True Teaching Hidden in the Gaze 正法眼藏

In the first blog, I talked about the source or the beginning of the mind as the most important place for self-cultivation. You might ask - "Where is the source of the mind?  Why is it the starting point for self-cultivation?"  A verse from the Buddha can help explain:

​​​​​​「吾有正法眼藏，涅槃妙心，實相無相，微妙法門，不立文字，教外別傳，付囑摩訶迦葉。」 

During the Flower Sermon, the Buddha said: "I have the true way, which lies within the gaze. It holds the wonders of the awakened mind, the ultimate truth beyond all forms, and the deep ways of practice. This teaching needs no words— it is passed on in an unconventional way. I have entrusted it to Mahākāśyapa."

Our physical bodies and looks are our "temporary" selves because they change. Image from Shutterstock

Each time I say this verse out loud in Chinese, I feel a deep sense of awe. It is as if each word is part of me. When I listen to others say it, it fills me with deep reverence and a sense that we are sharing something sacred together. I feel blessed to know this verse.

There are many ways to think about this verse, but here is my humble take on it: This true teaching is hidden within our eyes. It leads us back to our true selves. It takes us straight to the beginning of our enlightened minds. Here is where we find the ultimate truth. In other words, this teaching shows us the right starting point for our journey of self-cultivation. This way, our efforts will really count.