Hundred Offerings Retreat: The Nature of Mind as Luminous, Emptiness, and Notionless

Where is our original face? Our original face abides in our intrinsic nature; upon recognizing this intrinsic nature, we discover our original face. Our mind is luminous, while its nature is of emptiness. The mind is clear—this is the first point. The second is that the mind’s original nature is devoid of any phenomena; this is what is meant by emptiness.

Thus, luminosity refers to the mind, whereas emptiness constitutes its intrinsic nature or essence. This intrinsic nature has always been exactly as it is: the original face free from all phenomena. In the practice of Chan, the first task is to seek the mind and observe it directly. Our mind is luminous and lucid, yet it is devoid of any phenomena. Luminosity and emptiness together characterize the nature of mind. When we observe our own mind, we find that it is clear and lucid while devoid of any notions. Only by understanding the mind can we transcend birth and death.

The so-called physical heart is subject to arising and ceasing. The mind of grasping and attachment continuous grasping with external objects—seeing this, thinking about that—incessantly giving rise to conceptions. The continuous thoughts perpetually revolves in samsara without interruption. There is also the vividly awakened and dynamically enlivened at present. This mind is luminous, devoid of any phenomena, and emptiness by nature. It has no notions, nor has it ever possessed one.

To study and practice the Dharma is to realize the unarising and the unceasing. The unarising and unceasing means that there is no substantial mind that can be grasped or brought forth. What can be recognized is only that which is clear, lucid, and entirely without form. Therefore, one must understand the true nature of one’s own mind. Only then can one transcend death; otherwise, all one’s efforts amount to nothing more than futile labor within the cycle of birth and death.

Dharma practice should be worthy of oneself. Why does one fail oneself? Because one does not understand what one truly is. In that sense, one has failed oneself. Therefore, we must realize that the mind is luminous, its nature is of emptiness, and it is free from all phenomena. This luminous awareness is our primordial awareness.