November 18, 2005 at 1158H
Edited February 6, 2013 at 2117H

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